Where to stay in Natal, Brazil: 4 Best Areas and Hotels

Still haven’t decided where to stay in Natal?

Natal is the capital of Rio Grande do Norte and one of the most affordable cities to visit in the Northeast. The location provides a range of lodging options, from cozy resorts and business hotels to inexpensive inns.

The most popular hotels in the area are those located on the beach, preferably beachfront. However, picking a good place to stay in Natal is just as important as picking a fantastic hotel.

List of the best places to stay in Natal

Where to stay in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte?

The preferred area to stay in Natal is Ponta Negra, a wide and diverse region that offers a range of accommodations at all price points, as well as bars, restaurants, and supermarkets.

For those looking for a quieter area to relax, the Coastal Road (Via Costeira) is where most of Natal’s resorts are located, including comfortable, all-inclusive, beachfront options.

However, if your goal is to save money, the central beach areas—Meio Beach and Artistas Beach—are an excellent option with very affordable inns to stay at. But if you’re on a business trip and won’t be enjoying the beaches, the Arena das Dunas area is the best choice for where to stay in Natal, as it hosts corporate hotels like Ibis and Holiday Inn.

1. Ponta Negra: The most popular area in Natal

Ponta Negra is the most popular and lively beach in Natal. It’s a neighborhood with low-rise houses, a classic beach town look, and a view of one of Natal’s landmarks, the Morro do Careca.

Ponta Negra has complete infrastructure, with inns at various price points, markets, pharmacies, bars, restaurants, and tour agencies. Most of Natal’s hotels and inns are located in Ponta Negra. And because it’s a hilly area, many accommodations offer ocean views.

Although it’s the liveliest area in Natal, we find Ponta Negra’s nightlife to be somewhat lacking, especially along the beachfront, which becomes quite empty at night, even giving a slight sense of insecurity. On the other hand, Engenheiro Roberto Freire Avenue offers more dining options and is a bit busier and livelier, especially in the evening.

Ponta Negra is a fairly large neighborhood, so it’s important to choose your location carefully, as not all areas are ideal. The main areas to stay in Ponta Negra are.

• Beira-mar (Erivan França Street): This is Ponta Negra’s beachfront and the oldest part of the city. It’s a very busy area during the day with calm waters. At night, however, the beachfront sees little activity, and in some spots, it can even feel a bit unsafe.
• Engenheiro Roberto Freire Avenue: This is the most modern part of Ponta Negra and our favorite area to stay in the neighborhood. It has more modern hotels and an excellent variety of dining options, along with livelier nightlife than the beachfront. The downside is that the area is on a small hill, so walking to the beach involves going up and down, though it’s not too steep. It also doesn’t have that beach village feel, but it is safer.
• Ponta Negra Boardwalk: At the northern end of Erivan França Street begins the Ponta Negra Boardwalk, a beautiful, tree-lined area with kiosks and good hotels. Here, the sea is rougher than in the south, and there’s less foot traffic, especially at night, when the area becomes quite empty.

Accommodations in Ponta Negra, Natal:

• Golden Tulip Natal Ponta Negra: a hotel with ocean views and good facilities, located on Av. Engenheiro Roberto Freire. The hotel features a pool, bar, gym, and rooms for up to 2 people.
• Majestic Ponta Negra Beach: the best hotel on Av. Engenheiro Roberto Freire. The Majestic is a 5-star hotel with beautiful décor, great service, and a full range of amenities. The hotel is a fantastic option for families visiting Natal because it provides excellent service and rooms that can accommodate up to four people.
• Aquaria Natal Hotel: an all-inclusive stay with good value, located on the Ponta Negra beachfront near Morro do Careca. The hotel has a beachy vibe, good service, spacious areas, and full amenities.
• Manary Praia Hotel: located in the Ponta Negra Boardwalk area and close to Av. Engenheiro Roberto Freire. The hotel features tropical décor, spacious rooms, a pool, breakfast, a spa, and ocean views.

See more hotels in Ponta Negra.

2. Coastal Road (Via Costeira): Best area for resorts in Natal

The Coastal Road (Via Costeira) is a long avenue that stretches from Ponta Negra to the Central Beaches. Extending for about 9 kilometers past Ponta Negra Beach and running along the entire Parque das Dunas, it’s a very peaceful area. Along the coast, you’ll find the best resorts in Natal, with many beachfront, all-inclusive accommodations offering ocean views.

The downside is that this area has no attractions or infrastructure outside the resorts. The beach in this region also has strong waves, rip currents, and rocky sections, making it not ideal for swimming. However, the resorts offer full infrastructure, with ocean-view pools, room service, restaurants, bars, and various leisure areas.

The Coastal Road is a recommended area for those looking to relax at a good resort and enjoy its infrastructure. Moreover, if you stay at a resort near Ponta Negra, such as the SERHS Natal Grand Hotel & Resort, you can enjoy the best of both worlds. By making this choice, you’ll be staying at a quality resort and just five minutes by car from the liveliest area of Natal.

Accommodations on Coastal Road, Natal:

• Serhs Natal Grand Hotel & Resort: a beautiful resort with great facilities, located just 5 minutes by car from Ponta Negra. The hotel features clean décor and spacious rooms. Guests can choose packages that include breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
• Ocean Palace All Inclusive Premium: a very beautiful and complete resort with 14 pools, five restaurants, a bar, gym, and spa. The hotel offers all-inclusive stays with room and bungalow options facing the sea. Its location is perfect, right at the beginning of Coastal Road, just 3 minutes by car from Ponta Negra.
• Wish Natal: a large resort with modern, well-decorated spaces and stunning ocean views. This is a simpler resort option with two pools, a gym, and a restaurant. It is located 10 minutes by car from Ponta Negra.

See more hotels on Coastal Road.

3. Arena das Dunas: Ideal for business trips

Arena das Dunas is the best place to stay in Natal for those traveling on business. The area is far from Natal’s main beaches but has good corporate hotels.

The area has solid infrastructure, and near the hotels you’ll find great restaurants, shopping malls, stores, markets, gyms, and pharmacies. If you’re visiting Natal to attend an event at Arena das Dunas, this region is also an excellent choice.

Accommodations in Arena das Dunas, Natal:

• Ibis Natal: a budget hotel located next to Arena das Dunas. Ibis offers rates with or without breakfast, comfortable rooms, and satisfactory service.
• Holiday Inn Natal by IHG: a corporate hotel with good facilities, including a restaurant, gym, meeting room, parking, and bar. The hotel offers rates with or without breakfast, as well as comfortable and spacious rooms. It is also located next to Arena das Dunas.

See more hotels in Arena das Dunas.

4. Central Beaches: Most affordable area

Comprising Areia Preta Beach, Artistas Beach, and Meio Beach, this is the most reasonably priced area of Natal to stay. The hotels in this area are basic, and many are in need of renovation. In addition, there aren’t many good bars or restaurants in the area, and it can feel a little unsafe.

For this reason, we don’t think the central beaches are a good choice for where to stay in Natal, even for budget travelers. If you search carefully, you can find hotels with excellent prices in Ponta Negra.

Find the best hotels in Natal.

Now that you know where to stay in Natal, how about extending your trip to another stunning destination and visiting the most famous beach village in Rio Grande do Norte—Praia de Pipa?

See also: Where to stay in Pipa with tips on the best hotels.