Gerthrudes
A near-perfect hillside B&B with its own pool
About this hotel
Gerthrudes sits on Santa Teresa's hillside, a genuine taxi ride from Piscinão de Ramos rather than a nearby stay, and centres the experience on its own outdoor pool, terrace and shared kitchen. The BBQ area suits a longer family stay that wants to self-cater at least some evenings, cutting down on Rio's restaurant costs across a multi-night trip. A 9.8 rating from 208 reviews is among the strongest on this list, suggesting a small property that has consistently delivered for its guests despite the distance from the bay pool itself. The closing strength here is the terrace, a genuine spot to unwind above the city after a long day. Its position among Santa Teresa's cobbled streets also means genuine neighbourhood character is on the doorstep, artist studios and small cafes within an easy walk of the property itself.
- Outdoor pool
- Terrace
- Shared kitchen
- Santa Teresa setting
Our take
This suits a family drawn to Santa Teresa's hillside character and happy to make Piscinão de Ramos a single dedicated day trip rather than a repeat visit. It's a poor fit for anyone who needs to be close to the bay pool on a daily basis. Book it for the Santa Teresa setting and the terrace above all, treating the Piscinão de Ramos trip as a single dedicated outing rather than a daily habit.
- ✓Book the Piscinão de Ramos taxi well ahead, since hillside pickups in Santa Teresa can run slower than flat-street bookings.
- ✓Use the shared kitchen and BBQ area to offset Rio's restaurant costs over a longer stay.
- ✓Reserve the terrace for an evening wind-down after a demanding pool day.
Why we love it
- Own outdoor pool
- Near-perfect 9.8 rating
- Shared kitchen and BBQ area
- Santa Teresa terrace views
Why guests love itThe terrace became our evening spot most nights, looking out over the city while the kids wound down after a day of exploring. We used the shared kitchen for breakfast most mornings and saved eating out for dinner, which helped stretch the budget across a longer stay than planned. Our one Piscinão de Ramos day meant a proper taxi ride down the hill, but the pool back at Gerthrudes more than made up for it on the days we stayed closer to Santa Teresa.