Everybody knows Rio de Janeiro is one of the best cities on the planet in which to party, but things will reach another level when the Olympic Games get underway. After details were revealed of the official hospitality houses that will spring up for the event, it seems athletes, visiting fans and the city's residents will be spoilt for choice when the action begins in August.

More than 30 countries, and a number of companies, have now confirmed the location for their official residences, many of which will be open to the public. At prime locations across the city, they will offer spectaular settings for watching the sport on big screens, socialising and experiencing the culture and gastronomy of each venue's host.

Hospitality houses have become a tradition of recent Olympic Games; at Beijing 2008 and London 2012 they were some of the most popular places for athletes and fans to let their hair down.

The German consulate's hospitality house on Leblon beach, complete with big screens and teutonic cuisine

Half of the houses in Rio will be open to the public, while entry to some country houses (such as those of the USA, China and Russia) will be restricted to athletes and invited guests only. Entry to many of the open houses will be free. Germany will have two houses; one open to the public on Leblon beach, which will be operated by the country's consulate in Rio, and another closed location in Barra da Tijuca, which will be the official German Olympic Committee residence.

There will be hospitality houses all over the centre of the city and in the main beach districts, located in a variety of cultural centres, sports clubs and historic buildings. The Portuguese, in keeping with their maritime history, will use a historic sailing ship as their residence.

Celebrating Brazilian culture

Host country Brazil will run one of the largest hospitality houses in Rio. Casa Brasil will be located across two former warehouses in the city’s renovated waterfront district. Visitors will be able to sample Brazilian coffee, chocolate, cachaça and wine.

NBA House to be second home for basketball fans during Rio 2016 Games

Mexico will install their house in the National History Museum in central Rio, while France will be based amid the glamour of the horse-racing track near the lagoon (Lagoa). Japan, which will host the next Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020, will take over the modernist Cidade das Artes building (see photo below) in Barra da Tijuca. 

Highlights

Netherlands (Monte Líbano Club, Lagoa). If there was a gold medal for country houses, the Dutch would be the reigning champions and hot favourites to defend their title in Rio. By day, the celebrated house is sure to be a popular location for watching events; by night, it is always one of the most sought-after locations for Olympic athletes and spectators to party. The Dutch are charging 15 euros for entry – excluding drinks.

Great Britain (Parque Lage, Lagoa). The British house will be located in the historic Parque Lage, which is nestled under the Christ the Redeemer statue, during the Olympic Games. It will be transferred to the Metropolitano shopping mall near Barra Olympic Park for the Paralympic Games. The house will be a place to celebrate British successes and showcase the best of the UK. As well as cultural events and plentiful parties, there will also be opportunities for business networking. Those wishing to visit the British house need to register their interest online, as tickets are limited.

France (Horse racecourse, Lagoa) - The French house will cost 20 reais to enter and will be open from midday to 2am from 5 to 21 August. On eight nights, French DJ will play at a giant dancefloor with capacity for two thousand people. Expect plentiful food trucks, wine and champagne.

Mexico (National History Museum, city centre) -  The Mexicans are organising two exhibitions; one a display of archaeological treasures and the other an exhibition for children inspired by Frida Kahlo. 

Finland (Rua Visconde de Itaboraí, city centre). The Finnish house will be open on weekends only. There will be a very special visitor all the way from Lapland: Santa Claus himself, to take part in some unusual Christmas celebrations this August. The house will also be teaching children and their families about Finnish culture and traditions.

Switzerland (Baseball ground, Lagoa). With classic Swiss punctuality, the house will be one of the first to open. From 1 August, visitors will be able to ice skate and indulge in chocolate, raclette and other Alpine delicacies. After the Games, the Swiss will leave behind them a modernised baseball pitch as a legacy for the city of Rio.

Republic of Korea (Copacabana). Looking ahead to Pyeongchang 2018, Copacabana beach will be the location for Pyeongchang House. Visitors will be able to try their hands at winter sports using virtual reality, taste typical Korean food and enjoy performances of taekwondo, classical Korean music and breakdancing. 

Australia (Rio Stock Exchange Convention Centre, city centre) – The house will be open for one week and will provide visitors with information about opportunities to study and work in Australia, as well as a taste of life Down Under.

Czech Republic (Centro Empresarial Mário Henrique Simonsen, Barra) – More than 50 Czech companies will be showing off their wares to the public. A six-metre sculpture will pay tribute to Czech long-distance running legend Emil Zatopek.

Austria (Botafogo Club, Botafogo) – The Austria house was a big hit with the public at Sochi 2014. In Rio, the Austrians will operate a round-the-clock bakery and delicatessen, serving up treats such as Kornspitz bread and, of course, wiener schnitzel.

Austria House in Botafogo will provide guests with typical Austrian food and drink (Artist's impression)

Colombia (Health Ministry Cultural Centre, central Rio) – This will be the first Colombian hospitality house at the Olympic Games. Colombian coffee and exotic fruits will have pride of place.

An artist's impression of what visitors can expect from Colombia House in central Rio

Japan (Cidade das Artes, Barra) – The Japan house will provide extensive information about Tokyo 2020. More details are available on the official website. The house will be open from 5 to 21 August and from 7 to 18 September. There will also be a special Japanese site in the historic Paço Imperial building in central Rio, under the name of Tokyo Caravan. 

Casa África (Casa Shopping, Barra da Tijuca) – The 54 African delegations coming to the Games will share one hospitality house in Barra. Visitors will be able to experience a 60-seat airplane simulator, watch a short film about the continent and participate in a lottery to get the chance to ‘land’ the plane. There will also be plane tickets to be won. One of the highlights of the house will be a fashion show in which Afro-Brazilian models will wear typical African clothes and costumes on the catwalk.

The Africa House in the Barra region of Rio will be home to a hi-tech airplane simulator (Artist's impression)

After the Games

Although the focus of the houses is on entertainment and promotion, many of the countries coming to Rio plan to leave a legacy to the city long after the Games have ended. Casa Daros, a former art gallery which will be the venue for Qatar's hospitalty house, will be converted into a bilingual public school called ‘Eleva School’.

During the Games, the country will transform the historic building into a typical Arab souk where visitors will be able to enjoy shawarmas and get painted with henna. Funds raised from tickets to Bayt Qatar (bayt means house in Arabic) will be donated to local charity Futuro Olímpico and used to give underprivileged young athletes from Rio the opportunity to train at Qatar’s sports facilities.

There will be a traditional Arab souq in the Qatar House in Botafogo (Artist's impression)

Meanwhile, Denmark, in keeping with its cycling traditions, will donate 65 bicycles to the city as well as toys for schools and a massive mock-up of the city made entirely of bricks from house sponsor Lego. The Danish house will be located on Ipanema beach, by lifeguard post no.10.