Copacabana is a bairro (neighborhood) in Rio de Janeiro: in the South Zone of the city. Its 4 km (2.5 miles) beach is the most famous. I'm impressed by how clean the beach is when we get there in the morning! ... evening is another story. Of course, there is this statue of their famed son Ayrton Senna (1960-94), who died on the race track ...our first stop in Rio is to visit him. read more

See all

We stayed at the hotel across the street (Rio Othon) which was nice since we had a designated area of the beach to use, this was helpful because the beach gets crowded very quickly. The most annoying thing here is all the vendors constantly coming around a little hard to relax U can grab anything from drinks, we tried one not terrible just too sweet for my taste. Food & snacks to bathing suits, bags & shirts helpful for the vendors. If you don't get anything from the vendors there are plenty of places to eat & drink along the beach. My only complain for the beach was that the water it is very rough, crazy strong current u can feel the pull just standing in the sand. We got to see beautiful sunsets, sunrise & were even lucky enough to be here when Lady Gaga played, crazy crowd by her hotel, rehearsal was a mini concert definitely a very cool experience. Nice stretch of beach, scenery is lovely & it's a great way to spend any time during your visit in Brazil. read more

See all

I like Copacabana Beach more than Ipanema. Yes, it is more crowded and not as clean, but it is so much livelier. There are a good mix of tourists and locals enjoying the beach and a lot of street vendors along the beach selling food and snacks. You will find plenty of bars and restaurants along the beach front. And whether it is day or night, it is always busy here. I recommend taking a walk along the entire esplanade and absorbing the Brazilian way of life. read more

Praia de Copacabana - Beaches Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

See all

It's nice, but a little too overcrowded and dirty. Overall still beautiful but I think there's just too many people

We stayed at Windsor Miramar Hotel which was near the southern end of the beach, literally across the street from Copacabana Beach.    EXPERIENCE: Copacabana Beach stretches a little over 2 miles along bustling Av. Atlantica.  It's lined by a sidewalk that's peppered with food stands, bars, and pavilions.  Bustling day and night, the latter brings out the homeless and riff raff that loiter on benches and closed businesses.  It's definitely not the cleanest of places to spend time, with the smell of urine and feces in the planters in certain areas.  My spouse and I had some cocktails at several stands which were legit.  As far as eating goes, we didn't trust the sanitation, so we had only bottled drinks and no food.  While we didn't actually swim or sunbathe, the beach's sandy shore is deep like those found in California, good for volleyball and other sports with lots of room to spread out.  The more north you go the bigger the beach gets. No shady spots are available so bring an umbrella.   PARKING: I noticed available stalls across the street fronting some of the business along Av. Atlantica.   TIP: DO NOT USE YOUR CREDIT CARD at these stands or anywhere in Rio for that matter as my card was compromised in no time with the crook going on an electronic shopping spree.    OVERALL: Not the prettiest of beaches by far.  Quantity yes, quality no. read more

This is an iconic beach in Rio de Janeiro. There is very little parking here, no parking right at the beach, however there are some parking in the streets across from the beach, keep in mind that here in Rio it is very common for people to take a corner area for parking and "watch" the cars for the owners, ofc that will make them charge you a fee for that "favor". Rio has Legalized the practice so most of the workers will be wearing a vest, I think it is blue. The beach is very long so you just pick an area and have fun. There are plenty of kiosks all along the beach and the big buildings with numbers are called "posts" these have access to restrooms and showers at a fee as well, however it is not expensive. I cannot stress this enough specially if you are not from Rio, make sure not to be using your phone, do not wear anything expensive on your body and most importantly, if people come to talk to you and your group, make sure that all your items are secure. There will be people who may try to rob you at any time and any place in this area, since Copacabana is a high touristic area of Rio, you will be a target. Besides the natural dangerous of the life in Rio this place is super cool to try some traditional snacks from the beach vendors, have a couple of beers and work on your tan. read more

See all

The beach is nice. Restaurants and bars line the coast. Volleyball for those interested. Decent food and drinks from the waitresses. I had a blast. read more

Classic Rio de Janeiro! That said, it is very touristy but an ideal place to watch fireworks for NYE. It is the main location for all major events in Rio (Carnaval, Rock in Rio, New Years, etc). read more

Other worldly. Being from Miami people tend to think we have the best beach around. WRONG!!! On Copacabana the beach has better surrounding scenery and topography, food vendors selling simple yet tasty treats, bars next to your beach chairs for ice cold Cerveja and caipirinha's the size of your head for reasonable prices. Miami Beach is so weak in comparison. I'm not a beach person and this far exceeded my lofty expectations. read more

See all

Ambiance: 8 out of 10; Staff: n/a; Price: $ out of $$$$; I loved this beach!! The weather was perfect. The people were beautiful. The stores nearby were affordable. Food was accessible. Safe space for people of color. read more

See all

Copacobana provides a nice view of Sugar Loaf Mountain. There are plenty of restaurants and vendors here. read more

Praia de Copacabana - Beaches Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

See all

Nothing beats going to the beach, but Copacabana is one beach you want to visit. Hot bodies everywhere, people playing volleyball, silky smooth tans, sipping on some fresh coconut....if all these things appeal to you then you might want to stop by the beach line of Copacabana. Walk along the strand and notice on the walkway changes it's design. Lay on the beach with your new beach shawl from the street vendors. You'll definitely get that Brazilian tan line if that's what you're looking for. read more

Praia de Copacabana - Beaches Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

I love Copacabana not because of the water but because of the many options it offers when it comes to eating, buying and just chilling on the beach while you read a book or snooze (if you snooze make sure you have nothing of value you are sleeping on or it will be whisked away). I stayed walking distance from Copacabana so went to the bank nearby, grabbed some cash to buy a chair and then lay on the beach to tan and read my book (remember in Rio it is considered rude to bring your own beach equipment since it's available for rent at such a reasonable price). I don't mind the 'harrasing' by vendors which I find comical but if you do, Ipanema would be a better option (although not completely rid of vendors there also) and also because more locals (hot) seem to frequent Ipanema than the more touristy Copa. I just love Rio's city beaches and the liveliness and energy they offer. read more

What an interestinggggg beach haha! Tonssss of activity happening and PACKED so don't expect relaxation- more like shopping, eating, people watching, drinking! read more

See all

Very large beach. You can pick the area you want close to a lot of people, or past the Fort closer to the mountain where its less crowded - you decide. I hung out on the beach on 2 days. On my first day of arrival, went straight to the beach because the sun was out and very hot! Sat on the free chairs provided by my hotel along with free towel service. There were so many things to watch and see! Guys wearing the speedos with no cares in the world! Potbelly's and six packs! And women in thongs, all sizes too. Very interesting since I'm coming from the states, haha! There were little bar stands to buy beer and caiparinhas directly on the beach, and people that walked by with snacks for sale, bikinis for sale, sarongs, jewelry, souvenires, pretty much like a walking store coming straight to you. Also, people at the beach made their own mini-bars. For example, we were watching a group of people thinking, wow, they're so prepared!! Come to find out they were selling drinks. They put only a pinch of the colorful, fruity beverage in at the bottom of the cup, a splash of cachaca, and tons, I mean tons of ice. The drinks look good tho, if you're into a very tall cup of ice!! haha The second day I hung out it was misty and rained on and off. There were plenty of people at the beach anyway despite the overcast. I actually rode rental bike from our hotel from post #9 by the mountain all the way down to post #5. We stumbled upon a museum, or the the Fort of Copacabana, paid and went inside the complex, cool. Riding bikes along the beach was cool. We saw all sorts of beach life. Your joggers, cyclists, walkers, surfers, beach volleyball groups, the no hands volleyball group, families, people sun bathing, hanging out, people eating and drinking at the bars. So relaxing and cool to people watch. read more

See all

It's Copacabana. When in Rio, you just have to go! Endless miles of soft sand bordered by the beautiful ocean. If you like long walks on the beach, this is surely the place to be. Street vendors and artists sell their crafts on the sidewalk and beach volleyball players provide entertainment. You can run, you can bike, you can ride, or you can hop all the way down the avenue. Bathrooms cost money to use, but just grab a drink in any of the bars or restaurants that are nearby and just use theirs instead. The views here are panoramic, and it really goes 360. Even the buildings that line the beach have a certain beauty to them that still makes every capture picture perfect. Rio, I am obsessed with you. I only wish my time could've been extended read more

It is not the most beautiful beach. I have been to plenty more beautiful beaches but there is still something very beautiful and special about this beach. You can't beat the views of Sugarloaf sitting in your beach chair. It has huge waves and you will see lots of great surfers. It doesn't have the best swimming, but you are still able to go in and cool off. It is hot in Rio. You can rent cheap beach chairs and umbrellas for about $2 each. You can spend all day in them and the chair renters will even act as your bartenders. No need to get up to eat. There are so many vendors who will come and go all day long. My favorites were the guy who comes around with the mini grill and grills mozzarella cheese for you, and the guy with the two metal drums on each side ( he sells mate, a south American tea,and lemonade-- and mixes them together to make an Arnold Palmer type drink) and the natural sandwiches. There is also no need to go souvenir shopping. You will have a colorful display of vendors all day long. We bought plenty of goodies. By the way, no need to price compare on the colorful Rio beach sarongs. They all sell them for the same price. If you are not from Brasil, leave your swim suits at home! Females, I repeat leave your swimsuits at home, because the swim suits we buy in United States is considered what elder women would wear in Brasil. You will have plenty of chances to buy the Brazilian bikinis that make any tourists or native say Linda (beautiful in Portuguese). There are bathrooms at the lifeguard postas. They cost about 1.50. My suggestion. Do as the Cariocas do. Don't go to the beach with your valuables. I brought the sarong to lay on and had a little spending money in my pocket. People didn't even look twice at me. If you don't have anything to steal, you won't get robbed. Just enjoy and have fun. We loved it. read more

Praia de Copacabana - Beaches Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

What can I say that hasn't been said already? Copacabana beach is world famous just like Waikiki, Venice, South beach, North Shore, Bora Bora, Maldives, etc. Right now it's the Olympics so there's a lot going on with people selling their goods, street performers, sunbathers and food. There's a lot of police and military personnel to keep the peace with the world's greatest sporting event taking place including beach volleyball which I will be seeing later tonight. It's a place to pull up a chair and just people watch. I'm just spending my time walking up the boardwalk everyday and sometimes twice a day if I could. read more

See all

Huge beach, gorgeous views, nice big waves, soft sand.....I like it! On a great, sunny day, it's the perfect place to people-watch if you are not interested in swimming or sun tanning. First time in Rio and the "butt cheek" showing is phenomenal! Are thong bikinis sold in the States??? You might as well show the entire ass. I have never in my life seen so much bare ass in 2 hours. All sorts of shapes and sizes. And men of all sizes......wearing speedos. It was entertaining for me! There were vendor hustlers passing by us like every 30 second. Selling shades to drinks to grilled cheese to bikinis to iced water to prepared shrimp to anything you could think of. I don't think any beach in the US allows this. read more

See all

Iconic beach in Rio. You can rent a chair and/or umbrella for a reasonable price. The water is nice (although not the cleanest in all of Rio). There are tons of sports being played, both in semi-organized leagues and in pick-up format. I noticed nothing of bad safety but we didn't bring valuables. The principal part that's less awesome are the public toilets and shower facilities. They cost too much, are staffed by unfriendly employees, and they're dirty and smell of urine; gross. read more

It's nice, but it's just a beach. Great for people watching. Same thing I said for Ipanema. It is really beautiful and cool, but it's just a beach. Same as any in Florida, LA, NY, etc. Lots of beautiful Brazilian women if you're into people watching and some decent running paths as well. read more

One thing I love about Brazilians is their willingness to wear bikinis and speedos no matter what they may look like. That's true bravery that no mere US citizen can muster. I feel like so many of us here in the states have this romanticized idea of what "Copacabana" is, and for most of us, all we know about it is that dreadful Barry Manilow song. Well I am here to tell you that Copacabana is a beach. A beautiful beach, full of beautiful people, from all walks of life, from infants to the elderly, from the amazingly normal to the "fucking crazy beach bum guy". You know that guy. He's on every beach in the world. The beach stretches for about 2.5 miles and is lined with boardwalk eateries. You should really avoid these, for the most part. They're good for having a chopp (brazilian beer) or a fresh coconut, but for food, you really need to explore a few blocks away from the beach. The beach is packed on the weekends, expectedly. But if you find yourself in Rio on a weekday, you can virtually have the place to yourself. Very nice! read more

This review is for Rio Reveillon 2015! My boyfriend and I arrived to Copacabana around 10:30pm and it was completely packed with people. Over 2 million people came to Copacabana to ring in the new year. We found a spot on the beach within ear shot of the concert stage. A well-known samba singer was performing and the crowd was loving the music, singing along and dancing samba in the sand. After she did the countdown with the crowd, everyone popped their champagne bottles and it was raining bubbly! I couldn't believe it! The fireworks show started right at the stroke of midnight. I have never seen so many fireworks before. There were 6 barges off of the coast. The fireworks were absolutely stunning. The magnificent fireworks show lasted for 20 minutes and the sky was on fire, so beautiful and bright. We wore all white, hopped over 7 waves and saw locals throwing flowers into the ocean to the water goddess. We loved the traditions and had a fabulous time celebrating NYE at Copacabana. What a once in a lifetime experience!! Absolutely stunning! Cheers to 2015 being my best year yet =) read more

Praia de Copacabana - Rio Réveillon! - Beaches Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

See all

One of the most relaxing and beautiful beaches I've ever been to. Stretches of beach on one side and small kiosks selling local art along the roads. Love the vibes read more

Easily one of the world's most iconic beaches. From the waved mosaic boardwalk to the beautiful women, warm sands and cool breeze Copacabana Beach is quite memorable. An added treat are the many food options and trinket shopping available. We visited in November whish was an excellent time of year to be there. It was warm enough to get in the water but not so bloody hot you're uncomfortable. Overall it's a better morning beach based on the sun in November and with regard to the vibe its not quite a blue collar beach more a notch down from it equally well known cousin Ipanema. The sand isn't quite powder but its granularity is comfortably sufficient to walk on without flip flops. read more

Probably everything is already said about the world's most famous beach, but nevertheless, everybody has its own reasons to spend time there. I actually never go to the beach to enter the water or spend hours lying on a towel trying to get some color. But there is more to Copacabana than that. For example, you can enjoy a fresh breeze during a walk if you're not one of the lucky ones living right in front of the beach. You can also take a bike of Itaú to catch even more of that breeze. Finally, after a walk or a bike tour you can enjoy the sunset at one of the may kiosks to drink a beer or a caipirinha. Normally, a drink isn't that much expensive at the Copacabana compared to other places in Rio de Janeiro. The prices of the food, however, do not match at all with the quality. Just one disadvantage of trying to relax at Copacabana (especially if you look like a tourist) is that you always get disturbed by people wanting to sell you crap. read more

Copacabana is famous because it is Copacabana. Yes, just like a self-fulfilling prophecy. I've lived here for almost a year and only go to Copacabana Beach when people are visiting and insist on going to this beach. I'll admit, you have to go once to see it for yourself. The upside is that it is a very wide beach and the kiosks are many and varied - you can find anything you want here. The downside is that it is dirty, full of "unsavory characters", has lots of traffic, and often smells. The sandcastles are cool, but if you take a picture you should give them money. Rio and Brazil have much better beaches. Skip this one and go find them. read more

This is one of the nicest beach I ve been to, I rented an apartment for 2 weeks to try and be like the locals it was a walking distance from the beach The beach was nice and clean, very nice sand and blue waters very nice for swimming and tanning All the restaurant and bar are close to the beach, you can drink, smoke or do whatever on the beach as long as you do not bother anybody People are very nice and friendly, my favorite their is the skull beer and the coconut water they sell on the beach, they even have people walking around selling grilled shrimps on the stick I don't get a sun burn but I had a severe sun burn so be careful it gets really hot and super sunny in the summer. read more

Absolutely gorgeous beach, however it's ridiculously crowded. The people watching is interesting though. If u come early enough in the morning it is less busy. read more

Praia de Copacabana - Beaches Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

The only reason I don't give this beach 5 stars is that you really have to keep your eyes and ears open at all times. While this is true in many parts of the world and on beaches everywhere, it is at Copacabana where I feel I must stay on high alert. It's a beautiful setting in the magical city of Rio de Janeiro. You have all the beauty of Brazil: the landscape, the warm (and smokin' hot) people, the hot sun, the vendors, the action, the hustle and bustle....the water is chilly enough to cool you off on a hot day and you can return for a chilled fresh coco water from a real coconut. Great restaurants (and some cruddy ones too) are a short walk away, lifeguards are on standby to save your ignorant behind when you're not careful.... O Rio de Janeiro, eu tenho saudades! read more

Copacabana has become my least favorite beach in Rio. Too many vendors harassing you to buy things while you're just trying to relax and enjoy your time. The water was the dirtiest I've ever seen it. I recommend Barra beach for a more peaceful and cleaner experience. read more

See all

Something for everybody- beach, food, beer and coconut drinks. This place is crazy during the day, but quiets down during the evening, unless it's the weekend! =There are many cafes and bars on the beachside, and across the street are restaurants and proper cafes where you can get some really good food, or just have a Caipirinha and watch the people go by. read more

Probably the most famous beach in the world (OK maybe Waikiki is, or is it Ipanema, or is it Cancun, or is it Boracay...I wish they all could be California Beatches...), Copacabana has lost some charm over the years---and every other year its good, and every other year, there are bands of roving pick pockets from the Favellas...the year I went? it was nice and peaceful. Nice setting with a backdrop of sharp rising hills and a concrete jungle, this is the best place to feel the carioca spirit. Lots of restaurants along the beachfront to enjoy a batida or caipirinha, or take a stroll along ornately designed sidewalks. Just eat, drink, relax and people watch....then do again... read more

Praia de Copacabana - Beaches Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

The beaches in Rio are overrated, considering the sea is even at the best of times too cold and dangerous to really swim and enjoy, not to mention the constant threat of being robbed or assaulted (google "arrastão rio"). But the worst thing about Copacabana is that it's so overcrowded and since there are lots of people with zero culture who come to drink or eat on the beach and then don't clean up after themselves, quite dirty and filled with trash. But yes, it's a must see if you're already here, and it is impressive as a sight, especially from Fort Copacabana or Leme. read more

Praia de Copacabana - Trash everywhere... - Beaches Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Copacabana Beach (and Ipanema to the south) are both reasonably close to each other, but with very different vibes. I found Copacabana much busier and packed with street vendors constantly passing by which made it quite difficult to relax on the beach. While the beach is very clean and the water is beautiful, I personally found Copacabana Beach to be a little unsafe, and witnessed multiple thefts while I was there. I would definitely recommend keeping your bag in your sights all the time and never unattended. There is definitely lots to do apart from swimming in the ocean - there is volleyball, miles of sandy beaches to walk along and of course you can grab a beverage of your choice from your friendly barraca. Tip him/her well and they will remember your drink order and ensure you never run out. In my opinion, Leme would be a much better option for families and those looking to relax, where as Copacabana is better for a younger crowd. read more

Nice beach. I don't know if it is always this way, but the waves were crashing so close to the sand that it was almost impossible to dive under the waves. I gave up and went back to lying out in the sun. Warning: My friend got really sick after eating acai sold at the beach. I mean reaaaaly sick. In general, as an American I don't buy street food in South America because my stomach is not used to that, and I've seen my more daring friends suffer. read more

A great beach and a realizing atmosphere. We've been to other beaches in the area (do not remember the names), but this beach is among the ones at the top of our list. read more

Praia de Copacabana - Typically day and Praira de Copacobana. Beautiful beach, beautiful people. - Beaches Near Me - Rio de Janeiro, RJ

Watching the Olympics has made me think back to the great times we had in Rio only two years ago. We were lucky enough to be staying at an apartment some two hundred yards (if that) from this very beach. I'm not usually one for beaches, but this one is stunning. Perfect sand, everyone is family friendly and stunning views down the curved beach. The sellers who come past are friendly but not too pushy at the same time. The beach itself isn't too deep so you never feel like your stuck a hundred yards from the road etc, and more beachside bars and restaurants than you can shake a stick at. I personally preferred it over Ipanema, but that's only because I'm generally not fashionable nor pretty enough to fit in there. Copacabana had a much more relaxed vibe, one that made me feel right at home - the only time I can honestly say that I've ever really liked a beach. Can't wait to go back. read more

This iconic beach is gorgeous! There is so much activity on this world-famous 4km beach and promenade both day and night. The tourists and locals can enjoy walking, running, swimming, surfing, ocean kayaking, stand-up paddle board, volleyball, in-line skating, bicycling, soccer/football, and much more! There are small beach-side shops selling coconut water, caipirinhas, cold beer, fresh local fruit, and snacks. You can rent beach bikes. Catch some rays, relax, and enjoy! You will be humming the song!! (Leave your valuables at your hotel.) read more

See all

Very famous in the entire world. Go just to tell your friends or to have some fun, but it's not the best place in Rio. I'd rather go to Ipanema, Leblon or, if you have a car (or a friend with a car) and want to go to a real non-urban beach, go to Praia da Reserva. It's far away, but but an amazing place to visit like no one in the world. We have a similar beach in Niteroi, a city across the bay, on a beach called Camboinhas, if you want to. Tip: Avoid urban beaches, as long as you are looking for this specific experience. read more