Copacabana is a bairro (neighborhood) in Rio de Janeiro: in the South Zone of the city. Its 4 km…read more(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.

We stayed at the hotel across the street (Rio Othon) which was nice since we had a designated area…read moreof 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.

This is the perfect area to watch the sunset along the Rio de Janeiro shore line. You can sit up on…read morethe rocks and watch the sun go down while admiring the waves and sounds of the ocean. You can find this area right in the middle of Ipanema and copacabana beach. Honestly if you're a sunset person Ipanema and Praia so Arpoador is where you need to be because the buildings on copacabana beach will disappoint you. Don't worry about bringing a cooler filled with drinks because you can find sellers up along the rocks. Although, I would recommend bringing a towel to sit on for sure and maybe a radio with tunes of your choice. This could legit be a perfect area to take your date and guess what? It's free! So definitely add this to your itinerary whenever you're in Rio de Janeiro .

This is actually a small beach that is nestled between Copacabana and Ipanema. The people hanging…read moreout there were mostly locals when I was there. As a beach, this spot is nothing special. However, the Arpoador rock formation is the reason to stop by. Climb to the edge of this rock and you will get amazing views of the sunset or sunrise. It's a great place to just sit and relax.

Yelp Review 2025 #193:…read more Between Copacabana, Botafogo and Ipanema - I still can't decide which neighborhood I like most. Each place has its own character and charm. I started my day on the beach in Copacabana and I took a leisurely walk to Ipanema which took under 45 minutes. What a pleasant walk that was. People watching, sightseeing and just enjoying a beautiful day by the beach. There's a reason why there are songs about Copacabana and Ipanema. They're both beautiful places and the Cariocas are very proud of them. Copacabana has more beach activities: volleyball, pickleball, futebol, surfing, swimming, and any water sport you can think of. Ipanema is more chill with people sunbathing, walking and playing with their dogs. In short, if you want less people and chill vibes, go to Ipanema.

So in rio there are two big famous beaches One is…read moreCopacabana which is the main tourist beach and you see cariocas and vendors hustling And mainly for young folks or singles or partying This one is Ipanema which is next door and this is where all the locals come to and it's packed and more family oriented and relaxed It's a nice vibe

My absolute favorite beach in Rio to relax! It's small, intimate & i personally felt like it was…read morethe safest. Not only is the view of the Sugarloaf breathtaking but the sand texture is a little heavier (looks like brown sugar) and it's extremely soft! There were people fishing, kayaking & paddle boarding (they have people renting the equipment). Other locals also rent chairs and can offer food and drinks if you'd like. At one side of the beach you're also able to find a restaurant and a bank.

I enjoyed morning walk at the beach, and watching beach soccer in the afternoon, even enjoyed…read morewatching it from hotel window.

I feel lucky to have had friends in Rio that helped me to have more of a local experience than had…read moreI gone into my trip blindly and by myself. Stumbling on Praia da Bica is evidence of the power of local knowledge. It was so nice to get out of the hustle and bustle of Ipanema and check out some other parts of the city. Whereas Ipanema Beach is overwhelming with the throngs of people and thongs of fabric, Bica Beach is, comparatively chiller and more relaxed. I liken it from going from South Beach to Fort Lauderdale Beach (or, maybe, even down to the Keys). I came here at night time which is the perfect time of day to enjoy the kiosks and restaurants that dot the beachfront. Walking down this malecon, I saw kids playing soccer, beach bums strumming guitar, folks drinking out of coconuts and taking down large beers... basically, everyone was getting a serious chill on. The stretch of kiosks went as far as the eye can see, so if you're trying to see it all, you might walk for a little while. It was night time, so there was no near nudity to be found -- which was fine with me. The entire vibe was so different from my previous beach experiences in Rio that I found myself wanting to melt into a chair with a beer and people watch... or look at the lights along the beach or in the distance... while I listened to music... or, the sound of the waves gently crashing into the beach. It's the quiet normalcy of Praia da Bica that I most remember and cherish. I would, gladly, go back for another evening of relaxation, good company and cold beer.

While in Rio stayed in Ipanema - skip that beach, dirty/litter but more 'happening'. Much prefer a…read morequick Uber ride over to Leblon, clean and less hagglers on the beach. Great eats beachside - with prime shaded spots for plenty of people watching.

I was staying in Copacabana, but had been on the other end of RJ earlier that day and ended up in…read moreLeblon and worked my way up. I think this is my favorite out of the three and where I spent most of my beach time at. While I hadn't tried to go to Copacabana or Ipanema during the same hours, I found Leblon to be less crowded which I personally liked. It felt calmer, more relaxing here. You can rent a chair and umbrella for a day R$20 or R$40 (forgot) at the one I rented from. They help you set everything up and ask you where you would like to sit. You'll also have the chance to order a drink from their stand and they'll bring it out to you. I've paid both in the beginning and at the end - not sure what is the usual. They will usually come to check up on you I think or at least mine did. If you had agua de coco, they say you can leave it on the beach and there will be a team of people with a truck to pick them up at some point throughout the day (yes, I saw them). You'll see and get approached by many walking vendors on the beach. At first I was weary of some trying to sell me things I didn't want, but really I think it's great and I like how they're there. I've been told that these are all side hustlers trying to make an extra buck, but there are some that actually have good stuff. For example, I had bought sterling silver jewelry two separate times from the same artists, different days on Leblon Beach. I have tried some of the food / snacks and the Yerba mate tea. I wish I had tried all or more of the food vendors. I think I was hesitant b/c I wasn't sure how the food would be ok if they'd been walking all day with it, but hot food really does stay hot cause they carry them in insulated bags. You'll see vendors carrying swimwear, towels, sunscreen, sunglasses, macrame jewelry and accessories, and food of all kinds (burgers, shrimp, corn, salgados, e doces). Always be cognizant of your belongings and those who are around you. I never had any issues, but I've heard stories of people getting robbed before - they either work in teams of two or more sometimes and might try to distract you while the other tries to pickpocket you or steal your stuff. Never leave your valuables unattended if you plan to go into the water. When you're ready to leave, just leave everything where it was. The crew picks everything up throughout / towards the end of the day. If you need to use the restroom, there are public restrooms available for a fee. The one I went to was R$5 I think. There are areas to clean off the ocean water and sand - outdoor showers (they usually keep running all day) and then smaller ones by the steps to the sidewalk for your feet, etc. If you're into volleyball, you can also join a group to play for a fee. If you workout, there are various workout bars (not sure what to call them) spaced amongst the sidewalks of the beach and of course, you will see joggers / runners on the road along with cyclists and people riding Itaú bikes along the path. I rented the Itaú bikes a couple times and one day I road it from Copacabana to Leblon and back. Use your app to locate the many bike docking stations. People usually start filtering out around 7pm. There's a good view of Dois Irmãos. Be sure you have sunscreen and sun protection cause even on cloudy days could you possibly get a bad sun tan (I sure did, lol and I still have an outline from the top I was wearing *crying emoji face*).

For many the main postcard of Rio de Janeiro, ahead of any beach landscape, Lagoa Rodrigo de…read moreFreitas, or only the lagoon, is a breathtaking scenery from anywhere around it. There is a shared cycle and walking path which is encrusted with restaurants and also pertain some seats for contemplating the view or just to rest. You also have a pedaloo spot, where you can hire them to have a more inner experience at the venue, literally, and several sports courts, ranging to skating and tennis to basketball and baseball. There are many popular spots where people traditionally organize their own picnics for free. You can have the Corcovado view holding the Christ monument, the Dois irmãos (two brothers) mountains, which are equally beautiful and also the Pedra da Gávea (Gávea rock), a breathtaking huge flat rock where people do paragliding. You can also check my Yelp review on the lagoon complex, where you can find several eating options and a cinema with several exhibiting rooms. The stands for the rowing competitors held at the Lagoa Rodrigo de Freitas are can also be found at this very complex.

Rodrigo de Freitas is a huge lake that is in the middle of Rio surrounded by Copacabana, Ipanema,…read moreand Leblon. The surrounding paths around the lake are much quieter than the beach areas of the city. It is a good area to go jogging, bike riding, and there are swan pedal boats for rental too. I also noticed a few restaurants and food carts along the lakefront as well. I wouldn't call this place a must see for visitors, but you should pass by in a car to see what it looks like. The lake is also supposedly very polluted however, so it would be advisable to avoid swimming or jumping in.

Beach ain't that great, and it's pretty empty compared to the others, but it has great views of…read moreSugarloaf Mountain. Best for those who just want a quiet time at the beach, although be warned, since this is Brazil, sports are being played on the beach rather often.