Copacabana Beach Tours

Copacabana Beach featuring watersports as well as a small group of people
More than just a stretch of sand, Rio de Janeiro’s most famous beach is where locals and visitors from all over the world come to relax, strut, pose and play. 

Gleaming hotels and forested hills line the perfectly curved 2.5-mile (4-kilometer) stretch of Copacabana Beach, one of the most famous beaches in the world. Abutting one of Brazil’s highest density residential areas, this beach is nearly always filled to capacity, but that’s part of its charm. Swim in the cool waters of the Atlantic amongst thousands of other visitors, join in a game of soccer on the sand or just sit back on a beach chair and order snacks from a beach vendor and watch the passing parade.

Start your visit by touring the whole length of Copacabana Beach. A wide promenade lines the entire stretch. Walk, jog or cycle along the path while taking in everything the beach has to offer. Halfway along the promenade, see the Belmond Copacabana Palace, a five-star hotel built in 1923 in art deco style.

Copacabana Beach is a hive of constant activity with Rio de Janeiro residents enjoying sports on the sand. Watch a game of soccer, which is Brazil’s most popular sport, or join in a game of beach volleyball. The beach also has several weight-lifting areas, where locals come to tan and show off their muscles. Beach chairs and umbrellas are available for rent along the beach if you’d rather just relax.

Go to the southwestern tip of the beach to find Copacabana Fort, which is spread out along a rocky spit. Copacabana Fort was completed in 1914 and was retired as a defensive fortification in 1987. It’s now home to the Army Historical Museum where cannons and some other military equipment are on display. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday and there is a fee to enter.

The most exciting time to visit Copacabana Beach is on New Year’s Eve, when the beach is blanketed with over 2 million visitors who come to watch the world-famous fireworks show. Join the chaos on the sand, or reserve a room at a beachfront hotel for a more private vantage point.

Copacabana Beach is easy to get to from the city center via the metro or a bus. Parking can be difficult to find in the area, so public transportation is your best option for reaching the beach.

Browse tours and tickets to explore Copacabana Beach

Reviews of Copacabana Beach

4.4
Top Destination
5 - Excellent
340
" "5 - Excellent 52.147239263803684%
4 - Good
228
" "4 - Good 34.969325153374236%
3 - Okay
65
" "3 - Okay 9.969325153374234%
2 - Disappointing
12
" "2 - Disappointing 1.8404907975460123%
1 - Terrible
7
" "1 - Terrible 1.0736196319018405%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
May 28, 2019

I liked Ipanema better

2/5 - Disappointing

Verified traveler
May 22, 2019

Go to Ipanema. Copacabana is littered with beggars and people selling you stuff or eyeing your stuff every 20 seconds.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
May 5, 2019

BE VERY CAREFUL CROSSING THE STREET THERE. MOTORISTS ARE REALLY RUDE AND SEEM TO BE READY TO RUN YOU OVER. CROSS AT CORNERS WITH LIGHTS ONLY AND NEVER CROSS AGAINST THE LIGHT. OR YOU MAY DIE THERE...SO DO NOT PLAY

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Mar 19, 2019

I prefer Copacabana Beach over Ipanema. Less crowded and more upscale people.

4/5 - Good

Verified traveler
Mar 14, 2019

Bathrooms are few and far between.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveler
Jan 13, 2019

Stay at Copacabana Beach !!!!!!!!! I highly recommend it

Popular places to visit


Best Lodging Options Near Copacabana Beach

Hotel Atlantico Copacabana
Hotel Atlantico Copacabana
3 out of 5
Rua Siqueira Campos 90, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Hotel Atlantico Copacabana
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
5 out of 5
Avenida Atlantica 1702, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel, Rio de Janeiro
Hilton Copacabana Rio de Janeiro
Hilton Copacabana Rio de Janeiro
5 out of 5
Avenida Atlantica, 1020, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Hilton Copacabana Rio de Janeiro
Windsor Plaza Copacabana
Windsor Plaza Copacabana
4 out of 5
Ave Princesa Isabel 263 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Windsor Plaza Copacabana
Hotel Atlântico Rio
Hotel Atlântico Rio
3.5 out of 5
Rua Xavier da Silveira, 112, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Hotel Atlântico Rio
PortoBay Rio de Janeiro
PortoBay Rio de Janeiro
4 out of 5
Avenida Atlântica, 1500, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
PortoBay Rio de Janeiro
Royal Rio Palace Hotel
Royal Rio Palace Hotel
4 out of 5
Rua Duvivier 82 Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Royal Rio Palace Hotel
Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
4 out of 5
Avenida Atlantica 1800, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, RJ
Windsor Excelsior Copacabana
Windsor California Copacabana
Windsor California Copacabana
4 out of 5
Avenida Atlantica, 2616, Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro
Windsor California Copacabana
Lowest nightly price found within the past 24 hours based on a 1 night stay for 2 adults. Prices and availability subject to change. Additional terms may apply.