Thing to do
Ipanema Beach
A 2.6-kilometre beach between Arpoador and Leblon, celebrated in The Girl from Ipanema and framed by the twin peaks of Dois Irmãos.
Copacabana Beach
A 4-kilometre curve of white sand along Avenida Atlântica, framed by Roberto Burle Marx's wave-patterned promenade and two historic forts.
At a glance
- Type
- City beach and promenade
- Area
- Copacabana, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Good to know
- Free
- Beach kiosks
- Cycle path
- Lifeguard posts
- Car-free road on Sundays and holidays
Why we recommend it
Copacabana Beach runs for just over four kilometres along Avenida Atlântica, a long curve of white sand between the Leme end in the north and the Copacabana Fort in the south.
The beach is divided by lifeguard posts, which first appeared in 1936. Posto 1 is at the Leme end, Copacabana proper runs from Posto 2 to Posto 6, and the southern end is guarded by the Forte de Copacabana, built between 1908 and 1914 on the site of a demolished church. At the opposite end stands the older Forte Duque de Caxias in Leme, dating from 1779. The beach's name comes from a chapel that once held a replica of Our Lady of Copacabana, the patron saint of Bolivia.
The promenade is a landmark in its own right. The black and white Portuguese paving in a wave pattern dates from the 1930s, and when Avenida Atlântica was widened in the 1970s the landscape designer Roberto Burle Marx guided the new design of the four-kilometre calçadão. Kiosks and a cycle path line the sand, and on Sundays and public holidays one side of the six-lane avenue is closed to cars and given over to walkers, runners and cyclists.
Copacabana is also where Rio celebrates. The New Year's Eve party, held on the beach since the 1950s, brings an estimated two million people for a fireworks display of 15 to 20 minutes, a tradition since 1976. The beach has hosted 11 of the 15 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cups, the beach volleyball, marathon swimming and triathlon of the 2016 Olympics, and some of the largest concerts ever staged, from Rod Stewart in 1994 to Madonna on 4 May 2024.
The sea here faces the open Atlantic, and the beach is sometimes hit by ressacas, rough swells that once reached the streets behind it until sand was added in the 1970s. Swim near a lifeguard post and follow their flags.
Three metro stations serve the neighbourhood, Cardeal Arcoverde, Siqueira Campos and Cantagalo, and more than 40 bus routes pass through. The Copacabana Palace, which opened facing the sand on 13 August 1923, is the most famous building on the seafront, and Confeitaria Colombo has a branch inside the Copacabana Fort.
Copacabana Beach FAQs
How long is Copacabana Beach?
Just over four kilometres, between Leme and the Copacabana Fort.
Which metro stations serve Copacabana?
Cardeal Arcoverde, Siqueira Campos and Cantagalo.
Who designed the wave promenade?
The wave paving dates from the 1930s, and Roberto Burle Marx guided the design of the 1970s calçadão.
Is the road closed on Sundays?
Yes. One side of Avenida Atlântica closes to cars on Sundays and public holidays.
Is it safe to swim?
The beach faces the open Atlantic and can have rough swells, so swim near a lifeguard post and follow their flags.
What happens on New Year's Eve?
About two million people gather for a fireworks display that has been held since 1976.
What are the forts at each end?
The Forte de Copacabana, built 1908-1914, in the south and the Forte Duque de Caxias, from 1779, in Leme.
Where does the name come from?
From a chapel with a replica of Our Lady of Copacabana, the patron saint of Bolivia.