Copacabana or “Copa” for the Cariocas, is our “Princesinha do Mar” (Little Princess of the Sea). It is a Carioca classic, the heart of the South Zone and a beach full of personality! Undoubtedly, it is also one of the most known beaches in the world. And it definitely deserved a post entirely dedicated to it.
This is, therefore, our Ultimate guide to enjoy Copacabana Beach. Here you will find all the information you need to make your days in Copacabana occupied with what this beach has to offer.
** Do not forget to take a look at our map at the end of your reading, with all the spots indicated in this post. Click here to access it!
History
Copacabana Beach is world famous for its beach sidewalk with waves drawn in Portuguese stones, for its calm waters, clear sands and the beauty of its landscape. With a little more than 4 km in length, Copacabana Beach is always full of tourists, locals, and visitors. At new years, it attracts a crowd for its traditional fireworks display and, throughout the year, is the place of various events, such as national and international concerts. However, it has not always been so.
In the 19th century, before the construction of the tunnels connecting Copacabana to the Botafogo neighborhood and the expansion of tram lines, Copacabana Beach was a quiet summer holiday neighborhood for the benefit of the wealthiest Cariocas of the time. Only in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, with the development of sanitation systems that made it possible to clean the beaches; the arrival of the trams and the opening of several tunnels linking the beach to the center; is that Copacabana became more accessible to the population.
Atlântica avenue, which borders the beach, and its famous boardwalk were inaugurated in 1906 by then-Mayor Pereira Passos. Between 1908 and 1914, the Church of Our Lady of Copacabana, which was at the end of the beach and named after the neighborhood and the beach, was demolished to give way to the current Copacabana Fortress. Thus, little by little the area was being populated, gaining streets and houses. Until in 1923, when the Hotel Copacabana Palace was inaugurated, that immediately became a symbol of the city. Throughout the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, the beach lived its golden age when it became the city’s most crowded beach, nicknamed “little princess” and constant visits by celebrities from all over the world.
–> Did you know that Walt Disney created one of his characters inside the Copacabana Palace hotel? Read our post “Zé Carioca, a carioca in Disney `s universe” and find out more.
The current curvilinear style of the sidewalk was delineated from 1970 with the increase of sand strip, the extension of the slopes of the border and with the work of the most famous Brazilian landscaper Burle Marx. In his project, he kept the original design of the sidewalk, but increased the curves and maintained the parallelism with the waves of the sea, implanted in the reform of the 30s (the waves were previously perpendicular to the length of the sidewalk).
Infrastructure
Besides being the most famous boardwalk in the city, it is also the one that provides more infrastructure compared to the other Rio beach boardwalks.
Bathrooms and Showers:
Throughout the boardwalk, tourists and Cariocas have at their disposal toilets, changing rooms, showers, and lockers. The service is well signposted and paid to ensure the cleanliness and security of the sites. But it is really cheap: it only costs $ 2.60 to use the bathroom – price March of 2019. At the lifeguard towers, bathrooms are available for a $ 2.00 fee.
Free and improvised showers are also available on the sand. Often these showers are set up by the vendors from the stands on the beach to please and attract customers. It works! Bathers love it.
These same vendors are all along the sand strip offering the most different services: drinks, food, rental of beach chairs and beach umbrellas, and even massages!
Sports:
The sands are also filled with infrastructure for sports. Beach volleyball nets, frescobol courts and small gyms are enjoyed by residents and visitors to the neighborhood. On the boardwalk, you will find kiosks of companies renting bicycles and scooters. The cycle routes, by the way, are also always busy.
Restaurants:
There is ample supply of restaurants and kiosks on the boardwalk. Some establishments offer full breakfast, others offer live music late in the afternoon. Many have their own showers and toilets to offer to their guests. And there’s even kiosk with toys like polka dot pool and slide for the kids! Some have the Copacabana border as their only address, others are branches of famous franchises in the city, such as Chopp Brahma (the franchise of the most famous and common draft beer in the town), the Brazilian fast food chain Habib’s and Costello, specialized on grills. The options around there provide any need for anyone who wants to admire the beach full-time (and they charge for it). But, following, we will indicate the best options to eat well in the region.
Tourist Information:
Last but not least, on the sidewalk, between Siqueira Campos and Hilário de Gouveia streets, there is a tourist information kiosk, managed by the town hall. There, the attendants speak Portuguese, English, and Spanish (some also speak French) and help visitors with hospitality, offering maps and information of cultural, historical and sporting programs, as well as tours throughout the State of Rio de Janeiro.
Carioca Tip:
Despite the constant patrolling, like any other grand tourist attraction, Copacabana has many pickpockets. Be aware! Do not flash around your wallets, cameras and cell phones. –> Download our e-book Staying safe in Rio for other safety tips like this.
How to get there
Copacabana is the most populous neighborhood of the South Zone and is always full of locals, visitors, and tourists. Traffic follows this movement and is always chaotic. Therefore, the best way to get to the neighborhood and Copacabana Beach is by subway.
The neighborhood has three subway stations: Cardeal Arcoverde, Siqueira Campos and Cantagalo, all of them are less than a 10-minute walk far from the beach. Choose the Siqueira Campos station if you want to enjoy the most popular part of the beach. Choose Cardeal Arcoverde Station if you choose Leme Beach, at the section of lifeguard towers 1 and 2, which is a more family friendly beach with children playing everywhere. Choose Cantagalo Station if you want to go to Copacabana Fort or if you choose the narrowest and most empty sand strips (lifeguard towers 5 and 6).
Buses from the entire city pass through Copacabana, and so, this can be an option. Use the Moovit app to find which bus line best suits your location. But, remember that you can waste a lot of time in the neighborhood traffic.
If you are by car, it is possible to park both on Av. Atlântica (beach avenue) and on its cross streets. But depending on the time of day and the day of the week, finding a spot can be a difficult task. In the cross streets of Av. Atlântica, there are also private parking lots, but they are pretty expensive.
Where to eat
For breakfast or late afternoon snack, the best option is to go to the traditional Confeitaria Colombo or Café 18 at Forte de Copacabana (Copacabana Fortress). With the entire waterfront view right in front of you, it will be the best way to start your day.
** Confeitaria Colombo: Inside Copacabana Fortress. From Tuesday until Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 20 p.m.
** Café 18 do Forte: Inside Copacabana Fortress. From Tuesday until Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 20 p.m.
** Tickets to Copacabana Fortress: Adults – R$ 6,00 • Over 60 years old – R$ 3,00 • Studants – R$ 3,00
The two most Carioca places to eat before, after or during the beach are Sat’s and Cervantes, both are very close to Princesa Isabel Avenue that divides Copacabana Beach from Leme Beach.
Cervantes restaurant is a Carioca institution. That, even, has already won the title of Carioca Cultural Patrimony for being a place of democratic coexistence, which translates the ‘spirit’ of Rio to celebrate, to gather and, celebrate. Founded in 1955, Cervantes has gained fame because of its sandwiches, cold beer and for keeping its doors open all through the night! Over the years it is an obligatory stop for those who enjoy the night in Rio.
In addition to the sandwiches, there are traditional Brazilian dishes on the menu, including Filé a Osvaldo Aranha, a typical Carioca dish.
Galeto Sat’s is another Carioca institution with more than 50 years of service! It has a face of boteco (Brazilian bar), also works until the first hours of the morning and is an excellent option for those who like meat, sausage and chicken grilled cooked. And it’s important to say that in addition to the cold beer, they have a beautiful collection of cachaças!
** Cervantes Bar and Restaurant: Av. Prado Júnior, 335 – Lj. B. Bar: Barata Ribeiro Street, 7 – Store B. From Tuesday to Thursday: from 12 noon until 4 a.m. Fridays and Saturdays until 6 a.m. Sundays: from 12 noon until 2 a.m.
** Galeto Sat’s: Barata Ribeiro Street, 7 – Store D. Daily, from 12 noon until 05 a.m.
For those who are at the other end of the beach, at lifeguard tower 6, you can go to Venga Chiringuito. It is one of the branches of the first typically Spanish tapas bar in Rio de Janeiro. Founded in 2009, the chain has stood out and grown in recent years. The prices are higher, but the service is impeccable and the food delicious.
Other options are the Brasileirinho, in the lifeguard tower 5, which offers an extensive menu of Brazilian gastronomy, although it does not stand out in any specific way. For those who cannot resist Italian cuisine, go to Don Camillo (lifeguard tower 4). And for Arabic food, the Arab can be a good choice (lifeguard tower 3).
** Venga Chiringuito: Atlântica Av., 3880. From Monday to Wednesday, from 12 noon until midnight. Frrom Thursday to Saturday, from 12 noon until 01:30 a.m.
** Brasileirinho Copacabana: Atlântica Av., 3564. Daily, from 12 noon. until midnight.
** Don Camillo: Atlântica Av., 3056. Daily, from 12 noon until 01 a.m.
** Restaurante Arab: Atlântica Av., 1936. Monday, from 5 p.m. until midnight. From Tuesday to Sunday, from 9 a.m until midnight.
For those who like healthy food, the best choice is the Bibi Juices that has a branch in Miguel Lemos Street. Fast food supporters can choose between Bob’s and Habib’s, Brazilian fast-food restaurants.
** Bibi Sucos: Miguel Lemos Street, 31. Daily, das 8:30 a.m until midnight.
** Bob’s: Djalma Ulrich Street, 23. Daily, from 11 a.m until 11 p.m.
** Habib’s: Atlântica Av., 2242. Daily, from 9 a.m until midnight.
Carioca Tip:
If you are up to just having a drink and enjoy the view, the best option is to go to the famous rooftop bar of Pestana Hotel.
** Hotel Pestana: Atlântica Av., 2964. Access to the Rooftop: from Sunday to Thusday, from 7 p.m. until until midnight. Free Entrance. Fridays and Saturdays, from 7 p.m until 01 a.m. Entrance costs R$ 30,00.
Top Attractions
Multi-faceted, Copacabana Beach is much more than a place to sea bathe or sunbathe. It is full of attractions for a full day of sightseeing, and it is impossible to get bored there.
We suggest that you start with breakfast in Confeitaria Colombo. Walk around the sidewalk, past the sculptures of the musician Pixinguinha and the writer Carlos Drummond de Andrade. Choose your strip of sand, get some rest and take a sea bath. If you like to hike, walk to Mirante do Leme, past the Hotel Copacabana Palace or end your day on the rooftop of Pestana hotel. Hungry? Sat’s and Cervantes will be at your disposal at any time of day, starting at noon.
On this map here, we listed all the beach attractions mentioned in this post. Choose your favorite stops and enjoy! (And remember, if you need help, we can create a custom itinerary for you).
Soon, each of these points will have a specific article. Follow us on Instagram to stay tuned on our posts.
Carioca Tip:
Copacabana is particularly crowded during Carnival and New Year’s fireworks display. If you intend to enjoy these parties, you will be in the ideal place. But if you prefer a quieter area, choose another neighborhood to stay in. Copacabana won`t be the right place for you.
Where to go from there?
If your time in the city is short and you need to save time, from the Fort of Copacabana you are a very close Arpoador stones, the stage for the favorite sunset of the Cariocas. Go there in the late afternoon!
Departing from Copacabana, it is also easy to continue walking to Botafogo and to Urca. Choose between a stroll through the Rio Sul Mall, a visit to Mirante do Pasmado or a beer in Mureta da Urca, one of Rio’s 10 must-see attractions.
See how much we can do in Copacabana !? No wonder Copacabana beach is one of the 10 best beaches in Rio de Janeiro, according to Cariocas. No wonder Copacabana makes us sigh. As Tom Jobim once said:
There are beautiful beaches full of light
None have the charm that you have
Your sands, your sky so beautiful
Your mermaids always smiling
Copacabana little prince of the sea
In the mornings you are life singing
And in the afternoon at the setting sun
It always leaves us missing it
Copacabana the eternal sea singer
When kissed you, got lost in love.
And today he is only murmuring to you
Copacabana, I will forever love you
(Copacabana – Tom Jobim – Listen this song here)
Pingback: Atrakcija Ria, plaža Kopakabana jedna je od najpoznatijih u celom svetu - Atraktiva.Net
Pingback: Samba Steps and Remote Work: Experiencing Carnival as a Digital Nomad in Rio - Cloud Connections
Pingback: Roteiro Gastronômico: Somebody Feed Phil | Rio de Janeiro by Cariocas