Discover the 13 best beaches in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Rio de Janeiro is known worldwide as a summer destination, so today we are talking all about beaches.
I was born and raised in Rio, so I have been to every one of the beaches on this list (and also others that did not make it to the top ranking).
So, if you are looking for a local perspective, here are the 13 best beaches in Rio de Janeiro, with a full description of why I picked each.
In the end, I also added 2 bonus destinations that are only known by the locals!
13 Best beaches in Rio de Janeiro
Rio is a coastal city so there are a lot of beaches to pick from. I hope this list will come in handy to help you plan your trip.
Picking the best beaches in Rio was not an easy task! I did my best to provide a list that goes beyond the mainstream tourism information, adding some of my experience as a local in Rio.
1. Copacabana Beach – the most famous beach in Rio de Janeiro
Let’s start this list with the most obvious choice: Copacabana.
Copacabana Beach is not only the most famous beach in Rio de Janeiro but one of the most famous beaches in the world, period.
Copacabana is located in the neighborhood of the same name (as you will see is the case for most of the beaches in Rio).
Copacabana Beach is 4 km long. It is a great beach to go sunbathing or enjoy the day at the beach. It has a large stretch of sand, so it can accommodate a lot of people. When I say a lot, I mean REALLY a lot.
Copacabana Beach is popular not only amongst the tourists but also the locals. On a hot summer day, it can get so crowded that you will struggle to find a space in the sand to set up your stuff. However, it’s a really nice beach to hang out and the ocean here is typically very calm.
Pro tip: Copacabana Beach is also where a lot of cool public events happen throughout the year. The most famous event is New Year’s Eve which is celebrated with massive concerts and fireworks.
Read also: Where to stay in Copacabana
2. Ipanema Beach – One of the local’s most favorite beaches in Rio
Ipanema Beach is probably the second most popular beach in Rio de Janeiro. It is located next to Copacabana.
Ipanema Beach is approximately 2 km long. One of the things I love the most about it is the mountain views you have on the far end. On the right, you can see the iconic Dois Irmãos peaks.
Ipanema Beach faces the open ocean, which means it is a great spot for surfers. The water normally gets deep very quickly, which makes great waves.
In my opinion, Ipanema is the best beach in Rio de Janeiro, for locals and foreigners.
Read also:
3. Arpoador Beach – the best spot for sunset
From Ipanema Beach, if you look to your left, you will see a large rock that marks the end of the beach. That is Arpoador.
The beach right under the rocks is called Arpoador Beach. If we are being technical about it, it is technically still part of Ipanema Beach because there aren’t any clear divisions, but here in Rio, everyone knows that little part as Arpoador Beach.
Arpoador is widely known as the best spot in Rio to watch the sunset. I highly recommend going there at least once during your trip to Rio, because the views are truly unbeatable!
Usually, as the sun goes down, people clap as if it is a concert!
Bonus tip: on the other side of Arpoador, there is a small beach called Diabo Beach (Devil’s Beach). It is super small so it is usually quite empty.
4. Leblon Beach
Leblon Beach is located between Ipanema and the Dois Irmãos peak.
Leblon is known as a more sophisticated (and expensive) neighborhood in Rio de Janeiro, and the beach is a little bit of that as well. It is usually less crowded than Ipanema, even though they are literally side by side.
Leblon is also a beach that faces the open ocean, so it is common to see surfers and large waves around here.
One thing I personally like about Leblon Beach is that they have quite a few good beach kiosks that turn into nice bars in the evening.
5. Leme Beach – the local part of Copacabana Beach
Leme Beach is located at the very end of Copacabana Beach.
It is a short beach, but it is a very local hotspot. Usually, the tourists get all crammed in the middle of Copacabana Beach while the locals go to Leme which is often overlooked.
Leme Beach also has a long sand stretch, which is great. You will see a lot of people playing footvolley around here.
Another thing about Leme Beach is that there are no subway stations nearby, which helps to keep it less crowded than the other beaches that are very easy to access by subway.
6. Vermelha Beach – small but picturesque beach in Urca
Vermelha Beach is not a destination normally mentioned in most travel guides. I think that is because its presence is overshined by the Sugar Loaf, which is right next to it.
Vermelha Beach is technically part of the neighborhood called Urca and it is nicely nestled between two mountains. It is a small sandy beach, easily reachable by car.
It is a considerably emptier beach than Ipanema and Copacabana.
What I love about Vermelha Beach is that you have a very unique view of Sugar Loaf Mountain, since the beach is located almost underneath it.
Pro tip: There is a nice walking trail called “Pista Cláudio Coutinho” that starts right on the left side of the beach and it has some incredible views.
Read also: Hiking the Sugar Loaf Mountain
7. São Conrado Beach – the best place for paragliding in Rio
São Conrado is the neighborhood located between Leblon and Barra da Tijuca. It marks the division between the South Zone (Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, etc) and the West Zone (Barra da Tijuca, Recreio).
However, the fact that probably makes São Conrado most famous is that it is where Rocinha, one of the largest favelas in Rio, is located.
São Conrado neighborhood is not popular amongst tourists unless they want to visit Rocinha. Honestly, it is also not a neighborhood I spend time in either. We normally say it is just a connecting neighborhood (unless you live there, of course).
São Conrado Beach faces the open ocean and it is quite pleasant and fairly empty, compared to its neighbors. The coolest thing about São Conrado Beach, though, is that it is the landing spot when you go paragliding from Pedra Bonita.
This is one of the most iconic spots for paragliding over Rio! If this is something you want to do during your trip, I highly recommend doing it here in São Conrado! Here are my recommended tours:
8. Barra da Tijuca Beach – the best beach for a day trip
Barra da Tijuca is a more residential neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro. This one has a special place for me because it is where I come from, so I really love this beach.
Barra Beach is quite long, with over 14 km in length. For this reason, I would consider it the best beach in Rio for just enjoying the day and sunbathing. Since it is quite long, it gets proportionally less crowded than Copacabana and Ipanema.
There are parts of it that are more crowded than the others, because people go to specific sections they like. So, if you walk around, it is quite easy to find empty places to spend the day.
One of the most popular spots in Barra da Tijuca Beach is around the kiosk named Pepe. We even call it “Pepe Beach” sometimes, even though it is just a section of the same beach.
I highly recommend checking it out if you will be in the area, it has a really nice vibe.
Read also: Hiking Pedra da Gávea
9. Joatinga Beach – the most photogenic beach in Rio de Janeiro
Joatinga is a small beach located between Barra and São Conrado, accessible only through a small mountain road.
It is quite secluded, which makes it a perfect spot to spend the day. Joatinga Beach is also very popular amongst local surfers because it has some really nice waves.
One thing to know about Joatinga Beach is that even though it is beautiful, the stretch of sand is really small so only a handful of people fit there. During the day, as the tide goes up, even less of the beach becomes available.
For this reason, Joatinga can get really crowded during hot summer days. I highly recommend arriving early!
Pro tip: Even though there is always at least one vendor in Joatinga, the options for food and drinks are very few. I recommend bringing snacks and at least a water bottle with you.
10. Reserva Beach – a natural reserve and safe haven in Rio
Reserva is the Beach located right after Barra da Tijuca. As the name suggests, this beach is part of a natural reserve that extends through about 10 km of the coast.
Since this part of the beach is protected, there are almost no kiosks, no parking places, or bus stops. The best way to come here is by cycling (there is a cycling path during the whole extension of the reserve) or walking from the nearest parking.
As a consequence, Reserva Beach is very empty. It is a true paradise in Rio.
I personally love this part of Rio, it is very unexplored and raw, due to the lack of infrastructure. One of my favorite things to do on a Sunday morning is go for a long walk along Reserva Beach through the sand.
Read also: Best things to do in Rio de Janeiro
11. Recreio Beach – a very local beach
Continuing on our journey, after Reserva you will land in Recreio Beach.
This beach is very out of the way of most tourists, so it is known as a local spot. In fact, it is out of the way even for us who live in Rio, so it is mostly the people who live around the area that go to the beach in Recreio.
It is a nice and pleasant beach, with a lot of space in the sand. One of the coolest things about Recreio Beach is Pedra do Pontal, which is a large rock and unique viewpoint in Rio.
There is a hike where you can go to the very top of Pedra do Pontal and you’ll have a super unique view, with Recreio on one side and Macumba on the other. Just be careful, because the hike can be tricky!
Bonus tip: As I’ve hinted above, after Recreio Beach you can find Macumba, another very local beach. This beach is quite empty but it is very known for surfing. In fact, there are a few competitions hosted here and a few surfing hostels in the vicinity.
12. Prainha Beach – a surfer’s paradise in Rio
Prainha Beach is known as the best surfing spot in Rio. There are international championships held here every year.
The only way to get to Prainha is by car because there is no public transport that comes all the way here. This means that this is a very secluded beach, which is something I love!
Prainha Beach has a half-moon shape which is best seen from the viewpoints located by the side of the road leading to it.
Pro tip: There is a really nice restaurant located on the right side of Prainha – check the location here. The first picture above was taken from this place.
13. Grumari Beach – one of the most remote beaches in Rio
If you continue down the road from Prainha, you will reach Grumari Beach.
With a very long stretch of sand, this is one of the most remote beaches in Rio de Janeiro. This is a very raw beach, unlike the busy areas like Ipanema and Copacabana.
Here, there are only a couple of kiosks by the beach. You can go for meters without seeing another soul if you come to Grumari during the week. On the weekends, it is popular but doesn’t get nearly as busy as the beaches at the top of this list.
I personally love Grumari for this reason. It is the true tropical paradise you see in the movies and picture Rio to be. A beautiful, empty white-sand beach just for you.
Bonus: Secreto Beach
Secreto Beach is literally a local secret in Rio. It is a small sand bay with crystal water pools formed between the rocks.
It got its name because it is not easy to find it. That is because the beach is only formed during the low tide. When the tide is high, the water overtakes the rocks and the beach disappears. This is the approximate location on Maps.
Secreto Beach is also hard to reach from a logistics point of view. It is located between Macumba and Prainha, but there is no clear access to it. You can get there by walking from Macumba through the rocks during low tide, or you can climb down the cliff wall from the road (but it’s super steep!).
This is not exactly an official beach. It doesn’t have lifeguards, vendors or anything. If you want to explore it, you will be going at your own risk. So, please make sure you pay attention to the tide!
On a day with good weather conditions, Secreto Beach can be a true paradise.
Bonus: Abricó Beach
Abricó Beach is the most famous nudist beach in Rio de Janeiro.
It is located right before Grumari Beach, around an area covered by forest. It is quite secluded and far away from the most popular beaches mentioned above, so people don’t stumble upon it by mistake.
Abricó is a very beautiful beach in Rio. It combines the raw forest and the beach, making a unique sight.
Pro tip: As with most nudist beaches, nudism isn’t exactly obligatory but if you decide to go there, you must be comfortable with at least seeing other people embrace it.
Best beaches in the State of Rio de Janeiro
If you are looking for areas with good beaches in the wider state of Rio, these are my recommendations:
- Niteroi – my favorite is Itacoatiara Beach, which also has a really cool hike and viewpoint
- Ilha Grande – a car-free island off the coast of Rio
- Arraial do Cabo – here you will find beaches with water as blue as the Caribbean Sea
- Buzios – this is where a lot of the locals have their vacation houses
- Paraty – a historical town located southern down the state with a beautiful bay and islands
- Angra dos Reis – one of the best areas close to Rio to go island-hopping by boat
FAQ – Questions about the beaches in Rio de Janeiro
Can you swim on the beaches in Rio?
Absolutely! In fact, you SHOULD swim on the beaches in Rio. We all do. Otherwise, you will be missing out.
All of the beaches listed on this list are safe for swimming because they all face the ocean. The beaches in Rio that may not be safe for swimming are the ones that face Guanabara Bay, which is often highly polluted.
Which beach is better, Ipanema or Copacabana?
Everyone has a different opinion about this.
For me, Ipanema Beach is better than Copacabana because it faces the open ocean, it is less crowded, and it has an incredible view of the Dois Irmãos.
However, I know a lot of people who prefer Copacabana Beach.
Read here a comparison between Copacabana and Ipanema.
Are the beaches in Rio de Janeiro safe?
Yes, it is safe to go to the beach in Rio.
If it wasn’t safe, there wouldn’t be so many people on the beach on every sunny day!
Jokes aside, the one thing you need to be aware of when going to the beach in Rio is to always keep an eye on your belongings.
I know that here in Europe, a lot of people leave their things unattended when going swimming in the water, but please don’t do that on the beach in Rio.
If you are within a larger group, just take turns going in the water or ask the person next to you to keep an eye on your stuff.
I would also recommend leaving anything very valuable at home. The beach is not the best place to come with your jewelry, expensive electronics, etc.
Do I have to pay to go to the beach in Rio de Janeiro?
No, the beaches in Rio de Janeiro are public and can be accessed for free. In fact, it is illegal to charge for beach access in Brazil.
However, you will have to pay if you want to rent a beach chair or umbrella.
I recommend you always have some cash with you when going to the beach, so you can buy drinks from the vendors or kiosks, and pay for the chair if you want one.
Can you drink alcohol on the beach in Rio?
Yes, in fact, you will see that alcohol is sold everywhere around the beach in Rio. On the kiosks, by beach vendors, and in the stores.
Here in Brazil, you are allowed to drink alcohol outside on the street without a problem.
A lot of people bring their own coolers to the beach with drinks when they go to the beach for the day.
Other guides about traveling to Rio de Janeiro
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Brazil, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Brazil on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
- Personalized itinerary: We can create a travel plan tailored to your wishes!
- Rio de Janeiro map: All of our favorite places on one map.
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