Beaches · Rio de Janeiro · Brazil
The best beaches in and near Rio de Janeiro
Where to swim and spend a beach day, and when the water is warm.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dennis G. Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
The best-known beach is Copacabana (Zona Sul, in the city). The sea is usually warm enough for a comfortable swim (21°C+) in January–December.
Key facts
- Beaches in this guide
- 7
- Swimming season
- January–December
- Warmest sea
- 26°C (79°F)
The beaches
Zona Sul, in the city · First-timers and people-watching
1.Copacabana
The 4 km arc from Leme to the fort, with kiosks, volleyball courts and the New Year's Eve fireworks; the surf can be rough.
Zona Sul, in the city · Beach culture and sunsets
2.Ipanema
Rio's most fashionable stretch, divided by lifeguard posts, with sunset views towards the Dois Irmãos peaks.
Zona Sul, in the city · Families
3.Leblon
The calmer western continuation of Ipanema, with a family area and baby play zone around Posto 12.
Urca, about 10 minutes by car from Botafogo · Calm water and a Sugarloaf combo
4.Praia Vermelha
A small sheltered beach below Sugarloaf with calmer water and the cable-car station at one end.
About 20 km west of Ipanema · Space and long walks
5.Barra da Tijuca
An 18 km open beach with wide sand, kiosks and far fewer crowds than the Zona Sul.
About 40 km west of Ipanema · Surfers and nature
6.Prainha
A surf beach in a small environmental park, enclosed by forested hills, with limited facilities.
About 45 km west of Ipanema · Escaping the city
7.Grumari
Undeveloped reddish sand in a protected area with a few kiosks, popular for weekend escapes from the city.
Sea temperature by month
| Month | Sea | Air high |
|---|---|---|
| January | 25°C (77°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| February | 26°C (79°F) | 30°C (86°F) |
| March | 26°C (79°F) | 29°C (84°F) |
| April | 25°C (77°F) | 28°C (82°F) |
| May | 24°C (75°F) | 26°C (79°F) |
| June | 23°C (73°F) | 25°C (77°F) |
| July | 22°C (72°F) | 25°C (77°F) |
| August | 22°C (72°F) | 26°C (79°F) |
| September | 22°C (72°F) | 25°C (77°F) |
| October | 22°C (72°F) | 26°C (79°F) |
| November | 23°C (73°F) | 27°C (81°F) |
| December | 24°C (75°F) | 29°C (84°F) |
Staying near the beach
$$ · Best for first-timers, budget, nightlife and beach
Copacabana
Copacabana's 4 km beach is lined by the hotels and kiosks of Avenida Atlântica, with shops, juice bars and restaurants along Avenida Nossa Senhora de Copacabana one block back. It has the widest range of hotels at every price, several Metrô stations and easy access to Sugarloaf and Ipanema, though it is noisier and more worn than its neighbours.
- Good
- Huge hotel choice at all prices; Metrô stations along its length; Lively beachfront in the evenings
- Watch out
- Some side streets feel run-down; Petty theft on the beach and quiet streets after dark
- Nearby
- Copacabana Beach, Copacabana Fort, Leme, Arpoador
Getting to the beaches
- Metro — MetrôRio Line 1 runs from Ipanema (General Osório) through Copacabana, Botafogo and Centro to Tijuca; Line 4 continues west to Leblon, São Conrado and Barra da Tijuca, and Line 2 serves the Maracanã.
- Tram — The VLT light rail links Santos Dumont Airport, Praça XV, Praça Mauá and the Museum of Tomorrow, the Novo Rio bus station and Central do Brasil.
- Ferry — Ferries from Praça XV cross Guanabara Bay to Niterói in about 20 minutes and also serve car-free Paquetá Island.
Beach-weather months
Days of 24°C (75°F) or more with no more than nine rainy days come in April–October. None of them is peak season, so beaches stay manageable.
Beach safety
Phone snatching and petty theft are the main risks, especially on beaches, in Centro and on quiet streets after dark: carry little to the beach, keep phones out of sight and use ride-hailing at night. Strong rip currents occur on the open-ocean beaches, so swim near the lifeguard posts. Swim at lifeguarded beaches where possible and follow local flag warnings.
Questions travellers ask
+Does Rio de Janeiro have beaches?
Yes: Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon, Praia Vermelha, Barra da Tijuca, Prainha and Grumari.
+When is the sea warm enough to swim in Rio de Janeiro?
Usually January–December, when the sea averages 21°C or more.
+What is the best beach near Rio de Janeiro?
Copacabana: The 4 km arc from Leme to the fort, with kiosks, volleyball courts and the New Year's Eve fireworks; the surf can be rough.