Top 10 Beaches in Rio de Janeiro: traditional & alternative

February 12, 2019 rdj4u

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There are beaches in Rio de Janeiro for everyone. From the tourist favourite Copacabana to the Carioca haunt of Leme, preferred by locals, this is a comprehensive beach guide for you! A famous Brazilian song by Tim Maia says “from Leme to Pontal: there’s nothing like it”, making a reference to two beaches in Rio de Janeiro located on opposite ends of the city. And it is true!

Each beach has its charm, and we hope this guide of Rio beaches helps you choose your favourite!

Traditional beaches in Rio de Janeiro

1. Leme Beach

Famed for its amazing sunset views, Leme is the first beach facing the open sea (as opposed to those inside Guanabara Bay, like Urca, Botafogo and Flamengo). Like most of the beaches in Rio, Praia do Leme is named after the neighbourhood it is in. You may see some tourists here because it is close to Copacabana, but it is mainly a local’s place, and very much family orientated, frequented by young people and families that live nearby.

Rio's beaches: view of beach of Leme and Copacabana / Source

2. Copacabana Beach

Probably the most famous beach in Rio, the Praia de Copacabana is a must-see on any trip to Rio. It is known as the most democratic beach in Rio, since people from all social classes enjoy it together and tourists from the entire world also pack out its large sandy beach. At the right side of the beach, the water is more tranquil and the view is the best. Almost all beaches in Rio are divided between postos - life guard stations where you'll also find bathrooms. The most crowded part of Copacabana Beach is Posto 6, right on the limit with Ipanema.

Praia de Copacabana: the queen of Rio's beaches / Source

3. Ipanema Beach

Anyone who heard the famous song “Garota de Ipanema” might have wondered what was the source of such inspiration in real life. If you go to Ipanema Beach, you may actually have a taste of it. It is one of the most famous beaches in Rio and the one that draws the youngest crowd, with lots of “girls from Ipanema”. The beach is large with a diversity of crowds and styles. Some main areas are:

- Arpoador Beach

Located at the limit with Copacabana, this is the preferred place for surfers and it is also the best spot to watch the sunset or have a night swim.

- Ipanema Posto 8

This is the space dedicated to the LBGTQ public, that rock the place every weekend. Super fun, this is a great beach for open minded travellers!

- Ipanema Posto 9

If you want to be on the center of everything, Posto 9 is "the place to be". This stretch of beach is, traditionally, where things happened and it became a symbol of the carioca lifestyle. However, as it became very popular, most of the trendsetters are moving left to Coqueirão, an area of Praia de Ipanema marked by a coconut tree higher than all the others).

Beaches in Rio de Janeiro - Ipanema Beach Posto 9 / Source

4. Leblon Beach

Leblon is mainly a family beach, much more tranquil than its neighbour Ipanema. Praia do Leblon is perfect for tourists travelling to Rio with kids or for those travellers who just want to spend some relaxing hours reading a book on the beach.

Leblon beach: a place to relax with your family / Source

Alternative Beaches in Rio de Janeiro

5. São Conrado Beach

This is the last neighbourhood in the Zona Sul (South Zone of Rio), which means it is the last one with easy access for a tourist without car. São Conrado has a beach mainly frequented by locals, few tourists come here, except to try adventure sports like hiking Pedra da Gávea or Tandem Hang-gliding. From the beach, you will have an impressive view to Favela da Rocinha and the incredible rocky mountains on both sides of it.

Asa Delta or Tandem Hang-gliding in São Conrado in Rio / Source

6. Barra da Tijuca Beach

After passing by São Conrado and going through a tunnel, you get to Barra da Tijuca, one of the newest neighbourhoods in Rio. It has a kilometric beach with significantly stronger waves than all the ones we’ve talked about so far. Because of that, Barra Beach attracts a lot of surfers and younger people – though families also come here on weekends to enjoy its clean and refreshing water. It has a more crowded part, at the beginning of the beach, called Praia do Pepê; then comes Praia da Barra itself; followed by Praia da Reserva, the most isolated part, on the limit with Recreio neighbourhood.

Barraca do Pepê- One of the most visited beaches in Rio - Bara da Tijuca / Source

7. Recreio Beach

After Praia da Reserva, the Recreio Beach starts. It is very similar to Barra, but may get a little bit less crowded on weekends. At the end of it, there’s a beautiful rocky mountain that divides it with Praia da Macumba and Praia do Pontal (the one from the song we mentioned at the beginning). But there are more Rio beaches than the ones from “Leme to Pontal”, so let’s keep going!

8. Grumari Beach

If you go to Grumari Beach on a week day, you’ll probably doubt you are still in Rio. But it is true: there is almost a desert beach, just a few kilometres away from the “carioca civilisation”. On weekends, however, it loses most of its hidden treasure aspect and is invaded by lots of families in cars filled to the brim (of course, more people go to beaches like Copacabana, so by comparison it is still quiet!). After relaxing in its clean waters (more tranquil on the right side), a great tip is to grab lunch at one of the great seafood restaurants typical of the Guaratiba neighbourhood.

Grumari: a hiddem treasure, especially during the week / Source

9. Prainha Beach

If you want to get to Prainha Beach, it is highly recommended to take a car (unless you want to walk some kilometres up and down hill). This is a prime surfers spot in Rio and one of the most beautiful beaches of the city. If you have the chance to get there, don't hesitate and combine the visit with a trip to its neighbour, Praia de Grumari.

Prainha: one of the best beaches to surf in Rio / Source

10. Niterói beaches

This beach is not actually in Rio, but the neighbouring city. Niterói has a lot of great beaches as well and you may get there quicker than to Grumari depending of the time of day. It is worth a visit especially for the view of Rio some of the beaches have, and also for other Niterói attractions, like the Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by Oscar Niemeyer. The most famous beaches are Camboinhas, a family beach from where you can see Sugar Loaf from a unique angle, and Itacoatiara, divided in a younger zone, full of surfers and young people, and a child-friendly zone, which attracts families.