Ipanema beach

If Copacabana is the most famous beach in Brazil, Ipanema – its neighbor – is the second most famous! Consecrated by the composition of Antônio Carlos Jobim (Girl from Ipanema), this is the most charming beach in the south zone of Rio. While Copacabana is a neighborhood with a very high concentration of older people, ideal for relaxing, Ipanema is the meeting point for many young people and people looking for more excitement and fun.

With a very wide strip of sand (albeit smaller than its neighbor Copacabana), Ipanema beach is also full of parasols on weekends, being the darling of many cariocas. When looking at the horizon, we see a series of imposing natural beauties: we can admire Leblon beach, Dois Irmãos hill, Corcovado and the famous Cagarras Islands. The Arpoador stone also gives a special charm to the end of the beach, completing the incredible look of Ipanema. Embark on this to get to know the beauties of this beach and the charms of the most bohemian neighborhood in Brazil!

Why visit Ipanema?

In addition to being a mandatory destination for all fans of Brazilian Popular Music, as it was one of the main settings for the origins of Bossa Nova, the atmosphere in Ipanema is full of irresistible youthfulness and bohemia, which every tourist would love to experience. People coming and going always excited about life, whether talking, running, playing sports, or just contemplating the grandeur of the beach, the hills or the Cagarras Islands.

Concerns and problems seem suspended, and it’s as if everyone is enjoying that space in the same tune as the sea and the beach. Throughout the three stations that make up Ipanema, we become aware of its versatility as a place, which makes it a beach for all tastes: at station 8, we see younger people, usually in groups, open to interactions and new friendships ; post 9 is famous for being a space frequented by the LGBT public, being a nationally famous and significant place for this community; Posto 10 is the place where you will find a more traditional and quiet bohemia, usually frequented by residents of the neighborhood, quite close to Leblon beach.

Below, we highlight a few more things that make Ipanema the darling of the south zone of Rio de Janeiro:

Amazing sunrises and sunsets

Ipanema is the scene of a beautiful sunrise and sunset, appreciated daily by locals and tourists, who usually applaud the sunset on the clearest days and when the beach is more crowded, a custom that began in Ipanema, to the 60’s.

Devil’s Beach and Arpoador Beach

Ipanema is super well located: neighboring Copacabana and Leblon, Ipanema also has very easy access to other gems of nature. First, Pedra do Arpoador forms an incredible landscape and has its own beach. This region is very frequented by surfers, and the strong and rough sea tends to keep bathers away.

A little after Praia do Arpoador, before reaching the Copacabana Fort, we have Praia do Diabo: a very small and cozy beach, full of coconut trees. Its name refers to the very violent sea in the area, so be careful!

Car free Sundays

For some years now, one of the lanes on Avenida Vieira Souto, which runs along the edge of Ipanema, has been closed to cars on Sundays and holidays. These days, with more space and comfort, tourists and locals mingle on the beach and streets, walking, cycling, scootering or skateboarding.

And speaking of sport…

Ipanema breathes sport all day long! Along the entire stretch of sand it is possible to find people running, exercising, practicing soccer, volleyball or footvolley (the famous “altinha”). It’s not difficult to join, just ask to join and certainly the receptiveness and warmth of Rio will take care of the rest.

In addition to amateur sports, Ipanema is often the stage for major sporting events, such as volleyball championships or beach soccer. It’s worth checking if there are no events happening while you’re there!

Food, drinks and other goodies

As it could not fail to happen, Ipanema beach is full of kiosks and food and drink stalls along its entire length. In addition, street vendors roam the sands going from umbrella to umbrella offering a variety of products that impress some tourists: ice cream, shrimp, curd cheese, manioc flour cookies, açaí, coconut water, natural sandwiches, food Arabic (yes!), sacolé (in some places in Brazil known as gelinho or geladinho), in addition to all kinds of beach accessories and clothing, such as umbrellas, sarongs, towels, bikinis, swimming trunks, flip-flops, sandals, sunglasses paddles, racquetball rackets, etc.

Hippie fair in Ipanema

On Sundays, at Praça General Osório, the Hippie Fair has been held for over 40 years, a handicraft and art fair in general, where you can find many beautiful paintings, paintings, sculptures, ornaments and all kinds of handicrafts of the best quality. This has been happening since the end of the 60s, when a group of young hippie artists began to meet in the square in order to create a meeting point for exhibitors from all over the city. They achieved more: today we see artists from all over the world there!

New Year party

The New Year’s Eve in Ipanema is ideal for those who like excitement and fun, but still want some comfort at night. Comparing to the party in Copacabana, its neighbor, as being the most famous and crowded in the world, Ipanema is a little less crowded without ceasing to provide a lot of beauty and different attractions throughout the night.

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

Carnival is a unique experience throughout Brazil and, in particular, in Rio de Janeiro. The streets of Ipanema, as well as the entire city, are taken over by different thematic blocks that cover their entire paths in a contagious party atmosphere.

Girl from Ipanema Park

A very busy park, always with many young people, locals and tourists, who spend their time there playing sports, making music, art, etc. Musical and artistic events are often held there. In addition, it is a great place to spend time admiring nature, due to the rich and abundant vegetation of the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro and the strategic location of the park.

Our Lady of Peace Parish

For those who like churches and chapels, this is a mandatory stop. This little neo-Romanesque church built in 1918 marked the urbanization of Ipanema. It is a very simple place, but with beautiful pieces of art, such as the German stained glass windows and the image of Nossa Senhora da Paz, donated by the French government in the post-World War II period.

Laura Alvim House of Culture

By the sea, Casa de Cultura Laura Alvim is a place that overflows with art for all tastes. It has cinema, theaters, art gallery and museum. It has always been a traditional meeting point for famous artists from Rio de Janeiro, such as Fernanda Montenegro, Regina Casé, Luis Fernando Guimarães, among others.

nearby bars

As we already mentioned, Ipanema is known for being the most bohemian neighborhood in the country. When walking along the beachfront and through the streets of the neighborhood, we can see this right away by the diversity of bars and tables on the sidewalk taken by groups of friends drinking beer. We will list here some of the most famous places to help you choose the one that suits you best:

Toca do Vinicius is one of the most famous places in the neighborhood. A mixture of museum, bookstore, café and music store, where you can access sheet music, books, photos and other rarities related to the composer Vinicius de Moraes, a renowned visitor to the neighborhood.

Boteco Belmonte is one of the most famous places to eat and drink in the region, facing Praça General Osório, which is full of similar bars. At Belmonte and at these other bars, tourists will be able to find typical Brazilian delicacies, in addition to that cold draft beer, which is essential at night in Rio.

Bar Astor, facing the beach at post 8, is another popular spot for young people and tourists in Ipanema. It’s the typical beach bar, where people usually spend the late afternoon after a whole day of sunbathing and sea.

Pub Lord Jim is one of the classic options for enjoying the nightlife in Ipanema, with a more urban and sophisticated feel. It has two floors and is a traditional meeting point for groups of people looking to watch sports events on TV, such as football, MMA, American football or basketball.

Bar e Hostel do Vinicius is also a very famous place that also serves as a guesthouse. This place was for a long time the home of Vinicius de Moraes, and today it celebrates his memory in the name and also in the live Bossa Nova presentations that take place several times a week.

How to get to Ipanema?

Access to Ipanema Beach is very easy, mainly due to the 3 subway stations that are located along the entire length of the beach, as well as several bus lines that arrive or pass by.

If you need to take the subway, use one of the three stations on the beach: General Osório (at Praça General Osório, post 8), Nossa Senhora da Paz (next to post 9, Rua Visconde de Pirajá), and Jardim de Alah station (already in Leblon, but right on the border with Ipanema, between posts 10 and 11).

Where to Stay in Ipanema?

Ipanema beach offers a wide range of accommodation options.

Among the most luxurious hotels is the famous Fasano hotel, at post 8, and in the Arpoador region there are some 4-star options that offer rooms with a breathtaking view.

Currently, Ipanema has become increasingly full of Hostels, which are a great option for those looking to reduce travel costs and meet new people.

For families and groups of friends, it is also possible to rent rooms or apartments available in the region, something very common in Ipanema due to the large number of tourists that pass through there.

Some Tips and Recommendations
Despite being wonderful, Rio de Janeiro is also known to be a relatively dangerous place, especially for unsuspecting tourists. Always try to keep your belongings out of sight and be aware of strange movements to avoid being stolen.
Always try to get to Ipanema as early as possible. The beach is usually full and on the busiest weekends, in a few hours the entire strip of sand is taken by chairs and umbrellas. Arrive early and guarantee your comfort!
Find out about prices and conditions before consuming anything on the beach or sitting on the chairs. There is a lot of difference between the prices of kiosks and tents and a fee is charged for renting chairs and umbrellas that are on the beach.

Frequently Asked Questions

Review

Map

Weather forecast

Tags

share this page

related sites

• Riotur