Ipanema Beach

Made famous by the well-known bossa nova song, "The Girl from Ipanema," this beach has drawn tourists since the the 1960s. This two-mile beach consists of gorgeous mountain views, beautiful Brazilians, and cerulean waters. While sunbathing, you'll observe wildly entertaining games of futvolei (the Brazilian version of volleyball without hands) and smell fresh shrimp grilling nearby on skewers.

"This beach had it all: great music, excellent food, sports, beautiful people, and friendly vibes. Seriously, what more do you need?" asks one TripAdvisor user. And, if you forget to pack anything, vendors will gladly come to your rescue with towels, hats, beverages, snacks, jewelry, sunglasses, and beach chairs.

You can access the beach from the Ipanema neighborhood in Zona Sul. The beach is divided into areas known as postos (lifeguard stations). Postos are in operation from 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. Restrooms can be found at Posto 3 and require a 1 BRL (about $0.50 USD) fee. Keep in mind Ipanema is densely populated, so it can be difficult to find a spot during Rio's peak season (December to March). If you prefer fewer crowds, you may want to opt out for Grumari or Prainha beaches in nearby Barra da Tijuca.