Ipanema Beach / Arpoador
Praia de Ipanema
The beach made famous by 'The Girl from Ipanema,' with the silhouette of the Two Brothers and sunsets at Arpoador. Posto 9 is Rio's trendiest beach social scene.
Ipanema Beach lies west of Copacabana. It is 2 km long and ends at the Two Brothers (Dois Irmãos) peaks and Leblon Beach. The 1962 bossa nova classic 'The Girl from Ipanema' made it world-famous; the bar Garota de Ipanema, where the song was born, is on Vinícius de Moraes Street. The beach is trendier and younger than Copacabana. Posto 8 is a gathering place for the LGBTQ community, Posto 9 is the social hub for artists, surfers and young people, and Posto 10, near Leblon, is mostly family-oriented. The waves are bigger than at Copacabana, making it suitable for surfing and surf lessons. At the eastern end, the Arpoador rocks are Rio's most famous sunset spot: the sun sets beside the Two Brothers, and the crowd spontaneously applauds. Below the rocks, the small Praia do Diabo beach is a surfers' paradise. At the western end, the Mirante do Leblon viewpoint offers a view of the whole beach. The neighbourhood is also Rio's best area for shopping and dining: Brazilian designer boutiques on Garcia d'Ávila Street, the Havaianas and Osklen flagship stores, the Sunday hippie fair (Feira Hippie, with handicrafts and paintings) in General Osório Square, and restaurants such as Zazá Bistrô and Casa Cavé. Behind the beach, the Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon (Lagoa) is 7.5 km around; you can cycle it or ride swan pedal boats, and in December there is a giant floating Christmas tree. Safety advice is the same as for Copacabana. On the beach, watch out for pickpockets targeting portable bags, and when swimming, take turns in groups.
Opening hours
All day
Nearby sights
- Fort Copacabana
- Rodrigo de Freitas Lagoon
- Copacabana Beach
- Parque Lage
- Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden
- Christ the Redeemer / Corcovado
- Morro Dois Irmãos
- Sugarloaf Mountain