One of the things on my bucket list was to spend New Year’s Eve on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.

After arriving in Rio on December 18 and spending a few days exploring the city, we traveled to Ilha Grande. We returned on the 29th to prepare for the second biggest event of the year in Rio (surpassed only by Carnival).

If you’re planning a trip to Brazil, make sure to check out my other posts as well:
• Rio de Janeiro
• Ilha Grande
• Foz do Iguacu and Sao Paolo

Why Rio for New Year’s

There are several places in the world that are always being shown at the TV on the New Year’s Eve. I grew up with the images from these places and always dreamt about being there, at least once in my lifetime. There were always images from Sydney, Tokyo, Dubai, Rio de Janeiro, London, New York.

On top of that, there seemed to be an amazing party going on on the Copacabana beach, attended by millions of people dressed in white, live music everywhere, fireworks reflecting on the ocean. I wanted to experience that energy.

Exploring Rio in a few days

Even if it was the second time visiting Rio, it was actually the first time for my parents, so we had to repeat our favorite places and on top of that, find something new for us. The places we have seen and the things we have done during our 6 days in Rio:

• Strolling on Copacabana and Ipanema beach – lively and vibrant during the day and the night; a must do are Ipanema’s sunsets
• Botanical Garden – looks like a little oasis, having an iconic palm tree alley
• Confeitaria Colombo – old Portuguese cake shop, opened in 1984, famous for its Belle Époque interior
• Sugarloaf Mountain – the city skyline is just impressive, make sure you are there for sunset
• Christ the Redeemer – the most iconic landmark in Rio, use the Corcovado train or just hike
• Lage Park – public park at the base of Corcovado Mountain, with a perfect coffee place
• Lapa Neighborhood – historical arches and also samba culture started here.
• Selaron Steps – super colorful stairs
• Maracana stadium and Sambadrome; also my dad and my husband went to see Ronaldo’s childhood neighborhood stadium in Rio – Realengo and they got so lucky as the director was there and opened the museum for gave them a VIP tour
• Favela Rocinha – we have booked this experience on Airbnb and it was amazing; you go up by motorcycle and then get fully immersed in the culture of this favela
• Havaiana’s stores 🙂

We also booked a walking tour of the Downtown and we absolutely loved it. I also recommend the Santa Teresa and African Culture tours.

In Rio we have only used Uber to move around.

Where to Stay & Costs

We stayed in two different hotels during our time in Rio, both located on Copacabana Beach. Before New Year’s Eve, we stayed at Miramar by Windsor Copacabana (this was actually our second stay there, and we absolutely love it). It’s a place we would go back to anytime. From December 29 to January 1, we moved to Windsor Palace Hotel.

The price difference between the two was quite significant. We booked Miramar for around €135 per night, while Windsor Palace ended up costing €470 per night… the most expensive hotel we’ve stayed in so far. The main reason was timing: we only booked it in October, and prices for New Year’s Eve in Rio increase dramatically the later you book. Miramar charged an extra fee for our daughter, while Windsor Palace did not. Breakfast wasn’t included at either hotel.

We had very specific requirements for New Year’s Eve, which made things even more challenging. We wanted to stay directly on Copacabana and have access to a rooftop with a clear view of the fireworks. By the time we booked, most options were either sold out or extremely expensive.

That said, the location of both hotels was excellent. Being right on Copacabana made it easy to experience the atmosphere during the day and, most importantly, to enjoy the fireworks at midnight. While our room at Windsor Palace had a partially obstructed balcony view, the rooftop more than made up for it, offering a full panoramic view of the celebration. It also had a nice swimming pool, which was a great bonus.

New Year’s Eve in Copacabana

This has to be one of my most iconic New Year’s parties, which is also called Réveillon in Brazil (or Revelion in Romanian). Being there is almost breathtaking. Every year, around 2 million people are expected to celebrate together on Copacabana, and as part of the tradition, everyone is dressed in white.

The streets are completely closed to traffic, and the area becomes a huge pedestrian space with people dancing, live music stages, and lots of street food. And let me tell you something, Brazilians know how to party. I didn’t see single sad face, and I haven’t seen anybody who didn’t seem to enjoy themselves, no matter their age. Families and friends were gathered together at the chiringuitos or on the beach, and the vibes were contagious.

Add to all of this the midnight fireworks, which last for approximately 12 minutes and are shot from somewhere in the ocean, and there you have the full picture. You can take a midnight swim while watching the fireworks and sipping champagne, or you could simply skip the crowds and enjoy the fireworks from a rooftop.

You can find plenty of good food everywhere. One important thing is the police presence, scanning and checking all the people accessing Copacabana Beach during NYE. This made me feel very confident and safe. Of course, petty theft is always possible, so just take your phone and go enjoy the night.

I also noticed that several cruise ships were lining in the bay and spend NYE there for people to see the fireworks. This can also be a good plan, but I truly recommend spending the night in Rio to feel the atmosphere.

💫 Tips

• Book early: Hotels on Copacabana fill up fast for NYE
• Dress in white: It’s the local tradition for peace and good luck.
• Safety first: Police are present, but take only your essentials and keep an eye on your belongings.
• Food & drinks: Plenty of street food and kiosks along the beach. Try local snacks and caipirinhas.
• Fireworks: Don’t miss the 12-minute midnight display over the ocean

✨ Final thoughts: Copacabana on New Year’s Eve is unlike anything else in the world. I said I had this on my bucket list and now, after experiencing it, all I want is to do it again.