Copacabana is one of the reasons why people fall in
love
at first sight with Rio. The Princess of the Sea is one of the
best areas for you to stay, with a higher concentration of
hotels than any other neighborhood in town. Like
Ipanema and
Leblon, Copacabana and
Leme share the same beach. This is where Rio's
New
Year's Celebrations happen, attracting 2 million people every
year.
The
name Copacabana has a Bolivian origin. Historians trace it to a
XVII century image of Our Virgin Lady of Copacabana, brought by
the Portuguese from a small village around distant Lake Titicaca.
It was installed in a chapel that would later be demolished for
the construction of Forte de
Copacabana.
Until the late XIX century Copacabana was
considered a distant area. It was covered with sand,
dunes and shrubs - not unlike Barra in the 60's. A small
fishermen's village concentrated most of the dwellers. The
neighborhood only started to grow with the opening of Tunel Velho,
connecting it to Botafogo and Downtown.
The inauguration of the Av. Atlantica along the
beach around the 1900's was a major turning point. When Copacabana
Palace Hotel opened its doors in 1923, romance and glamour
became Copacabana trademarks. Neoclassical and art-nouveau skyscrapers (4 to 12 stories high) added a touch of
sophistication and wealthy Cariocas started to move to the suspended mansions.
Copacabana today is one of Rio's most democratic
and eclectic neighborhoods. There are penthouses and apartments
along the beach that are easily worth more than a million dollars.
There are also buildings with as many as thirty tiny studio
apartments on the same floor, and no parking garage.
Copacabana is perfectly suitable for walking
tours, as it is basically flat, and distances are relatively
small. To better understand the diversity of the neighborhood we
suggest you take your time, and use one or two days exploring all
possibilities. Copacabana has a little (and sometimes a lot) of
everything, and there's fun for everyone. We lined up below some
of the attractions you don't want to miss. For dozens of original
images try our Copacabana
Slide Show!
This beach is home to Rio's famous New Year's celebration. It attracts over 2 million people from all over the world! Following a local tradition, most people dress in white for good luck. Offering a white flower to Yemanjá, the goddess of the seas, is also a part of the ritual. The exquisite fireworks festival starts at midnight, lasting almost a half hour. With white sand and waters that are never rough, this is also a very popular beach for sunbathing. During the summer international championships of beach soccer, volleyball and other sports are promoted in arenas along Copacabana Beach. Some beach kiosks are open around the clock, offering refreshments and snacks. Cross the street and explore the beachside cafes, restaurants, and night clubs along Av. Atlantica. 
The structure that dominates the 
Right next to Forte de Copacabana you will find the fishermen's corner, with a tradition of over 100 years. It is an amazing concept that fishermen actually make a living right in the heart of one of Rio's most urban areas. Come before sunrise to watch the action - seeing to believing. You may even help to pull the fishnets out of the water. 
This landmark art-deco district right in the middle of Copacabana's delicious urban chaos is a haven of piece, preserving a small-town atmosphere. Buildings are 4-stories high or lower. There is a quiet square where the elderly play chess next to children in the playground. Walk a few blocks and you are on the main street or the beach.
The area between Copacabana Palace and Av. Princesa Isabel is known as Lido. It concentrates a number of 
Copacabana does not discriminate. A few of blocks away from the suspended mansions along the beach there are buildings with dozens of tiny apartments. It's what Cariocas humurously call a cabeça de porco (or pig's heads). The famous Barata Ribeiro 200 earned a reputation when a play was named after it in the 70's. They later changed the number to 194, but the structure remained where it always used to be (next to the subway station). Pretend you are visiting a friend to climb up the stairs, and snoop around the hallways. One of our