Copacabana is without a doubt the most famous beach in the world. The boulevard was designed by Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx, Fred and Ginger danced in the Copacabana Palace Hotel, and celebrities such as Marlene Dietrich and Lady Diana have stayed here. The beach along the crescent-shaped bay is dozens of metres wide and is beautifully situated between rock formations and swaying palm trees. It is always busy here: from daybreak until way past sundown.
The majestic Art Deco ‘Copa, Co-pa-ca-baaa-na’ Palace Hotel inspired Barry Manilow to write his global hit in the 1970s. Unlike the title suggests, the song ‘Copacabana’ is not about a beach or hotel, but about a night club (‘the hottest spot north of Havana’). Nevertheless, the idea for the song was born here after a heated discussion in the hotel bar on whether there had ever been a song with that title. The Copacabana Palace Hotel has recently undergone major renovations and now looks as good as new. The surrounding neighbourhood has also regained some of its former glamour.
“Beach bars sell chilled coconuts, ice-cold Brahma beers and freshly made caipirinhas.”