There are few cities that have a beach as their main attraction, but Rio de Janeiro has several. And no 2 beaches are alike: some are great for surfing, others for partying and then there are beaches for simply kicking back in the sun with a good book. Rio's beaches are the playground of the busy city.
Of course there is Copacabana Beach – named after the famous Copacabana Palace Hotel – one of the most famous urban beaches in the world. More than half a million 'Cariocas' (inhabitants of Rio) flock here on the weekend to relax. Fit playboys play beach volleyball and ladies in string bikinis stroll along the ocean. Copacabana is the place for sports, sunbathing, flirting and dancing.