Know before you go

• Dress in white and jump seven waves at midnight for luck.

Airport to Copacabana Beach

Galeão (GIG) is 40 to 60 minutes from Copacabana; Santos Dumont (SDU) is downtown.

Metro runs late with pre-bought tickets; roads to Copacabana close.

Public transport directions to Copacabana Beach

Where to stay by budget

Three hotels we would book

• Budget: Selina Copacabana
• Mid-range: Hotel Atlântico Copacabana
• Splurge: Copacabana Palace

Links search the nights from 30 December to 2 January. Event weekends sell out early and prices rise as the date gets closer: book a cancellable room as soon as you know you are going.

Day plans for the free hours

Built around the usual visit schedule for 31 December 2026 to 1 January 2027. Session times change: check the official timetable and move the blocks around.

Family-friendly picks

• AquaRio.

Evening and day-trip tours

After dark

• Lapa.

5 tours worth booking for Réveillon in Rio (New Year's Eve)

Event weeks sell out. Book tours with free cancellation as soon as the session times are published.

Where to eat

• Confeitaria Colombo Belle Époque café
• Churrascarias in Copacabana All-you-can-eat barbecue
• Feira de São Cristóvão Northeastern food fair

Reserve dinner for the nights around the event: restaurants near the venue fill up days ahead.

Rainy-day backups

• Museum of Tomorrow.

Getting around on event days

• Metro links the beaches and downtown; Uber is easy. Keep phones out of sight on the street.

Day trips from Rio de Janeiro

• Petrópolis: 1.5 hours
• Búzios: 3 hours

Questions people ask

When is Réveillon in Rio (New Year's Eve) 2026?

The next edition is 31 December 2026 to 1 January 2027, following the usual pattern. The organiser has not confirmed it yet.

How do I get from the airport to Copacabana Beach?

Galeão (GIG) is 40 to 60 minutes from Copacabana; Santos Dumont (SDU) is downtown. Metro runs late with pre-bought tickets; roads to Copacabana close.

Where should I stay for Réveillon in Rio (New Year's Eve)?

For most visitors the best base is Copacabana: Beachfront with many hotels.

What else can we do around Réveillon in Rio (New Year's Eve)?

Good short outings in Rio de Janeiro include Favela tour with local guides, Tijuca forest hike. See the day plans on this page for a full schedule.

What is there for kids and families near Réveillon in Rio (New Year's Eve)?

Family-friendly picks: Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf, Tijuca forest hike, Ilha Grande day trip. AquaRio.

How far is Copacabana Beach from Rio de Janeiro centre?

About 7 km in a straight line. Metro runs late with pre-bought tickets; roads to Copacabana close.

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