Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Praia do Arpoador

    4.9 (36 reviews)

    Praia do Arpoador Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Praia do Arpoador

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Greg A.

    No trip to Rio should be complete without seeing the sun set at Arpoador. Absolutely breathtaking.

    Wilkie J.

    During Summer months, Arpoador Beach offers cariocas and visitors the probably most beautiful Sunset in the whole Rio de Janeiro. Between 7:30 and 8:00 PM, the sun will softly and sweetly touch the waters of the Atlantic Ocean, in a magical and touching moment. People gather on the rocks of Arpoador ("Pedra do Arpoador", in Portuguese) and wait for this spectacle of nature. When finally the sun touches the waters, they respectfully clap their hands, on a standing ovation of this daily miracle of life renovation. Two years ago it was a hot Summer, with beautiful days and almost no clouds at all. So the beaches have been extraordinarily full, overcrowded indeed, principally on weekends. So if you decide to come, please leave passports, jewelry and any other expensive items in your hotel (or Apartments) safes. Come simply dressed: swim wear, bermudas and "cangas" (balinese style towels - very popular at the beach, as they can protect chairs and bodies). "Havaianas" sandals, sunglasses and sun protectors are a must. If you come to the beach, only bring a few "reais" for small expenses. Low profile is the secret and you won't have any disappointment following this quite simple code. Around "Pedra do Arpoador", right after Sunset, popular artists will start their performances: singers, clowns, jugglers, musicians, "capoeira" (a kind of rehearsed fighting of African origins) players, theatre groups, rock bands ... It is like a festival, sometimes even with a New Age atmosphere. Get in the mood and come! Join cariocas in paying respect to Lord Sun. Enjoy! Cheers, Wilkie

    Cacique G.

    Simple and plain: this is the easiest, cheapest (free) and best place to watch the sunset in Rio ' s south zone. Every sunset is like a little event

    Sunset

    See all

    5 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tyler L.
    769
    1948
    3276

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    7 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Wilkie J.
    2229
    455
    9309

    12 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    11 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Alice C.
    2013
    1705
    666

    12 years ago

    Helpful 5
    Thanks 0
    Love this 4
    Oh no 0

    10 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    12 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Praia do Arpoador Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Praia do Arpoador

    Simple and plain: this is the easiest, cheapest (free) and best place to watch the sunset in Rio ' s south zone

    Mentioned in 10 reviews

    Read more highlights

    Verify this business for free

    Get access to customer & competitor insights.

    Verify this business

    Praia do Leblon

    Praia do Leblon

    4.6(28 reviews)
    3.2 kmLeblon

    While in Rio stayed in Ipanema - skip that beach, dirty/litter but more 'happening'. Much prefer a…read morequick Uber ride over to Leblon, clean and less hagglers on the beach. Great eats beachside - with prime shaded spots for plenty of people watching.

    I was staying in Copacabana, but had been on the other end of RJ earlier that day and ended up in…read moreLeblon and worked my way up. I think this is my favorite out of the three and where I spent most of my beach time at. While I hadn't tried to go to Copacabana or Ipanema during the same hours, I found Leblon to be less crowded which I personally liked. It felt calmer, more relaxing here. You can rent a chair and umbrella for a day R$20 or R$40 (forgot) at the one I rented from. They help you set everything up and ask you where you would like to sit. You'll also have the chance to order a drink from their stand and they'll bring it out to you. I've paid both in the beginning and at the end - not sure what is the usual. They will usually come to check up on you I think or at least mine did. If you had agua de coco, they say you can leave it on the beach and there will be a team of people with a truck to pick them up at some point throughout the day (yes, I saw them). You'll see and get approached by many walking vendors on the beach. At first I was weary of some trying to sell me things I didn't want, but really I think it's great and I like how they're there. I've been told that these are all side hustlers trying to make an extra buck, but there are some that actually have good stuff. For example, I had bought sterling silver jewelry two separate times from the same artists, different days on Leblon Beach. I have tried some of the food / snacks and the Yerba mate tea. I wish I had tried all or more of the food vendors. I think I was hesitant b/c I wasn't sure how the food would be ok if they'd been walking all day with it, but hot food really does stay hot cause they carry them in insulated bags. You'll see vendors carrying swimwear, towels, sunscreen, sunglasses, macrame jewelry and accessories, and food of all kinds (burgers, shrimp, corn, salgados, e doces). Always be cognizant of your belongings and those who are around you. I never had any issues, but I've heard stories of people getting robbed before - they either work in teams of two or more sometimes and might try to distract you while the other tries to pickpocket you or steal your stuff. Never leave your valuables unattended if you plan to go into the water. When you're ready to leave, just leave everything where it was. The crew picks everything up throughout / towards the end of the day. If you need to use the restroom, there are public restrooms available for a fee. The one I went to was R$5 I think. There are areas to clean off the ocean water and sand - outdoor showers (they usually keep running all day) and then smaller ones by the steps to the sidewalk for your feet, etc. If you're into volleyball, you can also join a group to play for a fee. If you workout, there are various workout bars (not sure what to call them) spaced amongst the sidewalks of the beach and of course, you will see joggers / runners on the road along with cyclists and people riding Itaú bikes along the path. I rented the Itaú bikes a couple times and one day I road it from Copacabana to Leblon and back. Use your app to locate the many bike docking stations. People usually start filtering out around 7pm. There's a good view of Dois Irmãos. Be sure you have sunscreen and sun protection cause even on cloudy days could you possibly get a bad sun tan (I sure did, lol and I still have an outline from the top I was wearing *crying emoji face*).

    Photos
    Praia do Leblon
    Praia do Leblon
    Praia do Leblon

    See all

    Praia do Arpoador - beaches - Updated May 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...