Considered one of the most famous beaches in the world, Praia de Copacabana is nicknamed the “Little Princess of the Sea”. Its ancient name Tupi was Sacopenapã: “the sound and the flapping wings of the herons” and its golden age was the 30’s through the 50’s, when Copacabana Palace was the meeting pont of international jet-setters. The 4 km sandy beach, stretching from Posto 2 (lifeguard watchtower 2) to Posto 6 (lifeguard watchtower 6), is bordered by two historic forts: Fort Copacabana (1914) and Fort Duque de Caxias (1779). Along the beach runs the well-known promenade representing ocean waves (designed by the Brazilian architect Roberto Burle Marx and achieved in 1970). Have a coconut water at one of the many kiosks and enjoy the wonderful view of Rio bay. Enjoy the bicycle lane skirting the beach, rent a sun umbrella and, if you wish, have a swim (but the water here is not the best: Copacabana is closer than Ipanema to the bay). Come here in weekends, when Avenida Atlântica is closed to traffic and Cariocas enjoy the promenade by bike, skate or rollerblades. This is also the place to be at New Year’s Day, when more than 2.000.000 people gather here to party (twice as many than there were on February the 18th 2006, when the Rolling Stones had their legendary concert in Rio).