New Year's Eve in Copacabana: A complete guide to spending New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro (without complications and with good signal)
🎆 New Year's Eve in Copacabana: a complete guide to spending New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro (without complications and with good signal)
First things first: what is réveillon ?
If you've never experienced it, imagine this: you're on the beach, dressed in white (because yes, here that's practically a rule), with the sea in front of you, music everywhere, people you don't know but they smile at you as if they were lifelong friends... and when the clock strikes 12, the sky bursts into giant fireworks.
In Brazil, that's called a réveillon . And the most famous one is the Copacabana réveillon .
🧭 The basic plan: New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro 2025 (intermediate level)
This is how to experience a New Year's Eve in Copacabana , step by step (realistic plan, medium level).
📅 Suggested Dates
December 29 or 30 → January 2 or 3
👫 Plan type
4–5 nights
Couple or friends (2-4 people)
💰 Estimated budget (per person, average level)
(Approximate values, as they vary depending on the departure city, how early you book, and the type of hotel)
- ✈️ Flights Colombia – Rio (round trip): COP $3,000,000 – $5,000,000
- 🏨 Mid-range hotel (Copacabana/Ipanema, 4–5 nights): COP $1,600,000 – $3,000,000
- 🍽️ Meals (mix street food + restaurants): COP $700,000 – $1,200,000
- 🚕 Local transportation (Uber/metro/transfers): COP $250,000 – $500,000
- 🎟️ Tours (Christ + Sugarloaf Mountain + extras): COP $400,000 – $900,000
- 🎆 New Year's Eve party or dinner in Rio de Janeiro:
- 🌊 Public beach (free) + drinks/food: COP $80,000 – $200,000
- 🍾 Dinner at a mid-range restaurant/hotel: COP $350,000 – $900,000
- 💥 Estimated total per person: COP $6,000,000 – $10,500,000
(Sharing hotels and transfers is much more efficient when traveling as a couple or with friends)
🎆 New Year's Eve: How to experience Réveillon in Copacabana?
You have 3 paths, depending on your style:
1️⃣ Public beach (the classic and the most epic)
The beach is free. Arrive early (around 6–8 pm), grab a good spot, and you're all set.
Colombian tip: Don't go "carrying the world." Take the bare minimum: cell phone, money, passport, and that's it.
2️⃣ Dinner with a view + going down to the beach
This is, without exaggeration, one of the best plans to spend New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro without going crazy.
You eat peacefully, you toast calmly… and when there are 20 or 30 minutes left until 12, you walk down to the beach to see the New Year's Eve fireworks in Copacabana .
🍽️ Where to book restaurants with a beach view for New Year's Eve dinner in Copacabana?
These are real, tried and tested, and highly sought-after options, so they absolutely must be booked in advance (ideally November, at the latest early December):
🥩 Marius Degustare (Leme)
An absolute classic. Meat, seafood, a huge buffet, and a direct view of the sea.
Ideal if you're traveling as a couple or in a group and want to eat really well before midnight.
View location
🏨 Clarice Restaurant – Hilton Copacabana
More elegant cuisine, a tranquil atmosphere, and a privileged view from above.
Perfect if you want something more sophisticated without going to ultra luxury.
View restaurant
🍝 Alloro Restaurant at Miramar (Posto 6)
Contemporary Italian, highly rated and with a spectacular view.
A great option for a more romantic dinner before heading to the beach.
View location
🏨 Windsor Hotel Restaurants
Windsor hotels often offer New Year's Eve dinners with a special menu.
Good value for money within a mid-range plan.
Tip: Many restaurants close for dinner around 11:30 pm, just in time for you to head down to Copacabana for the fireworks. Ask about this before booking.
3️⃣ Private party or rooftop: comfort, view and less crowding
If you're not into being crammed into the sand and prefer a clean bathroom, open bar and a good view, this plan is for you.
🎧 Arena Copacabana Hotel / Arena Leme
Dinner + rooftop party packages with DJ and bar.
Very good balance between price, view and atmosphere.
✨ Hilton Copacabana
Dinner + access to terraces with direct views of the fires.
More elegant, ideal for couples.
🍾 JW Marriott Copacabana
New Year's Eve packages with gourmet cuisine and an internal party.
Mid-to-high level, without reaching extreme luxury.
🏨Windsor Excelsior / Windsor Leme
Organized dinners and access to terraces or lounges with a view.
Highly sought after by travelers who want something organized and safe.
🎟️ Where to buy tickets for exclusive parties in Copacabana during New Year's Eve?
If you're looking for parties without accommodation, these are the most reliable sources:
- ✅ Sympla (widely used in Brazil)
- ✅ Eventbrite
- ✅ Official hotel websites
- ✅ Local agencies specializing in New Year's Eve (check reviews)
Key tip: Only buy from official platforms, save the QR code offline on your phone, and avoid informal resellers.
⚖️ Free beach or paid party? The unvarnished truth
- 🌊 Public beach: free, epic, massive, unforgettable.
- 🍽️ Dinner + beach: the best middle ground.
- 🎧 Rooftop / private party: more comfort, less chaos, more cost.
There isn't one option that's better than another. There's the one that fits your travel style .
🚢 Reveillon Copacabana Cruzeiro? (yes, it exists)
If you'd love to see the fireworks from the sea, there's a Copacabana cruzeiro New Year's Eve celebration (boats that go out into the bay with a party). It's one of those "once-in-a-lifetime" experiences.
It's usually more expensive than the beach, but it's top-notch for couples or groups .
🔐 Safety: what you absolutely need to know
❓ What are the safety recommendations for tourists in Copacabana during New Year's Eve?
- 🎒 Carry the bare minimum: no jewelry, no pro camera.
- 📱 Cell phone always in front: no back pocket.
- 📍 Meeting point: define one with your group in case you get separated.
- 🚦 Avoid deserted streets: after the show, stay in well-lit areas.
- 🌊 Be careful at night in the sea: especially if you're drinking.
- 🚕 Transportation: Use Uber or the subway when congestion eases (sometimes it's better to wait 40 minutes and leave peacefully).
🗺️ Tours: so that the trip is not just "beach and that's it"
❓ Can I book guided tours for New Year's Eve in Copacabana from Colombia?
Rather than a "New Year's Eve tour," what people book are tours in Rio for the days leading up to it : Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, responsible favela tours, Santa Teresa, Lapa…
You can buy that through an agency or tour platforms.
⭐ Where can I find reviews and ratings of New Year's Eve events in Copacabana?
- 📍 Tripadvisor
- 📍 Google Reviews
- 📍 TikTok
- 📍 Instagram (searching for the name of the hotel or party)
It saves you from surprises 😉
📶 Connectivity: The SIM for Brazil that saves you headaches
If there's one thing that can ruin your New Year's Eve —and I'm not kidding— it's running out of data just when you're looking for an Uber, trying to reconnect with your friends among millions of people, or uploading that video of the fireworks that you know you'll want to keep forever.
On New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro , your cell phone isn't a luxury: it's your compass, meeting point, camera, and lifeline . So let's be clear.
📍 Where can I buy a SIM card to travel to Brazil from Colombia?
The easiest (and most peaceful) way: buy it before traveling .
With Conecty you can do it from Colombia and arrive in Brazil with connectivity sorted, without wasting time looking for stores or doing paperwork in another language.
And if you're one of those people who leaves everything to the last minute, don't worry: with the Conecty app, you can buy your eSIM in just a couple of minutes , quickly and easily, even shortly before flying. That way, as soon as you land, you'll already have data and can continue your trip without interruption.
❓ Frequently asked questions about traveling to Brazil and connectivity
📍 Where can I buy a SIM card to travel to Brazil from Colombia?
The easiest (and most peaceful) way: buy it before traveling .
With Conecty you can do it from Colombia and arrive in Brazil with connectivity sorted, without wasting time looking for stores or doing paperwork in another language.
And if you're one of those people who leaves everything to the last minute, don't worry: you can buy your eSIM in just a couple of minutes with the Conecty app , even shortly before flying. That way, as soon as you land, you'll already have data and can continue your trip without interruption.
📱 What are the best prepaid SIM options for Brazil for Colombian tourists?
For travelers, the two most practical options are:
- 📲 eSIM (if your phone is compatible): there is no physical chip, you just scan a QR code and you're done.
- 📶 Physical SIM: ideal if you prefer the traditional or your device does not support eSIM.
Connecty is usually a great option if you want to avoid paperwork in Brazil and if you plan to move between different areas of Rio ( Copacabana, Ipanema, Leblon ) or even combine it with other destinations in the country.
⚙️ How to activate a SIM to use mobile data in Brazil?
Nothing complicated, zero stress :
- 📲 eSIM Conecty: You buy the plan from the Conecty app, you receive the QR code, you install it with WiFi before the flight and, when you land in Brazil, you activate the line.
- 📶 Connecty physical SIM: insert the chip, follow the instructions, and start browsing. In most cases, it's plug & play .
🚫 Can I use my Colombian SIM in Brazil without roaming?
In practice, no .
If you use your Colombian SIM in Brazil, you'll almost always be on international roaming , and that can result in high charges if you don't have an active data plan.
Just the kind of surprise nobody wants to receive in January.
💸 How much does a SIM card cost for traveling to Brazil if purchased in Colombia?
It depends on the plan and the number of travel days, but think of it like this:
You pay for convenience, to avoid roaming charges, and to have a signal from minute one.
Connecty has plans starting from USD $10 , a small investment compared to being left without communication in the middle of New Year's Eve.
✨ Why does connectivity accompany the travel experience?
Because the journey doesn't begin when the fireworks go off, it begins when you can find your place, share, and move around without fear of getting stuck .
When you're in Copacabana on the 31st, dressed in white, with music everywhere and the sky about to explode, the last thing you want to think about is whether you have a signal or not .
Because traveling is also about that: moving freely, without interruptions , and letting the experience flow… even when the year is about to change.
📚 What other books do you recommend for continuing your travels in Brazil?
If this trip has sparked your desire to explore Brazil beyond the beaches, here are two worthwhile reads:
- 🇧🇷 Traveling to Brazil: an unforgettable experience that goes far beyond the beach
- 📱 Connecty App: your new way to connect while traveling
🌴 Are there other Réveillon celebrations in Brazil besides Copacabana?
Yes. If Copacabana is the "main event" , Brazil has other gems.
For example, many people are already looking for réveillon Maceió 2026 : more quiet beach, Brazilian Caribbean vibe and less giant crowd.
If you like Brazil but want a more relaxed plan, take note of that name .
💙 Why spending New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro isn't just a simple trip?
New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro is not just a trip. It's a feeling .
It's having sand between your toes, the city buzzing, and the certainty that the year started differently... because you gave it to yourself .
If you want to experience New Year's Eve in Copacabana without stress , get your connectivity ready with Conecty , calmly put together a mid-range budget, book what you need and relax: Rio takes care of the rest .
