New Year's Eve in Rio de Janeiro
The New Year's Party is one of the biggest events of the year in Rio, to which up to two million visitors are expected at the Copacabana beach. There is music, shows, dances and concerts everywhere on specially built platforms.
The Copacabana beach begins to fill at the late afternoon. The Cariocas and some tourists wear white clothes on New Years Eve. Some claim that the New Year must be started clean. Others believe that the white color is a symbol of luck.
The spectacular fireworks at Copacabana is organized by the City of Rio de Janeiro and is one of the highlights of New Years Night. The fireworks launch from ships that were anchored at regular intervals in front of the Copacabana beach. The spectacle takes between 20 and 30 minutes.
The program of the events and shows is available in advance. So you get an overview of where the live concerts and shows with national and international stars are presented. The shows and concerts begin about 8 o'clock p.m. The drummers of the samba shools use to be very popular. .
Clubs, hotels and many other institutions invite to balls. You need an invitation or to buy a ticket in advance. Early booking is recommended to avoid disappointment. Many restaurants offer a special New Year's menu.
Notes:
- Anyone who does not live in Copacabana or Ipanema, should arrive by public transport.
- You might keep in mind that it will not be easy to get a taxi after midnight.
- If you want to use the underground (Metro) you have to buy the ticket in advance and find out what stations will be open.
- If you want to book an apartment or hotel for New Year's Eve, please do so early. There usually are package prices (eg, many apartments are rented for 10 nights or more).
- The city is strongly committed to ensuring safety. There is a large police presence. Naturally, big crowds at events also attract pickpockets ...
- New Year's Eve in Rio takes place in midsummer. So, it is not cold but it may be drizzle or rainy.
