Copacabana Beach: Five kilometers of sand and a view of Sugarloaf Mountain make this beach an awesome spot to spend the day. Though it's not as glitzy as it once was, there's still plenty of people watching.
Ipanema Beach: Framed by the Dois Irmãos mountains, you can sip caipirinha after caipirinha here. Bring your hottest swimsuit, because the scene is worthy of a James Bond movie. Is "The Girl From Ipanema" already stuck in your head?
Búzios: Hitting this beach will require a day trip from Rio, but it's worth it. The water is clear, the clubs are hopping, and the bikinis are tiny.