The 15 Best Day Trips from Copacabana
How far each place is, what to see there, and a plan for the day.
Free day-by-day itinerary in seconds. No account needed to start.
There are 15 good day trips from Copacabana, Brazil, led by Duque de Caxias, Nova Iguaçu, Juiz de Fora. The closest is Barra da Tijuca, about 30 min by car, and 9 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.
Built from 15 nearby places, with sights from real traveler trips, on Packy AI. Last updated November 2026 by the Packy AI Travel Team.
Day trips from Copacabana
- 1
Duque de Caxias, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car24 km north-west of Copacabana - 2
Nova Iguaçu, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car36 km north-west of CopacabanaKnown for GRES Beija-Flor de Nilópolis.
- 3
Juiz de Fora, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 2 hr 5 min by car135 km north of Copacabana - 4
Belford Roxo, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 35 min by car32 km north-west of Copacabana - 5
São João de Meriti, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 40 min by car27 km north-west of Copacabana - 6
Barra da Tijuca, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 30 min by car19 km west of Copacabana - 7
Petrópolis, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 1 hr by car52 km north of Copacabana - 8
Volta Redonda, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 40 min by car106 km north-west of Copacabana - 9
Magé, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car38 km north-east of Copacabana - 10
Itaboraí, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 50 min by car42 km north-east of Copacabana - 11
Cabo Frio, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car119 km east of Copacabana - 12
Maricá, Brazil
Half-day tripAbout 45 min by car38 km east of Copacabana - 13
Nova Friburgo, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 35 min by car102 km north-east of Copacabana - 14
Barra Mansa, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 45 min by car112 km north-west of Copacabana - 15
Angra dos Reis, Brazil
Full-day tripAbout 1 hr 50 min by car116 km west of Copacabana
A sample day: Copacabana to Duque de Caxias
- 08:30Leave Copacabana
- 09:05Arrive in Duque de Caxias (35 min drive)
- 09:20Walk the centre of Duque de Caxias
- 11:20Lunch
- 12:35Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Duque de Caxias
- 15:05Head back to Copacabana
- 15:40Home in Copacabana
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
- What are the best day trips from Copacabana?
- The best day trips from Copacabana are Duque de Caxias, Nova Iguaçu, Juiz de Fora, Belford Roxo, São João de Meriti. The closest is Barra da Tijuca, about 30 min away by car.
- What is the closest day trip from Copacabana?
- Barra da Tijuca is the closest, 19 km west of Copacabana, roughly 30 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
- Where can I go within an hour of Copacabana?
- 9 places are within about an hour's drive of Copacabana: Barra da Tijuca (30 min), Duque de Caxias (35 min), São João de Meriti (40 min), Belford Roxo (35 min), Nova Iguaçu (40 min), Magé (45 min).
- What is the biggest city near Copacabana for a day out?
- Duque de Caxias is the largest city in day-trip range, 24 km north-west of Copacabana and about 35 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
- Where can I go for a weekend from Copacabana?
- For a weekend away from Copacabana, pick the places far enough to be worth a night: Juiz de Fora (135 km, 2 hr 5 min), Cabo Frio (119 km, 1 hr 50 min), Angra dos Reis (116 km, 1 hr 50 min), Barra Mansa (112 km, 1 hr 45 min). Closer places on this list work better as a single day.
- How far is too far for a day trip from Copacabana?
- Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Juiz de Fora at 135 km, around 2 hr 5 min by car.
Ready to plan your Copacabana trip?
Free day-by-day itinerary in seconds. No account needed to start.
Keep exploring