The city may be awash with parties in iconic spots like Sugarloaf Mountain and the Lagoa, but there is only one place for the Rio New Year hardcore, and it goes by the name of Copacabana Beach. The kiosks lining the sand offer expensive, all-you-can-drink tickets (and some of the best seats in the house), or just follow the 2 million other people dressed in white (peace), yellow (prosperity) or red (take a lucky guess, this is Rio) filling the beach from late-afternoon, grab a caipirinha from the street and wait for the show.

The musical line up on the main stage (by COpacabana Palace) features DJ Marcelinho da Lua playing some less obvious Brazilian classics to get the crowd moving, followed by Diogo Nogueira leading up to midnight. After the spectacular 15-minute firework display conducted from barges out at sea, pop queen CLaudia Leite hits the stage, followed by Sorriso Maroto and this year's Carnival champions Unidos da Tijuca. Feliz ano novo!

Getting there: No buses or cars will be allowed to pass close to Copacabana on New Year's Eve, Avenida Atlaântica will be shut entirely, and whilst Metrô stations will be open, tickets have to be bought in advance for trains between 7pm and 5am. Coloured tickets represent different periods of access, so a little planning is required: blue (7-8pm), orange (8-9pm), green (9-10pm), red (10-11pm) and yellow (11pm-midnight). All return tickets are grey and valid at any time from midnight to 5am.

New Year's tickets are only available from Pavuna, Nova América/Del Castilho, Saens Peña, Central, Carioca, Botafogo, Largo do Machado and Ipanema/General Osório stations until 25 December, after which only Central, Carioca and Largo do Machado will sell them. The tickets will cost R$3.20 one way or R$6 return.

• Read our round-up of Rio New Year's Eve parties
• Read our round-up of New Year's Eve parties outside of Rio
• Read our round-up of alternative Rio New Year's Eve parties