The effect of copper surface preparation on the morphology of polypyrrole (PPy) films was investigated by ex situ tapping mode atomic force microscopy (AFM). The polymer coatings were electrochemically deposited on mechanically and electrochemically polished copper surfaces. The results revealed the presence of a more compact and uniform polymer layer on electropolished surfaces, although the dependence of the polymer morphology on the substrate initial topography is only significant for thin films. Thick films exhibit similar topography and roughness. For the electropolished surface it was possible to distinguish the formation, by a two dimensional growth, of an inner polymer layer followed by a 3-D progressive growth of the subsequent layers.