Rio Carnival

The main all-night parades take place on the Sunday and Monday nights in the Sambódromo arena; it’s a straight parade route through the centre of the arena, with grandstand stadium seating on either side. The Sambódromo is accessible by metro (stop at Praça Onze, then just follow the crowds); the metro runs 24/7 during Carnival. Other festivities (bloco street parades and baile balls) take place across the city, and everyone is welcome to join in.

Getting tickets

Tickets are readily available from the main festival website or reputable tour operators. The best seats sell out fast, so book well in advance. There’s a lot to take in, so if you’ve got the funds, book the covered luxury seats with central position and elevated views. The open-air camarotes (front boxes) are closer to the action, but you miss seeing the magical overview. The more authentic, local experience is above the boxes in grandstand seating – big concrete steps with no assigned seating except in grandstand sector 9, whose seats are numbered automatically just before the event).

On the street 

The biggest street party takes place on Cinelândia Square in Rio’s Centro. However, note that the crowds in the street parades (but not in the Sambódromo) are vast and can be overwhelming. Also keep a close eye on your belongings at Carnival – pickpocketing is rife. Keep cameras discreet and use a money belt or pouch.

Joining in

Samba schools allow foreigners to join their parades; though they require rehearsal beforehand and you will need to purchase an official costume. For details, see the Samba Parade section on the Carnival website.

The festival always begins on the Friday prior to Shrove Tuesday, and finishes officially on Shrove Tuesday itself (though there are still parties and parades the following weekend), so it can start as early as 3rd February or as late as 9th March.