Rio’s Carnival is less a party than a small country that exists for a week. Two million people a day pour into the streets, samba schools that have rehearsed all year parade floats the size of houses through the night, and the entire city appears to have given up sleep, sensible footwear and any intention of going to work. It is spectacular, sweaty, joyful and very, very easy to get lost in.
This guide explains how Carnival works, the difference between the Sambadrome and the street parties, how to keep your group (and your phone) together, and how our Rio Carnival tour sorts the tickets and logistics so you can concentrate on the samba.
The quick answer
- When: Carnival 2027 falls in the first half of February, in the days before Ash Wednesday (10 February).
- The Sambadrome: the ticketed parade of the top samba schools, through the night.
- The blocos: free street parties all over the city, where most Cariocas actually celebrate.
- The easy way: our Rio Carnival Experience (6 days) includes Sambadrome seats, a bloco, a samba club, Sugarloaf and Christ the Redeemer.
- Book now: hotels and parade seats sell out months ahead.
How Rio Carnival works
The Sambadrome. This purpose-built parade avenue, designed by the architect Oscar Niemeyer, is where Rio’s top samba schools compete. Each school, from neighbourhoods across the city, parades for over an hour with thousands of dancers, drummers and giant floats, all telling a story set to its own samba. They’re judged on everything from costumes to rhythm, and the rivalry is ferocious. The parades start in the evening and run until dawn.
The blocos. Street parties, hundreds of them, from the gigantic to the tiny and neighbourly, each with its own band, theme and following. They’re free, and they’re where most locals spend Carnival. Some start at breakfast time. Fancy dress is encouraged, glitter is compulsory (unofficially).
The balls and samba clubs. For the evenings off, there are Carnival balls and samba school rehearsals, which are a brilliant way to see the dancers up close.
Our Rio Carnival tour
Rio Carnival Experience: Sambadrome & Street Parties
Rio Carnival Experience: Sambadrome & Street Parties – 6 Days
- 6 days
- From £2,895 per person
- Max 50 people
- Starts and ends in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Physical rating: low
- Flights not included
- Departures in February
Six days in Rio during Carnival week, with a local leader, five nights in a hotel, breakfast daily and a welcome dinner. You ride the cable car up Sugarloaf Mountain and visit Christ the Redeemer for the classic views over Guanabara Bay, join a bloco street party with your group, spend a night at the Sambadrome with seats for the samba school parade, visit a samba club and have free time to recover on Copacabana or Ipanema beach.
Suits: anyone who wants to do Carnival properly without the stress of tickets and logistics. The honest drawback: groups can be large, nights are late, and most meals are up to you.
How to do Carnival without losing your friends
Pick a meeting point, every time. Phone signal crumbles in big crowds. Agree a landmark and a time before you set off, and a backup if someone goes missing.
Match your costumes. A group in the same bright hats is far easier to find than six people in “something sparkly”.
Travel light. Take a cheap phone or a well-secured one, a little cash, a copy of your passport and nothing you’d mind losing. Leave valuables in the hotel safe.
Drink water, wear sun cream. February in Rio is hot and humid, and blocos start early. Pace yourself: Carnival is a marathon, not a sprint.
Use the metro. Roads close and traffic grinds to a halt, but the metro keeps running, and it’s the easiest way to the Sambadrome.
Go with a leader. Frankly, this is the cheat code. On our tour, your leader handles tickets, timings and getting the group to the Sambadrome and back.
Stay on afterwards
After a week of samba, you may need a holiday from your holiday. Best of Brazil (8 days) heads down the green Costa Verde to colonial Paraty and three nights on car-free Ilha Grande, with free days for beaches like Lopes Mendes. Discover Brazil (11 days) adds Iguaçu Falls from both sides and a village stay in the Amazon. Both have departures in late February, so you can follow straight on from Carnival.
| Tour | Days | Price from | Physical rating | Group size | Flights included | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rio Carnival and after | ||||||
| Rio Carnival Experience: Sambadrome & Street Parties – 6 Days | 6 | £2,895 pp | Low | Max 50 | No | Carnival week, with parade seats |
| Best of Brazil: Rio, Paraty & Ilha Grande – 8 Days | 8 | £645 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | Rio, Paraty and Ilha Grande |
| Discover Brazil: Rio, Paraty, Iguaçu & the Amazon – 11 Days | 11 | £4,076 pp | Medium | Max 16 | No | Rio, Iguaçu and the Amazon |
Prices are per person, twin share, live from our tour pages (updated October 2026). The lowest price can apply to a later departure, so check the dates you want on each tour page.
Ask us about Rio Carnival 2027 →
Practical tips
Book early. Carnival is Rio’s busiest week, and hotels and Sambadrome seats sell out months ahead. Flights get expensive too.
Entry. Check the latest entry requirements for Brazil in the FCDO travel advice, which also has useful safety tips for Carnival.
Flights. The tour is land-only, with an arrival transfer, and we can arrange flights to Rio.
Frequently asked questions
When is Rio Carnival 2027?
Carnival falls in the days before Ash Wednesday, which is 10 February in 2027, so the main celebrations are in the first half of February.
What is the Sambadrome?
The purpose-built parade avenue where Rio’s top samba schools compete through the night, each with thousands of dancers, drummers and floats.
What is a bloco?
A free street party with its own band and theme. There are hundreds during Carnival, and they’re where most locals celebrate.
Are Sambadrome tickets included on the tour?
Yes, the Rio Carnival Experience includes seats for the samba school parade.
Is Rio Carnival safe?
Millions enjoy it safely every year. Pickpocketing is the main risk, so travel light, keep valuables in the hotel safe and stay with your group.
Can I add more of Brazil after Carnival?
Yes, Best of Brazil and Discover Brazil both have departures just after Carnival.
Ready for Rio Carnival?
Tell us how many of you are going, and a Travelisto specialist will check availability on the Carnival tour and add flights or a trip afterwards.
Keep planning
Prices are live from our tour pages (updated October 2026). Tour details and dates can change; your specialist will confirm everything before you book.
