10 Jan Carnival Rio de Janeiro 2024: Your Guide to the World’s Largest Party
Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro is one of the world’s biggest parties! Brazilians in costumes dance in the streets, drums echo through the city, strangers make out, bodies are embellished in glitter, and no one sleeps.
While partying for Carnaval is not rocket science, if you’re a gringo flying out to join, it can be a little confusing about how it all works. When are the official dates? What are the events? Where are all the parties? How do I go to the samba parade? What do I wear? Where’s the best place to stay? And more details.
In 2022, I spent 2 amazing months living in Rio de Janeiro which overlapped with Carnaval. During this time I had the absolute time of my life! Additionally, with the help of local friends combined with my own experience, I figured out the answers to all the common Carnaval FAQ’s which are answered here in this post.
Here you’ll find everything you need to enjoy Carnaval as well as up to date information for 2024.
Are you traveling alone? Don’t write Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro off as an experience you have to do traveling with friends. I was traveling solo when I went to Rio and had an incredible experience. In this post I share solo travel tips specifically for Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro, so keep reading!
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What is Carnival / Carnaval?
You may have to do a separate Google search to get the full knitty gritty history of Carnival – actually called Carnaval in Brazil – but essentially it’s a celebration originally rooted in Christianity that begins at the start of lent – like Mardi Gras in the U.S..
It’s famous around the world, but the reason Carnaval is so special in Brazil is because the festivities have been entwined with the original afro-Brazilian culture which includes samba music and dance.
Nowadays, Carnaval in Brazil is a 5 day celebration where people drink, dance, and party in the streets wearing vibrant colors and flamboyant costumes. In Rio de Janeiro, the sambadrome also hosts the annual samba school competition, which is a parade of dancers and ginormous floats of imaginative themes.
Brazil, specifically Rio de Janeiro, has become a worldwide symbol for Carnaval and is noted on many people’s bucket list (likely yours included, since you’re here!). In 2019 alone, it was reported that 1.7 million tourists visited Rio during Carnaval. That’s why it’s especially important to do a little planning around this trip. But don’t worry – you’re in the right place!
When is Carnaval?
Carnaval is in February at the start of lent. In 2024 the official dates are February 9th – 17th. If you’re wondering when you should go and for how long, I would suggest for the entirety!
Additionally, I suggest adding in a few buffer days to enjoy the other amazing activities in Rio. Not to mention the likely recovery days needed simply laying on the beach.
Carnaval Events & Activities
Carnaval activities include the samba parades and the hundreds of blocos scattered throughout the city – these are the street parties and free concerts.
The Samba Carnaval Parade
First let’s talk about the world-renowned parade.
Before I get into details of how to get a ticket, first it’s important to explain a few things that might not be so intuitive to most tourists about this event. And by that I mean, I didn’t know these things before going myself…
What most foreigners to Brazil know as the Carnaval Parade, is actually a competition between samba schools, each parading across the Sambadrome in a curated performance that’s been practiced for a year. Each school’s production has several elements including different types of dancers, floats, a sponsored celebrity, and always a theme.
Because there are many samba schools, they’re scheduled to perform on different nights grouped by level of talent. This is why there are multiple days you can attend this Carnaval parade, and each night is a different show.
Learn more about the parade in a backstage tour!
If you want to see behind the scenes of the parade to learn more about the preparation process and even try on past Carnaval costumes, then I HIGHLY recommend booking this tour. It was one of my favorite things I did in Rio and gave me so much insight into this world famous event.
No matter which night you choose to attend, you can expect the parade to begin at approximately 9 PM and last until 5 AM. Yes, this is an all night affair!
Bonus tip: If you stay until the end at 5 AM, you’re allowed to walk across the Sambadrome yourself as the sun rises. a pretty iconic way to end the night!
Of course you don’t have to show up right at the start, and you don’t have to stay all night. But I would encourage you to stay at least until 2 AM because some of the better performances are saved for the middle.
The next thing to note is that the longer you wait to purchase tickets, the more expensive they become. Ticket prices also vary based on seating type, and which night you attend (the better performances will be more expensive).
Lastly, it’s worth noting that this is definitely a bucket list experience, but not necessarily the highlight of Carnaval.
Most average Brazilians have never attended and unless you paid to be in the Frisa or Camarote seats, it’s less of a party for you and more just watching a performance. Still though, it’s absolutely incredible to see, and I personally loved every second. But I also encourage you to go to blocos which are the real Carnaval parties (more on that soon).
How to get a ticket to the Samba CarnIval Parade:
Because this is such a popular event you’ll see a number of travel agencies and tour operators selling tickets to the parade online and in Rio. Unfortunately though, it’s possible to be scammed and sometimes it can be confusing to actually get your ticket.
The official Rio Carnaval website is only really useful for Brazilians since it’s in Portuguese and you need a Brazilian CPF (ID number) to complete the ticket purchase (great for official information though).
The easiest place to purchase your ticket is here.
However, if you’d like more seating options then try Carnival Bookers which is a reputable travel agency in Rio and where I actually booked my ticket at the last minute.
Types of Tickets: Seats, Sections & Night
There are 3 different seating options:
1 Arquibancada / Grandstand:
These are bleacher seats that will give you a view from above. Because the sambadrome seating doesn’t go very high, you will still have a great panoramic view of the parade, and this is a good option if you’re on a budget and/or booking your ticket last minute.
Note that grandstand seats are not assigned by individual chairs but rather by section. Meaning you have to sit within your reserved sector but inside it’s a “free for all.” Therefore if you want to sit in the front row, you’ll need to arrive early or wiggle your way through as people leave throughout the night.
Check out my views from the Grandstand seats below!
2 Frisas / Front Box:
These seats are right in front of the procession area meaning the parade happens right in front of you! I imagine frisas are the best seats of all because you’ll have a close-up of the action, seeing every detail in the costumes and dancing with performers as they go by.
Each of the frisa sections is gated off and includes 6 seats in each zone, but you should be able to purchase individually.
My friend and fellow travel blogger, Carla who lives in Rio de Janeiro, has incredible content showcasing the parade from the Frisa section.
3 Camarote / Box Seats:
Here you’ll be in an air conditioned room above the frisas but below the bleachers. Inside the boxes there will be food, drinks and a DJ. The camarotes are definitely more of their own party and are often reserved by tour groups or companies.
If you’re traveling on your own without a tour I wouldn’t necessarily recommend booking this because you’re less involved in the parade. Still, could be a fun private party if you’re into that.
Sectors and which is best?
All seating options I just mentioned above, fall into 13 sectors that you can see pictured below.
The sectors at either end will be the cheapest, and also in my opinion would not be the best. You’ll still see an incredible show but it will be either as dancers are getting started, or as their procession ends.
For this reason, somewhere in the middle is considered the best area, such as Sector 6, 7, 8 and 9. Sectors 4 & 5 are a good option as well.
Which parade Night is best to attend?
As I mentioned earlier, the nights are not all completely the same since different schools perform. The earlier parades tend to be the samba schools with less experience which are called the Access Groups. In 2024, these are on February 9th and 10th.
Next on the following weekend are the Special Groups which are the highest performing schools – iin 2024 this is scheduled for Sunday, February 11th and Monday, February 12th.
Lastly, there’s a final parade called the Parade of Champions which is the winning schools performing again – in 2024 this is scheduled for Saturday, February 17th.
I would have guessed this Parade of Champions would be the best one, but was told otherwise because it’s after the fact.
Therefore the best nights to attend would be when the Special Groups perform. In 2024, that is on February 11th and 12th.
A little about my Carnaval parade ticket & experience (for a little perspective):
I purchased my ticket last minute only 4 days before the parade on Carnival Bookers because I was waiting to find someone who wanted to go with me the same night so we could reserve together. We ended up reserving Grandstand seats in Section 5 during a Special Groups night.
My ticket cost about $80 USD for the ticket, and an extra $10 for them to deliver my ticket to where I was staying. There was an option to pick it up, I was just lazy. The pick up location was a Hotel in Copacabana.
A day or so later, a delivery guy arrived with my ticket. I had to show my passport and the credit card used for purchase to receive the delivery. Inside the envelope I found more details to attend, and a pretty cute Carnival branded pass to wear around my neck to get into the Sambadrome.
My friend and I ended up walking there from Lapa – which I don’t recommend, it was sketchy. We decided to get a taxi back, there were many waiting outside.
At the start, we arrived around 9:30 PM and did end up staying until 4 AM! Even though we were in the bleachers, the view of the parade was amazing. I was so impressed with the animated performance.
Take a Samba Class!
If you want to give Samba a go, try an energetic beginner class! My friend and I were inspired after seeing the parade and tried. It was so much fun, but I warn you, it’s a workout.
More Details about the Parade:
TRANSPORTATION
You can reach the Sambadrome in 3 ways: by Uber/taxi, by subway, or by private transfer. There is a ticket option with with GetYourGuide linked here where a shuttle service is included.
I don’t recommend walking or taking a bus though because the area isn’t great and buses are unreliable due to street parties.
FOOD & DRINK
If you have camarote / box seats then food and drink may be included. Otherwise within the sambadrome there are food stands and bars. Cards are typically accepted at all these.
WHAT TO WEAR
The simple answer – whatever you want! Most people dress pretty casually and don’t wear costumes like at bloco parties.
On the other hand, this is possibly a once in a lifetime experience, so if you’re someone like me who enjoys doing a little extra then you could go with a colorful outfit and wear fun makeup. I went the party dress route and glued small crystals around my eyes.
Blocos & Concerts
The most fun part of Carnival are the blocos. These are street parties with live music of samba drumming where everyone dresses in vibrant and creative costumes, sometimes there’s even a theme!
Some are less organized with just a crowd of people, but some more established ones are like concerts.
You can find blocos scattered all over Rio. In fact , there’s over 400! They can be in the most random locations (once I partied outside a gas station) and sometimes they even move location, parading around the city. While I was in Rio one large bloco shut down traffic as they moved through the tunnel highway!
And because Brazilians take partying to the next level, they’re also hosted at all hours of the day starting anywhere between 7 AM and 2 AM partying all night. And the morning ones (especially on the weekend) are just as fun.
Which means if you try to do it all, it’s not unheard of to party for a couple days straight with little to no sleep. Just speaking from personal experience! During Carnaval, my head rarely hit my pillow before 5 AM and sometimes rose only 2 hours later. Partying like a Brazilian is tiring 😅 but worth it!
Where to Find the Blocos?
Carnival parties can be found posted in a number of places. Diario Do Rio, a local news site, usually posts an article with a Carnaval schedule of blocos and concerts.
My favorite place to find information though was on Instagram where pages post about parties constantly on their stories. The two best pages I found are O Carnaval Nunca Acaba and Blocos RJ.
Which Blocos are best to go to?
In my opinion, you should try to go to as many blocos as possible and at least one in the morning (specifically in Santa Teresa). And yes, they really do start at 7 AM!
To choose which other blocos are best to attend you can ask locals for their recommendation; either friends you meet or someone working the front desk of your accommodation. Some of the biggest and most popular blocos though are Sargento Pimenta, Bola Preta, Carmelitas, Simpatia é Quase Amor.
You should also try to go to blocos in every neighborhood since they will all have different vibes and themes. This guide on Carnival street parties explains it very well.
Drinking at Blocos
At almost all blocos there will be food and drink stands selling beer and cocktails. The most popular thing to try is the Caipirinha, Brazil’s famed cocktail made with the national liquor cachaça.
I do recommend bringing some of your own drinks too for better access, to save money, and so you have total control of what you’re drinking. Not that it’s totally unsafe to drink from these stands though, I bought drinks from them frequently.
What to Wear to Carnival Parties?
Depending on the bloco there may be a theme, but typically the go-to is flamboyant and vibrant. Some people go in costumes similar to Halloween in the U.S.. But you also can’t go wrong with wearing as much color as possible, fishnet tights, throwing on a hat, glitter, feathers, and/or bejeweling yourself.
If you didn’t pack this kind of attire and are looking for an outfit or accessories, then I suggest going to the area where Saara RJ Centro is locoated. This street, Rua Buenos Aires, is lined with shops to buy almost anything you can think of to create a costume or spice an outfit up.
Safety in Rio During Carnival
As much as I love Rio de Janeiro, there’s no denying you have to be careful there. Theft is very, very common.
In this post linked here I answer the question, is Brazil safe to travel to? And in this post linked here I give detailed tips to help stay safe in Rio. I highly recommend reading these.
For Carnaval, I especially suggest having a secure crossbody bag rather than putting anything in your pockets, and if you have a burner phone I would consider using it when out partying. Some more tips are to avoid bringing more valuables than you need and to leave one credit card at home. Definitely don’t bring your passport!
If you’re staying in a hostel, I also advise putting everything into a locker rather than leaving it out.
And lastly, be careful when drinking and partying. Go with friends, know how to get home, watch your drink, stay hydrated, you know the drill.
Keep your belongings safe with some of these essentials
Solo Travel in Rio During Carnival
It’s definitely possible to travel alone to Rio for Carnival – I know, because I did it! That being said, in any party destination you do have to take a few extra steps as a solo traveler to #1 find friends to party with and #2 to keep yourself safe.
Finding Friends to Go to Carnival Events With
When it comes to the Sambadrome parade, you don’t necessarily have to go with someone. If you book the tour with a shuttle included, they’ll take care of getting you there and you may meet others on the shuttle bus.
While in Rio, I met another girl who was also solo traveling and she went to the parade with the shuttle service. We met afterwards so she had gone alone, but told me regardless she had the time of her life!
However, when it comes to parties I personally don’t encourage going alone.
So, to find friends to party with I recommend a few ways.
First, you can stay at a hostel which is the easiest way to meet others.
Second, you can arrive in Brazil a little earlier than when Carnival begins and take tours with a side mission to meet a party buddy. I did this and it worked out wonderfully.
Lastly, before coming to Brazil you can reach out to others traveling there in Facebook groups. Some great solo female travel groups are We Are Travel Girls & Solo Female Travelers.
My story: how I met friends during Carnival
I get the question a lot, “How do I meet people while traveling alone?” Especially when I stay in an Airbnb instead of a hostel, like I did during Carnival.
Because I was more secluded in my own apartment, I was pretty strategic and put myself out there so I wouldn’t be alone for this amazing event. And I was successful! I had a friend join me for the Carnival parade and had many friends to meet up with for parties.
Everyone I met in different ways. My local friends I met via Couchsurfing, Bumble, and reaching out to Brazilian content creators on Instagram. The fellow travelers I met from tours in Rio (like the backstage one), and were people I met while staying at a hostel in Florianopolis and Sao Paulo the week before. Because Carnival in Rio is so famous, everyone was making their way there, so we were able to meet up again.
Safety as a Solo Traveler During Carnival
All the safety tips mentioned before and the ones listed in this blog post here especially apply to solo travelers. The only additional tips I would give is to make sure to stick with the friends you go out with and have a plan to get home.
Although I’ve never heard of it being a problem in Rio, you may also want to consider using a drink cover. You spend a lot of time walking around in a crowd with an open drink.
4-6 Day Inclusive Tour Options
If figuring all this out on your own isn’t really your thing, there are also multi-day Carnaval tours out there. Viator has two listed, one for 4 days and one for 6 days. Both of these include going to the Sambadrome parade, bloco parties, beach days, accommodation & more.
I haven’t done these tours myself, but it might be worth looking into if you prefer to know everything is taken care of and that you’ll be with a group.
Where to Stay in Rio de Janeiro for Carnival
First, no matter where you choose to stay, booking as soon as possible is highly encouraged. Every accommodation will have a surcharge doubling their prices and reservations will fill up.
Rio has many areas where you can stay. The most popular are Copacabana and Ipanema which are surrounded by restaurants and have easy access to the beach. Ipanema is the nicer of the two, in my opinion.
Leblon is a step up, especially popular to expats and also a good option with proximity to the beach. However it’s far from a lot of the Carnival action.
Botafogo and Flamengo are quieter areas with easy-going bars and in a great central location to both the beaches and downtown.
Santa Teresa has cute neighborhoods with boutique shops and cafes, also in a central location. However, it can be hilly so if you hate walking maybe not for you.
Lapa is a large party area, but can be a bit sketchy in areas. Actually I had a great apartment in Lapa that I loved, but it’s really hit or miss.
Altogether, I think the best places to stay are Ipanema to be near the beach, or Santa Teresa if you want to be in more of a neighborhood with nice views. Botafogo would be my third pick.
That being said, there’s such an array of things to do in Rio and blocos are everywhere so you’ll probably be set no matter which area you pick from this list.
On the other hand, no matter where you choose, you also need to be cautious. Rio is not a city with super distinct lines of “good” or “bad” areas.
My Accommodation Picks
The apartment I stayed in during Carnival was in Lapa. You can find it here. You can also search for apartments in Rio on Booking.com.
Budget $
For budget or solo travelers there are a ton of hostels in Rio. The overall best in my opinion is Discovery Hostel which is homey, clean, and in a fantastic central location.
If you prefer to stay close to the beach, I suggest Ipanema Beach House which is reasonably priced and has a chill atmosphere.
For those looking to party, go to Books Hostel, it’s in between Lapa & Gloria.
Lastly, for those who want a cheap hotel room, there’s Casa Nova in Santa Teresa.
Mid Range $$
For a standard, comfortable hotel room in Ipanema I suggest Bossa Nova Ipanema. If you want a little more social atmosphere then go to Selina Copacabana.
Rio144 in Santa Teresa is a beautiful, stylish hotel that features a garden and rooftop terrace with an outdoor pool and stunning views of Sugarloaf mountain.
A little pricier, but close to the beach is Ipanema Inn Hotel. This is a clean, comfortable hotel in a great location only a block away from Ipanema Beach.
Luxury $$$
Located at the beginning of Ipanema beach is Arena Ipanema Hotel which has absolutely stunning views of the coast.
For super luxurious and unique stays, my dream accommodations are Hotel Fasano Rio de Janeiro, Vila Santa Teresa, Santa Teresa Hotel RJ and Mama Ruisa Boutique Hotel.
Getting Around Rio During Carnival
The easiest way to get around Rio is by Uber or taxi. However, some roads may be blocked during Carnival. In that case I recommend taking the subway. It’s generally safe, clean and very efficient. You can get a metro card at a station, and when using Google Maps it’s very easy to navigate.
More Resources for Your Trip to rio:
Here’s everything I used to book and coordinate my itinerary through Brazil.
Hostels
If you’re a budget traveler or looking for an easy way to meet others, Hostelworld is the best place to search. Search for more hostels in Rio here.
Hotels
Booking.com has so many options from affordable stays to more luxurious. If you’re looking for stunning views, I recommend Rio 144 and Vila Santa Teresa.
Flights
Flights to Brazil and within the country can be pricey if not booked ahead of time. To get the best prices I recommend using Skyscanner. You can fly directly to Rio at GIG (Tom Jobim International Airport). There is another airport in Rio but it’s only domestic flights.
BUSES
No matter the destination, I always check Rome2Rio to see options on how to travel. However I found using Brazilian bus companies to book could be a pain because you need a CPF (ID number). The most useful sites to book buses were BusBud & FlixBus.
Insurance
Travel insurance is a must for every trip, especially when coming to a destination like Brazil where you may be doing adventurous activities, you probably don’t have a direct flight, and theft is a high risk. Make sure your health, bookings, luggage, and belongings are covered. My go to is always WorldNomads which has a generous coverage and is made for backpackers. You can search for coverage here.
Tours & Experiences
There’s a lot of free thing to do in Rio but joining a tour does have its advantages, and if you’re a solo traveler looking to meet people then tours are a great option. In Rio you can find awesome experiences on GetYourGuide, Viator, & Airbnb Experiences (hit or miss but mostly good).
Currency, Outlets, Visas & More
Check out my Brazil Destination page for all know-before-your-go information.
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Carla Vianna
Posted at 12:59h, 02 FebruaryThis post is incredible — and THANK YOU for sharing my REEL!!! Hehe