The Rio Carnival is probably something that is on most people’s bucket list but for a first timer, planning it can be overwhelming! But let’s clear up a misconception quickly – Rio Carnival isn’t just the parade with the samba, dancing, floats and feathers… it’s a complete takeover of Rio de Janeiro! If you don’t prepare for this, things can probably feel really overwhelming and quickly.
I’ve written this guide to help you plan for your Rio Carnival in 2027. This is a guide targeted at first timers who want the real picture, all the nitty gritty. So let’s dive in!
What is Rio Carnival & Why is it so Famous?
Carnival itself is tied to the Christian practice of Lent. It takes place every year in the days leading up to Lent and has earned the nickname “The Greatest Show on Earth”. And once you see it, doesn’t feel like an exaggeration.
The celebration was brought to Brazil by Portuguese colonizers in the form of Entrudo – a chaotic street festival where people threw water, flour and sometimes even food at each other in playful street battles. Over time the celebration evolved, with masks, costumes and parades becoming part of the festivities.
By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, Carnival in Rio began absorbing strong cultural influences from Afro-Brazilian communities. Musical styles like samba and the powerful percussion of batucada rhythms transformed the celebration into something uniquely Brazilian. In the 1920s and 1930s, the first samba schools began forming in Rio’s neighbourhoods, competing with elaborate themes, music, choreography and costumes.
Over the last century, these samba schools developed into the massive productions we see today at the parade held in the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí. This spectacle is what most people picture when they think of Rio Carnival: towering floats, intricate costumes and samba schools parading with thousands of dancers, drummers and performers in carefully choreographed performances that last well into the early morning hours.
But that’s only one side of Carnival.
The other side is something known as blocos. These are free street parties that pop up all over Rio de Janeiro during Carnival season. Some are small neighbourhood gatherings, while others attract hundreds of thousands of people. Music trucks, brass bands or DJs roll through the streets while crowds dance, drink and celebrate together… turning entire neighbourhoods into open-air parties.
Blocos
They are essentially street parties that happen all across the city. Contrary to popular beliefs, they are planned ahead of time. You can actually find when and where they are all scheduled. Especially helpful if you’re trying to get around. They are free community events – some attract a few hundred people, some thousands… or if you encounter a megabloco, over a million.
Each bloco has its own vibe, music and even theme. You’ll even find some geared towards families, some for the LGBTQ+ community, some with live music, others with electronic… I would say you’ll need the help of a local or veteran bloco goer to know what type of bloco you’re about to encounter. It is a free event, there’s no ticket or dress code… just bring the right vibe!
What to expect:
- You’ll probably encounter daytime drinking in the Brazilian summer heat.
- Blocos can start all throughout the day: 8hrs, 11hrs, 14hrs, 18hrs.
- Music going down the street. Either with a live brass band or music trucks.
- Vendors selling food, alcoholic/non alcoholic beverages.
- Confetti everywhere and good vibes.
- Zero personal space
Tip: You can bloco-hop throughout the day but I would always recommend you pace yourself!
Sambadrome
These are what the Rio Carnaval is known for. The parades happens over a few days in a purpose built stadium called Sambadrone Marquês de Sapucaí. This is a ticketed event and definitely try to get your tickets ahead of time. And I mean months in advance to secure yourself a reasonably priced ticket.
Throughout the night, different samba schools have about 55mins to perform and make their way down the sambadrone. It truly is unlike anything I’ve seen before. Each samba school performance has its own theme, songs and story. They are announced in Portuguese so feel free to use Google Translate to get the jist of it before the performance starts.
What to expect:
- Massive floats! Approximately 3-4 floats per school
- Thousands of performers for each school
- Intricate costumes and prep
- Amazing vibes and energy!
- A long night on your feet.
If you want details on whether it’s worth it, seat types and what the night actually feels like, I’m actually writing a mini ebook guide to break down everything you’ll ever need to know… It’s currently in the works so stay tuned for that 😉
Where to Stay During Carnival
I would probably say where you stay can largely impact your experience. As this is a first timer guide, I’d recommend staying somewhere like: Copacabana and Ipanema (aka the Rio South Zone) Yes, I know they are touristy areas but the South Zone is generally where majority of what you want to see is located.
We stayed a block from Copacabana beach and it was an easy metro ride to the sambadrone on Carnival night. It was centrally located to visit Christ the Redeemer, Sugarloaf Mountain, the beaches (!). Being relatively close to the main attractions makes transportation a lot easier as there can be a lot of road closures due to the blocos. There are plenty of those nearby as well!
I would save either Santa Teresa or Downtown for when you’re more familiar with Rio or for after the carnival.
Is Rio Carnival Safe?
Short answer: Yes, if you’re aware and take precautions.
Don’t get me wrong, there are several “horror” stories that come out of Rio, especially during Carnival. While some people are just plain unlucky, some of the issues can be avoidable to a certain extent.
The most common issues people have are:
- Pickpocketing
Depending on where you’re travelling from, you might think putting your wallet/phone in your back pocket being “fine”. It makes you an easy target unfortunately. - Phone theft
Electronics are really expensive in Brazil. People resort to phone snatching (which let’s be honest, this happens everywhere). Don’t use your phone out in public unless you really need to. - Opportunistic grabbing in dense crowds
This unfortunately is another thing that can happen in so many places. Dense crowds just make it a lot easier for the perpetrator. If possible, go with friends and stick together – looking out for each other. If possible, just keep an eye for any “dodgy characters”. - Listen to local advice
If a local tells you to maybe avoid an area at night, probably worth heeding their advice. - If you feel unsafe for whatever reason, get yourself out of there.
I’m compiling a list of advice you can use to keep yourself save and alert. Mind, Brazilians are such an amazing bunch, really fun and open people. Just unfortunately, there are a few bad eggs around (like every other country!).
How Much Does Rio Carnival Cost?
We are travelling the world for a year so we tried to keep to a budget but let me tell you, it was really hard to do that in Rio, especially during carnival! We had booked our accommodation 5 months in advance but even that probably wasn’t early enough to snap up the good deals. We ate out a lot more than we planned. Unfortunately, the AirBNB we rented barely had a useable kitchen. We also had our friends join us from back home and since it was my first time in Rio, I obviously did the touristy things.
We were in Rio from the 11th – 18th of February so basically a week in the Brazilian city. We did stay in downtown for 2 nights to cut down costs before moving to Copacabana for the remainder as we booked an apartment with our friends.
This is a rough estimate from my notes app.
- Accommodation for two: 553 BRL (Downtown apartment) + 5950 BRL (Copacabana)
- Sambadrome tickets for two: 600 BRL
- Blocos: free
- Drinks: 683 BRL
- Attractions: 1400 BRL
- Eating out: 1755 BRL
Groceries: 338 BRL - Ride Share:
Metro: 32 BRL
Total for two: 10 715 BRL (£220 for two per day)
Carnival definitely put a dent in our budget but definitely not as bad as we thought! We did try to do “free” things especially on our days in Downtown and as a filler between the days. We didn’t go wild drinking alcohol or partying, our alcohol budget was a lot but not as much as we thought it could’ve been… helps that the caipirinhas are really strong so you don’t need many!!
To Carnaval or Not to Carnival?
It can be an intense experience, chaotic but it was probably some of the best experiences I’ve had. Rio de Janiero itself is a really interesting city and I by no means did it any justice but I got a taster of it and have a sneaky suspicion I’ll be back! There’s so much to see and do… I mean, I’d love to comeback and see the Championship parade (I’ve heard that’s the one to go to). But regardless, I’m so pleased with my first experience of the world famous carnival.
Rio Carnaval isn’t curated – it’s very real, energetic and does live up to its title as one of the best experiences in the world. Even if you’re not a big partier or drinker, I’d definitely say that the parade is worth visiting.
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