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Attending Rio Carnival had been on my bucket list for a very long time, and it was an incredible experience. While it is a long way from Australia, it is unlike anything I have seen here and is well worth the trip.
Two Carnivals in one
Rio Carnival is really two events running at the same time. The first is the samba school parades at the Sambadrome, which are ticketed and judged like a competition. The second is the street parties, called blocos, which are free and spread across every neighbourhood. Many first-timers only discover one of them, so plan for both.
When is Rio Carnival?
Carnival follows the Easter calendar, so the dates move every year. In 2027 the main parade nights are:
- Friday 5 and Saturday 6 February: Série Ouro (Access Group) parades, the cheaper entry point.
- Sunday 7, Monday 8 and Tuesday 9 February: the Special Group, with 12 schools over three nights, four schools a night.
- Saturday 13 February: the Champions’ Parade, where the top six schools return.
Street blocos start weeks earlier and run until after the parades finish. We stayed for 6 days, either side of the parade night, so we could experience other parts of Rio de Janeiro outside of Carnival.
Getting to Brazil from Australia
Australian passport holders now need an e-Visa to enter Brazil. The requirement started on 10 April 2025, and it costs about US$80.90, valid for 5 years with multiple entries and stays of up to 90 days. Apply online before you fly, because airlines won’t issue a boarding pass without it. Some older websites still say no visa is needed, so check the official Brazilian government portal before you book, and make sure your passport has at least 6 months of validity and that you can show an onward or return ticket.
We flew with Qantas from Sydney to Santiago, Chile, and rested there for a few days to break up the long trip and get over the jet lag, before flying on with LATAM from Santiago to Rio.
How to get Sambadrome tickets
Special Group tickets are sold by Liesa, the league that runs the top-tier schools, through its official ticketing partner. Tickets go on sale in stages months ahead, and the Sunday and Monday nights sell out fastest. Travel agencies also sell packages that bundle a ticket with transfers or a host, which costs more but saves the stress. Sambadrome ticket fraud is common, so buy from the official site or a verified reseller and never from a stranger outside the venue on the night.
- Sector 9: the middle of the runway, widely considered the best view, and the most expensive grandstand.
- Sectors 12 and 13: at the far end of the runway, the cheapest and the most local, with a more lively crowd.
- Sector 11: hard to get, as large tourist groups often book it.
- Front boxes (frisas) and allocated chairs: a step up in comfort and price.
Série Ouro nights are much cheaper and often easier to book, and many of the schools are strong. Prices change every year, so check the current price list when sales open. We went on Saturday night and sat in sector 4. This was a great view and had a nice energy. The highlight for me was how passionate everyone was about their own samba schools.
We booked our tickets through a third-party tour on Viator. This also included a return coach transfer, and was a safe and easy way to get to and from the Sambadrome.
What to expect at the Sambadrome
Expect a very long night. Each school brings thousands of dancers, drummers and flag bearers, giant floats and elaborate costumes, and the parades run through the night into the early morning. Schools are judged on things like their samba song, drumming, costumes and floats. To get there, even-numbered sectors are best reached by metro to Praça Onze station, and taxis and Uber are heavily restricted around the venue during parade nights, so plan your way home too.
I was able to find costumes to buy from the street vendors near Copacabana Beach.
The parade runs all night, and we arrived home around 5 to 6am after leaving the Sambadrome. For anyone wanting to keep going, there are blocos available from around 7am.
Blocos: the street parties
Blocos are free street parties where a band plays, often on a sound truck, and the crowd follows it through the streets. Hundreds of official blocos run over several weeks, from huge megablocos drawing hundreds of thousands to small neighbourhood gatherings. You don’t need a ticket, and many people dress up in costumes, glitter or themed outfits.
- Find them: use the free Blocos de Rua app or the city’s official schedule, which lists blocos by day, neighbourhood and start time.
- Arrive early: megablocos need 1.5 to 2 hours, mid-size ones 45 to 60 minutes, and neighbourhood blocos 20 to 40 minutes.
- Pick a size: first-timers are often advised to try mid-size blocos first. Some travellers avoid the very biggest ones in Ipanema, Copacabana and Centro because of crowding, pickpocketing and drunken fights.
- Try more than one: locals will tell you their favourites, and Cordão da Bola Preta is one of the best-known megablocos.
Staying safe during Carnival
Most visitors have a great time, but Rio has a high rate of petty crime, and crowded blocos attract pickpockets. These steps reduce your risk:
- Take the bare minimum. Leave jewellery, spare cards and your passport at the hotel, and carry a photocopy or photo of your passport photo page.
- Use a money belt or anti-theft pouch worn under your clothes, and keep your phone in a front pocket or a secured pouch.
- Don’t leave drinks unattended. Drink spiking is a known tactic, often called “Boa Noite Cinderela”, so only accept drinks you’ve watched being poured.
- Use Uber or taxis after dark and avoid walking quiet streets late at night.
- Enable Find My Device and keep your phone locked. Post photos after you’ve left, not in real time.
- Stay hydrated and use sunscreen. February is peak summer, with temperatures of around 29 to 35°C and high humidity.
- Agree a meeting point with your group in case you lose each other or your phone.
Staying in the beachfront neighbourhoods of Ipanema and Copacabana is the usual advice for visitors. Rio also has a tourist police station if something is stolen. I personally did not experience any issues, and there was a heavy police presence throughout Carnival.
Best beaches to visit in Rio
Rio has more than 30 beaches along its coast, and a beach day is a good way to recover between parades and blocos. The famous south zone beaches are easy to reach by metro, and the wilder ones further west are better by car or Uber.
Ipanema
Ipanema is about 2.6 km long, running from the Arpoador rocks in the east to the Jardim de Alah canal in the west. It is smaller and more local-feeling than Copacabana, with some of the cleanest water in the south zone, and it is known for its sunsets. The lifeguard posts are numbered 7 to 12, and each one has its own crowd. The west end towards Leblon is quieter and more residential.
Arpoador
Arpoador is the rocky point between Ipanema and Copacabana. The rock is the main attraction, and it is one of the city’s best surf spots and favourite sunset viewpoints. Arrive well before sunset, around 5:30 to 6:30pm in summer, to get a spot.
Copacabana
Copacabana is the most famous beach in Rio and the classic Rio beach experience, with its wave-patterned boardwalk. It is busier and more touristy than Ipanema, and it is a major Carnival street-party area, so expect crowds around bloco days.
We paid around $50 AUD for 2 beach chairs on Copacabana beach for the day. This provided shade in the hot Brazilian weather.
Leblon
Leblon continues from Ipanema on the other side of the canal, a five-minute walk across the bridge. It is wealthier, quieter and more family-focused, and it is among the cleanest places to swim in the city.
Prainha and Grumari
For something less urban, head west past Barra da Tijuca. Prainha is a small surf beach about 23 km from the city centre, set inside an environmental reserve, and it has some of the cleanest water. Grumari is a wilder, more secluded beach nearby, and the old fishing village of Guaratiba is not far away for a fresh fish lunch. A car or Uber is the easiest way to get to both.
Beach tips
- For Ipanema, Arpoador and Copacabana, the closest metro station is General Osório.
- Pickpocketing is common on the beach, so take only what you need, such as a little cash and your phone, and keep valuables out of sight.
- Don’t leave your bag unattended while you swim.
- Use sunscreen and drink plenty of water, as the summer heat is intense.
- Check the currents and swim near a lifeguard post.
Where to stay and getting around
Accommodation books out and prices rise sharply, so book as early as you can. Getting around by road can be slow, because the street parties close streets and fill the city with people. The metro is the best option for most journeys, and Uber and taxis are plentiful but can be slow.
We stayed close to Copacabana beach, and took advantage of the many parties and close proximity to the nightly festivities along the promenade, and blocos at any given time.
Final thoughts
There are so many activities to do outside of Carnival while you are in Rio de Janeiro. Check out additional tours available here: