1. Find your bloco
A parade in Rio? You need to be there! Spontaneous parades in the centre of the city, in Brazil called blocos, are organized by the local communities of Rio’s districts. During the carnival, daily life in the city comes to a halt, so street parties are held every day and can last from dusk to dawn. You can join district blocos whenever you like and they’re completely free of charge.
2. Samba in the Sambadrome
Did you know that there are 70 samba studios in Rio?! Every year during the carnival a prestigious competition is held in the Sambadrome Marquês de Sapucaí, a stadium designed by Oscar Niemeyer, to determine the best local dance school. The parade area can hold up to 90,000 people, but it’s not easy to get in unless you buy the tickets in advance – they cost from 10 to 500 dollars.
3. Suit up for the Copacabana Palace baile
You can also celebrate the carnival in a more refined way. The second type of traditional carnival parties is bailos and the Magic Ball organized by the Copacabana Palace Hotel is undoubtedly the most luxurious of them. It’s a black tie event, so if you’re planning to attend the Magic Ball, remember to pack your evening clothes.
4. Pick a costume for Baile Glamarama
The luscious Baile Glamarama is hosted every year by the Museum of Modern Art (MAM). Brazilian artists and celebrities perform live during the event and the fact that the guests have to be in costume is icing on the cake.
5. The colourful Scala Gay Gala
One of the biggest carnival parties in Rio is the Scala Gay Gala held at the Scala club. It’s a colourful celebration organized by the LGTBQ community with an unforgettable setting and performances.
6. Get a taste of nightlife in Lapa
Lapa is a modern popular neighbourhood which never sleeps near the Sambadrome stadium. It’s full of bars and clubs, which often host Sambadrome afterparties.
7. Take part in Cordao da Bola Preta
Cordao da Bola Preta is the biggest parade going through the city according to Brazilians themselves. Every year, over 200,000 walk through the streets of Rio’s oldest districts.
8. Join Banda de Ipanema
One of the most popular street parades in the city is Banda de Ipanema, a colourful festival of quaintness adorned with the glitz and glamour of drag queen dresses. The parade is usually closed by an afterparty on the Ipanema beach, which can be in full swing even after sunrise.
9. Relax on the Copacabana beach
Copacabana is one of the most well-known beaches in the world. The four-kilometre-long, wide, sandy beach gives you the perfect opportunity to make the best of the sunlight – after all, February is summer in the Southern Hemisphere and you’ll need some rest after wild nights of drinking caipirinhas and dancing samba.
