TASTE OF RIO CARNAVAL
(updated 2024)
How to Manage Watching rio carnival:
Tips to Get the Maximum Taste!
Since my childhood, I have watched the Rio Carnival on TV news and been fascinated by the beautiful Brazilian girls in extravagant costumes dancing incredibly. I used to think they walked like this every day and every night on the streets, and I always wanted to go and see them up close. As I grew older and visited Rio a couple of times, I never considered going during the carnival, thinking it would be inaccessible, unreachable, and too chaotic. Well, by a stroke of luck, I happened to be in Rio during Carnival in 2022 and returned again in 2024!
I would like to share my Rio Carnival experience with those who had the same doubts and prejudices I once had before I went, to encourage and guide them in getting the maximum taste of this legendary and unique event.
I would like to share my Rio Carnival experience with those who had the same doubts and prejudices I once had before I went, to encourage and guide them in getting the maximum taste of this legendary and unique event.
RIO CARNAVAL 2024
IS rio CARNIVAL WORTH IT?
I confess, I thought that I could live the Carnival experience without paying for a ticket at the Sambodromo.
However, all Carnival images in my head and all the pictures and videos I have seen my whole life about the Rio Carnival were all about Sambodromo, a hippodrome (racetracks) shape stadium, built especially for this occasion.
I was satisfied with each penny I spent on the Sambodromo tickets.
Carnival in Rio is really worth it!
However, all Carnival images in my head and all the pictures and videos I have seen my whole life about the Rio Carnival were all about Sambodromo, a hippodrome (racetracks) shape stadium, built especially for this occasion.
I was satisfied with each penny I spent on the Sambodromo tickets.
Carnival in Rio is really worth it!
RIO CARNAVAL SPECIAL GROUP PARADE 2024
Are the Rio Carnival Tickets Expensive?
How Much Do Rio Carnival Tickets Cost?
The Rio Carnival ticket prices vary from as low as 30 USD to several thousand US dollars.
In both 2022 and 2024, Rio Carnival tickets cost me exactly 110 USD and 125 USD per person, respectively, for grandstand seats in Sector 6. These are unassigned numbered seats on cement stairs, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. I asked other people sitting next to me to compare prices, and even the last-minute price was the same.
There is often an early bird promotion when they first start selling tickets several months before the event; you should check and follow the official website. Beware of common frauds in carnival ticket sales and trust only the official website of the organization.
In both 2022 and 2024, Rio Carnival tickets cost me exactly 110 USD and 125 USD per person, respectively, for grandstand seats in Sector 6. These are unassigned numbered seats on cement stairs, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. I asked other people sitting next to me to compare prices, and even the last-minute price was the same.
There is often an early bird promotion when they first start selling tickets several months before the event; you should check and follow the official website. Beware of common frauds in carnival ticket sales and trust only the official website of the organization.
Special Group Parades Sambadrome
RIO CARNAVAL TICKETS - HOW AND WHERE TO PURCHASE - HOW TO PICK UP
On April 2022 when I planned to go to Rio with my mom, I wasn't expecting to find Carnaval at all! Due to the Covid regulations, the parade dates were shifted from February to April. I was very excited to find a ticket. At our hotel in Copacabana, they proposed tickets but I didn't want to risk and followed the instructions of the Rio Carnaval official website https://www.riocarnaval.org and tracked them to find their official sales office at the first floor of the Hotel Atlântico Copacabana. The staff who sold me the tickets were very nice and explanative.
I was lucky to find good seats in one of the best sectors without spending too much money.
In 2024, I wanted to share this experience with my husband, so I purchased Rio Carnival 2024 tickets online in September 2023 from the official website, RioCarnaval.Org. They have immediately sent me the confirmation with important notes (the picture below) within which the voucher they sent wasnt the real ticket and I had to go to the Hotel Atlântico Copacabana to collect them before the event.
They sent me various reminders to pick them up in person, until the end of January where they proudly announced that tickets become digital!
Redeeming tickets digitally needed an app called QUENTRO. (You can download the app Quentro from the Play Store for Android or the App Store for iOS.) We followed the instructions they send by email and easily created a QR Code for each ticket to access the Sambadrome with our cell phones. But attention the QR codes - for security reasons- are dynamic and updated every time you enter the app therefore the pictures or print outs do not work. It was written that we didnt need internet or simcard to access the QR code at the entrance but it wasn't true! We had problems in getting in without internet/sim card! Hopefully one of us had a sim card and managed to enter.
I was lucky to find good seats in one of the best sectors without spending too much money.
In 2024, I wanted to share this experience with my husband, so I purchased Rio Carnival 2024 tickets online in September 2023 from the official website, RioCarnaval.Org. They have immediately sent me the confirmation with important notes (the picture below) within which the voucher they sent wasnt the real ticket and I had to go to the Hotel Atlântico Copacabana to collect them before the event.
They sent me various reminders to pick them up in person, until the end of January where they proudly announced that tickets become digital!
Redeeming tickets digitally needed an app called QUENTRO. (You can download the app Quentro from the Play Store for Android or the App Store for iOS.) We followed the instructions they send by email and easily created a QR Code for each ticket to access the Sambadrome with our cell phones. But attention the QR codes - for security reasons- are dynamic and updated every time you enter the app therefore the pictures or print outs do not work. It was written that we didnt need internet or simcard to access the QR code at the entrance but it wasn't true! We had problems in getting in without internet/sim card! Hopefully one of us had a sim card and managed to enter.
MY RIO CARNIVAL TICKET VOUCHER AND INSTRUCTIONS
briefly RIO CARNAVAL TICKET PURCHASE:
- Purchase your Carnival Tickets from a reliable source. RioCarnival.org
- Rio Carnival's Customer Service Center is at the Hotel Atlântico Copacabana. Here, they sell and deliver the tickets.
- If you purchase online, follow the instructions for a digital ticket, creating QR without going to collect the ticket physically from Capocabana.
Sambadrome 1 hour before the parade
WHAT IS THE BEST DAY TO GO TO RIO CARNIVAL in SAMBADROME?
- During the Carnival, there are "bands" and "blocks" on the streets as well as parties. None of them is comparable to the real parade experience at the Sambodromo.
- Carnival in the SAMBODROMO (the Samba Stadium) lasts 5 days.
- 2 days The Access Group
- 2 days The Special Group (the winners of the first 2 days )
- Last day the Champions' parade.
- The best date to choose is either the Champions' Parade or the 2nd day of the Special Group.
RIO CARNIVAL 2024 PARADE SPECIAL GROUPS
HOW EARLY TO ARRIVE AT THE SAMBODROMO?
- The first samba school parade starts at 22.30 and it may finish at 6 a.m. in the morning!
- If you have grandstand tickets, you will not have allocated seats or chairs.
- Go as early as 19 - as soon as Sambadrome opens its gates - you will be able to find a front seat and you won't wait in the queue to enter.
- The time till the parade will pass fast, as you will enjoy observing locals with colourful and shiny clothes.
Waiting at the Sambadrome for the Parades to start.
Tips on How to Choose the Best Seats IN RIO CARNIVAL SAMBADROME/ sambodromo
- There are different sectors and options at the Sambodromo.
- The cheapest sector is Sector 10 usually occupied by locals.
- Your objective should be to choose a sector as central as possible as the parade will stay longer. So better to avoid Sectors 1, 2, 3, 10, 11 and 12.
- The best quality price ratio are the grandstands in Sectors 6, 7 ,8 and 9.
- Mostly tourists choose Sector 9 with allocated seats.
- The judges are just under Sector 6 so the dancers make their best moves at this point. Sectors 6,7 and 8 are full of Cariocas . It is more enjoyable to experience the Carnival with locals singing and dancing. They are also very educated have good manners. You should be careful with the foreign tourists there, on two occations they tried to steal our seats. Fortunately, locals stepped in and defended our spots.
Sambadromo Map
HOW TO GET TO RIO CARNIVAL SAMBODROMO/sambadrome?
The best and most enjoyable way to get to Sambodromo is via metro as you may observe the colourful costumes of the exhibitors closely. It is open 24 hrs during the carnival period.
But attention, according to your sector in the Sambadrome, you need to get off at different stations. If you have tickets from sectors 2,4 and 6 then you need to get off at the PRAÇA ONZE station. For the rest of the sectors, you need to get off at the central station and walk for around 700mt. You may consider taking a taxi for sectors 1,3,5, 7,9,11 and 13.
It is quite safe to walk at night during the carnival as the Federal Police gets extra safety precautions, still avoiding lonely streets.
But attention, according to your sector in the Sambadrome, you need to get off at different stations. If you have tickets from sectors 2,4 and 6 then you need to get off at the PRAÇA ONZE station. For the rest of the sectors, you need to get off at the central station and walk for around 700mt. You may consider taking a taxi for sectors 1,3,5, 7,9,11 and 13.
It is quite safe to walk at night during the carnival as the Federal Police gets extra safety precautions, still avoiding lonely streets.
Our front seats (not allocated) at the Sector 6
tips to Optimizing Your Carnaval Night in sambadrome!
- Get a good night's sleep beforehand because the event lasts all night long. The Sambadrome opens at 19:00, but the parades don't start until 22:00 and continue until 6:00 a.m.
- You can easily find Uber and taxis when leaving the Sambadrome, even if you leave early, as we did.
- There are no ATMs at the Sambadrome area, but the kiosks and vendors near the grandstands all accept credit cards.
- Since the grandstands are made of concrete, it's a good idea to bring or purchase a cushion for seating, even if you won't be seated much (Brazilians stay up and dance until morning). At the entrance of the Sambadrome, many vendors sell cushions, but they only accept cash. We negotiated the price and purchased them for 15,000 Reais each instead of 30,000 Reais per cushion.
- If you have grandstand tickets, you won't have allocated seats or chairs. Arrive as early as 19:00, and you'll have the chance to find a front-row seat. The best view is in the first row, close to the balustrades. You can use a cushion to save your seat for resting and stand up to stay at the balustrades to watch the parades pass. Everyone respects each other's seats, and there are no arguments or chaos.
- However, twice, foreign tourists tried to steal our standing spot at the balustrades during the break when we were seated just behind them. It is better to tie your bag (without valuables in it) or clothes to the balustrades to defend your spot. We were helped by locals to defend and regain our standing spots, and even though we asked for help from the people on duty, they refused to assist!
- It is enjoyable to observe locals wearing colorful and shiny clothes and singing and dancing during the Parades.
- You can bring your food and any kind of drink (no glass bottles are allowed).
- Free water and free plastic cup offered all the time.
- Brazilians wear cheerful, colorful, shiny, glittery clothes and crazy make ups. You may want to enjoy and exaggerate with your clothing to be a part of it. It is also important to wear as comfortable as possible, especially the shoes.
- Carry with you only the essentials, money, credit card and your phone but keep them in a closed bag and in front of your body all the time. Bring some additional unvaluble bag or cloth or scarf to occupy you seat when you leave for the restroom o make purchases.