Go behind the scenes at Rio Carnival

SCHEDULE EXPERIENCE

Behind the Scenes of Carnival in the City of Samba

Rating 5.0 (12 total reviews)

Behind the Scenes of Carnival in the City of Samba

Tour duration: 1.5 hours

Bilingual tour in different languages

Samba class with dancer

Free cancellation up to 48 hours before the tour

Pricing

Adult - R$100.00

Half Price - R$50.00

Rio de Janeiro Promotion - R$50.00

Brazilian Promo - R$75.00

TRAVELING IN A GROUP?

We offer private tours with greater flexibility in terms of schedules and languages. For more information click in this link.

The only backstage tour of the Carioca Carnival, the most famous carnival in the world!

When in Rio, you have to experience Samba! This tour showcases the artistry and imagination that goes into creating Carnival and lets you go behind the scenes of the greatest show on Earth!

Have a unique and authentic experience, exploring the behind the scenes, the secrets, the people working and the preparations for the parade.

During the tour, you will witness the construction and production process of floats and more than 3,000 costumes for the show. A guided tour of the warehouse of the 2022 Carnival champion Samba School, Grande Rio.

The tour offers an exhibition about the history of Samba and Carnival. At the end, don't miss the chance to dress up in exclusive parade costumes, samba and enjoy a delicious caipirinha to welcome you.

Come and visit us!

Guided tour of the Acadêmicos da Grande Rio warehouse – One of the main Samba Schools in the City of Rio de Janeiro (30 min).
Exhibition room: a little about the history of samba and carnival parades (20 min).
Getting into the mood: arranging costumes to wear and photograph (20 min).
Flavor of Samba: welcome caipirinha (10 min).
Samba class with one of our dancers! (10 min).

Location and How to Get There

Location:

Samba City, Grande Rio warehouse, Port Zone, Rio de Janeiro.

Meeting point:

Underneath the smaller tent in the Samba City square, look for our guide and production team, who will be dressed in colorful Carnaval Experience shirts.

How to get there? Check out the options:

With VLT: There is a VLT (TRAM) station in front of the main entrance to Cidade do Samba. Name of station: Cidade do Samba.

By car or on foot using apps like Waze, Google Maps, UBER or Taxi: just ask: Carnaval Experience or Cidade do Samba, main entrance.

If you need to park: Parking is paid at Rua Rivadávia Corrêa, nº 60 (Note: Parking is not under our control and we are not responsible for its opening hours and/or operating policy).

Note: Traffic in the city center can be very heavy.Try to arrive a few minutes in advance so as not to be late.

Important informations

See all FAQs

Reservation and cancellation policy

Cancellation of tickets for the regular tour must be made more than 48 hours in advance. In case of cancellation less than 48 hours in advance, there will be no refund.
In case of a “no show”, there will be no refund. The regular tour ticket, with the exception of the private tour, can be used on other dates according to our availability within the 30-day period.

To participate in the tour, you must present the printed or virtual ticket along with the relevant verification documents listed on the experience page.

Tour Engagement and Safety Rules

Any type of interference with Grande Rio, LIESA or any other samba school is not allowed.

Entry to other sheds in Samba City is prohibited. Please respect the work of all schools and the carnival.

It is essential to pay attention and comply with the guidelines of the guides and producers.

It is extremely forbidden to touch costumes, floats or any material inside the Grande Rio shed that has not been previously authorized by the Carnaval Experience team.

Smoking is prohibited during the visit to the shed.

Due to the secrets of the carnival, it is extremely forbidden to take photos of the preparations for the carnival without receiving prior authorization from the Carnival Experience team.

Our guides and producers will always explain where you can photograph.

It is recommended to come with closed shoes, and not flip flops.

Important: People with respiratory problems or sensitivity to strong smells, please consult the Carnaval Experience team before purchasing and reserving your ticket. In the production of the carnival, we use industrial chemicals with strong smells.

Required Documentation and Information

Wheelchair accessibility.

Children must be accompanied by an adult
Children 5 years and under are free.

This tour operates rain or shine.

Accessible for strollers.

Babies must remain in the lap.

Adult admission:

Available to all visitors. No document presentation is required.

Brazilian adult ticket:

Valid for born or residents of Brazilian states.

It is necessary to present an official document with photo, such as:

Identity

Passport

driving license

Student ID

Birth certificate

Carioca Ticket:

Valid for those born or living in the state of Rio de Janeiro.
January.

For those born in the state of Rio de Janeiro, it is necessary to present one of the documents below:

Identity

Passport

driving license

Student ID

Birth certificate

For residents of the state of Rio de Janeiro, it is necessary
present proof of residence for the last 3 months along with one of the documents listed above.

Observation
1: Proof of residence must be in the name of the ticket holder.

Observation
2: Proof of residence is only valid for spouse and children.

Half-price ticket:

Valid for people aged from 06 to 11 years, students and over 60 years.

For use of the tariff, it is necessary to present an official document with a photo, such as:

Identity

Passport

driving license

Student ID

Birth certificate

Elderly Person's Card

Free admission:

Valid only for children under 6 years old.

To use the rate, it is necessary to present a document
official with photo, such as:

Identity

Passport

Birth certificate

IMPORTANT!

Please do not forget to bring a copy of the tickets with you to present at the beginning of the tour (tickets may be in virtual format).

TESTIMONIALS

" It’s an incredible experience, starting with learning about the history and the behind-the-scenes efforts. Next, you watch a brief film that provides an overview of the carnival. Finally, you put on the costumes and learn some samba dance steps. "

Malek Mustafa

" An amazing experience! Our guide was so friendly and showed us everything to do with the carnival from what happens behind the scenes to the most amazing costumes, we even had a little dress up and dance. Thank you for making us feel very welcome! We leave with the promise to return! "

Sonia Fuentes

" This was the most amazing tour, we got a history of Carnaval, and a backstage view of how the floats and costumes are made. Plus a samba lesson, and photos to last a lifetime! We took the tour in English, our six year old even loved it, and our tour guide, Raquel, was absolutely amazing. Highly recommend! "

Sarah Champlin

" Fantastic experience. You get to see how carnival is an all year preparation for a gigantic competition. Dress up, learn the culture, dance your heart away. "

rashmi venugopal