Samba Experiences in Rio de Janeiro

With its hypnotic beats, dazzling costumes, and fast-paced dance moves, the samba never fails to captivate. Rio de Janeiro is the perfect place to experience the magic of Brazil’s national dance. Here are some tour options available.

Rio de Janeiro pulls out all the stops for Brazil’s Carnival season, with five days of extravagant street parades, lavish soirees, and beach parties culminating in a massive Carnival parade at the iconic Sambadrome arena. Booking Carnival tickets in advance is a must, but visitors can also watch the samba dancers rehearse during a behind-the-scenes tour of the Rio Samba School or combine Carnival tickets with a multi-day Rio city tour, visiting top attractions such as Sugar Loaf Mountain, Ipanema beach, Copacabana Beach, and the Christ the Redeemer Statue.

Even if you miss out on the Carnival celebrations, samba shows are held year-round in Rio. And if attending a thrilling samba dinner show isn’t enough, you can even take part in a samba class at the legendary Rio Scenarium, then put your newfound dance skills to the test at one of the Lapa neighborhood’s many samba clubs.