11:30 AM · 1 h
Ride-hail from Galeão to Ipanema
Easiest door-to-door after landing; Saturday traffic is lighter
Day-by-day plan, $5
Rio Carnival
For anyone in Rio de Janeiro Feb 6 – 10: all 5 days planned, 22 places in order.
Get the plan · $5
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- Its places average 4.5 on Google15 rated places, 251,912 reviews
- Facts checked Nov 11, 20263 sources, listed below
Sunset at Arpoador, the Corcovado train up to Christ the Redeemer, and two nights of samba at the Sambódromo. Lapa's tiled steps and Copacabana close out the week.
Day 1 is on us
5 days · 22 stops
What it's like in FebruaryFebruary is hot and humid, around 30°C (86°F) by day and 24°C (75°F) at night. Expect about 14 rainy days, so pack a light rain layer.
Day 1 · Sat, Feb 6 · Free
Landing in Ipanema and sunset at Arpoador
Airport transfer, beach afternoon, then seafood dinner.
Photo: Gruta de Santo Antônio / Google2:00 PM · 1 h 15 min
Gruta de Santo Antônio
Portuguese restaurantClassic botequim counter of pickled tapas and seafood snacks
4.7(1,896)Google$$
1 h 8 min
Photo: Gabriel Heusi/Brasil2016.gov.br / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY 3.0 br4:23 PM · 2 h
Ipanema Beach
BeachRio's most famous beach, buzzing on Carnival weekend
4.7(6,420)Googlefree
14 min
Photo: Diego Baravelli / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.06:37 PM · 1 h
Pedra do Arpoador
Scenic spotCrowds applaud the sun sinking behind Dois Irmãos
4.8(33,114)Googlefree
40 min
Photo: Bar do Mineiro / Google8:17 PM · 1 h 30 min
Bar do Mineiro
RestaurantClassic Santa Teresa bar, feijoada and cachaça since 1963.
4.4(3,606)Google$$
The rest of the plan
17 stops
Day 2 · Sun, Feb 7
Santa Teresa and the first parade night
3 stops · Centro, Santa Teresa, Sambódromo
Day 3 · Mon, Feb 8
Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf
5 stops · Cosme Velho, Jardim Botânico, Urca
Day 4 · Tue, Feb 9
Lapa steps and the final samba night
6 stops · Lapa, Centro, Sambódromo
Day 5 · Wed, Feb 10
Copacabana farewell before the flight
3 stops · Copacabana
Get all 5 days
Everything below Day 1, plus offline maps and updates until Feb 7.
- 5-day plan with 3 Sambadrome nights
- Official tickets and sectors
- Blocos and staying safe
- Offline maps in the app
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- The Special Group's competitive parades at the Sambódromo are on February 7, 8 and 9, 2027; the Champions' Parade is February 13 and the free children's (Mirins) parade February 12.diariodorio.com · checked Nov 11, 2026
- A three-night passport for the Special Group parades costs R$499 in the stands, sold only through Ticketmaster Brasil from Liesa's official site; tickets are personal and non-transferable.diariodorio.com · checked Nov 11, 2026
- The passport covers stand sectors 2 to 8, 10 and 11; sector 9 is traditionally reserved for tourist packages.diariodorio.com · checked Nov 11, 2026
Rio Carnival 2027: how the five days and parade nights work
This plan is five days of Rio Carnival 2027 for a couple, from the Saturday before the parades to Ash Wednesday. It's based in Ipanema and built around the Special Group samba school parades at the Sambódromo on February 7 and 9 (the February 8 night is optional), a morning bloco in Santa Teresa, Christ the Redeemer by the Corcovado train, and Sugarloaf by cable car at sunset.
Rio Carnival 2027 dates and the parade nights
The Special Group's competitive parades at the Sambódromo Marquês de Sapucaí are on February 7, 8 and 9, 2027. The free children's (Mirins) parade follows on February 12 and the Champions' Parade on February 13, after this plan flies home. The same Tuesday, February 9, is Fat Tuesday at Mardi Gras in New Orleans and the last day of the Venice Carnival.
| Night | Date | On this plan |
|---|---|---|
| Night one | Sunday, Feb 7 | Arrive by 8:30 p.m. for the 10 p.m. start |
| Night two | Monday, Feb 8 | Optional: rest after Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf, and save energy for night three |
| Night three | Tuesday, Feb 9 | Arrive by 8 p.m., and stay for the 5:30 a.m. school as the sun rises over the runway |
How the five days fit together
- Day 1, Saturday in Ipanema: a ride-hail from Galeão, an afternoon on Ipanema Beach, then sunset at Pedra do Arpoador, where crowds applaud the sun sinking behind Dois Irmãos.
- Day 2, Sunday: a small morning bloco with brass bands at Largo dos Guimarães in Santa Teresa, an early dinner at Bar Lagoa, then parade night one.
- Day 3, Monday: the cogwheel Corcovado train through Tijuca Forest to Christ the Redeemer, the two-stage Sugarloaf cable car at golden hour, and Northeastern food at Bar Kalango in Botafogo.
- Day 4, Tuesday: the 215 mosaic steps of the Escadaria Selarón and the Arcos da Lapa before the heat, feijoada at Bar do Mineiro in Santa Teresa, an afternoon rest, then the last parade night.
- Day 5, Ash Wednesday: a late breakfast at Confeitaria Colombo's Café do Forte, a last walk on Copacabana Beach, and a ride-hail to Galeão.
Rio Carnival tickets and what to book ahead
A three-night passport for the Special Group parades costs R$499 in the stands. Liesa's official site sells it only through Ticketmaster Brasil, and it's valid in stand sectors 2 to 8, 10 and 11. Sector 9 is traditionally kept for tourist packages. The tickets are personal and can't be transferred.
Two more things run on timed tickets: the Corcovado train to Christ the Redeemer and the Sugarloaf cable car for the sunset ascent. Flights and the hotel aren't priced in the plan; to total them for two, use the trip cost calculator.
Getting to the Sambódromo and back
- Take MetrôRio to Praça Onze for even-numbered sectors or Central do Brasil for odd ones, and ride the metro home after the last school.
- Skip ride-hail near Sapucaí. On the rest night, ride-hail home from Botafogo and stay clear of the closed Sapucaí area.
- The parades go on rain or shine. Eat lightly beforehand, since the bleachers get hot, and take breaks under the grandstands.
- At Galeão, use the airport's official ride-hail pickup zone, and on the way home allow 3 hours for an international flight.
How this plan was made. Sally, Highlights' AI trip planner, wrote it from a brief written for this trip. Its stops are matched to their Google Maps listings (checked Nov 12, 2026), and the ratings, hours and addresses come from Google. Each fact under Good to know links the page it came from and the day it was checked.
Questions
When is Rio Carnival 2027?
The Special Group samba schools compete at the Sambódromo over three nights: Sunday, February 7, Monday, February 8 and Tuesday, February 9, 2027. Then come the free Mirins children's parade (February 12) and the Champions' Parade (February 13). This plan lands the Saturday before, February 6, and flies out on Ash Wednesday, February 10.
How much are Rio Carnival tickets for the Sambadrome?
For the 2027 Special Group parades, a passport for all three nights costs R$499 in the stands (sectors 2 to 8, 10 and 11). It's sold only through Ticketmaster Brasil, from Liesa's official site, and tickets are personal and non-transferable. Sector 9 is traditionally reserved for tourist packages.
Do you need to go to all three parade nights?
No. The passport covers all three nights, but this plan goes on Sunday and Tuesday and leaves Monday optional. That night follows Christ the Redeemer and Sugarloaf, and resting saves energy for Tuesday, when the plan stays for the 5:30 a.m. school at sunrise.
How do you stay safe at Rio Carnival blocos?
The plan's tips: get to a bloco early and leave before the crush, carry a spare phone and little cash, and keep your phone tucked away around Lapa. On Copacabana, keep valuables minimal. After the parades, take the metro rather than a ride-hail from around Sapucaí.
What is the weather like in Rio during Carnival?
February is hot and humid, around 30°C (86°F) by day and 24°C (75°F) at night, with about 14 rainy days. Pack a light rain layer, since the parades go ahead rain or shine, and on the beach use SPF 50+ and drink water constantly.
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