Samba & Carnival Shows in Rio de Janeiro: 13 That Fill a Day Properly

1.Beginner Samba Lesson in Ipanema

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,071 reviews · 1 hour · from $25Our pick

Spend one lively hour learning samba at Samba Fit in Ipanema with Carla, Ranaa, or Gaby, instructors who have performed with major samba schools. You will practice basic steps, rhythm, and body movement in a small group, then try carnival costumes for photos. English and Portuguese instruction is available.

“Gaby was an incredible instructor and really brought the positive energy to this samba class! I would highly recommend and can’t wait to come back!”

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2.Pub Crawl in Lapa with Cachaça Tasting and Live Samba

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 881 reviews · 4 hours · from $33

Meet guides such as Andressa, Raffa, Marcos, or Nayara for a four-hour Lapa pub crawl. Taste at least four cachaças, enjoy a free caipirinha near the Arcos da Lapa, visit Selarón Steps, dance to live samba, then finish with Brazilian funk, pop, and reggaeton at a club.

“We were a large group and we’d so much fun! Andressa and Phillipe really knows their stuff and took care of us! Would definitely recommend!”

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3.Carnival Backstage Tour at Samba City with Cocktail

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 520 reviews · 90 - 150 minutes · from $27

At Rio’s City of Samba, a bilingual guide takes you through Grande Rio’s Carnival factory, where floats and thousands of costumes are prepared. You’ll hear how the competition works, try on parade outfits, watch or join a samba session, and finish with a caipirinha. Guides vary, with Sol, Ton, Lea, and Lias among the names praised for their energy.

“Had a great guide with energy and enthusiasm. Really interesting, giving insight into what, why and how. A lot of fun too!”

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4.Hop-ON Hop-OFF Sightseeing Bus in Rio de Janeiro – Rio Samba Bus

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 457 reviews · 1 day · from $30

See Rio by panoramic hop-on hop-off bus for one day, with 24 stops and more than 30 sights including Copacabana, Lapa, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the Corcovado train entrance. You get audio in English, Portuguese, and Spanish, plus MPB and samba music, Wi-Fi, and pickup from your stated address. Attraction tickets, food, and drinks cost extra.

“It is a bus with only one level- up top with no shade at all. It was hot! Since there weren’t ear plugs, it was just a recording over speaker- you couldn’t really hear what they were saying. I thought we’d get closer to Christ the Redeemer but it was just in the distance. At least they sold cold beer on board….”

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5.Samba Class in Copacabana

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 262 reviews · 1 hour · from $25

Spend one hour learning basic Brazilian samba in Copacabana with an English, Portuguese, or Spanish-speaking instructor. Teachers such as Marco, Thiago, Mauricio, Bruno, and Helio keep the class friendly and beginner-focused. You will practice samba no pé, meet dancers from around the world, and may finish with group dancing or carnival-style photos.

“The teacher was great, but there was too many of us in a small space. Didn't learn as much as I hoped.”

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6.Ginga Tropical Samba and Folklore Show Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 231 reviews · from $61

Spend about 80 minutes with 22 dancers and 8 musicians at Teatro Fashion Mall, where samba, forró, axé, funk, country dance, capoeira, and Carnival numbers trace Brazil from north to south. You’ll join a short samba class, watch the audience become part of the finale, and pose with costumed performers after the show.

“excellent singers, excellent dancers, highly recommend to go there it wold be better without artificial fog during whole show because the vivid costumes' colours would come even more to expression To invite public onto the stage at the end of the show to dance with the dancers is absolute hit One should not miss the show. we really enjoyed it”

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7.Ginga Tropical – Brazilian Samba and Folklore Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 216 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $65

Spend an evening with Ginga Tropical at Centro Cultural Veneza in Botafogo. Arrive for live music and a drink, join an 8:30 pm samba class, then watch a 90-minute show of Brazilian dance, folklore, capoeira, costumes, and audience participation. The night ends with a Carnival-inspired finale.

“Really nice experience that I definitely recommend! The dancers and singers are really talented. Good variation of dances🕺”

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8.Pedra do Sal: Live Samba Night with Local Guide & Drink

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 183 reviews · 2h 30m · from $41

Meet Helena, Gustavo, or another English-speaking local guide near Angu do Gomes, then walk into Pedra do Sal, Rio’s Afro-Brazilian samba center. Learn about Little Africa, hear live samba, meet locals, and enjoy one welcome drink. Expect crowds, dancing, street drinks, and a genuine night out rather than a staged show.

“It was such a great experience, especially when traveling alone. The group was really fun and I felt safe the whole time. Even the guide shared a lot about the history of the place, which was really interesting, and the drinks were great too 😃 Overall, a super experience”

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9.Samba Class and Samba Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 115 reviews · 4 hours · from $63

Start with a one-hour beginner samba class led by an English-, Spanish-, or Portuguese-speaking instructor such as Marco or Bruno. Then travel with your guide to a samba club or Monday street party, where your ticket, transfer, fast-track entry, and three hours of guidance are included. No partner is needed.

“I just had to share this incredible experience we stumbled upon recently! So, my wife and I were on the hunt for something fun to do, and we came across this Samba class that promised not only dance lessons but also a taste of that electric nightclub atmosphere. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Our instructor, Elio (I hope I got the spelling right!), was an absolute gem. Not only was he exceptional at teaching us the dance moves with infectious enthusiasm, but he also went above and beyond to ensure we had a blast. What really touched me was how he looked out for our safety as…”

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10.Caipirinha Workshop and Samba Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 113 reviews · 2 hours · from $12Best value

Start at Pura Vida Hostel near Copacabana’s Posto 5 with a caipirinha lesson and two drinks, then join a one-hour samba class led by teachers such as Nati, Camilo, or Bruno. Finish with a Gabriela cachaça shot and, if you wish, continue to a samba event, boat party, or club.

“We loved this night! Thanks to Pietro, we discovered really cool places in Lapa and how to make a great caipirinha. I totally recommend the tour in case you are looking for a way to meet people and go out at night in Rio feeling safe!”

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11.Rio Samba Bus: hop-on hop-off city tour in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 94 reviews · 2 hours · from $31

Ride the Rio Samba Bus through Copacabana, Urca, Flamengo, downtown, Lapa, Ipanema, and other key areas. You can hop off at 26 stops, hear live commentary in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, and enjoy MPB and samba performances when scheduled. Attraction tickets, hotel transfers, food, and drinks cost extra.

“Pouvoir prendre le bus à n’importe quel arrêt à l’heure que l’on veut ou peu .😔perdu notre activité parce que on pouvait pas ce rendre à l’arrêt de départ”

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12.Cultural Treasure – Samba de Roda.

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 51 reviews · 1 hour · from $43

Join English-speaking instructor Yasmin for a beginner-friendly samba lesson at Associação de Capoeira Mestre Bimba, Brazil’s first capoeira school. You’ll learn basic steps, hear how samba grew from Afro-Brazilian culture in Bahia, and connect the dance with capoeira and Salvador’s past. No partner or dance experience is needed.

“Yasmin is a really sweet person who is passionate about not only what she does but also about her culture which is of Salvador! I was privileged the step in the house of Mestre Bimba himself! She gave me samba and drum class, which was very fun and told its history aswell. Unfortunately I couldn’t schedule the capoeira class which I really wanted to do aswell. Definitely the first place to look into if you are interested in capoeira or samba or atabaque (drum) classes. 10/10”

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13.Gran Malecón, Carnaval Museum and Downtown Barranquilla City Tour 6H

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 37 reviews · 6 hours (approx.) · from $82

Start with hotel pickup and explore Barranquilla with a private guide and driver. Visit San Nicolás Church, Customs House Square, La Ventana al Mundo, Gran Malecón, Paseo Bolívar, and the Carnaval Museum, with local snacks included. Guides such as Samy help adjust the plan when a museum is closed.

“Great tour. Sami was very knowledgeable and attentive. She was also very flexible when one of the museums was closed. She took us to some great local places and we learned a lot about the city.”

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