Best areas and hotels to stay in Rio for Carnival
Visiting Rio de Janeiro during Carnival is a whole different experience from any other time of the year because the city literally revolves around the festivities.
Choosing the best area to stay in Rio during Carnival is KEY to making sure you’ll have a good time in the city. I was born and raised in Rio, so I prepared this post to help you with this task.
Important to know: Carnival 2026 will be from 13/02 (Friday) to 21/02 (Saturday). Althoug the celebrationas happen throughout the whole month.
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Important things to consider when choosing a place to stay in Rio
There are two different types of Carnival celebrations that happen in Rio:
- The Carnival parade, which happens in the Sambadrome
- The street celebrations are called “blocos”. They happen all around the city, but mostly in the neighborhoods of the South Zone
A good area to stay will be the one that is safe, has plenty of accommodation options, and also has good transport connections.
During Carnival week, many streets are closed for the blocos so the best transport option is the subway. Make sure you get accommodation close to a subway station!
Considering those 3 criteria, let’s dive into the best areas to stay and hotel recommendations.
Read also: How the public transport works in Rio
Best areas to stay in Rio during Carnival
The best neighborhoods to stay in Rio de Janeiro during the Carnival week are:
These are the areas that have good subway connections, a lot of accommodation options, restaurants, and infrastructure.
These are also neighborhoods where you can easily walk around and explore on foot. There are a lot of blocos happening in these areas, especially Copacabana and Ipanema.
Smaller neighborhoods that are also interesting
The downside of the neighborhoods I mentioned above is that they are quite popular, which means everyone else will also be looking for a place to stay there.
So, here are a few other smaller areas of Rio that are great places to stay:
- Jardim Botânico e Gávea: there is no subway, but good bus connection,s and it’s very close to Leblon
- Urca: a very safe and residential neighborhood. Has worse transport connections compared to all of the other ones because it is located on a little peninsula.
- Santa Teresa: a historic neighborhood with amazing hotels and apartments, where a lot of blocos happen. It also has worse transport connections because it is located on top of a hill, so you’ll be relying mostly on Uber and a couple of bus lines.
Best hotels to stay in Rio during Carnival
Now, when talking about specific accommodations, this is my ranking of the best hotels to stay in Rio during Carnival.
I have selected only hotels with very good locations to enjoy the Carnival festivities, since this is what most people are in town for.
These hotels also have their own facilities like pools and restaurants, which I find super important for when you need a break – trust me when I say that Carnival in Rio is very intense.
My hotel recommendations:
- Fairmont Rio: This hotel is my top recommendation because it has the best location for Carnival in Rio. They are right in Arpoador, which is between Copacabana and Ipanema, in the heart of the area where a lot of the blocks happen. I also love their facilities, and they usually offer Carnival packages with tickets and transport to the parade in the Sambadrome.
- Hotel Arpoador: This hotel is located in Ipanema, and it went through a recent renovation. I’ve been to the restaurant downstairs and loved it.
- Sheraton Grand Rio: This is a great option for a place to stay in Rio during Carnival because this Sheraton unit is located a bit outside of the busy areas. The hotel is nestled on a private beach, offering complete facilities including tennis courts, but all within walking distance from Leblon, which is perfect.
Where NOT to stay in Rio during Carnival
Now that you have my personal recommendations, here are a few places you DO NOT want to stay during Carnival week in Rio:
Next to the Sambadrome
If you are coming to Rio for the Carnival Parade, I know it must be tempting to think getting a place nearby is the best move because of the practicality… but it is not.
The Sambadrome in Rio is located in the city center, which is a dangerous neighborhood in the evenings. The parade usually finishes in the middle of the night, and you will not want to be walking around the city center at that time!
I don’t recommend staying anywhere in the city center of Rio… it is not an area any of us “cariocas” would recommend for accommodation.
Pro tip: If you will be going to the Sambadrome for the parade, I highly recommend arranging transport upfront! Catching an Uber in the end is almost an impossible mission. The best thing to do is book one of the transfer vans that will include transport both ways, taking you back to your accommodation at the end of the show.
Barra da Tijuca
Barra is a neighborhood located in the West Zone of Rio. A lot of tourists ask me if it is a good idea to stay in Barra during Carnival because it is quieter and cheaper.
Even though I completely understand the price argument,I do not recommend it. I am from Barra da Tijuca, and I have years of first-hand experience going to the South Zone every day for Carnival, and the transport is chaotic.
Since Barra is located further away, your transport options will be the subway or buses (if the traffic allows). Subway will definitely be the best option, but the main issue is that there is only one subway station in Barra, right at the start of the neighborhood. If you get a hotel anywhere else, you’ll still need an Uber or bus after that.
You won’t be able to walk to the blocos, and you will spend a few hours every day commuting. Honestly, staying in the South Zone is a much better option.
Read also: Using Uber in Rio de Janeiro
FAQ – Where to stay in Rio during Carnival
How early should I book a hotel?
Carnival is the busiest week of the year in Rio, so you should book your accommodation as early as possible!
Many hotels offer a week-long package during this time, which can come with promotional prices.
Why are hotel prices in Rio so expensive during Carnival?
Carnival is the largest party that happens in Rio de Janeiro. We get not only tourists from other countries but also from all over Brazil.
Due to availability, hotels and apartment owners usually increase their prices during this season, so make sure you book your accommodation ahead!
In which part of town does Carnival in Rio take place?
The street celebrations take place all around the city in the blocos. However, the busiest area is definitely the South Zone, especially the neighborhoods of Copacabana and Ipanema.
The official Carnival parade in Rio happens in the Sambadrome, which is located in the city center.
How long to stay in Rio for Carnival?
This is a very personal decision to make, but let me try to paint a picture for you.
Carnival week goes from Friday to Sunday, lasting a full 9 days. The main parade happens on the first weekend, the champions are decided on Wednesday, and there is a champions’ parade on the second weekend as well.
If you are coming to Rio for the Carnival Parade, I recommend staying the full week.
However, if this will be your first time in Rio, I recommend extending your stay to a full two weeks. During Carnival week, it is almost impossible to go anywhere and do tourist things.
The entire city stops for Carnival. Restaurants operate in very specific conditions (or close their doors), attractions also close or work at reduced times, and tours are suspended.
This is all because transport within the city is very hard during this week since a lot of the streets are closed off for the celebrations. So, I would add an additional week so you can visit the city the week before Carnival, and enjoy the festivities on the official Carnival week.
Read also: How long should you stay in Rio?
Organizing your trip
To help you plan your trip to Brazil, we have put together our favorite planning resources:
- Flights: Get affordable flights to Brazil on Skyscanner.com.
- Travel insurance: Make sure you are protected during your trip. We use SafetyWing whenever we are traveling abroad.
- Renting a car: We always use Discover Cars to get the best car deals.
- Accommodation: Find the best hotels and apartments on Booking.com.
- Activities: Get fun ideas of what to do and buy unique activities with Get Your Guide.
- SIM Card: Stay connected during your trip with Airalo.
- Personalized itinerary: We can create a travel plan tailored to your wishes!
- Rio de Janeiro map: All of our favorite places on one map.
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