Rio de Janeiro

15 Best Rio Samba & Nightlife

Rio after dark, organized: beginner samba lessons in Ipanema, Lapa’s bar crawls with cachaça tastings and live samba under the arches. The dance floor does not care that you just learned the steps.

3.Rio: Carnival Backstage Tour at Samba City with Cocktail

Experience Rio's Carnival backstage with a guided tour, costume try-ons, samba dance, and a Caipirinha, all for just $24. Authentic and fun.

★ 4.6

“This tour was a nice way to learn about the behind the scenes of Carnival. We saw them making rhe floats, learned about the history and the design process, and got to try on costumes! The guide was very knowledgeable and friendly as well.”

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5.Rio: Lapa Pub Crawl with Live Samba and Shots

Experience Rio’s vibrant nightlife with a lively pub crawl through Lapa, including live samba, local bars, and free shots for an authentic night out.

★ 4.5

“Had a great time! Got taken to a few different clubs/bars and had it explained to me how each place operated (paying for drinks process). Pretty much what I expected. Great way to meet some new people and explore the city. Highly recommend!”

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6.Santa Teresa, Lapa, and Cinelândia with Tram Ride and Selarón Steps

Discover Rio’s vibrant neighborhoods Santa Teresa, Lapa, and Cinelândia on this engaging 4-hour tour featuring a tram ride, iconic steps, and cultural highlights.

★ 4.5

“Great tour! Alexia is a fantastic guide! She is very engaging and provided excellent commentary throughout the tour. I would take this tour again.”

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7.Carnaval Experience: Backstage Tour at Samba City with Cocktail

Discover Rio's Carnival behind the scenes with this backstage tour at Samba City, including costume try-ons, samba class, and cocktails for a genuine cultural experience.

★ 4.5

“A unique behind the scenes experience of the Carnival floats and costumes. Learned about Carnival and the competition among Samba schools. Getting to try on the costumes was so much fun.”

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9.Rio de Janeiro Pub Crawl (Lapa district)

Discover Rio’s lively Lapa district on a guided pub crawl, with VIP access, live music, and free cachaça shots for an authentic Brazilian nightlife experience.

★ 4.5

“We did this for my wife’s birthday and it was a blast. Our guide Bernardo was really cool and helpful, we went to 4 places and one was good as the other, we meet people from other countries on the tour, we took shots, we…”

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10.More than a Pub Crawl: An Authentic Night Experience in Rio

Experience Rio’s nightlife with an authentic guided pub crawl through Lapa, featuring vibrant music, local drinks, and cultural highlights for $40.

★ 4.5

“Cadu was awesome!! This was a fun experience. We got to hear different types of Brazilian music. Drinks were not provided but Cachaca. They gave us many, many, many shots of this delicious liquor.”

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

Experience Rio’s vibrant samba scene at Pedra do Sal with a guided tour, live music, cultural insights, and a welcoming atmosphere for authentic nightlife.

★ 4.4

“it was the best experience. our guide Evan is a gem. he even made sure we got inside our ubers at the wnd of the night. would defs recommend”

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14.samba class in Ipanema

Experience authentic Brazilian culture with a fun, beginner-friendly samba class in Ipanema, Rio. Learn basic moves, take photos in carnival costumes, and enjoy a lively one-hour session for just $21.82.

★ 5.0

“Karla is a fantastic samba instructor who creates a welcoming and encouraging environment for beginners. Her teaching style is both engaging and supportive, making it easy for newcomers to feel confident and have fun while learning. Highly recommended Samba Fit for anyone looking to experience…”

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15.Samba Class and Samba Night Tour in Rio

Experience the vibrant rhythms of Rio with a 4-hour samba class and night out, perfect for beginners eager to dance like a local.

★ 5.0

“It was a GREAT experience! I came late and Marco, I believe the instructor’s name, was so patient with teaching me. After the class he took us to the Rio Scenarium and danced the night away! It was my Bday and he bought me a…”

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More Rio Samba & Nightlife

5.0Samba Class and Samba Night Club Tour in Rio4 hours (approx.)$70.00 5.0Helicopter Tour – Samba – (Private Flight – 4 people)30 minutes (approx.)$1,921.00 5.0Samba Helicopter Tour: Private Flight – 4 people30 minutes (approx.)$1,921.00 4.5Christ the Redeemer, Selaron, Cathedral, Maracana, Sambadrome Half-Day Tour5 hours (approx.)$74.00 4.5Half Day in Rio Christ by Train, Maracanã, Sambadrome, Cathedral & Selarón Steps5 hours (approx.)$97.00 4.6Rio de Janeiro: Samba Class and Samba Night Tour4 hours$63 4.8Rio: Caipirinha Workshop and Samba Class2 hours$12 3.8Rio Samba Bus: hop-on hop-off city tour in Rio de Janeiro2 hours$31 4.0Tropical Carnival Show – Brazilian Rhythms and Roots2 to 3 hours (approx.)$97.82 5.0Walking tour of the bohemian neighborhoods of Santa Teresa and Lapa3 hours 30 minutes (approx.)$72.09 4.5Samba Crash Course in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil1 hour (approx.)$35.00 4.5Samba Class in Copacabana$35.00 5.0Live Samba Night at Pedra do Sal2 hours 30 minutes (approx.)$40.97 5.0Centro Historico and Lapa – Santa Teresa Walking, Historical and Bohemian Tour7 to 8 hours (approx.)$137.80 5.0Historical Downtown and Lapa – Walking Tour3 hours (approx.)$40.00 4.5Carnaval Experience – Behind the Scenes of Rios Carnival in the City of Samba2 hours (approx.)$96.00 4.4Rio de Janeiro: Historical Downtown and Lapa Walking Tour3 hours$60 5.0Rio Carnival Parade from a Prime Box With Shuttle, Tour Guide, Food & Drink12 hours (approx.)$1,450.00 3.7Rio de Janeiro: Samba Show Admission & Transfer4 - 5 hours$117 4.514 – Guided Tour to Quadra Do Salgueiro with Samba Show5 hours (approx.)$95.00 4.5Guided Tour to Salgueiro Square with SAMBA Exhibition$95.00 3.5Samba Show Admission & Transfer with Dinner Option4 hours (approx.)$130.00 4.0Rio de Janeiro Carnival Parade Ticket with Optional Transport 5.0Tour 1 ( 8 hours ) : Sugar Loaf , Corcovado , Old Downtown Lapa and Santa Teresa8 hours (approx.)$320.00