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.

1.Rio de Janeiro: Beginner Samba Lesson in Ipanema

Discover Rio’s vibrant samba culture with a beginner-friendly dance class in Ipanema, led by a seasoned instructor in a fun, authentic setting.

Most Popular★ 4.9

“Gaby is an excellent, patient, and high energetic instructor. We had a lot of fun. Back step. Front step. Front step. It was a great introduction to samba and good 1 hr workout. Thank you for all the fun memories, photos, & videos.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

Experience Rio’s vibrant nightlife with a lively pub crawl in Lapa, featuring cachaça tastings, live samba, and a dynamic nightclub scene for authentic fun.

★ 4.7

“This was such a good time!! It's amazing. The host is the coolest guy. He goes there with you, dances in the place, has fun with everyone, and makes us feel welcome. I literally got there and was friends with everybody in like 15 minutes.…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“Vicente was an expert guide and was so interesting. He even said that if we had any questions after the tour, we could send him a text on What’s App.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“It was nice to learn about the carnival, some parts were a bit dragging because the guide had to say all her script in 3 languages, but some parts of dressing up and dancing samba was actually lots of fun, and the drinks at the…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

8.Rio de Janeiro: Samba Class in Copacabana

Join a lively, 1-hour samba class in Rio’s Copacabana to learn authentic Brazilian dance, make new friends, and enjoy Rio’s vibrant culture for just $25.

★ 4.6

“An Unforgettable Samba Experience in Rio de Janeiro. I had the most amazing time at Rio Samba Dancer's one-hour Samba crash course! From the get-go, the communication was smooth, making booking a breeze. The class was an absolute blast — easy-to-follow steps led by an…”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

12.Ginga Tropical – Brazilian Samba and Folklore Show

Experience the vibrant spirit of Brazil with Ginga Tropical's 1.5-hour samba and folklore show in Rio, combining lively dance, music, and audience participation.

★ 4.5

“The best show i have ever been to..it was so much fun from the minute they started till the end...truly portrayed the essence of Brazil..Loved it and totally recommend to anyone visiting Rio.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“Gustavo and Matheus were wonderful guides! They were very knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the history of Samba and Pedro do Sal. Highly recommended! 10/10.”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“My sister said it was the most fun she had on this trip. I see it like a Zumba class but beginner level and I liked it”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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

“We had so much fun with our dance instructor Bruno and the rest of the class. This was a great experience even though my Samba was terrible 😂 The club was welcoming and very friendly. A brilliant night out- thank you!”

Check Availability →Read our full review →

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