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

“A fun little afternoon! Very interesting to hear more about what the carnaval actually means and how much detail goes into planning! Also fun to try the costumes and end with a nice drink👍”

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

Discover Rio de Janeiro with the Hop-On Hop-Off Rio Samba Bus. Enjoy iconic sights, live samba performances, and panoramic views at your own pace.

★ 3.5

“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…”

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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

“We had a really good time. The tour guide was very attentive with all of us. He was able to speak in English, Portuguese and Spanish. You definitely should take this tour if you want to get in touch with the night life in RJ.”

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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

“We had a great time with Emma, the train had a very long wait possibly up to 2hrs so Emma asked if we would mind switching the tour around which we were happy to do. The steps are amazing, St Teresa is very arty and…”

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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

“This tour show you the splendor and magic of the carnival of Río de Janeiro. You see how the carnival is plantel, you see the vestuary, samba class. Very nice tour”

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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

“The guides were wonderful and made sure everyone in the group was enjoying themselves and safely getting from location to location. They created a great atmosphere for everyone.”

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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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11.Rio: Ginga Tropical Samba and Folklore Show Ticket

Experience the vibrant energy of Brazil with the Ginga Tropical Samba and Folklore Show in Rio. Stunning costumes, lively dances, and cultural insights in 90 minutes.

★ 4.7

“Amazing! A must when in Rio! A full 90 minutes of culture and history through dance, music and songs. The performers, the choreography, the costumes, is unbelievable! The show captures your attention from the start and keeps you engaged, enchanted, surprised, excited throughout. BRAVO BRAVO…”

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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

“More like a high school play than a full production show… on the upside, good vibes, the show is lively and if you feel like dancing you will have a chance”

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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

“Ranaa was so nice and patient. We had a great time learning about Samba and learning the moves. Would definitely recommend the class! I also appreciated Charly for confirming attendance the night before”

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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