Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro
Traveler rating
3.8/5
Based on 5 traveler reviews. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
Quick answer
Is Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro worth booking?
Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro is a 3.5-hour experience in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from $273 per person. It scores 47 out of 100 on the Outty Ranking, which we label “Worth a Look”, based on a 3.8/5 rating across 5 reviews. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before the start time. Same-day spots are currently showing.
- Outty Ranking
- 47 / 100
- Rating
- 3.8/5 (5)
- Duration
- 3.5 hours
- From
- $273 per person
Psst — over here. Get a good peek into Rio's Carnival on this half-day tour behind the scenes of the behemoth celebration. Travel to Cidade do Samba, where the best samba schools build and store their grandiose floats, s
What you get
- Professional guide
- One caipirinha drink
- Guided Visit to Grande Rio’s Warehouse
- Hotel pickup and drop-off to most South South Zone hotels in Rio
About this experience
Psst — over here. Get a good peek into Rio's Carnival on this half-day tour behind the scenes of the behemoth celebration. Travel to Cidade do Samba, where the best samba schools build and store their grandiose floats, sparkling costumes and feathered headdresses. Take a guided tour of the warehouse of Acadêmicos do Grande Rio, a highly ranked samba school, and then try on some of those snazzy costumes. You’ll gain in-depth insight into Carnival culture, and toast your inside-access visit with a caipirinha, Brazil’s signature cocktail.
What's included
Included
- Professional guide
- One caipirinha drink
- Guided Visit to Grande Rio’s Warehouse
- Hotel pickup and drop-off to most South South Zone hotels in Rio
Not included
- Gratuities
- Food
What you'll see and do
Cidade Do Samba
After hotel pickup, travel to the mandala-shaped Cidade do Samba, a warehouse complex in Gamboa, the birthplace of Rio de Janeiro's samba. More than 80 samba schools with 100,000 dancers participate in Carnival, but each year only the top 12 to 14 samba schools form the Special Group, aka the First League, which build and store their magnificent floats and costumes at Cidade do Samba. As you explore the complex with your guide, learn about the history of samba as well as the Carnival parade and competition in the Sambadrome. Although Carnival explodes into action only once a year, backstage preparations continue on a daily basis. Want to know more? Head inside the warehouse of G.R.E.S. Acadêmicos do Grande Rio, a local-favorite samba school established in 1988. With your guide leading the way, meander through the warehouse and marvel at the floats in progress. Eye the rows of racks bursting with eye-popping costumes. Learn about the allegories and stories underlying the pageantry, as your guide explains Carnival’s pagan origins that began in ancient Greece and continued into the Middles Ages in Europe before arriving in Brazil through Portuguese colonization. Wondering how those costumes would look on you? Try them on and find out! Slip on some outrageous ensembles and snap memorable pics to upload on your social media accounts. Finally, toast your visit with a caipirinha, a cocktail made with cachaça (sugar cane hard liquor), sugar and lime, before taking transport back to your hotel.
120 minutes here · Admission included
Where it starts and ends
Hotel pickup
Pickup is included for all travelers. Pickup begins about 30 minutes before departure.
Before you book
- Cancellation
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
- Languages
- de, pt, en, it, fr, es
- Ticket
- Mobile Only
- Runs on
- Every day
- Group size
- Up to 10 travelers per booking
- Operated by
- Gray Line Brazil
Know before you go
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- It is recommended that you wear comfortable clothes and shoes
- Minimum age to drink alcohol is 18 years
Photos
What travelers are saying
Outty’s summary of the themes that recur across 5 traveler reviews. Written by us, not quoted from reviewers.
Knowledge and storytelling
3 mentionsReviewers describe the commentary as informative rather than scripted.
The guide
2 mentionsTravelers single out the guide as the reason the experience works.
Value for money
1 mentionTravelers feel they got more than they paid for.
Organization
1 mentionPickup, timing, and logistics are described as running smoothly.
Good for families
1 mentionReviewers traveling with kids report it landed well with their group.
Traveler reviews
5 verified traveler reviews for Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro. Ratings and reviews provided by Viator and Tripadvisor.
The dedication each...
The dedication each school put towards the carnival each year to make it spectacular. Also the warehouse had many great designs!
via Viator
Experiencing part of the Carnaval atmosphere
We enjoyed the experience and the girls had a lot of fun dancing, and trying on the costume. We did have some problems with pick-up on time and the bus broke down delaying our return. Our guide was friendly, energetic and knowledgeable. I would have liked to look at the floats a little more though.
via Viator
Funny!
We like it! The visit is purchased over the internet and is made with date and now scheduled. You can learn a brief history of the Samba City and visit the backstage of a Samba School, the Grand Rio. The work is done through a project with children and teenagers and it would be worth the walk! In addition to knowing the whole process, the assembly of the allegorical cars, sewing machines, etc. a real factory! It is still possible to learn about the history of samba and wear fantasies and sambar a little bit. The tour ends in the shop with a super well made caipirinha! I recommend.
Response from the operator: Olá 690biancaf, Muito Obrigado pela sua avaliação! Ficamos felizes que você tenha achado o passeio divertido. Esperamos vê-la novamente em futuras visitas. obrigado, Pedro Malta em nome de Diogo M.
via Tripadvisor (translated)
***NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES BOOK THIS OR ANYTHING FROM THE SAME COMPANY**
This was a shambles company, we booked and we're told that we needed to go at a different time to what we originally booked because CARNIVAL WAS ON THIS WEEK. We understood after all our whole trip was because of carnival. We booked this and also needed to change a few things with our holiday provider which caused a huge headache just so we could go on this excursion. We had 2 nights in the middle of a jungle before this and had no access to e-mail. And we had an e-mail the night before this excursion that it was cancelled because "CARNIVAL WAS ON THIS WEEK." Now usually I would understand but the company knew carnival was on even when we booked. I have a suggestion for this company. Just give up because you obviously have no idea how to treat your customers. I would probably understand a little more if they allowed us to book and then cancelled as they realised it was carnival but no it wasn't untill the night before that they sent an e-mail. Let me just add that prior to our trip to Rio we were 2 nights in the jungle with no access to e-mail. It was quite short notice too if you ask me. I was curious and will never use the company "VIATAR" EVER AGAIN. Please to avoid any disappointment on your holidays stay well away from this company.
Response from the operator: Dear Daniel H, Thank you for your review. The issue was that we had confirmed this with the Samba School where this tour takes place, however at the last minute the carnival organization rescheduled the departure of the parade cars and we were unable to do the tour. So although we had everything in place for your tour, due to circumstances outside of our control we were forced to cancel the tour. We hope you accept our apologies. Thanks, best regards, Pedro Malta on behalf of Diogo M.
via Tripadvisor
Interesting and impressive
Today my wife and me (I am from Sweden) went for this tour with a perfect English speaking guide named Dandara. She was very sympathetic, as well as the other staff, and told many interesting things, some which even was unknown to my Carioca wife. It was also impressive to see the tremendous amounts of work that is done by each samba school for their parade - about 200 persons working for months to create all the costumes and building the big fantasy floats! The tour is definately recommended if you want to know more about the history and backstage work of the Rio Carnival. Carl
Response from the operator: Dear Carl V, Thank you so much for your review. We are happy you had such a great tour with us. The amount of work that happens throughout the year for just a couple of days of parade is very impressive. Each school works for several months on all the details so that they can be at their best at their parade which is just little over an hour per school. It is a whole industry that revolves around that. We are happy you had such a time experiencing a little bit of it. We hope to see you and your wife again in the near future in other tours. Thank You. best regards, Pedro Malta on behalf of Diogo M.
via Tripadvisor
Good to know
- Duration
- 3.5 hours
- Free cancellation
- Up to 24h before
- Minimum age to book
- All ages
- Availability
- Bookable today
- Runs on
- Every day
- Price range
- $273 to $364
- Hotel pickup
- Included for all travelers
- Booked in 30 days
- 2
- Verdict
- Worth a Look
Who runs this experience
Operated by Gray Line Brazil, who run 56 experiences we rank across 5 cities, with an average Outty Ranking of 53.4.
See everything Gray Line Brazil runsWhy this scores 47
The Outty Ranking is a weighted composite. Here is how this experience performed on each component.
Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro: questions travelers ask
Practical detail on this experience, plus the wider planning questions for Rio de Janeiro.
How much does Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro cost?
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Prices start at $273 per person. The final price depends on the date, the time slot and the number of travelers, and peak weekends in Rio de Janeiro usually price higher than midweek mornings. Live pricing and remaining availability are confirmed on the booking screen before you pay.
How long does Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro take?
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Plan for about 3.5 hours from start to finish, not counting travel to the meeting point. Most travelers leave another 30 minutes on either side so the rest of the day in Rio de Janeiro is not rushed.
Is Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro worth it?
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It holds an Outty Ranking of 47 out of 100, which we label "Worth a Look". That score blends traveler sentiment (3.8/5 across 5 reviews), the depth of that review evidence, recent booking momentum, value for money against comparable last minute in Rio de Janeiro, and how flexible the cancellation terms are.
Can I cancel or reschedule Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro?
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Yes. Cancel free up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Inside that window the booking is non-refundable, and no-shows are not refunded.
Is Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro suitable for kids and families?
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Yes, all ages are welcome. Families should still weigh the 3.5-hour running time, and strollers are easier on the earlier, quieter departures.
How far in advance should I book Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro?
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Around 2 people booked this in the last 30 days, so popular slots go early. Two to three weeks ahead is comfortable in shoulder season, while summer weekends and holidays in Rio de Janeiro can sell out a month out. Same-day spots do open up when other travelers cancel, so it is worth checking if you are already in town.
What should I bring or wear?
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Bring photo ID, your booking confirmation on your phone, a refillable water bottle and comfortable shoes. Dress for the weather in Rio de Janeiro and add a light layer if any part of the 3.5-hour experience runs outdoors or after sunset.
Where does Cidade do Samba Behind-the-Scenes Carnival Tour in Rio de Janeiro start and how do I get there?
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The exact meeting point and directions are on your voucher once you book, and they sit in central Rio de Janeiro within reach of public transport. Arrive 15 minutes early: late arrivals are treated as no-shows by most operators.
What are the best things to do in Rio de Janeiro?
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On Outty we rank every Rio de Janeiro experience on the same 0 to 100 scale, and alongside this one the highest scorers right now include Pedra da Gávea hike, your best experience in Rio, Rio's Full Day: Selarón Steps, Christ & Sugarloaf – Tickets & Lunch Included, Rio: Tijuca Rainforest Hike, Wildlife, Waterfalls & Caves. The city page groups everything into most popular, highest reviewed, last minute and family-friendly so you can build a day around what actually delivers.
When is the best time to visit Rio de Janeiro?
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Booking patterns follow the same curve: prices and queues climb in peak weeks, while shoulder season gives you better availability on the top-ranked experiences and more room to change plans.
How many days do you need in Rio de Janeiro?
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Three full days covers the headline sights without sprinting. A workable rhythm is one anchor experience each morning, such as this one, an unhurried afternoon in a single neighborhood, then a food or nightlife booking in the evening. Five days lets you add a day trip outside the city.
Do I book through Outty or through the operator?
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Outty ranks and explains the experiences, then hands you to Viator to complete the booking with the operator directly. The price is the same as booking on Viator yourself, and Outty earns an affiliate commission on the referral, which is how the rankings stay free to read.
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