Rio de Janeiro is the perfect city to discover a new world full of music, dance, and performances. Considered as the ‘city of music, dance, and carnivals,’ it hosts a range of different events. From dancing the samba and bossa nova at the best nightclubs, listening to impromptu evening concerts, or watching some of the worlds biggest events. There are several options to experience the wonderful vibes that Rio de Janeiro has to offer.
Activity/Places Highlights
The following activities are some traditional events that represent Brazilian culture. It’s recognized around the world as one of Rio’s most famous hosted events.
Rio Carnivals
This event is held for five days and begins on Friday at midnight after Ash Wednesday. So, the carnivals start at the end of February and into the beginning of March.
It combines the European tradition and the African heritage that characterizes the city. Incomparable with any other celebration around the world, it precedes Lent and fills the streets of the city with color and joy with its famous “samba” rhythm. All of this united with the parade of sambas schools in the monumental Sambódromo.
Reveillon
Its famous New Year’s party celebrated on Copacabana beach, where the sky is illuminated with millions of fireworks. This tradition causes more than two million people to come together to welcome the new year in one of the most beautiful places in Brazil.
The people dressed in white clothes fill the entire shore. At midnight the fireworks show begins, lasting 20 minutes incessantly. Then, the shows in the sand begin, welcoming the ‘Feste do Iemanja’, a traditional event of the mysticism, popular religion in Brazil.
The ‘festa do Iemanja’ envelops the atmosphere with the delivery of flowers and other offerings on the beach of Copacabana. Including dances in traditional clothes and a lot of traditional music.
Later, on January 7, in Rio people celebrate the kings of telesopolis. The children dressed in white clothes walk around town asking the community to sing and play instruments such as guitar and tambourines.
Festa do Divino Espirito Santo
Queen Isabella in the 14th century established in Portugal to celebrate this party every June. Brazil was a part of Portugal before the separation in 1822, but this tradition is still into Rio de Janeiro’s culture.
A mixture of religious and profane manifestation. The “Festa do Divino Espirito Santo” is a very celebrated party that gives place at the beginning of June. This party includes the Portuguese folk dances with songs into processions to distribute food to the poor and preserve the “ladainhas”.
Festas Juninas
The streets in Rio get full of colors when June begins. Giving the welcome to Catholic festivities to celebrate in honor of Saint Anthony, Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Peter.
The festival begins when the rain season ends. People reunite themselves by dressing the traditional farm clothes while enjoying the acts and performances that the festival brings.
Dances throughout the festival surround “quadrilha”, a typical dance that involves four persons in it. Also called Mana-Chica in Rio de Janeiro. Also in other dances and music, you can find Bumba Meu Boi, and Fandango, a Spanish dance.
Those dances and events are accompanying with some music genres as Forró. Also, the festival guests other groups and singers to bring modernism into the act. Music is played with instruments like guitars, fiddles, and drums.
This event is very popular around Brazil, but what it makes it unforgettable is the end where everyone reunites in the shore at midnight. At it, they can appreciate a fireworks show of more than 10 minutes into the sky of the shore on the last day of the festival.
Other Places
If your plan of visiting Rio de Janeiro is not being part of a big party or festival, we got a good result for you. The city also offers places to visit every night if you want to meet the sounds of Rio very closely.
Bip-Bip
At Bip-Bip you can enjoy one of the most traditional sounds of Samba in Rio de Janeiro. Beth Carvalho and Nelson Sargento are the guesses more popular at the place, and they introduce a night of dance and music in Bip-Bip.
Vinícius Show Bar
Another good place to visit at night, there you can get drinks while enjoying the romantic music of Bossa Nova. Located close to the beach, at Ipanema. You will find the dancing scene characteristic of the year 1989 when the bar was opened.
How To Get There
To travel to Rio de Janeiro it is advisable to do so through an international flight. Since this city has airports that receive some commercial flights from different parts of the world, and of course from Europe through Rio de Janeiro International (GIG), and for flights within the country Rio de Janeiro Santos Dumont (SDU).
When it comes to getting to the city, it is advisable to take a bus or taxi service. Drivers usually handle speech in English and Spanish.
In addition, you can also use the railway system. Please note the services are much easier to use within the city center.
When To Go
The date of the trip will depend on which holiday you want to be present since different dates are celebrated and participating in all would be a long trip. On the last day of the year, you can enjoy Reveillon, until January 7th. At the end of February and the beginning of March if you want to enjoy the Carnivals in Rio. June is the month when summer begins in Rio, and with it, you can enjoy the “Festas Juninas” and the “Festa do Divino Espirito Santo”. Select which event attracts your attention and plan your trip according to that event.
Opening and Closing Hours
While there are dates for the Rio Carnival, the doors of the Sambodromo open at 18:00, while the show starts at 20:00.
The Carnival Museum opens from 11:00 to 17:00 from Thursday to Sunday.
Bip-Bip opens its door from 20:00 to 01:00 every day, from Tuesday until Sunday.
Planning
Rio has a variety of accommodation for everyone. In the center of Rio, you will find more expensive hotels. If you look at areas such as Lagoa or Flamengo these are more suitable locations to rent apartments. If you prefer beach areas, Ipanema, Botafogo, and Copacabana are better places to seek out accommodation.
Inside Information
In Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the official language is Portuguese, being followed by Spanish, but you can find places where they speak English fluently. If you are thinking about doing a reservation for a special occasion, it’s better to look for hotels who offer a low price at low season, as it’s cheaper in this way.
History
People argue that the famous Carnival of Rio had its origins in ancient Europe. At parties where the Romans and Greeks celebrated the arrival of spring and Bacchus, the god of wine. Over time, the Catholic religion adopted the “Pagan Party”, and made it a celebrity before the beginning of Lent. These are the 40 days in which believers should avoid drinking alcohol, eat meat, and any other earthly pleasure.
This is where the Portuguese introduced the carnivals to Brazil. However, the first years of the celebrations were with a European style, and mask dances. A few years later, people from African culture started to influence Carnivals more. Hence why you see more costumes which incorporate many colors, feathers, stones, and herbs.
Websites
http://www.visitbrasil.com/
https://www.viniciusbar.com.br/
Other Nearby Activities
Ipanema
Once you had your fair share of the music scene, you can take some time to relax or enjoy the activities at Ipanema beach. There are a number of things to do such as surfing, football, volleyball, or futevoley.
There are a number of different beachside locations to eat, including some cafes that offer the typical gastronomy of the area. Also, if you desire to do a little shopping, you can get boutiques with all kinds of clothing.
Corcovado, Cristo Redentor
The most popular tourist attraction within the city is to visit The Christ the Redeemer statue. Once you have made your way to the top, you will see an excellent view of the city of Rio and its port. To get to the top there are three following options: by train, by taxi, or by walking.
Morro Pão de Açúcar
In the area of Guanabara Bay lies one of the most emblematic tourist places in Rio. The Cerro Pan de Azucar, or Morro Pão de Açúcar, which is its Portuguese name. The Pão de Açúcar is an impressive granite peak, without any vegetation, which rises above the sea. Among many hills that exist in the city, Pan de Azucar for its incredible height of 363 meters, allows unparalleled views of the city of Rio de Janeiro, and Guanabara Bay.
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