The 15 Best Samba & Nightlife Tours in Rio

1.Beginner Samba Lesson in Ipanema

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 1,071 reviews · 1 hour · from $25Our pick

Spend one lively hour at Samba Fit in Ipanema learning basic samba steps with Carla, Ranaa, or Gaby, performers from major samba schools. The small class moves at a beginner pace, includes photos and videos, and ends with a fun chance to try carnival costumes.

“It was an enjoyable and informative class. At the end we tried on costumes. The only thing to make it better would be a longer session of 1.5-2hrs. This one was a quick hour- we really enjoyed it! Obrigada”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 881 reviews · 4 hours · from $33

Join Caipi Tours for a four-hour night through Lapa, beginning with four cachaça tastings and continuing to the Arcos da Lapa, Selarón Steps, live samba, and a club with Brazilian funk, pop, and reggaeton. Guides such as Andressa, Raffa, Marcos, and Nayara keep the group together and help solo visitors feel at ease.

“Our guide was Rafael. He was really friendly and knowledgeable. We had a lovely group of people from all over the world. If you are worried about joining the tour on your own, it is not a problem at all. It's a fabulous introduction to cachaça and Samba bars! A fun night out.”

Check availability →Read our full review

3.Carnival Backstage Tour at Samba City with Cocktail

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 520 reviews · 90 - 150 minutes · from $27

At Rio’s City of Samba, a bilingual guide takes you through Grande Rio’s Carnival workshop, where floats and thousands of costumes are prepared. You’ll learn about samba and the parade competition, try on costume pieces, join a short samba lesson, and finish with a caipirinha. The tour lasts 90 to 150 minutes, with small groups available.

“our guides were helpful and very knowledgeable. the tour was great, will book again”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

★★★★★★★★★★3.5 · 457 reviews · 1 day · from $30

Spend one day touring Rio by panoramic bus, with 24 stops and more than 30 sights including Copacabana, Lapa, Sugarloaf Mountain, and the Corcovado train entrance. An onboard soundtrack of MPB and samba adds local flavor, while commentary is available in Portuguese, English, and Spanish. Bring sun protection and allow extra time in traffic.

“pratique si vous voulez avoir un aperçu de rio ..”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 362 reviews · 4 hours · from $17

Meet at Jurema Bar for a four-hour walk through Lapa with multilingual guides such as Marx, Victor, and Bernardo. You’ll visit Escadaria Selarón, local bars, samba and dance venues, and clubs with entry included. Cachaça shots are included, while extra drinks cost more.

“it was very fun! the best way to meet new friends especially if u are travelling alone like me! highly recommend it, and our two quides were awesome!!!”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 274 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $60

Explore Santa Teresa, Lapa, Centro, and Cinelândia on a four-hour tour with hotel pickup, a ride on Rio’s historic bondinho, Ruins Park, Selarón Steps, Passeio Público, and Confeitaria Colombo. Guides such as Emma, Vicente, Alexia, and Leticia lead in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. Expect hills, uneven pavement, and plenty of walking.

“It was a good tour, saw lots of things. The only thing I wished I knew before hand was how much walking there is. 8,000 steps in the wrong shoes was tough. Guide was good, English was very good. Enjoyed the tour.”

Check availability →Read our full review

7.Samba Class in Copacabana

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 262 reviews · 1 hour · from $25

Spend one hour learning basic samba steps in Copacabana with an English, Portuguese, or Spanish-speaking instructor such as Marco, Thiago, or Mauricio. The class suits complete beginners, includes water, and ends with group dancing. Some sessions may include carnival headpieces for photos, but this is not guaranteed.

“Love it! Thiago was a great guide. Super knowledgeable”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 247 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $40

Start at 8:30 pm in Lapa and spend about four hours moving between samba bars, a rooftop stop, Escadaria Selarón, and a Latin club. Guides such as Marx, Wil, Julia, Victor, and Bernardo are praised for keeping the group friendly and safe. Bring ID and budget for drinks beyond the included cachaça.

“A fun way to be out and about in Rio at night. The crawl allows you to experience which of Rios clubs in Lapa that you would like to revisit.”

Check availability →Read our full review

9.Ginga Tropical Samba and Folklore Show Ticket

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 231 reviews · from $61

At Teatro Fashion Mall, Ginga Tropical uses 22 dancers and 8 musicians to present an 80-minute journey through Brazil’s regional rhythms. Expect samba, forró, axé, funk, country, capoeira, colorful costumes, audience participation, a samba class, and photos with performers. The show is in Portuguese and English and begins at 9:25 PM.

“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 BRAVO!”

Check availability →Read our full review

10.Ginga Tropical – Brazilian Samba and Folklore Show

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 216 reviews · 1 hour 30 minutes (approx.) · from $65

Spend an evening with Ginga Tropical at Centro Cultural Veneza in Botafogo. Arrive for the bar and live music, join a samba class at 8:30 pm, then watch Brazilian dance, costumes, music, capoeira, and a Carnival-style finale. The 90-minute show is interactive, with assigned theater seating and optional audience participation.

“Great show displaying the multicultural aspects of music and dance! Organized meet and greet experience prior to show!”

Check availability →Read our full review

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

★★★★★★★★★★4.4 · 183 reviews · 2h 30m · from $41

Meet Helena, Gustavo, Yan, Lena, or another English-speaking local guide near Angu do Gomes, then walk into Pedra do Sal for live samba, history, drinks, and local company. This is a street party rather than a staged show. Expect crowds, dancing, one welcome drink, and about 150 minutes of guided nightlife.

“Really it was wonderful night , we knew the history of the pedra do sol and the great people that living there . Also we got fun with Samba Night .”

Check availability →Read our full review

12.Samba Class and Samba Night Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 115 reviews · 4 hours · from $63

Start with a beginner-friendly one-hour samba class led by guides such as Marco or Bruno, then travel with your instructor to a live samba night. Monday heads to Pedra do Sal in Ipanema, while Wednesday to Saturday visits a club near Copacabana. Your ticket, transfer, fast-track entry, and three hours of guidance are included.

“I just had to share this incredible experience we stumbled upon recently! So, my wife and I were on the hunt for something fun to do, and we came across this Samba class that promised not only dance lessons but also a taste of that electric nightclub atmosphere. Let me tell you, it did not disappoint! Our instructor, Elio (I hope I got the spelling right!), was an absolute gem. Not only was he exceptional at teaching us the dance moves with infectious enthusiasm, but he also went above and beyond to ensure we had a blast. What really touched me was how he looked out for our safety as…”

Check availability →Read our full review

13.Caipirinha Workshop and Samba Class

★★★★★★★★★★4.8 · 113 reviews · 2 hours · from $12Best value

Start with a hands-on caipirinha workshop at Pura Vida Hostel, then follow with a one-hour samba class led in English, Spanish, or Portuguese. Teachers such as Nati, Camilo, and Bruno have earned praise for clear, friendly instruction. You also get a Gabriela cachaça shot and the option to continue into Rio nightlife.

“My favourite part of this workshop was the samba lesson with Nati, who is an experienced dancer (she performs every year at Carnival de Rio de Janeiro)! She was very patient and showed us how to samba with very simple step-by-step instructions. By the end of the hour, we had perfected a short samba routine! During the lesson, we had an English guide who helped to translate, as Nati was teaching in Spanish, but it was super easy to follow her steps regardless of the language. You don’t need to be a dancer to enjoy this activity - she is an excellent instructor! At the end of our lesson, Nati…”

Check availability →Read our full review

14.Rio Samba Bus: hop-on hop-off city tour in Rio de Janeiro

★★★★★★★★★★3.8 · 94 reviews · 2 hours · from $31

Ride Rio’s panoramic Samba Bus from Copacabana through the South Zone and city center, with 24 stops, live commentary in Portuguese, English, and Spanish, Wi-Fi, and Brazilian music. You can stay aboard for the advertised two-hour circuit or hop off at major sights, though attraction tickets, hotel transport, and food cost extra.

“It was fun. Saw lots of things. Driver slowed down or stopped so that everyone could take photos.”

Check availability →Read our full review

15.Walking tour of the bohemian neighborhoods of Santa Teresa and Lapa

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 59 reviews · 3 hours 30 minutes (approx.) · from $72Top rated

Spend about three and a half hours with a small group of up to 12, riding Rio’s historic yellow tram into Santa Teresa, walking through its artistic streets, then continuing to Selarón Steps, Lapa, and Cinelândia. Guides include Edmundo, Lorena, and Ivan, a Santa Teresa native. Metro and tram tickets are included.

“What a great way to visit a special area of Rio. We were picked up at our hotel, took the Metro to the vintage tram upwards. The neighborhood is enchanting and having a personal guide, who seemed to know everyone, everywhere we went , helped me feel like I was welcome. Edmundo was our guide, being an artist himself, I felt my friend and I had a wonderfully personalized visit to a very special place”

Check availability →Read our full review