the main carnaval parades in rio de janeiro take place in the sambódromo, and during the period that is one of the safest areas of the city - this said, visitors who intend to explore the areas surrounding the stadium, should be aware that foreign tourists are not often seen outside the typical venues.

the area around the terreirão is perfectly safe, and in fact this is a great establishment to experience for a carioca night - however anyone going behind the sambódromo, along the viaduto são sebastião should pay extra attention.

ideally, we recommend always exploring new and non 'touristy areas' with the help of a local guide.

on this link, and on this additional page, we published our pictures of the sambódromo parades, giving an up-close look to the costumes, the smiles, and the energy of some of the thousands of participants in this amazing show.