doors open at 5 pm, and many people will arrive at that time in order to get a front-row seat and be as close as possible to the show.

the parades end just before sunrise, and the order of the samba schools is such that at times the best ones parade last so, in anticipation of a long night sitting on the benches, a good night of rest is appropriate prior to the night at the sambódromo.

dressing casually and comfortably is recommended, and shoes are better than flip flops as there are many steps to climb up and down.

bringing a pillow could make the whole experience more comfortable, as it lasts several hours and sitting on concrete get difficult after a while.