Stay near Copacabana & Lapa
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Rio Carnival draws on the order of 5 million people - the largest party on Earth - but the city doesn't switch off the rest of the year. Lapa's street parties run every weekend, the beaches of Copacabana and Ipanema host their own scenes, and the Sambadrome turns the parade itself into a ticketed all-nighter.
The party scene
Lapa is the year-round engine - open-air bars, samba and funk under the arches every weekend. Carnival (February/March) is the main event, when the blocos take the streets and the Sambadrome runs all night; New Year on Copacabana beach is the other giant date.
When to go
Carnival (Feb/Mar) and New Year (the Reveillon on Copacabana) are the twin peaks. Rio's summer (Dec - Mar) is hot, beach-driven and the party high season; the southern winter is milder and quieter.
■ Peak season ▣ Shoulder □ Off-season
Getting there & things to do
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