Tickets Balls Costumes Hotels Tours

Sambadrome Tickets

FAQ about 2012 Rio Sambadrome Tickets

Learn all the essentials about Sambadrome tickets and The Rio Carnival Samba Parade nights here. Read all frequently asked questions answered, get advice and recommendations from experts and true Rio Carnival veterans.
Read also our detailed description of the Rio Sambadrome and the Sambadrome tickets to understand how they work.

Buy your tickets here

1. What should I decide before buying my tickets?
2. For which day should I buy my tickets?
3. Is it the same show on Sunday and Monday?
4. Which are the best sectors?
5. Why are the even-numbered sectors 2-10 pricier than the odd-numbered ones?
6. As a tourist, am I obliged to buy tickets for sector 9?
7. Are the seats numbered and allocated?
8. Which tickets are the best value for money?
9. Which allocated seats are of good value?
   
10. Do any sectors have restricted view?
11. Which are the very best tickets?
12. What should I buy if I am on a tight budget?
13. Which tickets are still available?
14. How much are the tickets?
15. Are there any child or student discounts?
16. Can I change my tickets?
17. How do I change the name or e-mail on file?
18. Are the tickets refundable?
19. Why do I see different prices for the same tickets?
20. What to do if I cannot pay with my card?
21. How do I know if my tickets are booked?
    
22. When and how will I receive my tickets?
23. Who and how can receive my items?
24. Can you send to tickets to my home address abroad?
25. Can I have my items delivered?
26. Do you charge for delivery?
27. When should I give my delivery address?
28. Can my tickets be delivered to left with someone else?
29. Is it safe in the Sambadrome?
30. When does the show start?
31. When is the best time to arrive for the Parade?
32. How do I get there and return home?
33. Should I book the Sambadrome shuttle service?

 

What should I decide before buying my tickets?
The day, sector and the ticket type (whether you want to stay in the bleachers, sit in a front box, in a luxury suit or on allocated chairs).

For which day should I buy my tickets?
The best and most important parading nights are Carnival Sunday and Monday,when the biggest and best samba schools parade. The two days are similar in terms of set-up. 6-7 of the best 12 samba schools (the Special Group) march on both days. Choose the one which best fits into your schedule.
Saturday's parade is not a main Rio Carnival event. It is not comparable to the principal parades. Only small schools march on this day which have not qualified for the special nights. It is not much in demand, only buy tickets for this night if you really can't afford to see the highlight of Rio Carnival.

Is it the same show on Sunday and Monday?
Different schools march on the Carnival Sunday and Monday, which are the two principal parading days. Thus the show is different. See the 2012 Parading Order & Schedule to decide for the day, depending on which schools you want to watch. Otherwise opt for the day which best fits into your schedule and plans.

Which are the best sectors?
Sectors in the middle or slightly towards the end of the runway are excellent, such as sector 5 - 11. Paying just a little bit more for a ticket makes a big difference when it comes to the view.
Sector 7 is probably the best, indicated by the fact that most judges are located at this height of the Avenue. Go for the front boxes if you can afford it for more comfortable and allocated seating, space and close-up views.

Why are the even-numbered sectors 2-10 pricier than the odd-numbered ones?
Even-numbered sectors 2-10 are slightly dearer at the moment than the corresponding odd-numbered ones. Although they offer the same views, they are newly built right now and will offer newer facilities.

As a tourist, am I obliged to buy tickets for sector 9?
Although some agencies only offer tickets for this sector, feel free to choose from any of the available tickets on our dedicated Samba Parade ticket page.

Are the seats numbered and allocated?
All box seats, chairs in sector 12-13 and seats in sector 9 are numbered and allocated. All other grandstands offer free seating, without allocated places.

Which tickets are the best value for money?
Sector 10 and 11, being seated near the drummers’ niche. Here you will enjoy full view of the drummers who will stop, play and perform right in front of your eyes with some truly compelling atmosphere. Then come other grandstands.

Which allocated seats offer good value?
The numbered, allocated chairs in sector 12 and 13. You will have your own private chair and can come and go whenever you like without anyone else taking your seat. The chairs are situated on reclining steps to assure unrestricted, views. Bear in mind though that you will be at the far end of the Avenue and see the Parade only at its finish.

Do any sectors have restricted view?
After its reconstruction this year, no Sambodromo sector will have restricted view. However the allocated chairs in sector 12 and 13 have slightly worst views due to the fact that they are at the very end of the parade.

Which are the very best tickets?
The Luxury Suites are considered to offer the best seats in the Sambodromo. The suites are covered boxes with the best views, air conditioning, VIP treatment, buffet supper with butler and drinks the whole night through. You will be among the "A" crowd.
Then follow the front boxes in front of sector 9, then come the front boxes of sector 7.

What should I buy if I am on a tight budget?
Go for sector 3 or 11. If you want to have allocated seats however and don't mind the location, the private chairs in sector 12 and 13 offer the best value.

Which tickets are still available?
All tickets available appear on our dedicated Samba Parade ticket page. That page is linked to our computer system and is constantly up-to-date.

How much are the tickets?
See prices on the dedicated Samba Parade ticket page.

Are there any child or student discounts?
Children under 5 do not have to pay to attend the Samba Parade in the Sambodromo. They can enter for free. Anyone over 5 years of age has to pay the full price.
There is no student concession.

Can I change my tickets?
Yes you can, for any tickets still available, until February 1st. The fee is $39.00 per ticket.

How do I change the name or e-mail on file?
Accounts should have your name exactly as it appears in your passport. It cannot be changed. To change your registered e-mail address, send us an e-mail request from the address already registered.

Are the tickets refundable?
Tickets are refundable up to 80% of its final value paid (including the administration fee), cancelling before December 1st, 2011. After that, tickets are non refundable. However, we cannot refund tickets bought through intermediaries.

Why do I see different prices for the same ticket type at different agencies?
Middlemen and ticket brokers charge more. Prices are not regulated.

What to do if I cannot pay with my card?
If you get a "payment unauthorized" message when trying to pay, you have not succeeded with your attempt. It means that your payment could not be processed, no money has been taken from your account and you have not acquired the desired products. You could try with another card in a while.
For security reasons, we only accept cards issued by banks which work with the latest and safest technology of on-line payment authentication. A small number of cardholders might therefore experience difficulties. Opt for a card issued by a big bank which is more likely to have adopted this system.
If you do not possess an acceptable card for payment you could also wire us the total value of the products you wish to acquire.

How do I know if my tickets are booked?
Straight upon the completion of your purchase, you see your latest items among all the other ones you already hold for Rio Carnival on your own Rio Carnival Page. It is always kept up-to-date.
After your payment, you will also receive our written confirmation with all your purchase details.

When and how will I receive my tickets?
You can pick up your items from our Hospitality Desks in Downtown, Rio de Janeiro during our extended office hours, at your convenience, from February 16th until the very day of your Parade. You can also opt for delivery. In December you will be able to choose the day and time which suites you better your appointment on your own Rio Carnival Page.

Who and how can receive my items?
Only the account holder, who is the legal owner, can receive his items. Purchases are confirmed stating in which name the items have been registered, which will be the account-holder's name. The owner has to produce valid passport bearing exactly the same name, and sign for the receipt. Make sure you register your account in the name exactly as it appears in the passport which will be used for identification.

Can you send to tickets to my home address abroad?
Tickets are in the form of vouchers until the very last week before Carnival, for security reasons and to avoid fraud. The actual magnetic cards are issued only at that time. Thus we cannot send you the actual magnetic cards you will need to enter the Sambodromo, any earlier. You will receive all your items after your arrival in Rio de Janeiro. You can choose whether you want to pick them up from our Hospitality Desk in Downtown or you want to have them delivered to your address in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Can I have my items delivered?
Yes, of course.
We deliver to all cruise ships for free upon their arrival.
We also deliver to any address within the boundary of the city of Rio de Janeiro for US$29.00 per delivery and account. The same account owner only has to pay the delivery fee once, even for multiple orders (all his items will be delivered together). Please pay it on our site in advance. In December you will be able to choose the day and time which suites you better your appointment on your own Rio Carnival Page.
For Carnival Saturday, Sunday and Monday we can deliver between February 16th-20th.
For Champions Saturday, we deliver on February 24th.

Do you charge for delivery?
Deliver to all cruise ships is free.
Otherwise, we charge R$50.00. See detail above.

When should I give my delivery address?
You will be able to enter the address and make modifications if required on your own Rio Carnival Page until February, 2012.

Can my tickets be delivered to and left with someone else?
No. Only the account holder, in which name the items are registered, can receive his items, upon identification.

Is it safe in the Sambadrome?
It is considered to be the safest place in South America. There is a very high concentration of international celebrities, politicians and royalties among the crowd. It is surrounded by huge perimeter fencing which no-one can pass without being checked for both, safety, security and commercial reasons. All sectors are equally safe. To get there, you should consider the Rio Carnival shuttle service, to safeguard your valuables.

When does the show start?
The parades start at 21:00. See the 2012 Parading Schedule.

When is the best time to arrive for the Parade?
An average person generally watches 3-5 samba schools. Arriving around 22:00-23:00 could be a good idea, considering that this is the time when the atmosphere starts to peak.
If you hold a grandstand ticket with no assignment and are determined to sit through the 12-hour marathon, you can arrive early and try to sit as you please. The doors of the Sambadrome open at 17:00, however lots of people queue up already at that time to "fight" for the best seats. Best to take it easy.

How do I get there and return home?
The best way is by the frequent Rio Carnival shuttle service. It has been especially set up to facilitate ticket holders' transfer to and from the Sambodromo on Carnival days when roads around the Sambodromo are closed and traffic comes to a standstill. It is designed to give you direct, quick and safe access to the Sambodromo.
You can also consider taking the subway (metro) or hailing a taxi. Avoid taking busses as they cannot arrive within walking distance.

Should I book the Sambadrome shuttle service?
It is highly recommended to book the Sambodromo shuttle for safety purposes and to save you time and hassle. You can book it together with your tickets.