Participating in Carnival celebrations around the world can truly be an unforgettable experience.
In many countries, these celebrations are rooted in centuries-old traditions and offer the chance for travelers to attend masquerade balls, marvel over elaborate costumes, and witness lively parades featuring dancing, fireworks, huge floats, and live music.
However, the days-long festivities and multitudes of events can quickly become confusing for travelers to navigate. So we tapped travel advisors with expertise in some of the destinations with the world’s biggest Carnivals—including Rio de Janeiro, Venice, Bolivia, and the Canary Islands—for their advice on the best ways to book trips to the legendary spring festivals.
Here’s a look at some of the most iconic Carnival celebrations around the globe, and how travelers can experience them.
How to Experience Rio de Janeiro’s Carnival
What to Expect at Rio’s Carnival
It’s known as “The Greatest Show on Earth” for a reason: Rio’s Carnival is a spectacle like nothing else on the planet. Visitors can expect massive floats with thousands of the city’s top samba dancers performing alongside. Everyone is outfitted in beautiful costumes of feathers, glitter, and sequins, as they dance along to the beat from hundreds of musicians.
“Visiting Rio for Carnival requires a certain stamina because the city becomes a living, breathing celebration,” says Charles Kronsten, travel designer at Jacada Travel.
When to Go to Rio for Carnival
If the full-blown festival feels a little overwhelming, Kronsten recommends booking at the fringes of the Carnival window. “Pre-Carnival rehearsals offer a behind-the-scenes glimpse, while the Champion’s Parade serves as a polished, breathtaking bookend to the festivities,” Kronsten says.
The Champion’s Parade takes place the Saturday after the main event and features all the top-tier samba schools in one-night, Kronsten says. “It’s a fantastic option because you get to see the best of the best, and the city is generally much less crowded than during the peak Carnival days.”
Where to Stay in Rio for Carnival
The city offers a range of top hotels, ranging from historic to hip. “We love the Fasano Rio, one of Rio’s coolest and most stylish hotels with an infinity pool that looks out across Ipanema beach,” Kronsten says. Culinary-minded travelers would be interested in the Janiero Hotel, which also faces the beach and is located in the “high-end” neighbourhood of Leblon, according to Kronsten. “This luxury property is within walking distance of Rua Dias Ferreira, the city’s gastronomic hub, and with views over the famed Cristo Redentor statue,” he says.
If a luxury stay is more your speed, try the Copacabana Palace, a Belmond property. The iconic hotel even hosts its own “high-glamour” Carnival Ball every year, according to Kronsten. “Previous guests include Marlene Dietrich and Orson Welles, and its location next to the more fashionable districts make it an ideal stay for anyone seeking classic elegance.”
Expert Tips for Visiting Rio’s Carnival
Travelers can watch the festivities unfold, but they also have the opportunity to be part of the parades’ spectacles themselves. “We can arrange for clients to join a samba school, where they'll be outfitted in magnificent, full-scale regalia to take their place atop a float,” Kronsten says. “And getting the Carnival look right is an art form, so we connect clients with the same professional make-up artists and stylists who prep the parade’s stars.”
Additional insider options include watching the Champion’s Parade from a camarote, or luxury box with premium hospitality, and going behind the scenes to look at how the massive floats and costumes are constructed.
How to Experience Venice’s Carnival
What to Expect at Carnival in Venice
Carnevale di Venezia is when the City of Canals is at its most theatrical, says Livia Angelini, a travel advisor at Scott Dunn. Visitors can expect daily costume parades, masked balls, and even events in the streets and the city’s numerous palazzi. The majority of events are free for the public to attend, but revelers must pay to attend any private balls, which can cost a few hundred euros up to a few thousand per person. “Sure, the city can be crowded, but it's not nearly as bad as the summer months, and all the costumes are wonderful to see,” Angelini says.
When to Go to Venice for Carnival
Venice’s festival usually lasts for about two weeks leading up to Mardi Gras, with some of the most notable events happening toward the end of the celebration. “Among the most eagerly awaited events of this extraordinary celebration is The Most Beautiful Mask, which will transform St. Mark’s Square into an open-air theater,” Angelini says. “There will be daily parades, but on Shrove Tuesday (also known as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday), February 17th, 2026, following the proclamation of the Maria of the Year, a final special mask parade will take place, which will bring the 2026 edition of the Venice Carnival to a spectacular close.”
Where to Stay in Venice During Carnival
Travelers who want to be immersed in the center of the celebration should target hotels in two key neighborhoods. “San Marco is ideal for first-timers who want to be at the heart of the festivities,” Angelinin says. “Dorsoduro offers a slightly calmer, more local feel while still being walkable.”
As far as specific properties, Angelini recommends The Gritti Palace or Hotel Danieli for a sense of classic Venetian glamour, while the Aman Venice is best for travelers looking for an air of exclusivity and access to private events.
Expert Tips for Visiting Venice During Carnival
“Booking private masked balls or palace events elevates the experience dramatically,” Angelini says. She also advises travelers to rent or purchase authentic handmade masks rather than buy cheap souvenirs. For the best experience, travelers should plan to wake up early or stay up late: “Venice is extremely busy during Carnival—early mornings and evenings are magical and quieter for exploring and photography,” Angelini says.
How to Experience Carnival in the Canary Islands
What to Expect at Carnival in the Canary Islands
One of the largest celebrations takes place in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the capital city of the Canary Islands. “Tenerife Carnival is lively, loud, and runs late into the night,” says Angelini. “It’s ideal for those who love vibrant, social celebrations.” Visitors can expect over-the-top parades, boisterous parties, endless music performances, and hundreds of dancers clad in ornate, colorful costumes.
When to Go to the Canary Islands for Carnival
The best time to experience Tenerife Carnival is during the core Carnival weekend, when the island’s most impressive parades and performances take place. Timing is key, arriving just before the peak allows guests to settle in and enjoy the build-up without feeling overwhelmed. The first day of Carnival will be on January 16 and will take place at the Plaza de España. This is the best time to be here to get started with all the excitement.
Where to Stay in the Canary Islands for Carnival
Some of the most ideal hotels are actually outside the city, scattered across the island. “For guests who want a balance of celebration and relaxation, stay at the Ritz Carlton Tenerife, Abama,” says Angelini. The seaside resort is located on a quieter side of the island, about a 90-minute drive from the center of activity in Santa Cruz, giving visitors a serene respite from the boisterous celebrations. Special shuttles are readily available to transfer visitors from hotels in the southern part of the island to the center of the city for the festivities for about €40 each way.
Expert Tips for Visiting the Canary Islands During Carnival
Travelers should plan to be in the Canary Islands toward the end of the festival for the can’t-miss final parade, according to Angelini. “One can’t-miss Carnival event: The Coso Apoteosis del Carnaval is the culmination of the party, a lively parade that celebrates the tradition of music, dance, and excess that lights up the streets of Tenerife,” she says. This grand finale parade happens every year on Mardi Gras itself and is one of the most spectacular events of the festival.
How to Experience Carnival in Oruro, Bolivia
What to Expect at Carnival in Oruro, Bolivia
Inscribed on UNESCO’s list of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Carnival celebrations in the small town of Oruro, Bolivia are known for their intricate costumes and huge parades that feature tens of thousands of performers.
“The Carnaval of Oruro originates from a fusing between ancestral Andean traditions of the Uru people mixed with the Catholic faith brought by the Spanish, which was centred on the Virgin of Socavón, who provides protection for the miners in Oruro,” says Sherezade Fernandez, founder of Yapa Bolivia, which offers tours for Carnival.
Festivities in Oruro pull from both folklore and religion “to honour the virgin and represent the transformation of ancient dances into performances like the Diablada,” she says. This dance is the main dance of Oruro Carnaval and represents the battle between good and evil.
When to Go to Oruro, Bolivia, for Carnival
Celebrations usually last for about six days and change each year according to Lent. “In Oruro, there is a tendency to shift the big celebration days to whichever Saturday and Sunday are the closest to Fat Tuesday,” Fernandez says.
“This year, the best day to travel to Oruro, Bolivia, to see will be on February 13th to 16th, but the main parade day will be on February 14th. The Saturday of Carnaval weekend is always the best day to experience the spectacle of Carnaval in Oruro.” The parade goes on for two days straight, with an endless line of musicians and dancers who are decked out in handmade finery.
Where to Stay in Oruro, Bolivia, for Carnival
The key to booking a hotel for Bolivia’s biggest Carnival is to make a reservation early. “Oruro is a fairly small city and it doesn't have much tourism outside of Carnaval, so when the town explodes with the festivities of Carnaval, there are really limited options in terms of hotels,” Fernandez says. “Some people even open their homes into temporary hotels or we have even seen restaurants converted into mini-hostels for the weekend.”
If you can snag a hotel room, aim for the center of the city, where the main parades and other festivities take place. “If you can get one of the hotels that are in Plaza 10 de Febrero, then this would be one of the best places to stay close to the action and even watch the parades from your hotel balcony,” Fernandez says.
Expert Tips for Visiting Oruro, Bolivia, During Carnival
Be careful how you book your seats to view the parade, as fraudulent vendors are commonplace. “There are many disorganized, fake, or oversold seat tickets, and you need to have good seats in order to really enjoy the show,” says Fernandez. “In some areas of the parade route, the dancers and musicians perform more enthusiastically, and other areas are more for rest and walking.”
Opt for seats, also called graderías, in Plaza 10 de Febrero or close to the Palco Oficial, where the dancers put on a true performance, according to Fernandez. It’s also important to note that some graderías are more like general admission areas that can close to visitors with tickets if they become overcrowded. “A good seat will be numbered and have a roof covering it because it always seems to rain every Carnaval,” says Fernandez.
Top-notch graderías can even provide extra perks like free beer, security—and most importantly—access to a bathroom, so picking the right seat can really be make or break, according to Fernandez. “More than anything, I think visitors should be prepared to dance, have fun, and really appreciate the cultural traditions that date back hundreds of years.”
For the latest travel news, updates and deals, subscribe to the daily TravelPulse newsletter.
Topics From This Article to Explore
