FOREX guide to the Rio Carnival

The colorful carnival in Rio de Janeiro is one of the world's biggest parties. Between February 13th and 21st, millions of people gather to dance, celebrate and enjoy the city in it's most vibrant expression. A spectacular experience! It is worth being well prepared before visiting, so you got more room for spontaneity and follow the samba rhythms wherever they take you.

Kvinnor dansar och ler under karnivalen i Rio vid en strand

FOREX guide to the Rio Carnival will help you  navigate the festivities

Whether you plan to watch the official and competitive parades at the Sambadrome or take part in a bloco, an informal and popular carnival parade open to all, it's an experience you'll never forget. For full focus on the party, plan the setup of your travel fund before departure.

Cash and payments

Brazilian real is available in banknotes in denominations of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Brazil has index 22 in the FOREX Cash index. This means that about one in five payments are made with cash. 

Despite the widespread use of cards, many small shops, markets, street food vendors and simpler bars require you to pay in cash. During large events like the carnival, networks can become congested and card readers stop working, making cash necessary. 

FOREX advice is to stick to cash at street vendors. With them, it can be difficult to pay with 50 and 100 notes for small purchases, so a tip is to buy smaller denominations on the trip. Small denominations also reduce the risk of exchange scams.

Blocos

The blocos are the type of party most people attend to celebrate the carnival in Rio. Hundreds of blocos of different sizes take place around the city. One of the largest, Cordão da Bola Preta, draws over a million visitors. If you're going to party at a bloco make sure to: 

  • Buy cash in Brazilian Real (BRL) in small denominations from Sweden. It can be difficult to get change from larger banknotes. Expect BRL 200-400 per day.  
  • Bring a special "party wallet" that, for security reasons, only contains the day's budget
  • Remember that many street vendors do not accept cards
  • Keep cash, cards and mobile phones in a place other than your pockets. It can get crowded at blocos and opportunity makes the thief.


Sambadrome

The Sambadrome is the official venue for the parades of the samba schools. It is filled with feathers, glitter, pearls and sequins and large crowds of spectators. A ticket is required to take part in the spectacle.  

  • Cards work more often, especially in kiosks. If you use a FOREX Credit Card, there is no currency surcharge. When you withdraw cash outside the EU/EEA, you also avoid the withdrawal fee. Use ATMs inside bank premises, it reduces the risk of skimming.
  • Bring BRL 100-150 in cash – in case the network becomes congested and card readers stop working.
  • Only buy tickets through official retailers, not from private individuals on site


Pricing

Rio de Janeiro has an index of 51 in the FOREX Metropolitan Index, which means about half the price compared to Stockholm. In the rest of the country, the index is 48, so slightly cheaper than Rio de Janeiro.  

Blocos are free and open to everyone. Official tickets for the Sambadrome range from about $30 to several hundred dollars for premium tickets. 

  • Street food: R$10–20
  • Bottle of water: R$5–8
  • Beer: R$8–12
  • Caipirinha: R$15–25

 

Tips for getting more out of your travel fund

  • Avoid ATMs in tourist-dense areas, the rate is often higher
  • Use official taxi apps for set prices
  • Determine the price of food and drinks before ordering
  • Pay in BRL, not SEK, when the card terminal asks
  • Download offline map on your phone to avoid data costs

 

Rio de Janeiro is generally a card-friendly big city, but during Carnival it looks different. With potentially congested mobile networks, street sales, and congestion, you should plan currency, denominations, cards, and arrangements in advance.