Cidade do Samba - Samba City
Rio Carnival 2008 may have been and gone, but those who missed out on this year's festivities can enjoy a taste of the carnival spirit at Cidade do Samba (Samba City), in Rio's docklands.
Here visitors can hear live samba music, watch carnival rehearsals and see the elaborate costumes and displays being put together - Rio's carnival parades are the stuff of legend, and putting the shows together is no easy task, with rehearsals and preparations for the next year beginning almost as soon as carnival is over.
A trip to Samba City costs R$20 (about US$10), which includes a guided tour in either English or Portuguese. Those who are itching to strut their own funky stuff can take part in samba dancing classes.
Samba City is open from 9am to 5pm every day except Sundays and Mondays, when it's closed all day. Several times a year, the doors of Samba City open late for a very special carnival celebration. For R$150, you can witness a 'mini-carnival', complete with pagode music show, buffet, full carnival parades and even a fireworks display at the end of the night. Dates for this year's events have been announced as 11 and 25th of October, 8th and 22nd of November, 6th and 20th of December, and 10th and 24th of January.
Cidade de Samba can be reached by public transport, but it's easiest to take a taxi as the surrounding area is a little unsafe. The address is Rua Rivadavia Correa 60, Suburb Gamboa, Portuaria do Rio Zone. For reservations or more info, call (+55) 21 2213 2503