The world’s largest carnival, drawing over two million people per day to the streets of Rio de Janeiro. The official spectacle is the Sambadrome parade, where the top samba schools compete with floats, drum sections, and 4,000-strong dance squads — but the real soul of Carnival lives in the blocos, free street parties that take over every neighborhood from dawn to deep into the night.

Pro tip: book accommodation 6+ months ahead; Santa Teresa and Lapa put you closest to the best blocos. Sambadrome tickets sell out fast — the Setor 9 sector offers the best balance of price and view.