Where to Travel for Carnival 2027: With or Without the Party

Where to travel for Carnival 2027 comes down to one choice: party or peace. If you want the party, Rio pairs street blocos with the Sapucaí, Salvador has trio elétrico, Recife and Olinda have frevo, and São Paulo is the cheapest place to sleep. If you want peace, Curitiba has the lowest nightly rate and Buenos Aires is the easiest international option. The holiday runs from February 6 to 10.

🎭 Carnival 2027 · Carnival 2027 Guide

With the party: which Carnival to choose

Each city has its own way of celebrating, and hotel prices vary a lot between them. The table shows the style of the party and the range for a well-rated hotel with free cancellation, for a couple from Friday, February 5, to Wednesday, February 10.

Total price shown by Booking for 2 adults, 02/05–02/10/2027, free cancellation only, consulted on 10/11/2026.

If it’s your first time, Rio and Salvador are the most famous Carnivals, but also the most expensive for lodging: book now. To spend less with the same street party, São Paulo and BH have much cheaper hotels. All the guides are gathered in the Carnival 2027 guide.

Before choosing, add up the total cost of each party, including airfare and hotel, in the guide to how much Carnival 2027 costs. And if you’re thinking of Carnival outside Brazil on the same holiday, check out the Carnivals around the world, from Venice to New Orleans.

Outside the holiday, there’s partying too: Carnatal, in Natal, takes place from December 4 to 6, 2026, and Fortal, in Fortaleza, is usually in July. On Carnival Saturday, Galo da Madrugada 2027 kicks off the festivities in Recife: see the schedule, camarotes and where to stay.

Without the party: six destinations to escape Carnival

The lowest price for a double room showed up in Curitiba; if you’re after a beach, Aracaju was the lightest option for lodging. For four nights abroad, Buenos Aires makes sightseeing easy without a car. Each city includes a sample hotel, for two adults and the same four nights; airfare can flip the order of the total cost.

Prefer to spend the holiday without leaving the hotel? All-inclusive resorts and country hotels sell Carnival as a 5-night package, from R$ 3,306 to more than R$ 24,000 for a couple (Oct/2026): compare types, regions and the minimum nightly rate in Carnival at resorts and country hotels 2027.

The temperatures describe the February pattern, not the forecast for Carnival week. Curitiba gets plenty of rain this time of year, while Santiago’s summer tends to be dry. Before finalizing your trip, check the forecast close to departure.

The dates change the math

Saturday, February 6, opens the four-night window; heading back on Ash Wednesday, the 10th, keeps you from cutting Tuesday short. The decree from the City of Olímpia (SP) for 2027 sets Monday the 8th and Tuesday the 9th as optional holidays, and Wednesday the 10th until 1 p.m.; the federal 2027 ordinance has not yet been published. This classification does not turn those days into a national holiday: private-sector workers and people in other cities need to check their own time off.

If you can only leave after work on Friday, weigh the cost of a fifth night before buying your ticket. It’s also worth checking the long weekend calendar to switch dates if time off isn’t possible.

Curitiba: a city for those who want to explore without chasing the blocos

Curitiba works best for those who prefer to fill the holiday with parks, museums and restaurants. In February the weather usually hovers around 18 to 25 °C, with frequent rain, according to local climatology. Have a plan for an indoor half-day; don’t count on four sunny days. The Jardim Botânico and the Museu Oscar Niemeyer are easy choices to schedule on separate days.

Where to stay and what to do

The Hotel Brasilia Curitiba showed a standard double room at R$ 726 for four nights, or R$ 181.50 per night, in the October 1, 2026 search. It’s the cheapest reference in this selection, with breakfast listed in the offer. See the Hotel Brasilia Curitiba if your priority is staying downtown and using the city as a base; confirm the room and cancellation policy before paying.

For a day beyond the urban sights, the train to Morretes swaps the capital’s traffic for the Serra do Mar. Check the departure and return times before assuming it fits in a single day. If you’d rather stay in the city, use the Linha Turismo de Curitiba to link the Jardim Botânico and Centro Cívico. Also see our guide to neighborhoods for staying in Curitiba.

The city does hold Carnival events, so quiet depends on the address you choose, not the destination’s name. If you want to sleep early, check the local schedule and stay off the announced bloco route.

Poços de Caldas: hot springs and a walkable downtown

Poços de Caldas fits well into a family holiday because the center brings together Praça Pedro Sanches, Parque José Affonso Junqueira and the Thermas Antônio Carlos. The city government describes the tourist complex and the visiting options; check the hot springs’ hours on the date before planning your day. Summer weather can bring rain, so a hotel with indoor space matters more than an outdoor pool.

The Hotel Euro Suite Poços de Caldas By Nacional Inn showed a double room at R$ 1,258 for four nights in October 2026, or R$ 314.50 per night, plus R$ 63 in taxes for the period. Check the Hotel Euro Suite for its central location, which lets you spend the day at the square’s attractions without relying so much on a car. The more complete lodging, with kids’ activities, tends to cost more; compare meal plans and activities before switching hotels.

To escape the noise, ask for a room facing inward and check the Carnival schedule nearby. The city may have performances in the square; rest here comes mainly from your choice of hotel and when you sightsee.

Aracaju: urban beach with affordable lodging

Aracaju is the beach choice with the lowest nightly rate among the coastal hotels on this list. The Orla de Atalaia brings together a boardwalk, bars and restaurants, as described by the Aracaju city government. It’s a trip of sea and walking, with summer heat and a chance of rain; check the swimming conditions on the day.

The Pousada Aruamar offered a double room at R$ 760 for four nights, R$ 190 per night, for two adults on October 1, 2026. See the Pousada Aruamar if the room price is decisive; it’s about a 5 to 10-minute drive from the Orla de Atalaia, so plan on ride-hailing at night. If you want to stay next to the Atalaia restaurants, a higher nightly rate may save you on ride-hailing fares.

The capital has street parties, so don’t treat the whole destination as quiet. Favor the beach and outings during the day and choose your lodging street after checking the local schedule. If the goal is purely peace, Curitiba or a hotel farther from the waterfront will be safer choices.

Buenos Aires: four days of city in the summer

Buenos Aires is the easiest international option to turn into four days of urban sightseeing: the Obelisco and Avenida Corrientes offer a first route for exploring, according to the city’s official tourism site. February is hot; walk early, take breaks at lunch and save museums or cafés for the afternoon. Monday the 8th and Tuesday the 9th are also Carnival holidays in Argentina, so check which museums and shops are open beforehand. Don’t buy a winter coat for a trip south: it’s summer.

Hotel and arrival

The ibis Buenos Aires Congreso showed a standard double room at R$ 940 for four nights in October 2026, R$ 235 per night, plus R$ 63 in taxes for the period. See the ibis Buenos Aires Congreso for its central base and chain double room. Add the airport transfer to the bill: our guide explains how to get from Ezeiza to downtown Buenos Aires.

Plan one day downtown, another in Recoleta and a third for farther-flung neighborhoods, without trying to cross the whole city in the heat. For this length of stay, being near the subway is usually worth more than saving a few reais on a distant hotel.

Santiago: dry summer and morning outings

Santiago swaps the Brazilian party for long, dry summer days. At Cerro San Cristóbal, Chile’s official tourism site recommends water and attention to the heat; the cable car and funicular help those who don’t want to hike up. Plan the viewpoint for early in the day and save wineries or museums for another half-day.

How much it costs to stay

The Hotel Boutique Reyall, in Providencia, showed a standard double room at R$ 1,698 for four nights in October 2026, R$ 424.50 per night, with taxes included. See the Hotel Boutique Reyall if your priority is an urban base with access to restaurants and the subway. The airfare can weigh more than the hotel difference compared with Buenos Aires.

Anyone thinking of snow should save Santiago for another season: February is summer. The advantage of this date is exploring the capital and the wine areas in drier conditions, as long as you respect the strong midday sun.

Montevidéu: rambla and beach at a slower pace

Montevidéu is worth it for those who want four nights of walking along the rambla, Ciudad Vieja and urban beaches. The official Playa Ramírez page describes a beach that’s very popular in summer; expect crowds in the late afternoon, even outside the Brazilian party. It’s a choice for short outings, without filling every hour with attractions.

The Hotel America showed a standard double room at R$ 1,277 for four nights in October 2026, R$ 319.25 per night; the page warned that additional taxes may be charged. See the Hotel America for its central base and compare the final total before concluding that Uruguay costs less than Argentina. If you arrive by car from southern Brazil, factor in fuel and driving time; by plane, add the transfer.

Summer in Uruguay doesn’t mean an empty beach. The country also has Carnival, one of the longest in the world, with parades and tablados in Montevidéu; check the schedule before booking near the center. Stay near the rambla if your plan is to walk at dusk, and use Ciudad Vieja by day for museums and cafés. When booking, check whether the hotel matches your idea of rest or is close to nightlife bars.

Documents, insurance and transportation

Argentina, Chile and Uruguay accept tourist travel by Brazilians with a Brazilian ID (RG) in good condition, issued less than ten years ago and with a photo that still identifies the person, according to the Federal Police. A valid passport is the other option; a driver’s license and professional ID card don’t work as entry documents. Children need their own document and, depending on who they’re traveling with, travel authorization.

For Buenos Aires, compare arrival via Ezeiza and Aeroparque before choosing your flight. In Santiago, the airport is outside the center and the transfer goes into the budget. For Montevidéu, the airfare or the cost of the car usually decides whether the lodging is worth it. International travel also calls for comparing insurance coverage, service and deductible before booking.

If you’re staying in Brazil, you can reach Poços de Caldas and Curitiba by car or bus from nearby cities; from other regions, a flight plus transfer may be better. Aracaju tends to depend on a flight for those who live far from the Northeast. Don’t compare just the nightly rate: add round-trip travel, baggage and local transportation.

If the idea is to stay and enjoy the Sapucaí, compare the Rio Carnival 2027 camarotes first: prices per night, what’s included and which to choose.

When to book for Carnival 2027

Book the refundable lodging first and then lock in transportation once your time off is confirmed. Booking early matters especially near the big circuits: the Bahia Tourism Department reported an average occupancy of 95% in Salvador during Carnival 2026, with peaks of 100% in areas near the party. That’s not a forecast for these six destinations, but it shows why location and cancellation policy deserve an early decision.

In the places on this list, what can disappear first is a well-located double room within budget, especially when the booking can be canceled. Read the cancellation deadline and the total price with taxes. In Poços, Buenos Aires and Montevidéu, the offers consulted showed tax notices that change the comparison if you look only at the nightly rate.

If your priority shifts to street parties, the Salvador Carnival, the Rio Carnival, the Recife and Olinda Carnival, the São Paulo Carnival and the Ouro Preto Carnival already have their own guides. Those who prefer to travel without choosing a hotel can consider the Carnival cruise. For peace on a controlled budget, I’d start with Curitiba; for a beach, Aracaju; for a first trip abroad, Buenos Aires.

Prefer not to choose a hotel? The Carnival cruise swaps the party on land for a few nights at sea, and with kids it’s worth checking the hotels with kids’ activities for Carnival.

Frequently asked questions

What’s the best place to spend Carnival 2027?

It depends on the style of party. For blocos and samba schools, Rio de Janeiro; for trio elétrico, Salvador; for frevo and processions, Recife and Olinda; for mega-blocos with a cheaper hotel, São Paulo. To escape the party, Curitiba and Poços de Caldas; abroad, Buenos Aires.

Where is Carnival cheapest for lodging?

Among the big parties, São Paulo and Belo Horizonte had the cheapest well-rated hotels in October 2026: five nights for a couple from about R$ 1,430 in São Paulo and R$ 2,692 in BH, on Booking. In Barra, in Salvador, and in Copacabana, in Rio, prices were above R$ 17,000.

Is Carnival a national holiday in 2027?

No. Carnival is not a national holiday: Monday and Tuesday, February 8 and 9, 2027, are usually optional holidays, and some states and cities declare a holiday by local law. Confirm the rule in your city and at your workplace before counting on the time off.

Which destination is best to escape the blocos during Carnival?

Curitiba is the most practical choice for park and museum outings, and Poços de Caldas works for those who want hot springs. In both cases, check the local schedule before choosing the neighborhood, because both cities also have Carnival events.

Can you travel to Argentina, Chile and Uruguay with a Brazilian ID during Carnival?

Yes. On tourist trips, Brazilians can use a Brazilian ID in good condition, with a photo that identifies the holder and issued less than ten years ago, according to the Federal Police. A valid passport also works; a driver’s license doesn’t replace a travel document.

Where to start

First decide between party and peace, then book lodging with free cancellation, which is what runs out first, and only then lock in your ticket once your time off is confirmed. For a cheap party, start with São Paulo; for the most famous, Rio or Salvador; for peace, Curitiba; for abroad, Buenos Aires.