The World’s Best Carnivals

February has arrived and that means carnival is here. Although we are still in the midst of winter, cities around the globe are embracing a festive spirit and forgetting their work and daily grind for a few days. Carnival is celebrated all over the world but each city has its own distinctive style. Here we give you a list of the best carnivals in the world, each unique in and of itself. 

Rio de Janeiro

When we think of carnival, the first things that we think of are color, music, party, costumes… And this pretty much describes the carnival of Rio de Janeiro, which is probably the most famous carnival and certainly the most crowded in the world. The festivities in Rio de Janeiro last for five days as floats parade through the center of the Sambadrome, the hotspot of carnival action, to the rhythm of the samba music. If you enjoy dancing in colorful costumes, the carnival of Rio is right for you. It takes place this year from February 28 to March 4.

vía karendesuyo

Cologne

Of course, you don’t need samba to celebrate carnival as God intended. In Europe we also celebrate carnival in a variety of ways. One of the most important is held in the German city of Cologne. Although it was officially opened in November, it really begins in February. The week-long festivities take place between Fat Thursday and Ash Wednesday, with seven days of madness, partying, parades, costumes and lots of beer in between. Oh, and let´s not forget: Kölle Alaaf!

Venice

For something more sophisticated, head to southern Europe, to the beautiful city of Venice. This carnival is a city institution, and its masks are the main feature. The Venetian Carnival is a tradition of the cinquecento, when the Venetian nobility mingled among the townspeople using these masks to hide their identity. Today, the carnival, which takes place over ten days, features stunning costumes and masks, which are seen in parades by tourists who come to admire these works of art. With dances, parties and much glamour, the Venice carnival is almost as exclusive as it was about 600 years ago.

Sitges

Finally, if you enjoy carnival and dressing up, you can also travel to Barcelona to attend the carnival in Sitges, a small coastal town a few kilometers from Barcelona. Here everyone dresses in costumes of all kinds that are more carefree and simple than those in Rio. The main goal is to have fun and enjoy the party. Parades, dances, public and private parties, and fun around every corner can be had in Sitges for a full week. As they say in Sitges: per carnaval, tot s’hi val (for carnival, anything goes).

 

Rent Rio De Janeiro apartments  and enjoy the best carnival in the world. Or if you prefer something closer, check out one of the European carnivals. No matter what you decide, you´re in for a fun time.