Is November 2 a public holiday in Brazil?

Yes. Finados, All Souls' Day, is a national holiday, and in 2026 it falls on a Monday, creating a three-day weekend straight after Halloween.

Are there Halloween activities for children in Rio?

AquaRio makes an easy family day out, and Necrotour RJ occasionally runs gentle children's tours at the Cemitério da Penitência for ages six and over.

What should I wear for Halloween in Rio?

Pick a light, breathable costume for the warm spring evenings, and wear comfortable shoes for Santa Teresa's steep streets and Lapa's cobblestones.

Is it safe to go out on Halloween night in Rio?

Stick to busy, well-lit areas, travel between venues by taxi or app, and carry few valuables, as crowded nightlife districts can attract pickpockets.

How much do Halloween parties in Rio cost?

Smaller parties are free or cost R$15 to R$35, while Castle Halloween starts at R$150 and full open-bar events can reach R$330.

Can tourists visit the Cemitério São João Batista?

Yes, it is open to visitors, and local operators offer private guided tours on weekdays. Check opening hours before you go, especially around Finados.

Castles, candlelight and the Saci | Halloween in Rio de Janeiro

Halloween in Rio trades autumn leaves for warm spring nights. Costumed crowds fill a Santa Teresa castle, a quartet plays horror scores by candlelight, and clubs party until dawn. Yet cariocas also honour the Saci, Brazil's one-legged trickster, on October 31, and visit cemeteries on Finados, All Souls' Day. In 2026, it all adds up to a long weekend.

Where Rio keeps its frights, folklore and festivities

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A Halloween party inside a castle

Castle Halloween returns on October 31, held for the first time inside a castle in Santa Teresa. The party runs from 4pm to 4am, with tickets from R$150.

Dia do Saci, Brazil's own October 31

The same date is also Dia do Saci, created in the early 2000s to celebrate the one-legged trickster of Brazilian folklore as a home-grown alternative to Halloween.

The "cemetery of the stars"

São João Batista in Botafogo holds the graves of Carmen Miranda, Tom Jobim, Santos Dumont, and Cazuza, which is why locals call it the Cemitério das Estrelas.

Horror film scores by candlelight

Candlelight: Halloween Songs brings a string quartet to Solar de Botafogo, playing pieces such as John Carpenter's Halloween theme surrounded by hundreds of candles.

Haunted-house legends in plain sight

Locals still tell stories about the 1916 Castelinho do Flamengo and the witch said to haunt the Arco do Telles, two stops for slightly spooky sightseeing.

A long Finados weekend

Halloween falls on a Saturday and Finados, All Souls' Day, on Monday, November 2, creating a three-day weekend packed with parties, matinees and pool events.

Top things to do in Rio de Janeiro this Halloween

Party until dawn at Castle Halloween

Organisers bill this as the return of one of Rio's best-remembered Halloween nights, and for the first time it takes place inside a castle in Santa Teresa. It runs from 4pm on October 31 to 4am, with tickets from R$150. The exact venue is shared with ticket holders.

Where to go: Castle Halloween, Santa Teresa | Find on Maps

Hear horror classics at Candlelight: Halloween Songs

A string quartet performs spooky film and pop scores at Solar de Botafogo, an intimate theatre inside a Botafogo mansion. Expect pieces such as John Carpenter's Halloween theme and a medley from The Nightmare Before Christmas, all played under the glow of hundreds of candles.

Where to go: Solar de Botafogo | Find on Maps

Walk the "cemetery of the stars" in Botafogo

Founded in 1852, São João Batista covers 183,000 square metres and holds more than 65,000 burials. Look for Carmen Miranda's red granite tomb with her golden signature, and the first abstract sculpture made in Brazil, dating to 1914. Visit quietly, as families come to pay respects.

Where to go: Cemitério São João Batista | Find on Maps

Join a Necrotour at the Cemitério da Penitência

Opened in 1875 in Caju, this cemetery has a neo-Gothic chapel and Rio's only Art Nouveau ossuary. Historian Samantha Lobo's Necrotour RJ runs evening tours here, timed to catch the shift from daylight to dusk. Dates are announced and booked through the @necrotourrj Instagram account.

Where to go: Cemitério da Penitência, Rua Monsenhor Manuel Gomes 307 | Find on Maps

Trace Rio's ghost stories downtown and in Flamengo

Start at the Arco do Telles, where legend has it a witch snatched children in the 19th century. Then head to the Castelinho do Flamengo, a 1916 mansion said to be haunted by a girl locked in its tower. It is currently closed, so admire it from the street.

Where to go:

Arco do Telles | Find on Maps
Castelinho do Flamengo | Find on Maps

Spend a family day at AquaRio

South America's largest marine aquarium houses over 10,000 animals from 350 species. Its highlight is a tunnel through the 3.5-million-litre Oceanic Tank, where sharks and rays glide overhead. It makes a calm, costume-friendly daytime plan before the evening parties begin.

Recommended tickets:

AquaRio: Rio de Janeiro Aquarium Tickets

Pick your event: Halloween highlights in Rio de Janeiro 2026

Event	Location	What's happening
Castle Halloween	Santa Teresa	Castle party until 4am
Candlelight: Halloween Songs	Solar de Botafogo	Candlelit film scores
Dia do Saci	Citywide	Brazil's folklore day
Cemitério São João Batista	Botafogo	Graves of bossa nova greats
Necrotour RJ	Cemitério da Penitência, Caju	Evening cemetery tours
Arco do Telles legend	Praça XV, Centro	19th-century witch legend
Castelinho do Flamengo	Praia do Flamengo	Haunted-tower legend, 1916
Santa Sexta de Halloween	Joá	Full open-bar costume party
Pinkween	Fonte, Botafogo	Pop party, October 23
Rock Girls Fest III	Praça da Bandeira	Rock night, October 24

Plan your Halloween in Rio de Janeiro

Metro: MetrôRio runs from 5am to midnight on Saturdays, so plan a taxi or app ride home after late Halloween parties. On Sundays and on Finados, Monday, November 2, trains run from 7am to 11pm.
VLT light rail: The tram links Centro, Praça XV and the Porto Maravilha waterfront, making it the easiest way to reach AquaRio and the Arco do Telles.
Taxis and ride-hailing apps: These are the most practical option after midnight and for Santa Teresa, where hilly, winding streets make walking at night hard work.

Confeitaria Colombo: Approximately from R$40. A mirrored Belle Époque tearoom in Centro, serving pastries and coffee since 1894.
Bar Luiz: Approximately from R$60. A Centro institution since 1887, known for draught chopp and German-Brazilian bar food.
Bar do Mineiro: Approximately from R$60. A lively Santa Teresa bar serving feijoada and pastéis, close to the Castle Halloween neighbourhood.
Aprazível: Approximately from R$150. Brazilian cooking in a leafy Santa Teresa garden with views over Guanabara Bay.
Bar Urca: Approximately from R$40. Grab snacks and a beer to enjoy on the seawall at sunset, with Sugarloaf Mountain right beside you.

Budget hotels:
- ibis budget Rio de Janeiro Copacabana: from R$250
- Ipanema Inn: from R$450
Mid-range hotels:
- Arena Copacabana Hotel: from R$600
- Windsor Excelsior Copacabana: from R$700
Luxury hotels:
- Hotel Santa Teresa Rio MGallery: from R$1,500
- Fasano Rio de Janeiro: from R$3,000
- Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel: from R$3,500

Halloween around Rio de Janeiro

Escadaria Selarón at dusk

More than 2,000 tiles from over 60 countries cover these 215 steps, glowing warmly as Lapa comes alive.

Extend your visit with top experiences in Rio de Janeiro

Tips to make Halloween better in Rio de Janeiro

Book Castle Halloween and other big parties early, as the long Finados weekend draws visitors and ticket tiers tend to sell out sooner than usual.
Read each party's costume rules before heading out, since some run contests, close guest lists at a set time or charge more without a costume.
Plan a taxi or app ride home, because MetrôRio stops running at midnight on Saturday, October 31.
Make the most of Sunday night, as Monday is a holiday and many venues treat it like a second Saturday.
Visit São João Batista by day and leave costumes at your hotel, especially around November 2, when families come to tend graves.
Choose a light, breathable costume, as late October is spring in Rio and evenings are usually warm.
Carry only what you need in crowded nightlife areas such as Lapa, and keep your phone out of sight on the street.

Frequently asked questions about spending Halloween in Rio de Janeiro

Yes, mostly through costume parties, themed club nights, and concerts. Trick-or-treating is far less common than in the US, and many Brazilians also mark Dia do Saci.

Castles, candlelight and the Saci | Halloween in Rio de Janeiro