From Rio to San Diego, explore the top searched carnival destinations

Key Takeaways

• Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Orlando and San Diego are the top most searched cities on Airbnb during carnival dates for 2024 (1).
• The cities of Brinche in Belgium, Recife in Brazil, Menton in France, Viareggio in Italy, and Cajamarca in Perù are among the trending destinations (2).

For many countries in the world, carnival is one of the most anticipated celebrations of the year, in which music, color, and festivities permeate the streets. Carnival is celebrated in each country with diverse traditions and one of the options to experience it like a local is to stay in an Airbnb.

Brazil is one of the countries recognized globally for their carnival celebrations. Rio de Janeiro Samba schools parade inside the Sambodromo with big floats, costumes, and celebrities, which is a unique spectacle not to be missed. In the city of Salvador the carnival is popular for the high energy street celebrations attended by thousands. Both cities are among the most searched destinations on Airbnb during carnival weekend. 

Here are the five most searched cities during carnival dates: 

• Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
• Salvador, Brazil
• Orlando, United States
• Recife, Brazil
• San Diego, United States

The following cities’ carnival celebrations are mostly attended by locals³ and they’ve seen the most increase in searches on Airbnb for this year’s festivities:  

• Binche, Belgium
• Recife, Brazil
• Menton, France
• Viareggio, Italy
• Cajamarca, Peru

Despite the high demand for the upcoming carnival weekend, the diversity of listings and locations near the main celebrations makes Airbnb an option for last-minute booking. From private rooms to entire homes, here are cities that have an average price per night under $150 to celebrate carnival⁴:

• Ponce, Puerto Rico
• Cusco, Peru
• Belo Horizonte, Brazil
• Barranquilla, Colombia
• Cento, Italy

Malicious scams are even more common during major events, where consumers are hunting for affordable deals. Third-party scams include bad actors attempting to entice travelers to book on third-party websites that are unrelated to Airbnb. Guests can avoid falling prey to these scams by communicating and paying on our trusted platform. When looking for listings, travelers should always start directly on Airbnb.com or the Airbnb app.

If anyone believes they´ve encountered a web page, they can let us know by reporting the website’s URL at our phishing reporting site. If a traveler is unsure whether they booked their reservation through Airbnb, they can check that with us, and report any message that indicates a potential scam.

In addition to this important information to help travelers protect themselves against scams, Airbnb is offering the following guidance to all guests searching for a reservation in city hosting Carnival celebrations: 

• Search and book with confidence: Guests can get exactly what they’re looking for by taking advantage of our many search filters, such as price, home type, and amenities. They should be sure to read the Host’s profile and listing description thoroughly — paying special attention to the amenities, house rules or trip requirements, and the cancellation policy.

• Read the ratings and reviews: Guests can look through feedback from past guests to help find the right fit for them. They’ll see ratings on several quality dimensions, like cleanliness and accuracy, and detailed reviews with authentic feedback about the experience. Guests can only leave a review after they’ve stayed with that specific Host, so they know the feedback they’re seeing is based on actual experiences.
• Get questions answered: Our secure messaging tool is an easy way to ask a potential Host any questions about their home or experience before booking. After booking, guests can also message their Hosts to coordinate check-in and stay in touch throughout their trip — something that will be particularly important in the area as guests fans descend on the city for the race. 
• Do a safety check: Once guests arrive at the home, they should make sure to know where all relevant emergency equipment and safety information is located. If it’s not clear where to find something like the first aid kit, fire extinguisher or a CO/ smoke alarm, guests should not hesitate to ask their Host. It’s always better to be prepared.
• Respect neighbors: Guests booking an Airbnb listing are not just entering that home — they’re joining a community. Whether they’re on vacation at a single-family home or a condo, guests will be surrounded by neighbors who will be maintaining normal work schedules and may have young kids. It’s important to be mindful of noise and respectful of their spaces.
• If anything isn’t right, reach out: If a guest arrives at a home and something’s not quite right, they should reach out to us and our Airbnb Safety Team members, who are trained to support our Hosts and guests in the rare instance of a safety issue. And Airbnb booking guests always have access to our AirCover protections, free to all guests and covering every booking made on our platform.

1.  Based on total searches from January to September 2023 for stays from February 9 to February 14, 2024.
2.  Based on percent  of search growth from January to September 2023 for carnival dates on 2024 vs. 2023.
3.  Based on Airbnb data considering the percent  of nights booked  by domestic travelers.
4.  Based on average daily rate during Carnival 2023 dates (Friday February 17 to Wednesday Feb 22, 2023) as of January 2024.