Holiday travel · February 13 – February 17, 2026
Top 20 Hotel Destinations for Carnival
The world's great Carnival celebrations, from Rio's samba parades to Venice's masked balls and the Alpine Fasnacht traditions of Switzerland.
Jump to hotels ↓Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Why Carnival
Rio's Carnival is the world's most famous, with Sambadrome parades and hundreds of street blocos.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~86°F (30°C); hot, humid
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- beach
- culture
Where we'd stay: Copacabana Palace, A Belmond Hotel. 1923 icon on Copacabana Beach.
Explore Rio de Janeiro →Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago
Why Carnival
Trinidad's Carnival, with J'ouvert at dawn and costumed bands on Monday and Tuesday, is the Caribbean's biggest.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~88°F (31°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
Where we'd stay: Hyatt Regency Trinidad. Waterfront hotel with a rooftop infinity pool.
Hotels in Port of Spain →
Veneto, Italy
Why Carnival
Carnevale di Venezia's masks, costume balls and the Flight of the Angel in St. Mark's Square.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~46°F (8°C); chilly, occasional acqua alta
- Crowds · season
- High during Carnival · Low (peak during Carnival)
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- romance
- city
Where we'd stay: The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel. 15th-century doge's palace on the Grand Canal.
Explore Venice →Bahia, Brazil
Why Carnival
Salvador's street Carnival draws huge crowds behind trios elétricos sound trucks.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~86°F (30°C); hot
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- beach
Where we'd stay: Fasano Salvador. Art Deco hotel with a rooftop pool over the Bay of All Saints.
Hotels in Salvador →- 5
Nice
Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
Why Carnival
The Nice Carnival's flower battles and illuminated parades line the Promenade des Anglais.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~56°F (13°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- beach
Where we'd stay: Hotel Le Negresco. Belle Époque palace on the Promenade des Anglais.
Hotels in Nice → North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Why Carnival
Cologne's 'fifth season' peaks with Weiberfastnacht and the Rose Monday parade.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~43°F (6°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Excelsior Hotel Ernst. Grand hotel facing Cologne Cathedral.
Hotels in Cologne →
Louisiana, United States
Why Carnival
New Orleans' Mardi Gras is the grand finale of Carnival season in the US.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~64°F (18°C); some rain
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Windsor Court Hotel. Refined hotel near the French Quarter with afternoon tea and a notable art collection.
Explore New Orleans →Basel-Stadt, Switzerland
Why Carnival
Basel's Fasnacht, a UNESCO-listed tradition, starts with the 4 a.m. Morgestraich.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~43°F (6°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois. Rhine-side hotel with roots dating to 1681.
Hotels in Basel →Guía de Isora, Canary Islands, Spain
Why Carnival
Santa Cruz de Tenerife's Carnival is one of the largest in the world, with warm Canary Islands weather.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~70°F (21°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- beach
- family
Where we'd stay: The Ritz-Carlton, Abama. Clifftop resort with a golf course and Michelin-starred dining.
Hotels in Guía de Isora →- 10
Cádiz
Andalusia, Spain
Why Carnival
Cádiz's Carnival is Spain's most famous, known for its witty street singers.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~61°F (16°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$
- culture
- beach
Where we'd stay: Parador de Cádiz. Seafront parador with ocean-view pools.
Hotels in Cádiz → 
Quebec, Canada
Why Carnival
Quebec's Winter Carnival is the world's largest winter carnival.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~19°F (-7°C); cold, snow
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
- family
Where we'd stay: Fairmont Le Château Frontenac. Iconic castle hotel above the St. Lawrence in Old Quebec.
Explore Quebec City →Tuscany, Italy
Why Carnival
Viareggio's giant satirical floats parade along the seafront over several weekends.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~55°F (13°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- beach
Where we'd stay: Grand Hotel Principe di Piemonte. Seafront hotel on Viareggio's promenade.
Hotels in Viareggio →Uruguay
Why Carnival
Uruguay's Carnival is among the world's longest, with candombe drumming through the Barrio Sur.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~82°F (28°C); warm
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: Sofitel Montevideo Casino Carrasco & Spa. Restored 1921 casino hotel on the Carrasco waterfront.
Hotels in Montevideo →
14Lucerne
Lucerne, Switzerland
Why Carnival
Lucerne's Fasnacht begins on the Thursday before Ash Wednesday with masks and Guggenmusik bands.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~41°F (5°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Hotel Schweizerhof Luzern. Lakefront grand hotel since 1845.
Explore Lucerne →North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Why Carnival
Düsseldorf's Rose Monday parade is known for its satirical political floats.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~45°F (7°C); cold
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- city
- culture
Where we'd stay: Breidenbacher Hof. Luxury hotel on the Königsallee.
Hotels in Düsseldorf →- 16
Malta
Floriana, Malta
Why Carnival
Malta's Carnival fills Valletta with colorful floats in the days before Lent.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~61°F (16°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- Moderate · Shoulder
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- city
Where we'd stay: The Phoenicia Malta. Grand hotel just outside Valletta's city gates.
Hotels in Malta → 
17Goa
Benaulim, Goa, India
Why Carnival
Goa's Carnival, a Portuguese-era tradition, brings parades to Panjim in the dry season.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~90°F (32°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- beach
- culture
Where we'd stay: Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa. Mediterranean-style beachfront resort in South Goa.
Explore Goa →
18Aruba
Eagle Beach, Aruba
Why Carnival
Aruba's Carnival season builds to the Grand Parade in Oranjestad during the dry season.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~84°F (29°C); dry
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$$
- beach
- romance
Where we'd stay: Bucuti & Tara Beach Resort. Adults-only resort on Eagle Beach.
Explore Aruba →- 19
Mobile
Alabama, United States
Why Carnival
Mobile's Mardi Gras, the oldest in the US, fills downtown with parades for weeks.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~64°F (18°C); some rain
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
Where we'd stay: The Battle House Renaissance Mobile Hotel & Spa. Restored 1852 landmark in downtown Mobile.
Hotels in Mobile → Texas, United States
Why Carnival
Galveston's Mardi Gras parades and balcony parties in the Strand district.
- Typical weather
- Highs ~64°F (18°C); mild
- Crowds · season
- High · Peak
- Price level
- $$$
- culture
- beach
Where we'd stay: The Tremont House. Historic hotel in the Strand district with a rooftop bar.
Hotels in Galveston →