Rio's nightlife is as hard to resist as its beaches. Options range from samba shows to sultry dance halls called forrós, a rhythmic music style that originated in Brazil's northeast during World War II. You'll find spots that feature the sounds of big band, rock, and everything in between. One of the happiest mediums is música popular brasileira (MPB), the generic term for popular Brazilian music, which ranges from pop to jazz.

Bars and lounges often ask for a nominal cover. Plain but pleasant bars called choperias attract an unattached crowd. An ice-cold chopp or Brazilian draft beer, is the order of the day or night. "Baixos Gay," the Botafogo neighborhood around Rua Visconde Silva and Rua Real Grandeza, has the city's highest concentration of lesbian and gay bars and cafés.

Rio's danceterias (discos) offer flashing lights and loud music. At a number of places, including samba clubs, you can dance to live Brazilian music. Gafieiras are old-fashioned ballroom dance halls, usually patronized by an equally old-fashioned clientele.

There are also many performing arts options. For current listings, pick up the bilingual Rio Guia, published by Riotur, the city's tourist board; Este Mês no Rio/This Month in Rio is also a good source of information. The entertainment sections of the Portuguese-language newspapers Jornal do Brasil and O Globo both publish schedules of events in their Friday editions.

Rio has a number of orchestras. The Orquestra Sinfônica Brasileira and the Orquestra do Teatro Municipal are the most prominent. Tickets to performing arts events are inexpensive by international standards and may be purchased at the theater or concert hall box offices.