Museums in Rio de Janeiro

THE 10 BEST Rio de Janeiro Museums

Museums in Rio de Janeiro

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What travelers are saying

  • Sally H
    Matlock, UK81 contributions
    Wonderful, in great area. Restaurant fantastic. Staff charming. Exhibitions always worth a visit. Unmissable in Rio
    Written March 15, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • ginsengNewYork
    New York City, NY1,281 contributions
    Beautiful museum created by Spanish architect, Calatrava in the port of Rio: Most exhibits are geared towards the future of our planet, and are fascinating. Well worth the detour!
    Written June 6, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Andy S
    Bracknell, UK10 contributions
    Fort exhibits are interesting but not what you go for.

    Best 2 cafe views in Copacabana.

    Relaxed evening drink.

    Good photo opportunities of waves. Etc
    Written April 8, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Alex G
    Lightwater, UK70 contributions
    Our kids always enjoy visiting historical houses, stately homes etc, mainly due to the grandeur... this did not disappoint them. Well worth an hour or two. The audio guides are only R$5 and well worth it.
    Written August 31, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Marcus Sodré
    Rio de Janeiro, RJ6 contributions
    Inasmuch as the hardship imposed to whoever dares to try and single out the most beautiful attraction in Rio with its natural beauty competing as exuberant vegetation, mountainous high green hills next to lagoons & to the thin white sandy beaches indeed one could still consider Instituto Moreira Salles - IMS Rio as one of the most beautiful places to visit in town. Yet you must be attracted to art, in general, to take the fullest advantage of the experience: stroll inside and outside of the museum, a feast for mind & soul. Enjoy whatever exhibitions might be featured, go to the movies there, and wrap it all up with a noteworthy quick meal at the local restaurant. The whole ambiance is far more impressive than the individual sum of its parts.
    Written May 2, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Jake
    Minneapolis, MN125 contributions
    I had a perception in my mind of the history of Brazil being rather ruthless. This exhibit did not make me feel that way. It made me feel like it was definitely the perspective of the Portuguese. I wanted to learn more about the truth and brutality of the African slave trade and the wars the with indigenous people. This exhibit seemed to focus more on the Portuguese. I don't think that is a bad thing but just wanted a more holistic approach to their history. I am a history nerd and I studied Brazilian history online almost every night while in Rio. This exhibit left me almost with more questions than answers, and I found that the stuff online was almost better than this exhibit.
    Written March 20, 2020
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • andream0402
    Melbourne, Australia2,867 contributions
    We really entered the area for a walk along the front there and the view but went in to have a look at the fort as we had the ticket. There are lots of information boards in the fort but all in Portuguese. The gun battery was quite interesting . Not really my cup of tea but the area is beautiful.
    Written May 17, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Nonny
    Southend-on-Sea, United Kingdom11 contributions
    Fabulous museum with African influenced artworks of a high standard. Great views over the harbour from the 6th floor. Reasonably priced.
    Written April 3, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Myo M
    Coquitlam, Canada23,718 contributions
    With my personal preference of paintings to sculptures when it comes to "Fine Art", this museum for me was the least interesting among the four such museums I visited on my journey through South America (with the other three museums being those in Santiago, Buenos Aires & Sao Paulo), but yes "definitely impressive" in this museum (aside from my personal preference) is its great collection of life-sized sculptures nicely displayed in two rows in a long room and also some more similarly arranged but in shorter rows in another room (really a "pretty great" spectacle in each room as you walk through between its two rows of sculptures). So yes, not many great paintings to find here, but there are some that I liked which are actually not by European artists or such but just "local scenes" depicting Rio (which as seen in those paintings seemed "quite rural" at about the time of a century ago or so), and also two noteworthy great paintings are a big portrait of Emperor Pedro I & a "royal assembly" scene or such with him among his subordinates (which I actually also found an identical one but quite a bit "bigger-sized" than the one here later at Palacio Itamaraty in Brasilia).

    Coming by metro, Carioca Station (both Lines 1 & 2) is where to get off followed by just a short walk of 5 minutes or so to this museum: a left turn after coming out of the station then to the right when getting to the "second intersecting" street where this museum is to the left after a short walk (and where to the right which is across the street from this museum is Theatro Municipal with quite an attractive exterior of gold upper trims & beautiful green domes above but the interior of which I only got to just inside the entrance where there was a small performance going on at the time).
    Written November 26, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Julio B
    Salvador, BA8 contributions
    Big spaces, beautiful places, amazing history
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    Written October 10, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Alex G
    Lightwater, UK70 contributions
    We took our two kids (under 10) in off season (Aug).

    They were super excited to be able to walk all over and in a real ship and submarine.

    Only downside is climbing down some of the stairs is a bit dangerous so need to take your time with the kids. Beyond that, a really interesting insight into life at sea for you and old alike!

    Also no sailing ship the day we went, but you can’t complain for a great free attraction!
    Written August 27, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Catluvr91
    12 contributions
    Cute little modern art museum in a mid-century modern house featuring Brazilian artists. Also has a nice garden with views of the city.
    Written March 17, 2023
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Casey G
    Beaulieu56 contributions
    Huge show of cameras and editing equipment that wasn’t very interesting to me. A few amazing printed and painted pieces. Two sculptures of any interest.
    Written March 3, 2019
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Carol
    Sao Paulo, SP24 contributions
    This place is amazing! The palace is so beautiful and well preserved, and such an important historical site for Brazil. Every Brazilian should visit this place! There is no entrance fee.
    Written December 30, 2022
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
  • Escape-overseas
    Stevenage, UK1,757 contributions
    Visible from the main highway and from the harbour this little church stands pride of place on the main hillside in this older part of the city. Picturesque on the outside a walk up the stairs or along the zig zag path leads way to the entrance and to the Portuguese ceramic tiled interior. Very different from any church I had been in before and definitely worth the visit. Upon leaving and heading down into the main streets a funicular railway depends to street level and is complimentary.
    Written December 14, 2018
    This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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