Top 3 Art Museums to Check Out in Rio de Janeiro

Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Niterói Contemporary Art Museum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Photo by Estevão Teixeira on Unsplash

Visiting Brazil without making a stop in Rio de Janeiro is like never going at all, and this busy metropolis truly has something in store for everyone. If a visit to an art museum happens to be your idea of fun, you’ll never run out of things to do because Rio de Janeiro happens to be home to several pretty amazing art museums—including these three.

Niterói Contemporary Art Museum

Rio de Janeiro’s most popular art museum is instantly recognizable thanks to Oscar Niemeyer’s iconic building that serves as its home. After being wowed by its spaceship-like exterior, you’ll get to discover its impressive art collection with over 1,000 works of art on three floors.

National Museum of Fine Arts

If you want to take a break from contemporary art and explore a museum that offers finer things, this one is your best bet. One of Brazil’s most significant art institutions, this museum will win you over with its collection of 19th-century paintings and sculptures.

Museum of Modern Art

Modern art museums are truly thriving in Rio, and Niterói isn’t the only one worth the visit. Safely tucked away inside Flamengo Park, the Museum of Modern Art offers exhibitions, theater, and lecture halls and it’s surrounded by stunning water gardens.