Location: Zona Sul (South Zone)
Top Things to do in Zona Sul (South Zone)
Things to do in Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro (RJ): The Best Museums
With its plentiful beaches, dramatic mountains, and backdrop of samba and bossa nova rhythms, it's easy to fall in love with Rio de Janeiro. Made famous in song, Ipanema Beach is still the place to stroll, sunbathe, and be seen. The largest Art Deco statue in the world, Christ the Redeemer, beckons visitors to Corcovado Mountain. Rio’s annual Carnaval celebrations are bacchanalian extravaganzas of feasting, music, dance, and costumed revelry.
Restaurants in Rio de Janeiro
1. Museu de Favela
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 29 reviews
The Museu de Favela (MUF) is a private community-based non-governmental organization, founded in 2008 by local residents that were cultural leaders of the Pavao, Pavaozinho and Cantagalo favelas. At this first territorial and alive museum about Favela’s memories and cultural heritage in the world, its collection has about 25,000 residents and their lifestyle, narratives of an important and unknown part of Rio de Janeiro’s history. The territorial museum is located above the steep slopes of Cantagalo’s mountain range, among Ipanema, Copacabana and Lagoa, at Rio de Janeiro’s south zone, in Brazil. It has an area of about 30ft² . Its natural heritage gathers the Atlantic Forest and remarkable panoramic views among the most astonishing views of Rio de Janeiro. The future view is transforming Pavao, Pavaozinho e Cantagalo into a Rio de Janeiro’s touristic monument of Favela’s history, of Samba’s cultural origin, of the north-eastern immigrant and a rich collection of culture and lifestyle
Reviewed By HugoD89 - London, United Kingdom
Visited in September 2019. Very insightful and an experience you dont want to miss out on! We phoned up and arranged to the visit ahead of time (don’t just turn up, phone ahead to book!) we then met up with ‘Tartaruga’ our guide. He has grown up in the favelas you visit and has a wealth of information and experiences to share along the tour. We were also joined by Liz who spoke very good English and translated for us. The tour was very enjoyable, safe and you learn a lot about the history and the politics for the people living within the community. Photographs are ok too but ask Tartaruga before you start taking photo’s as you have to respect the peoples privacy that live within the community and some people may not be happy with you taking their photo. I would 100% do the tour again and recommend it to anyone visiting Rio! Tartaruga and Liz were very friendly and knowledgable. The tour gives you an insight into the good and bad of the favelas. Walking around you sense a very strong bond within the community and you learn about what is being achieved by the people living within it, and on the flip side, you also see the poverty and gang culture aspects of the favelas. This was probably the most interesting and memorable tour I’ve done anywhere. Highly recommend! Tartaruga e Liz, obrigado! Hugo & Ruth
2. Centro Cultural Municipal Parque das Ruinas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,260 reviews
Reviewed By FoodiEbeLovesTravel - London, United Kingdom
The old house felt like a living storybook, the interior designs are a great mix of old tasteful bricks & glasshouse & greens, love it! You cant miss it if you are at Santa Teresa!
3. Museu da Republica
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,240 reviews
Transformed from palace to presidential residence in 1889 with the overthrow of the monarchy, this granite and marble building has striking floors and ceilings and houses a museum with presidential memorabilia, furniture and art.
4. Museu Internacional De Arte Naif
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 169 reviews
The world’s largest collection of primitive paintings from the 15th century to the present day is housed in this colonial mansion, once the art studio of Brazilian painter Eliseu Visconti.A unique collection of Brazilian and International naive art in a charming setting, just 30 metres away from Corcovado´s train station.
5. Museu Chacara do Ceu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 216 reviews
Situated in a bohemian neighborhood, and providing great views of the bay from its hilltop location, this museum contains 20th century masterpieces by the likes of Degas, Matisse and Picasso as well as works by prominent Brazilian modernists.
Reviewed By melanierin - Worthington, United States
Very nice, diverse art collection in a beautiful setting. Some kid-friendly elements/interactive art. Nice to visit along with Parque das Ruinas.
6. Church of Our Lady of the Glory of the Outeiro
7. Museu Historico do Exercito e Forte de Copacabana
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,883 reviews
Reviewed By Z5544LOpeterh - Mississauga, Canada
Copacabana Fort caters to the tourist who’s in search of a great view of Rio along with learning about Brazilian history. Entrance is quite inexpensive and one can easily spend couple of hours learning about the military history of Brazil and then take great panoramic pictures of Copacabana Beach overseeing the Sugar Loaf in the background.
8. Instituto Moreira Salles - IMS Rio
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,102 reviews
High up in the Gávea neighborhood and surrounded by the lush Floresta da Tijuca, the house where Walther Moreira Salles and his family used to live became in 1999 the headquarters of the Instituto Moreira Salles in Rio de Janeiro. IMS Rio offers exhibitions, film screenings, concerts and cultural events, and shelters the institution’s photography, music, literature and iconography collections. The house, planned by Olavo Redig de Campos with landscape design by Roberto Burle Marx, is a landmark of 1950s modern architecture and an attraction in itself.
Reviewed By outsidepreferred
We only had an hour so here at the end of our day, but would have loved to have brunch and then do the museum. The cafe is lovely, the grounds are beautiful, and we learned a lot about the history of urban development in Rio. Loved this museum as a lesser known, less touristy place to enjoy an afternoon away from crowds.
