What to do and see in Rio de Janeiro, State of Rio de Janeiro (RJ): The Best Museums

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

The Casa do Pontal is the largest and most important Museum of Folk Art in Brazil. The collection contains over 8000 sculptures and models made by approximately 200 folk artists from all over Brazil. Include in the collection are works produced throughout the second half of the twentieth century. The entire collection, the building, the gardens and the exhibit itself were conceived and executed by French designer Jacques Van de Beuque, He is also responsible for amassing the collection in which he invested his own financial resources as well as fifty years of research and travel.The permanent collection contains over 8000 works representative of the different urban and rural cultures of Brazil, 5,000 of which are on display in the Museum's 1500 m2 of galleries. Organized thematically, they reflect every day activities, celebrations and festivals and the real in the fantasy lives of the people. Scattered throughout the galleries are explanatory texts in Portuguese, English and French.

Inside this French Renaissance-style building is a collection of paintings by Brazil's finest contemporary artists as well as an impressive array of folk and African art.

Originally a fortress and an ammunition depot dated of Colonial Brazil, the National Historical Museum created in 1922 became one of the most important museums of history in the country, housing a collection of circa 300,000 items. It holds 9,000 square meters galleries of long term and temporary exhibitions, besides a Library and Historical and Institutional Archives .

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.

The CCBB is a cultural center that consists of exhibition rooms, three theaters, a library, cinema, and a video room. It is housed in an art deco style building located in what used to be the financial district of Rio de Janeiro.

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.