Rio de Janeiro – Museums

Rio de Janeiro is home to many museums and cultural offerings, with many being offered free of charge. Visitors may wish to pick up a copy of the Mapa das Artes Rio de Janeiro. The free publication, which is published bi-monthly, offers listings and a detailed map of cultural happenings throughout the city at any given time. Each district of the city offers its own museums and cultural offerings, with the largest concentration being that of the downtown area.

Maracanã Stadium Soccer Museum

The Maracanã Stadium hosts its own museum dedicated to the rich history of the venue. Erected in 1950 to host the FIFA World Cup, the stadium has been the venue of choice for various World Cup games, exhibitions, countless concerts and even the Summer Olympics and Paralympics It is the largest stadium in Brazil and due to various renovations has seen its seating capacity reduced from at one time nearly 180,000 to less than 80,000 today. Many of Rio’s major football clubs call the stadium home. Celebrities including Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney and the Rolling Stones have all played to events inside the arena.

Address: Avenida Presidente Castelo Branco, s/n. Portão 2, Radial Oeste, Maracanã, RJ, 20271-130
Phone: +55 21 2334-1705
Operating Hours:
– Monday 8:30am – 4:30pm
– Tuesday 8:30am – 4:30pm
– Wednesday 8:30am – 4:30pm
– Thursday 8:30am – 4:30pm
– Friday 8:30am – 4:30pm
– Saturday 8:30am – 4:30pm
– Sunday 8:30am – 4:30pm
Admission Cost:
– General R$ 60.00
– Children under 5 FREE
– Children between 6 and 10 R$30.00
– Students R$30.00
– Seniors over 60 R$30.00
– People with special needs with accompanying persons, according to State Law 4.240, December 16, 2003. R$30.00
Website

Museu de Arte Contemporânea Niteroi (Niterói Contemporary Art Museum; MAC)

Considered one of the city’s major landmarks, the Niterói Contemporary Art Museum (MAC) was designed by the internationally renowned architect Oscar Niemeyer. The museum includes 1,217 unique works of art, including works that have been collected since the 1950s. It includes the second largest collection of contemporary art in all of Brazil. The saucer-shaped viewing gallery offers amazing views of the city, as well as Sugarloaf Mountain and Guanabara Bay. Standing at a height of 16 meters and spread across three floors, the museum often regularly hosts hands-on exhibits for children to interact with.

Address: Mirante da Boa Viagem, s/nº, Boa Viagem, Niterói.
Phone: +55 (21) 2620-2400
Operating Hours:
– Monday 9:00am – 5:00pm
– Tuesday 9:00am – 5:00pm
– Wednesday 9:00am – 5:00pm
– Thursday 9:00am – 5:00pm
– Friday 9:00am – 5:00pm
– Saturday 9:00am – 5:00pm
– Sunday 9:00am – 5:00pm
Admission Cost:
– General R$12.00
– Private school students, university students and seniors over 60, teachers bearing their employment record card or payment slip R$6.00
– Children under 7 FREE
– Residents of Niterói bearing their proof of residence and ID FREE
– Public school students (elementary and secondary education) FREE (An official letter issued by the institution in charge must be presented at the front desk of the Museum)
– Person in charge for groups of students, school representatives FREE
– All visitors arriving at the Museum by bicycles FREE
– Wednesdays FREE
Website

Museu Histórico Nacional (National Historical Museum)

While the National Historical Museum itself opened in 1922, the original building was constructed in 1762 and served as a prison for slaves and also a depot for ammunition. Today, the museum includes more than 287,000 unique items and includes the largest numismatic collection in Latin America. The large collection is a result of the inheriting of items from other museums over the years, including the Brazilian National Archives and National Library. An online repository of the collections is also available to the public online.

Address: Praça Marechal Âncora s/n°, Centro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 20021-200
Phone: (21) 3299-0324
Operating Hours:
– Monday closed
– Tuesday closed
– Wednesday closed
– Thursday 10:00am – 4:00pm
– Friday 10:00am – 4:00pm
– Saturday 10:00am – 4:00pm
– Sunday closed
Admission Cost:
– FREE
Website