From the beaches of Rio de Janeiro to the jungles of Belem, Brazil’s cities have a mixture of museums that preserve its history and culture. You’ll experience modernist masterpieces and historical treasures, all within some of Latin America’s most striking architectural wonders.
South America’s largest country is a museum lovers’ paradise that’s worth experiencing. Below are the top 10 museums in Brazil and what makes them so spellbinding to visit.
1. Museum of Art of São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP) in Brazil
For a one-stop destination for Brazilian art, head to the MASP in São Paulo. The museum is Brazil’s first modern art museum, created in 1947 by the Brazilian business executive and journalist Assis Chateaubriand. The renowned Italian architect Lina Bo Bardi designed the modernist structure and facade. The building resembles a modernist piece of art balancing on pillars as if floating above the concrete. Inside, the floating spaces continue with a collection of over 10,000 pieces suspended in the air. You’ll experience incredible paintings, sculptures, and other works by globally beloved artists. Museum highlights include international masterpieces such as Vincent van Gogh’s The Schoolboy. Brazilian highlights include Candido Portinari’s Coffee Agricultural Worker and Northeastern Migrants.
2. Museu do Amanhã
Rio de Janeiro’s Museu do Amanhã (Museum of Tomorrow) is one of Brazil’s most visited and highly rated museums. It’s housed inside a spaceship-like building designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. Inside, you’ll find science-based exhibits on two open levels. Each exhibit examines the world through the lens of climate change and the environment. You’ll see vivid representations of the changing world and the effects of environmental devastation on our society and the planet. You’ll explore hands-on exhibits that explore the cosmos, the Earth, the Anthropocene, and the future of our planet, all inside a futuristic and spacious location near Rio’s busy port. After experiencing the museum, you can enjoy the cafe or relax near the outdoor pool while taking in the city views.
3. Pinacoteca de São Paulo
In 1905, the local government of São Paulo opened the Pinacoteca de São Paulo as the city’s premier art museum. Today, it’s still one of Brazil’s most famous museums and a must-see destination in Brazil’s largest city. The museum features artwork from the 19th century to the present. It includes historical Brazilian masterpieces, including Pedro Alexandrino’s Paisagem and Antônio Parreiras’ Marinha. In total, it houses one of the largest collections of Brazilian modern art in the world. There are 30 exhibit spaces, including traveling exhibits and a tactile section for visitors with vision impairments. The museum hosts monthly events, including lectures, concerts, and art workshops that attract art lovers from across the country and beyond.
4. Oscar Niemeyer Museum
Brazil’s Oscar Niemeyer Museum is a stunning center for the visual arts, architecture, and design. It features one of the largest exhibition spaces in Latin America. The museum’s collection includes a range of mediums, from paintings and sculptures to building designs and photographs. The museum opened in the city of Curitiba in 2002 and was named after the renowned Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer. Since then, it has become one of Brazil’s most visited museums. In its 15 exhibition spaces, it hosts a revolving collection of international and national works.
You’ll get the chance to experience highlights, including the building’s unique teardrop design. Inside the space, there are also photos of the museum’s design and construction, along with designs from Niemeyer’s most famous buildings and projects. The museum is also one of the best places to experience workshops and learn about architecture. You’ll also find lectures, fun artistic workshops, and guided visits, during which the museum’s staff will take you through the works on display and Oscar Niemeyer’s work.
5. Belem Museum of Art (MABE)
The MABE is a stunning museum located inside the historical Antônio Lemos Palace in the city of Belem. It houses over 1,500 works of art from Brazil and other countries. The museum opened to the public in 1991 and has quickly become one of northern Brazil’s most beloved museums.
Inside are collections ranging from paintings to sculptures. You’ll see works that depict the region’s history and classic works, such as Benedito Calixto’s 1906 masterpiece Garden Retreat I. Other works include paintings by regional artists that depict life during Brazil’s expansion into its heartland. Besides the artwork, the museum’s highlight is its incredible architecture. Built in a neoclassical style in 1860, the striking blue building was once a political center for the region’s booming rubber industry. Today, it’s a protected architectural and historical monument for the city of Belem.
6. Museu Afro Brasil
This one-of-a-kind museum in São Paulo features over 6,000 works that showcase the impact African people had on Brazilian culture. You’ll see paintings, statues, carnival costumes, engravings, and educational exhibits that take you through Afro-Brazilian history and its cultural impact. The Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer designed and built the museum’s building. Inside, you’ll find several permanent and revolving exhibits with themes such as Labor and Slavery and Afro-Brazilian Religions. From works of art depicting life in Brazil’s Afro-Brazilian communities to historical objects, the museum’s works are extensive and well-curated. The museum also hosts frequent events and activities for the whole family. From book launches and lectures to art workshops, you’ll find plenty to experience no matter when you visit. Once you’re finished visiting, you can walk around the beautiful Ibirapuera Park.
7. Museum of Modern Art Rio de Janeiro (MAM)
The striking symbol of the country’s modernist architecture, the MAM, is one of Rio’s most popular museums and a place to learn about the influential art and creative movements of Rio de Janeiro. Architect Affonso Eduardo Reidy’s vision for an open and creative space came to life in 1955 when the MAM’s building was completed. Reidy connected his building to the early 20th century Dom João VI Mansion and together they form the MAM’s extensive museum and educational spaces.
Inside the museum, you’ll find over 15,000 works from various mediums. Class pieces from some of Brazil’s most famous visual artists share exhibition spaces with up-and-coming local artists. Some of the museum’s highlights include Maria Martins’ The Impossible and Tarsila do Amaral’s Urutu Snake from 1928. Other highlights include revolving collections that depict the culture and history of Rio de Janeiro. Besides the collections, the MAM also promotes local artists and art education through outreach programs supported by the Roberto Marinho Foundation. The Escola do Olhar is another program run by the museum which promotes art education and art literature for the city of Rio de Janeiro.
8. Inhotim Museum
Just an hour south of the city of Belo Horizonte, in the tiny mining town of Brumadinho, is the captivating Inhotim Museum. This museum is Latin America’s largest open-air art gallery. It blends contemporary art with the region’s botanical treasures to create a unique space that blends artistic beauty with the strikingly beautiful Brazilian flora. As you walk through the green spaces and tropical gardens, you’ll come across over 700 pieces of contemporary art. The works were created by Brazilian artists as well as internationally recognized contemporary artists.
You’ll see a variety of mediums with highlights, such as the Galeria Adriana Varejão by Adriana Varejão. The gallery consists of photos, sculptures, and paintings inside a mind-bending modernist building designed by architect Rodrigo Cerviño Lopez. Besides the outdoor sculptures are the 24 pavilions, each housing rotating and permanent exhibits. The mixture of art and nature makes the Inhotim an unmissable destination for any art lover.
9. Museum of Image and Sound (MIS)
São Paulo’s Museu da Imagem e do Som (Museum of Image and Sound) is a unique museum dedicated to any form of multimedia. When you visit, you’ll get to see and experience over 200,000 audiovisual items and works. From photos to films, any form of Brazilian art created with sound and visuals is on display. From the history, music, and costumes of carnival to local films and set designs. The museum also occasionally features exhibits that highlight artists who, throughout their careers, made Brazil a frequent theme for their work, such as Tina Turner and David Bowie.
The museum opened in 1970 as a place to showcase other forms of art not represented in other Brazilian museums. Since then, it has grown to include a library which houses a large collection of multimedia, including books, documentaries, photos, and interviews from some of Brazil’s leading artists, photographers, and filmmakers.
10. Brazil’s Imperial Museum of Petropolis
The opulent and well-curated Imperial Museum of Petropolis is one of Brazil’s most visited and popular museums. This massive space opened in 1943 inside the former summer home of the Brazilian Imperial family. The building was built in 1845 and is one of Brazil’s most iconic buildings from its imperial era.
Inside the museum, you’ll get to experience relics from Brazil’s imperial era, including the Imperial Crown of Brazil, carriages, and an extensive library of classic books. There are 44 rooms, each with unique exhibits and preserved furniture. Each painting and art piece on display tells the history of Brazil and its former royal family. Outside the museum, you can explore the former royal gardens and see original statues of the family throughout the quiet space.
