27 of the best · Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The MAR and the MAM, the Museu Nacional de Belas Artes and the CCBB, the Theatro Municipal and the Sala Cecília Meireles, Rio’s arthouse cinemas and the samba schools of the Sambódromo.
Our 27 favourites, listed A–Z · Updated October 2026
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Three Rio addresses we would send a friend to first, chosen from this list.
The city in art
The art museum of the port, on the Praça Mauá, telling the story of Rio through art.
Praça Mauá, Centro, Rio de JaneiroExplore View on map
Founded 1948
The museum of modern art in its modernist building in the Flamengo park, founded in 1948.
Avenida Infante Dom Henrique 85, Parque do Flamengo, Rio de JaneiroExplore View on map
7–9 February 2027
The samba schools’ parades at the Sambódromo da Marquês de Sapucaí: in 2027, the Special Group parades on 7, 8 and 9 February.
The newest official trailers, updated automatically as they are released. Brazilian cinemas show many films in the original language with Portuguese subtitles, and some dubbed; check the session before you book.
Trailers play from the official YouTube channels of Rotten Tomatoes Trailers and the studios, and update automatically. Use the playlist button in each player to browse more.
The MAM, the samba schools and the Carnival: the arts that make Rio.
The back story
The modern art of the MAM on the Flamengo park, the MAR at Praça Mauá, the old masters of the Belas Artes, the Theatro Municipal, bossa nova in Ipanema and the samba schools of the Carnival.
Visual arts
Brazilian painting on the Cinelândia, the city in art at Praça Mauá and a collector’s house in Santa Teresa.
The city in art
The art museum of the port, on the Praça Mauá, telling the story of Rio through art.
Praça Mauá, Centro, Rio de JaneiroExplore View on map
A collector’s house
A collector’s modernist house and art collection in Santa Teresa, with views over the bay.
On the Cinelândia
Brazil’s national fine-art museum, facing the Theatro Municipal on the Cinelândia.
Being rebuilt
The national museum in the former imperial palace at the Quinta da Boa Vista, being rebuilt after the fire of 2018.
The MAM in its modernist building on the bay, the CCBB’s exhibitions and the IMS.
Opened 1989
A cultural centre in a grand domed building in Centro, with exhibitions, cinema and theatre.
Rua Primeiro de Março 66, Centro, Rio de JaneiroExplore View on map
Closed for works
The modernist house and garden in Gávea that hosts photography, music and film; closed for works.
Founded 1948
The museum of modern art in its modernist building in the Flamengo park, founded in 1948.
Avenida Infante Dom Henrique 85, Parque do Flamengo, Rio de JaneiroExplore View on map
The tiled steps between Lapa and Santa Teresa.
Lapa to Santa Teresa
The stairway between Lapa and Santa Teresa covered in tiles from all over the world by the artist Jorge Selarón.
Calatrava’s museum on the pier, a gilded monastery, and the gardens of Roberto Burle Marx.
A gilded church
The Benedictine monastery on its hill above the port, with a church lined in gilded carving.
The Museum of Tomorrow
Santiago Calatrava’s white museum of science and the future on the pier at Praça Mauá.
World Heritage, 2021
The landscape architect Roberto Burle Marx’s own garden and plant collection, a World Heritage site since 2021.
Gardens by Burle Marx
The long park on reclaimed land along the bay from Centro to Botafogo, landscaped with Roberto Burle Marx.
Performing arts
Chamber music on the Largo da Lapa, orchestras in Barra, and samba and jazz from Lapa to Copacabana.
Jazz on the Avenida Atlântica
Jazz, bossa nova and samba on the Copacabana seafront.
Avenida Atlântica 1910, Copacabana, Rio de JaneiroExplore View on map
Concerts in Barra
The large arts centre in Barra da Tijuca, for orchestras, opera and big productions.
Under the arches
The open-sided concert hall beside the Arcos da Lapa, for Brazilian music and late nights.
On the Largo da Lapa
Rio’s concert hall for chamber and classical music, on the Largo da Lapa.
Largo da Lapa 47, Lapa, Rio de JaneiroExplore View on map
The Theatro Municipal on the Cinelândia.
On the Cinelândia
Rio’s opera house on the Cinelândia, its foyer of marble, gilt and stained glass; tours and performances.
Arthouse screens, the city’s film festival and the archive of image and sound.
The city’s film festival
The Rio de Janeiro international film festival, held across the city’s cinemas.
Arthouse film
Rio’s arthouse cinemas, showing Brazilian and world cinema in the original language.
Sound and image
The state museum of image and sound, keeper of Rio’s archive of music, film and photography.
A carved Portuguese reading room in Centro and the bookshops of Ipanema.
Books and coffee
Rio’s literary bookshops, with cafés, in Ipanema, Leblon and Centro.
A reading room of carved wood
A Portuguese reading room of carved wood and iron galleries, lined to the roof with books.
Rua Luís de Camões 30, Centro, Rio de JaneiroExplore View on map
Folk & cultural traditions
A gemstone jeweller and the prints of a Rio fashion label.
Brazilian gems
The Brazilian jeweller, with its headquarters on Rua Visconde de Pirajá in Ipanema.
Rua Visconde de Pirajá 490, Ipanema, Rio de JaneiroExplore View on map
The samba schools at the Sambódromo, and the city’s great music festival.
The festival city
The great rock and pop festival, held in its own festival city in the west of Rio.
7–9 February 2027
The samba schools’ parades at the Sambódromo da Marquês de Sapucaí: in 2027, the Special Group parades on 7, 8 and 9 February.
