The National Historical Museum, established in 1922, is truly a must see museum with some 300,000 items on display. This includes the largest collection of old coins and notes in all of Latin America. The complex that houses the museum is from Fort Santiago in Ponta Dungeon, which was one of the strategic points for defending the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Open since 1937, the National Fine Arts Museum boasts a collection of works by Brazilian and international artists dating back as far as the 1700s. Its exhibitions include sculptures, engravings, paintings and illustrations as well as decorative artworks such as furniture, medals, folk handicrafts and even some pieces of African Art.

The exhibitions of the Museum of Modern Art are made up of significant works by 20th century artists. The museum's collection represents a comprehensive and sophisticated display of the artistic evolution of the last century, both inside and outside Brazil. It is also home to some 4,000 photographs by Brazilian photographers.

The Museum of the Estate of Heaven (Museu da Chácara do Céu) brings together a number of paintings, drawings and prints by famous international artists such as Matisse, Modigliani and Degas. It also houses a great collection of Brazilian art, including maps and paintings from the 17th and 18th centuries as well as plenty of great works from the modern era.

The building is a prime example of the country’s neoclassical architecture. Built in the middle of the 19th century, it first belonged to one of Brazil's wealthiest coffee barons. This charming palace-museum is free for visitors on Wednesdays and Sundays. What's more, the museum is part of a landscaped park complete with beautiful water features that make it a great place to come and relax.