We took uber there, it is not in a walking distance from every tourist place you might be. We…read morechecked before that Sunday's and Holidays was old anyway. It wasn't today. Llegamos en uber aqui, no es una distancia para caminar de los tipicos lugares turisticos que uno puede estar. Chequeamos antes de ese domingo horarios y feriados. Estaba cerrado. No era hoy!

A great place to take the pulse of the vibrant Brazilian fine-arts scene, the Museum of Modern Art…read moreoccupies a striking concrete-and-glass modernist building. Augmenting the permanent collection of about 6,400 works by Brazilian and international artists is the slightly larger Gilberto Chateaubriand Collection of modern and contemporary Brazilian art. MAM has earned respect over the years for its bold, often thought-provoking exhibitions. The venue also hosts events such as music performances and DJ sessions. Its theater screens Brazilian and international independent and art-house films.

Walk up the steps to be able to view all the tiles. Walking down the steps you won't see all the…read moretiles. Have a drink at the top at a rooftop bar.

Fun place. I feel like this spot screamed Brazil! Lots of little vendors with cheap drinks. Most…read moreeveryone accepts card. Will be busy. So keep that in mind. But its definitely a vibe!

Of all the museums I visited in this trip to Rio, the Museu da República was one of two that was…read morefully open to visitors. Admission was free but any bags had to be placed in a locker, free use. The building was originally built by a rich coffee baron before eventually housing the presidency of Brazil. While important to the history of Brazil, most of the signage happened to be in Portuguese so it was a little harder to absorb the importance. The first floor was almost fully accessible but very restricted on the second floor such that one could only peek into the more elaborate rooms from the doorways. If they only permitted people to walk into the middle of the room then I felt one could better appreciate just how pretty they were both from the decor and furnishings. Don't forget to take a look at the very intricate ironworks at the front of the museum (it faced the street but was not the museum entrance). Besides the museum, the park like grounds held a small waterfall like grotto, pond and gazebo. There were no restrictions to wander around. The museum was located in Catete so a little bit away from the heart of Centro. I stitched a visit together with other museums in the area like Petrobas Futuros and Carmen Miranda.

The Museu da República is housed within the Palácio do Catete and was Brazil's presidential palace…read morefrom 1894 to 1960. It was turned into a museum after the capital of Brazil was moved from Rio to Brasília. The outside is very unassuming and not well-marked, so you could easily walk right past it. But the inside is nothing short of amazing. Most of the rooms have been preserved with original furniture and the paintings, statues, and frescos have been kept in excellent condition as well. Honestly, I'm having a hard time describing what the rooms look like, and I'm not sure words can do them justice. This is an important part of Brazil's history and I can't recommend a visit highly enough (come here instead of seeing the painted stairs). You can tour the old ballrooms, the dining area, the meeting area, see the former Presidential Office, and many other rooms. There is a third floor where President Getúlio Vargas killed himself (the Presidential Bedroom), but it's closed for renovations/preservation. Well worth the visit - take exit B from the Catete Metro Station and you're right there. The entrance fee was R$6, and there are lockers where you can leave your bag or coat.

I so wanted to visit this small museum dedicated to Carmen Miranda but when I arrived I was told it…read morejust closed until next week. No amount of pleading worked to gain entrance since all I could see were people just cleaning inside. Her costumes, turbans, crazy hats and other items were displayed inside. I could barely see anything as I was asked to stay outside. In the end, all I could do was take photos of the building, an outdoor poster, the garden (where dogs could run around off leash) and entrance gate. Very disappointed as I'm not sure when I'll return to Rio.