rio is home to a variety of museums and cultural centers, with many institutions being a mix between the two types, and being quite interesting.

adding a new dimension to a city mostly famous for its nature and musical celebrations, there are some museums in rio that should be on everyone's list of things to do while in the city.

on the top of the list are three landmark insitutions - the museu de arte do rio - mar,  the museu de arte moderna - mam, and located just across the bay from rio, the unmistakable ufo-shaped museu de arte contemporanea de niterói - mac.

the museu de arte do rio, or mar, which opened in early 2013 ahead of the 2014 world cup and the 2016 summer olympics, is located at Praça Mauá 5, Saúde, in rio de janeiro's docklands.