Today, Niterói is one of the most important cities in Brazil, and home to a variety of attractions and events that both stands on their own and tell the story of the close relationship and deep connection the city shares with nearby Rio de Janeiro.

One of the most celebrated attractions in Niterói is the iconic 'Museu de Arte Contemporânea MAC,' the Museum of Contemporary Art and symbol of the city. Designed by the famous architect Oscar Neimeyer, the ufo-shaped establishment boasts superb views over the Gunabara Bay and Corcovado and Sugar Loaf Mountains. Neimeyer envisaged the museum to be “something loose in the landscape, a white bird flying over the sky and the sea of Niterói', or 'a flower born in a rock'. Inaugurated in 1996, it has become a world-renowned reference in art, architecture and tourism.