The Best Sight in West of Downtown, Rio de Janeiro

A little off Rio's main tourist track, the National Museum is well worth the metro ride to view its exhibits of botanical, anthropological, and animal specimens. With a permanent collection of 20 million objects (give or take a few), the supply is nearly endless. Temporary exhibitions focus on subjects such as meteorites, tribal art, and animal evolution. The opulent museum building—a former imperial palace—itself merits a visit, and the vast grounds are home to Rio's city zoo.

Unfortunately, the museum was damaged by a fire in 2018, closing its exhibitions rooms inside. The open-air exhibition Museu Nacional Vive was installed nearby, with panels and photographs that highlight the history and reconstruction of the institution. The restoration process can be followed on this website. ( museunacionalvive.org.br/)