Rio de Janeiro: Museum of Tomorrow & Guanabara Bay with Transfer

Santiago Calatrava's Museum of Tomorrow: Rio's Sustainable Future Building

You get hotel pickup, skip the entry line, and spend the morning moving through five exhibition zones that connect the cosmos to tomorrow's world, with views of Guanabara Bay and a stop at Rio's most famous mural. The fixed schedule and included transport mean you're not managing logistics. Just showing up and walking through one of Rio's most forward-thinking buildings.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Museum and Surrounding Area

• Visit Museum of Tomorrow exhibits
• Admire Guanabara Bay view
• See Barão de Mauá statue
• Walk Olympic Boulevard graffiti
• View Mural das Etnias by Kobra

The experience

You walk in expecting a typical museum, and instead find yourself inside what looks like a ship that landed on the Porto Maravilha waterfront. The Museum of Tomorrow in Rio de Janeiro isn't trying to be subtle about it: the building itself, designed by Santiago Calatrava, is the first thing that tells you this place thinks differently. Solar panels cover the roof, seawater from Guanabara Bay cools the interior, and the whole structure sits like a monument to the idea that how we build matters as much as what we put inside.

Once you're through the entrance, the five main exhibition spaces pull you through a path that starts with the Cosmos and ends with Now, which sounds abstract until you're standing in front of interactive displays about population growth, climate change, genetic engineering, and wealth distribution. Luiz Alberto Oliveira, a physicist and cosmologist, shaped the whole thing, and it shows. You're not reading plaques. You're moving through questions. The Anthropocene section hits hardest, because it's not distant or theoretical. After the museum, there's time to step outside and look across Guanabara Bay from the square, where the Barão de Mauá statue stands: a figure who actually pushed Rio toward something bigger, which feels fitting when you're standing in front of a building that's trying to do the same.

The tour includes hotel pickup in an air-conditioned minivan, entry to the Museum of Tomorrow, and a stop at the Olympic Boulevard to see Kobra's Mural das Etnias, the largest graffiti work in the world. Groups stay under 19 people, which means you're not shuffling through crowds. The whole thing moves at a pace that lets you actually absorb what you're seeing instead of rushing through. Comfortable walking shoes matter. You'll be on your feet, and the museum's layout rewards wandering.

What’s included

Your day includes hotel pickup in an air-conditioned minivan, entrance to the Museum of Tomorrow, time to view Guanabara Bay from the waterfront square, and a stop at the Olympic Boulevard to see the Mural das Etnias. Groups are kept to a maximum of 19 travelers per vehicle, and the operator confirms your pickup time based on your hotel location before the tour.

Options for this experience

2 options

Guide in 6 languages09:00 and 14:00

Guide in 6 languages09:00 and 14:00

You pick the guide language when booking. Options with the same name differ in details you'll see when you pick a date.

You see the exact price of each option when you check availability.See dates & prices

Before you book

Days and timesThursday to SundayDepartures at 09:00 and 14:00

AgesAdult (11 and older) · Child (5 to 10 years) · Infant (under 5): free

Meeting point and pickupHotel pickup is optional; you can also go straight to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.Operator's directions: “If you do not provide us the pickup location at the time of booking and you do not inform us about it later, we will assume you will meet us at the Meeting Point at the Front Desk of the Rio Othon Palace (Avenida…”

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated 5 days ago

Good to know

Easy physical levelStroller friendlyInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Rio Carioca Tour Ltda

Is this one for you?Book this if you want to see Rio's most innovative building and understand what it's thinking about without arranging your own transport or waiting in an entry line: the guided format and included pickup mean you show up and walk straight in.

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Top questions

What languages is the guide in?

Live guide in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese.

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (5 to 10 years); Infant (under 5): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24h before the start.

What's included in the price?

Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned vehicle and entrance to the Museum of Tomorrow. Additional fee of USD 10 per person applies for pickups in Barra or Recreio neighborhoods.

Is there a minimum group size?

Yes, a minimum of 2 people is required for the tour to operate. If the minimum isn't met, the tour may be rescheduled.

Can I bring a stroller or pram?

Yes, infants and small children can use a pram or stroller. Infants must sit on an adult's lap during transport.

What should I wear?

Comfortable clothing and walking shoes are recommended. You'll be on your feet moving through the museum and around the waterfront.

How are pickup times arranged?

The operator contacts you to confirm a pickup time based on your hotel location. Check your email and phone for confirmation details.

What is the Mural das Etnias?

It's the world's largest graffiti mural, created by artist Kobra on the Olympic Boulevard. It's a stop included in the tour.

Is this tour suitable for all fitness levels?

Yes, it's suitable for all physical fitness levels. The pace is manageable, though comfortable shoes are essential for walking through the museum and waterfront areas.