Museum of Tomorrow
A stunning architecture-meets-ideas museum asking what kind of future we want.
The Museum of Tomorrow — Museu do Amanhã — is a science museum focused not on the past but on the next 50 years of human civilization. Designed by Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava and opened in December 2015, it sits on the revitalized Praça Mauá waterfront in Rio's Port Zone, part of the massive urban renewal project called Porto Maravilha. The building itself is a dramatic white spine that appears to float over a reflecting pool, its solar-panel fins tilting with the sun — and that's before you've even walked inside. It quickly became one of the most recognizable structures in Rio.
Inside, the museum is organized around five big existential questions: Where do we come from? Who are we? Where are we? Where are we going? How do we want to go? The experience is immersive and interactive rather than object-based — you won't find traditional artifacts in glass cases. Instead, expect sensory installations, projections, climate data visualizations, and hands-on exhibits exploring biodiversity, the Anthropocene, and human choices about energy, consumption, and coexistence. It's genuinely thought-provoking without being preachy, and well-produced enough to hold the attention of teenagers and adults alike.
The museum sits right on the water at Praça Mauá, next to the MAR (Rio Art Museum) and the VLT tram line that runs through Centro. The outdoor promenade and reflecting pool make the approach half the experience — budget time to walk around the building's exterior. Arrive when it opens to avoid school groups and weekend crowds. The permanent collection is the main draw, but check for temporary exhibitions as well. Signage is in Portuguese and English throughout, making it genuinely accessible to international visitors.
