Libraries in Rio de Janeiro
THE 5 BEST Rio de Janeiro Libraries
Libraries in Rio de Janeiro
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Travellers' Choice Awards winners (including the "Best of the Best" title) are among the top 10% of listings on Tripadvisor, according to the reviews and opinions of travellers across the globe.
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Speciality Museums • Historic Sites
Botafogo
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Open now
Art Galleries • Libraries
Botafogo
Speciality Museums • Libraries
Zona Norte (North Zone)
What travellers are saying
- Marty BielickiStuart, FL15,891 contributionsThis library, ranked #4 in the World by Time Magazine in 2014, is located in the center of Rio de Janeiro. We highly recommend taking an Uber as the parking is atrocious.
Built in int 1880’s, this five storied structure holds 400,000 volumes of books. It is the architecture, though, that makes it magical and endearing.
On the outside is designed similar to Lisbon’s famous Jeronimos Monastery in a Neo-Manueliene style. Entering the library is free. Many tourists don’t come here as they are touring Christ the Savior or absorbing the sunrays on Copacabana.
We liked this library very much on its emphasis on dark woods and a colorful ceiling. You feel that you are definitely in a special place. It is a working library as we saw several people doing projects to the sides. The Reading Room does have the largest concentration of lusophone works outside of Portugal. It was actually founded by Portuguese immigrants.
In our travels, we also enjoyed Vienna’s National Library holding 12 million books. There is plenty of artistic displays which is lacking in this Reading Room. And, if you get a chance to visit Fussen, Germany there is a small but beautiful library in the museum. The books are long gone, but the wood architecture is quite stunning.
If you found this review “helpful” in any way, please click the “thumbs-up” icon to let me know.Written 15 January 2025This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - Chris PStoney Creek, Canada726 contributionsThis was a very amazing historical building housing am awesome collection of Portuguese books. It is free to enter but this time of the year, there was line up. However, it did not take very.Written 17 July 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- TobyLondon, UK96 contributionsUnfortunately the museum itself was closed but they let you walk around the lovely gardens! There are wild monkeys in the trees here which is fun and there were some interesting plants and other flora to look at.Written 29 November 2019This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Carolina LacerdaRio de Janeiro, RJ49 contributionsThe best public library ever! Really beautiful, with air conditining, offers a very confortable studying/reading area, really nice outdoor space with desks. Nice to go after dark too, they offer individual lights on the outside space too. Sometimes they offer exhibitions too. Great tip: nice bathrooms, so you can have a pit-stop if you are nearby. ;)Written 16 September 2015This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- Leticia CRio de Janeiro, RJ24 contributionsOff the beaten path, BKC offers a great range of cultural programs, many free. The atmosphere is intimate and friendly and the building is gorgeous. Look for the cinema program for kids and the courses and workshops.Written 16 January 2012This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
