Best museums and historical places

Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro

Parque do Flamengo · Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro · Av. Infante Dom Henrique, 85 - Parque do Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20021-140, Brazil

Contemporary art museum with striking architecture & a water garden, plus a theater & lecture halls.

Fundação Biblioteca Nacional

Centro · Fundação Biblioteca Nacional · Av. Rio Branco, 219 - Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ, 20040-008, Brazil

Regal national library holding a vast & historic collection of rare books, photography & maps.

The Beatles - Abbey Road

England · The Beatles - Abbey Road · Abbey Rd., London NW8 9DD, UK

Louvre Pyramid

Île-de-France, Paris · Louvre Pyramid · 75001 Paris, France

Glass pyramid created by I. M. Pei, forming the entranceway into a lower-ground exhibition area.

Castelo de Silves

Faro, Silves · Castelo de Silves · R. do Castelo, 8300-135 Silves, Portugal

Sprawling Moorish-style sandstone castle with vaulted halls, numerous towers & sweeping views.

Quinta da Regaleira

Lisbon, Sintra · Quinta da Regaleira · 2710-567 Sintra, Portugal

Early 20th century-built palace & gardens with underground passages, a chapel & museum, plus events.

Palácio da Pena

Lisboa, Sintra · Palácio da Pena · Estrada da Pena, 2710-609 Sintra, Portugal

19th-century, Romanticist palace on a high rock & former monastery site, surrounded by parkland.

Castelo dos Mouros

Lisbon, Sintra · Castelo dos Mouros · 2710-405 Sintra, Portugal

Paths offering panoramic views encircle this cliff-top Moorish castle, built in the 10th century.

Museu Calouste Gulbenkian

Avenidas Novas, Lisboa · Museu Calouste Gulbenkian · Av. de Berna 45A, 1067-001 Lisboa, Portugal

Displays of art from Greek to Roman & Asian to European, plus gardens, shop & restaurant.

Arco da Rua Augusta

Santa Maria Maior, Lisboa · Arco da Rua Augusta · R. Augusta 2, 1100-053 Lisboa, Portugal

Ornate 18th-century triumphal arch with sculpted figures & views over the city center.

Praça de Espanha

Lisboa · Praça de Espanha · Pç. de Espanha, 1050 Lisboa, Portugal

Torre de Belém

Belém, Lisboa · Torre de Belém · Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal

Landmark medieval fortified tower on tiny river island with rooftop terrace offering estuary views.

Castelo de São Jorge

Santa Maria Maior, Lisboa · Castelo de São Jorge · R. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal

11th-century, hilltop Moorish castle & royal residence with palace ruins & archaeological museum.

Mosteiro dos Jerónimos

Belém, Lisboa · Mosteiro dos Jerónimos · Praça do Império 1400-206 Lisboa, 1400-206 Lisboa, Portugal

Late Gothic Manueline-style monastery housing archaeology & maritime museums in its wings.

Templo de Saturno

Lazio, Roma · Templo de Saturno · Parco archeologico del Colosseo, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Ruins of a temple & treasury erected to Saturn, probably in the 5th century BC, & rebuilt over time.

Templo de Venus y Roma

Lazio, Roma · Templo de Venus y Roma · Piazza di Santa Maria Nova, 53, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Emperor Hadrian-designed hilltop temple complex museum used for occasional public events.

Fórum Romano

Lazio, Rome · Fórum Romano · 00186 Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

Vast excavated area of Roman temples, squares & government buildings, some dating back 2,000 years.

Panteão

Lazio, Roma · Panteão · Piazza della Rotonda, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

Iconic temple built circa 118 to 125 A.D. with a dome & Renaissance tombs, including Raphael's.

Vaticano

Vatican City · Vaticano · 00120, Vatican City

Catholic city-state & home of the Pope, known for Sistine Chapel frescoes & St. Peter’s Basilica.

Igreja de Santo Inácio de Loyola

Lazio, Roma · Igreja de Santo Inácio de Loyola · Piazza S. Ignazio, 00186 Roma RM, Italy

17th-century Roman Catholic church with trompe l'oeil ceilings & frescoes depicting St Ignatius.

Colosseum

Lazio, Roma · Colosseum · Piazza del Colosseo, 1, 00184 Roma RM, Italy

Monumental 3-tiered Roman amphitheater once used for gladiatorial games, with guided tour option.

Sherlock Holmes Museum

England · Sherlock Holmes Museum · 221b Baker St, London NW1 6XE, UK

Museum with Victorian decor in the home of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's famous fictional detective.

Shakespeare's Globe

England · Shakespeare's Globe · 21 New Globe Walk, London SE1 9DT, UK

Oak-&-thatch replica of the original Elizabethan theatre, showing Shakespeare plays in the open air.

Royal Air Force Museum London

England · Royal Air Force Museum London · Grahame Park Way, London NW9 5LL, UK

Tracing the history of aviation & the RAF through real aircraft & interactive exhibits.

Imperial War Museum

England · Imperial War Museum · Lambeth Rd, London SE1 6HZ, UK

Recreations of WWI trenches and the Blitz, many tanks and planes and revolving military exhibitions.

National Gallery

England · National Gallery · Trafalgar Square, London WC2N 5DN, UK

Trafalgar Square art museum whose masterworks trace the development of Western European painting.

V&A Museum

England · V&A Museum · Cromwell Rd, London SW7 2RL, UK

Blockbuster exhibitions and permanent decorative arts collection, with design shop and ornate cafe.

British Museum

England · British Museum · Great Russell St, London WC1B 3DG, UK

Huge showcase for global antiquities, including Egyptian mummies and ancient Greek sculptures.