Manaus Landmarks and Viewpoints

October 31, 2026

Manaus landmarks and viewpoints

Manaus packs its main sights into a compact historic centre beside the river, with a few more further out. This page covers the theatre, the palace, the market, the waterfront and the high viewpoints, with visiting details.

Teatro Amazonas and Praça São Sebastião

The opera house stands on Praça São Sebastião and was inaugurated on 31 December 1896. In July 2026 it was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as Amazonia Theaters, the first cultural World Heritage listing in Brazil’s North region. The listing covers the theatre, and the historic centre as a whole is not a World Heritage Site. Visits are guided only. A full ticket is R$20 and half price R$10, and Amazonas residents with photo ID, children up to 10 and people with disabilities go free. Hours are Tuesday to Saturday 09:00 to 17:00 and Sunday and holidays 09:00 to 13:00. Monday has been reported both ways, so confirm before you go. The wave-pattern cobblestones of the square are widely said to echo the Meeting of the Waters. See Portal Amazônia .

Palácio Rio Negro

The palace on Avenida Sete de Setembro was built in 1903 for the rubber baron Waldemar Scholz. It later served as the governor’s seat and is now a cultural centre. Entry is free. Published opening hours disagree, so check before you go and do not assume Sunday opening.

Mercado Municipal Adolpho Lisboa

This riverfront market hall opened in 1883 with ironwork made in Europe, and it is said to follow the design of Les Halles in Paris. It closed for seven years of restoration and reopened in October 2013. Entry is free, and one guide gives hours of Monday to Saturday 06:00 to 18:00 and Sunday and holidays 06:00 to 12:00. Stalls sell fish, fruit, crafts and herbs.

Praia da Ponta Negra

In the west of the city, Ponta Negra has a riverside promenade and an amphitheatre. The sand is wide mainly in the low-water season, from about August to November. It is a place to stroll and watch the river rather than to swim.

Meeting of the Waters

Near the city, the dark Rio Negro and the sandy Solimões run side by side for roughly 6 km. They differ in speed, temperature and density, so they do not blend at once. You view it from a boat, so ask a tour operator or look for a trip from the Porto Flutuante, the floating port by the market.

MUSA tower

The Museu da Amazônia at Avenida Margarita 6305 has a tower about 42 m tall inside the Adolpho Ducke Forest Reserve. It opens daily 08:30 to 17:00 except Wednesdays, with last entry about 16:00. Prices are on the museum site , and residents get a discount.

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