Museums in Lisbon are must-see attractions. Before visiting the capital of Portugal, each traveler determines for himself a list of the most interesting places. Holidays in the Portuguese capital will surely turn out to be fascinating and informative, because it combines a rich historical heritage, a mixture of cultures, traditions and peoples.
The inhabitants of Portugal have always been careful and respectful of the history of their country. That is why Lisbon is unique and colorful – there are a lot of colorful, original, classic, modernist. Check out the Lisbon Water Museum, carriages and azulejo tiles. Given the huge number of museums in the city, it is important to draw up a map of the route, and our article will help determine preferences.
The best museums in the capital of Portugal
Galust Gulbenkian Museum
The attraction is located in a northwest direction from Commerce Square (Market Square). The museum exposition includes more than 6 thousand works of art from different historical eras.
The Galust Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon was opened in 1969 at the behest of the oil magnate. Here are collected amazing sculptures, paintings from different eras and masters, jewelry, unique handmade creations. The entire collection belonged to Gulbenkian and bequeathed to the people of Portugal. The museum also houses the headquarters of the Sarkis Gulbenkian Foundation and a library that contains unique editions of books and documents.
The museum has two chronological displays:
- works of art of Egypt, Rome, Greece, Persia, Japan and China;
- works of European art of the period of 16-20 centuries.
On a note! The main attraction of the Gulbenkian Museum is the collection of furniture from the time of King Louis XV and the amazing decorations of Rene Lalique.
Important information:
- Address: Avenida de Berna 45a, Lisbon;
- When to come: from 10-00 to 18-00 (the museum is closed on Tuesdays and on holidays indicated on the official website);
- How much: 3-5 euros (temporary exhibitions), 10 € (fundamental collection and a collection of contemporary art), 11.50-14 € (visit to all exhibitions), on Sunday admission for all visitors to the Gulbenkyan Museum is free.
National Azulejo Tile Museum
The Azulejo Museum in Lisbon is the story of the evolution of a unique painting borrowed in Mauritania. This trend in art became especially popular in the 15th century, when the inhabitants of Portugal could not afford to decorate their houses with carpets.
The first azulejo ceramic tiles were made in blue and white, then the painting changed in accordance with the styles that were popular in a certain historical period – baroque, rococo.
The Azulejo Museum has been hosting visitors since 1980 and is located in the Temple of Our Lady of Sorrows. Tourists are told about the origin of style, the manufacture of ceramic tiles and their use. Ceramics from different eras are presented as exhibits.
Note! The main attraction of the Azulejo Museum is a panel depicting the capital of Portugal before the terrible catastrophe of 1755. Also, tourists are attracted by the panorama of Lisbon, laid out from mosaics.
Useful information:
- Where to find : Rua Madre de Deus 4, Lisbon;
- Schedule: from 10-00 to 18-00, the day off is Tuesday;
- Tickets: 5 € for adults, for students – 2.5 €, children under 14 years old admission is free.
Church Museum of St. Roch
For two centuries, the building of the temple was occupied by the Jesuit community, after the disaster of 1755, the church passed to the house of mercy.
The temple is named for the saint who guarded the pilgrims and healed from the plague. The building was built in the 16th century and is made in the style of an audience, as it was intended for sermons. All the chapels of the temple are decorated in Baroque style, the most famous and noteworthy is the chapel of John the Baptist. It is recognized as a unique architectural project, which Italian masters worked on. The construction was carried out for a long 8 years in Rome. At the end of the work, the Pope consecrated it and by sea transported the chapel to Lisbon. The main attraction is a unique mosaic panel depicting scenes from the Bible.
Outside, the temple looks more modest than other metropolitan shrines, but inside it amazes with luxury and splendor. Having entered inside, I want to study every curl of stucco molding and touch every pebble of the mosaic.
Information to visit:
- Locations in Lisbon: Largo Trindade Coelho;
- Open: from October to March, the museum receives visitors from 10-00 to 18-00 from Tuesday to Sunday, from 14-00 to 18-00 on Mondays, from April to September – from 10-00 to 19-00 from Tuesday to Sunday , from 14-00 to 19-00 on Mondays;
- Cost: € 2.50, special card holders pay € 1, annual ticket price € 25, family ticket costs € 5.
You will be interested: What to see in Lisbon – attractions with photos and a map .
Museum of Modern and New Art Berardo
The museum is located in the historical part of Portugal – Beleme. Here, celebrations of the most important historical events for the country took place. Sightseeing is given the name José Berardo – a Portuguese philanthropist and entrepreneur. Negotiations on the construction of an object between the authorities of the country and Berard lasted almost ten years. Doors for viewing the exhibition opened to visitors in 2007.
The exposition is located in the Belem Cultural Center and has more than a thousand items, and the total value of the collection is estimated at 400 million dollars. Two floors are allocated for the works, in addition to sculptures and paintings, unique photographs are presented here.
Interesting to know! The works of Picasso, Malevich and Dali are exhibited here.
What you need to know:
- Address: Praça do Império;
- Opening hours: daily from 10-00 to 19-00, if you want to see the collection on holidays, check out the schedule on the official website (en.museuberardo.pt);
- Price: 5 €, children under 6 years old – free of charge, from 7 to 18 years old – 2.5 €.
Archaeological Museum of Karmo
The ruins are located about half a kilometer from Commerce Square in a northwest direction. The monastery was built on a hill opposite the castle of São Jorge. The easiest and fastest way to get to the sights on the Santa Giusta ski lift.
The monastery was opened at the end of the 14th century and was the main Gothic temple of the capital. In its grandeur, the monastery was in no way inferior to the Cathedral. The catastrophe of 1755 did not spare the monastery, which was completely destroyed. The restoration of the temple began during the reign of Queen Mary I. In 1834, repair and restoration work was stopped. The residential part of the temple is transferred to the Portuguese army. Since the end of the 19th century, the monastery passed to the archaeological museum, which presents a collection dedicated to the history of Portugal.
Contacts and prices:
- Address: Largo do Carmo 1200, Lisbon;
- Works: from October to May from 10-00 to 18-00, from June to September from 10-00 to 19-00, the day off is Sunday;
- Ticket price: 4 €, discounts are provided for students and senior citizens, admission is free for children under 14 years old.
By the way, this object is located in one of the best areas of Lisbon for tourists : within walking distance there are restaurants, shops, and major attractions.
Museum of Science
If you decide to visit the Museum of Science in Lisbon, you can take a walk in the Park of Nations. The exposition is exhibited in the building where the Expo exhibition was held in 1998. During the international event, the Knowledge Pavilion was located here.
The museum began to receive visitors in the summer of 1999. Permanent exhibitions are held here:
- “Research” – displays several main areas of activity, information stands display information about the main achievements and successes, you can also conduct fascinating experiments on your own;
- “Look and do” – here visitors can show their courage and lie down on a board with nails, drive a car with square wheels, send a real rocket into flight;
- “Unfinished house” – this exposition is most loved by children, since they can try on the cosmonaut’s costume, turn into a real builder, having mastered different professions.
There is also a store where you can buy scientific and creative sets, educational toys, thematic books dedicated to various sciences.
Interesting fact! According to statistics, almost 1000 people visit the facility daily.
Contacts and prices:
- Where to find: Largo José Mariano Gago, Parque das Nações, Lisbon;
- Schedule: from Tuesday to Friday from 10-00 to 18-00, on Saturday and Sunday from 11-00 to 19-00, day off – Monday;
- Entrance fee: adult – 9 €, children from 3 to 6 years old and senior citizens admission – 5 €, from 7 to 17 years old – 6 €, kids under 2 years pass for free.
The Colombo Shopping Center in Lisbon is nearby , allowing you to combine a cultural program with a shopping trip.
National Museum of Ancient Art
The largest metropolitan gallery, within the walls of which thousands of unique creations of art are collected – paintings, sculptures, antiquities (14-19 centuries).
Originally, the museum belonged to the Church of St. Francis, but as the exposure increased, an additional building had to be built.
The exhibits are presented on several floors:
- 1st floor – creations of European masters;
- 2nd floor – works of art brought from Africa and Asia, the exhibition covers the period from the Middle Ages to the present day;
- 3rd floor – the work of local craftsmen.
The greatest attention of visitors enjoys the famous painting by Bosch “The Temptation of St. Anthony”.
Important information:
- Where to look: Rua das Janelas Verdes 1249 017, Lisbon 1249-017, Portugal
- Open: from Tuesday to Sunday from 10-00 to 18-00, closed on Monday;
- The price of a full ticket: 6 €.
Maritime Museum in Lisbon
Portugal is known worldwide as a sea power, a country of ships. Not surprisingly, one of the most popular and visited museums is the Maritime Museum. Its exposition is dedicated to the features of the structure of ships. The museum has collected more than 15 thousand exhibits, the most interesting are life-size caravels and sailboats.
Interesting to know! The Maritime Museum does not occupy a separate building, but is located directly in the Jeronimos temple. One of the exhibits – a sailing frigate – is moored on the river, everyone can climb onto its deck.
Walking around the museum, visit the opening hall, where personal belongings of the discoverers are collected, and the royal cabin hall, where the chambers are recreated, in which representatives of royal families traveled.
Information for visitors:
- Address : Empire Square, Belem;
- Visiting time: from October to May from 10-00 to 17-00, from June to September from 10-00 to 18-00;
- Cost: varies from 4 to 11.20 € depending on the exhibitions visited. On museu.marinha.pt you can find all the prices.
See also: Where to eat in Lisbon – an overview of the best establishments .
Museum of Transport
Many people call the Carris Museum a cultural center; the history of public transport in the Portuguese capital is presented here. Also, various cultural and entertainment events are held on the territory of the attraction. The facility is located in the current Lisbon depot Santo Amaro, where trams are served.
The museum began to receive visitors in 1999, the exhibits reflect the chronological development of urban transport, carts and modern trams are presented here.
The greatest delight among children is the last room, where you can sit in each vehicle and feel yourself in different historical eras. The exposition ends with a collection of paintings, sculptures and photographs related to public transport.
Information for interested:
- Location in Lisbon: Rua 1º de Maio 101 103;
- When it is open: from 10-00 to 18-00, the day off is Sunday;
- Ticket price: 4 €, pensioners and children from 6 to 18 years old pay 2 €, up to 6 years old – admission is free.
Carriage Museum in Lisbon
This museum is on the list of the best in the world. Unique carriages are collected here – at first glance, the exposition seems frivolous, but over the years the attraction remains the most visited in the capital of Portugal.
Adults and children come here with pleasure, because the place is bright, non-standard, completely devoid of formality and academicity. Girls are especially delighted when they recall the fairy tale about Cinderella and present themselves as a princess who goes to the ball to the prince.
The museum was opened at the beginning of the last century during the reign of Queen Amelia. Initially, the carriages belonging to the royal family were stored in the building. Today, in addition to the royal carriages, crews of embassies, the Pope of Rome, are represented here. The building is located in the equestrian arena and is decorated with paintings and tiles.
The oldest horse-drawn carriage dates from the 16th century, and the newest – the beginning of the last century. Here are presented carriages made in different styles – luxurious, gilded, decorated with curls, light carriages covered in leather. Also there are convertibles, landau and scarabs, antique bicycles. Another part of the exposition is dedicated to transport accessories.
Important:
- Where to find the collection of carriages: Praça Afonso de Albuquerque, Belem;
- Open: from 10-00 to 18-00;
- How much: from 4 to 25 € depending on the exhibitions visited.
Schedule and prices on the page are current for January 2018.
The capital of Portugal is considered to be a city of museums. Museums in Lisbon are completely different – from classic to avant-garde and nothing like it. Every traveler will find an exhibition to their taste.
The best museums in Lisbon are marked on the map in Russian.
