Lisboa Museums

Below is a selection of Lisboa museums.

To visit museums in the Lisboa area from Cascais or Estoril take the train to Cais do Sodré.  The Metro, buses, trams and cabs are all available from here.

  • MARITIME MUSEUM (Museu da Marinha):

    Navy Museum Lisbon

    Praça do Império, Belém. Tel: +351-21-3620019 Open: 10am-5pm Closed: Mon.  Train station: Belém. Models of boats, ships, Royal barges, instruments of navigation.

  • ELECTRICITY MUSEUM (Museu da Electricidade):

    Av. Brasilia, Central Tejo. Belém, Lisbon. Tel: +351-21-0028130. Open: 10am-7pm.  Closed Tuesdays.  Train station: Belém. A former generating station on the bank of the river built at the beginning of the century.

  • MAAT (Museu de Arte Arquitectura e Tecnologia)

    A modern design building which houses exhibitions throughout the year. Located beside the Electricity Museum.

  • COACH MUSEUM (Museu Nacional dos Coches):

    Coach Museum Lisbon
    Coach Museum Lisbon

    Av da India, 136, Belém Tel: +351-21-0492400. Open: 10am-6pm. Closed Mon.  Train station: Belém. A fascinating collection of coaches from the 18th and 19th century. Includes smaller ones for children and the grand ones for royals. One of the must views of the Lisboa museums.

  • MUSEUM OF POPULAR ART/NATIONAL ETHNOLOGY MUSEUM (Museu de Arte Popular/Museu Nacional de Etnologia):

    Museu Arte Popular baskets exhibitionLocated in-between the Belem Tower and Discoveries Monument. Continuing in 2024 the exhibition of Portuguese Basketry. This is  a collection of traditionally woven baskets with historical tools and their uses. All beautifully displayed in 3 rooms. Av. Brasilia, 202. Tel: +351-213011282. Open: Wed – Fri: 10am to 6pm. Sat-Sun: 10am to 1pm and 2-6pm.

  • VASCO DA GAMA AQUARIUM (Aquário Vasco da Gama):

    Rua Direita do Dafundo, Cruz Quebrada. Tel: +351-214205000. Open: 10am-6pm. Opened in 1898, it houses King Dom Carlos I’s sea collections.  The Aquarium floor has various types of fish in tanks with Atlantic marine and freshwater fauna. The upper Museum floor has exhibits of otters, sharks, dolphins.
    Aquario Vasco da GamaVasco da Gama AquariumVasco da Gama Aquarium

 

 

  • MUSEUM OF ANCIENT ART (Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga):

    Rua das Janelas Verdes. Tel: +351-21-3912800. Open: 10am-6pm. Closed Tuesday. Displays Portuguese art (mainly paintings, ceramics and some furniture) from the 11th to 19th century. Items to look for include the panels of São Vicente de Fora.

  • MUSEUM OF THE ORIENT (Fundação – Museu do Oriente):

    Museum of Orient Lisbon Museum of Orient PorcelainAv. Brasilia, Doca de Alcântara Norte. Tel: +351-21-3585200. Open Tues-Sunday:  10am – 6pm (Friday to 8pm).  Closed Monday. Train stop: Alcântara. The museum opened in May 2008. It has collections of art and artefacts from Asia.  They relate to the 500 year trading links between Portugal and the Far East.  There are temporary exhibitions throughout the year – from May 2023: Festivities and Rites of Japan. A collection of clothing, porcelain, etc.  A shop is located on the ground floor.

  • PUPPET MUSEUM (Museu da Marioneta):

    Convento das Bernardas, Rua da Esperança, No. 146. Tel: +351-21-3942810. Open: Tues-Sun. 10am-6pm. Closed Monday.  Several hundred puppets on display.

  • TRAM MUSEUM (Museu de Carris):

    Rua 1º de Maio, 101-103. Tel: +351-21-3613087. Open: Mon-Sat: 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm. Closed Sun/hols. Depicts the history of the colourful Lisbon tram.

  • NATIONAL TILE MUSEUM (Museu Nacional do Azulejo):

    Rua Madre de Deus, 4. Tel: +351-21-8100340.  Open: Tues-Sun: 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm. Closed Mon. Traces the development of Portuguese tile making from its Moorish roots to the present day. A former convent built by Queen Leonor. Different types of tile panels. Next door is a church and chapel.

  • CHIADO MUSEUM (Museu Nacional de Arte Contemporânea Museu do Chiado):

    Rua Serpa Pinto, 4. Tel: +351-21-3432148. Open: Tues – Sun: 10am – 1pm and 2pm-6pm.  Closed Mon. Paintings and sculptures mostly by Portuguese artists.

  • ST ANTHONY MUSEUM (Museu Antoniano):

    Largo Stº António da Sé, 22. Tel: +351-21-8860447. Open: 10am-6pm. Closed: Monday.  Works from the 17th century on the life of St Anthony, patron saint of Lisbon. Church next door.

  • CASA FERNANDO PESSOA:

    Rua Coelho da Rocha, 18.  Tel: +351-21- 3913270. Open: Tues-Sun: 10am-6pm.  Closed Monday. Belongings and works of the famous poet and writer Fernando Pessoa.

  • LISBON BOTANICAL GARDEN & MUSEUM  (Museu Nacional de Historia Natural e Jardim Botânico):

    Rua da Escola Politécnica, 58-60.  Príncipe Real. Tel: +351-21-3921808. Open: Apr-Sept: 9am-8pm and Oct-Mar: 10am – 5pm. Closed Monday.   Approximately 4 hectares with 15,000 species, including gymnosperms.

  • CALOUSTE GULBENKIAN MUSEUM (Museu Calouste Gulbenkian):

    Porcelain Gulbenkian MuseumManuscripts Gulbenkian Museum

    The collection of the oil billionaire, who died in Lisbon in 1955, includes Egyptian, Islamic, Greco-Roman art. Oriental works of art, manuscripts (above), coins, textiles and furniture. Also works by French jeweller René Lalique are part of the vast exhibits. One of the interesting Lisboa museums to visit.
    Furniture Gulbenkian Museum
    Av. de Berna, 45A.  Tel: +351-21-7823000. Open: 10am-6pm.  Closed Tuesday.

  • BANSKY MUSEUM LISBOA:

    Rua Viriato, 25B.  A collection of various art works by famous British street artist Bansky. Open weekdays: 1pm – 8pm. Weekends/holidays: 11am – 8pm. A recent addition to the Lisboa Museums scene.

  • NATIONAL COSTUME MUSEUM (Museu Nacional do Traje):

    Largo Júlio Castilho, 2, Lumiar Tel: +351-21-7567620.  Open: 10am-1pm and 2pm-6pm. Closed: Monday.  Located beside the National Theatre Museum. One of the best organized and more interesting exhibitions in the city.  Mainly 19th/20th century clothing and fashion.

  • MUSEUM OF DECORATIVE ARTS (Museu de Artes Decorativas Portuguesas):

    Largo Portas do Sol, 2 Tel: +351-21-8814600. Open: 10am-5pm. Closed Tues. The museum has one of the largest collections of Portuguese furniture including porcelain, glass and Portuguese silverwork.

  • WATER MUSEUM (Aqueduto das Águas Livres):

    Calçada da Quintinha, 6. Tel: +351-21-8100215. Open: 10am-5.30pm. Closed Monday. Construction began in 1732. From 1748 water from neighbouring areas was pumped into Lisbon. It was distributed to various outlets and fountains. An impressive piece of engineering.

  • Last admittance into some museums is about half an hour before the stated closing time. There tend to be long queues in the high season.