10 Best Museums in Lisbon

Lisbon is one of the most authentic cities in Europe, so if you plan to spend a couple of days I recommend you to sign up for a museum tour. It's one of the best things to do in the city, as you'll find buildings that house collections of jewelry, private objects and carriages. You can also immerse yourself in a historical tour led by heart-wrenching stories at the Earthquake Museum.

If you prefer more lively experiences, you might like a dynamic and interactive adventure through the Benfica stadium and museum. On the other hand, if you want to discover the best places to listen to Fado in Lisbon, I suggest you start with the local museum dedicated to this musical genre. There is even a building known as the National Tile Museum, where you can learn about the iconic ceramics that decorate the city. Want more details, read on!

The passion for soccer is felt to the limit in the heart of Portugal, so it's no surprise that they have a building dedicated to this exciting sport. The Benfica Museum is located inside the Benfica Stadium, also known as Estadio da Luz, which resonates for being one of the most emblematic attractions and one of the best things to see and do in Lisbon.

With activities for all ages, this place combines the fun of taking a guided tour of the stadium and the history of the Club. The experience is fully interactive and allows you to walk through the players' exclusive places, such as the dressing rooms, tunnels and VIP areas.

The museum's facilities include photographs, trophies and interesting anecdotes. To visit it, you will also find tours with priority access, commentary by a local guide and approximately two and a half hours of tour.

Details of interest

• Price: the visit is free, but you can book a guided tour of the entire stadium from €17.
• Location: Av. Eusébio da Silva Ferreira, at Benfica Stadium.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00, however it is closed on public holidays and when there are matches or concerts.
• How to get there: you can easily get there by public transport, the nearest metro station is Azul at Colégio Militar. Lisbon' s best tourist buses also have routes that connect to this area.

This list would be incomplete without the Royal Treasury Museum, whose name is a preview of what you will see inside. It is one of the most visited, since you can appreciate an impeccable collection of jewels that belonged to the Portuguese crown. It is divided into 11 themes, so that the exhibits are more accessible and enjoyable. Get ready to go up and down its three floors, where interactive experiences await you.

It is a large building that should be explored at your own pace, so it is advisable to take a self-guided tour according to your preferences. This way, you will have enough time to visit the National Palace of Ajuda, located in the newest wing. In fact, the most interesting thing is that the museum was built in the old Royal House, a palatial structure that survived years of history.

Centuries ago the collections were private, but today it is accessible to the public. Some of the valuables you will see include crowns, silverware, items used for royal rituals, medals, diplomas and the world's last Germain china.

Details of interest

• Price: from 11 €.
• Location: in Calçada da Ajuda.
• Hours: daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
• How to get there: the easiest and fastest way is by bus.

In contrast to the collections of jewelry and sports stories, there is Quake or the Lisbon Earthquake Museum, where it is crucial to maintain a respectful attitude, as you will travel back in time to the exact moment when one of the most lethal earthquakes in Europe occurred. Through an audio guide it is possible to learn the history of this event that was triggered by a reverse tectonic fault, which caught the inhabitants completely unprepared.

You will have approximately one hour and forty minutes to visit 10 rooms that recreate the streets of the capital and transport you to November 1, 1755, when the earthquake occurred. During the visit you can go up to the simulator that allows you to live in first person, and safely, the telluric movement with an estimated magnitude of 8.5-9.0 on the Richter scale.

In addition, you will witness the daily life of the locals at the time and you will be able to attend All Saints' Day mass in a church simulator. In fact, the story does not end with the earthquake; it is estimated that between 10,000 and 100,000 people died, as the movement triggered a tsunami and forest fires that completely destroyed the capital.

To better understand every detail, you'll find 4D exhibits and admission usually includes an RFID wristband that allows you to interact with the multimedia displays. Stay tuned to explore how Pombaline architecture, highlighted by classic tiles, was born in the wake of this event.

Details of interest

• Price: from 21 €.
• Location: at R. Cais de Alfândega Velha 39.
• Hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: you can take the train, subway or bus.

The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is another must-see, as it houses one of the best private collections in the world. The reason it came to public light is because its owner, the Armenian engineer Calouste Gulbenkian, stated in his will that it would be a gift to the country where he spent his last years. Therefore, you will find art antiquities, such as pieces ranging from Ancient Egypt to the twentieth century.

Specifically, it covers various periods and cultures including Egyptian and Greco-Roman art, pieces from Mesopotamia, objects from the European Middle Ages, René Lalique' s art nouveau jewelry collection and objects from Persia, Turkey, India, Armenia. You will also find an extensive collection of Portuguese art, predominantly from the 20th century.

This place also houses a beautiful bookstore, gardens where you can enjoy a stroll and an open-air auditorium. The best way to discover each space is with a ticket that includes a downloadable audio guide and access to all areas. In addition, touch-screen information stations are available to learn more about the history of each work.

Details of interest

• Price: from 11 €.
• Location: at Av. de Berna 45A, specifically in the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Park.
• Hours: daily (except Tuesdays) from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: the best option is to use the Lisbon Metro or the Carris bus lines 716, 726, 746 and 767.

If you want to see the largest museum with archaeological finds in Portugal, then you have to head to the National Museum of Archaeology in Lisbon. It was founded in 1893 and is located in the Jerónimos Monastery, so it is one of the best things to do in Belem.

Here you will enjoy a tour of the most relevant collections of the Iberian Peninsula, as well as a collection of objects from the Arabian Peninsula. There are temporary and permanent exhibitions, among the highlights is the corridor of funerary art with mummies, sarcophagi, talismans, among others. You will also find Roman pottery, Islamic bronze and the treasure room that houses a compilation of Portuguese goldsmiths from the sixth century BC.

On the other hand, if you are looking for things to do in downtown Lisbon, another similar option is the Archaeological Museum of Carmo located in a former medieval convent with an impressive collection ranging from the nineteenth to the twenty-first century. You can see medieval burial mounds, sarcophagi, pre-Columbian mummies, Roman epigraphy, tile panels depicting the Passion of Christ and more. The best thing is that it is a less touristy alternative.

Details of interest

• Price: the Archaeology Museum offers tickets from 5 €, but you can also take a combined visit with tickets to the Jeronimos Monastery, or take advantage of the Lisbon Card that gives you access to dozens of museums and monuments. On the other hand, if you want to visit the Archaeological Museum of Carmo, the entrance fee starts at 5 €.
• Location: the Archaeological Museum of Lisbon is located on the site of the Jerónimos Monastery in Belem, specifically in Praça do Império. While, the Archaeological Museum of Carmo is located in the headquarters of a former convent in the parish of Santa Maria Maggiore, just go to Largo do Carmo 27.
• Hours: the Archaeology Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, while the Archaeological Museum of Carmo operates from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: the best option is the streetcar or bus, so for these cases I recommend you take advantage of a savings pack that includes the tourist bus, streetcar and Lisbon boat.

It's impossible to ignore the beauty of Lisbon's Pombaline architecture highlighted by azulejos, a visual art form characteristic of Portugal since the 15th century and prevalent in Lisbon since the 1755 earthquake. The best place to learn about its history in an interactive experience is the National Tile Museum. Here you can immerse yourself in a journey through the history of Portuguese ceramics up to the present day.

This special place is located in the ruins of the former convent of Queen Dona Leonor and houses an impressive 23-meter tile panel. Here you can hear about the elaboration process and walk through a corridor with international tiles from Spain, Holland and England. You will also find special activities, such as pottery workshops where you can make your own piece to take home.

Details of interest

• Price: from 5 €, although it is free with the Lisbon Card. You can also take a combined visit to the National Pantheon.
• Location: at the Convento da Madre de Deus, located at R. Me. Deus 4.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: the best option is by bus.

In the neighborhoods of Lisbon was born a musical current that today is very important in the local culture, so an essential plan is to go to the Fado Museum to learn about its history. Fado is a genre characterized by melancholic songs that tell touching stories, through a song accompanied by the Portuguese guitar.

Here you can discover its secrets through films, photographs, instruments and other valuable objects. It is the perfect place to get into the Portuguese feeling and discover the best places to listen to Fado in Lisbon. It also offers Fado workshops and Portuguese guitar courses. If you are lucky, your visit may coincide with a special concert in the auditorium.

Details of interest

• Price: from 5 €.
• Location: one of the highlights to do in the Alfama neighborhood, specifically located at Largo do Chafariz de Dentro 1.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: by public bus line 734, or by cab.

One of the most curious attractions is the National Carriage Museum, which has two buildings that house dozens of carriages, carriages and carriages dating from the 17th to the 19th century. The collection includes the carriage of the royal wedding of João V and Maria Ana of Austria, as well as other antiques that transported diplomats, European royalty, clergy, among others.

You can also see fatetones, a very popular carriage from 1900 to 1930, and other types of carriages such as saloons and coupés. It is one of the most visited especially on the first Sunday of each month, around 11:00, when it is likely to see the changing of the Republican guard. This event will make you feel like in a period movie, as it usually includes orchestra music and parades.

Details of interest

• Price: from 8 €.
• Location: one of the best things to do in Belem, as it is located in Afonso de Albuquerque Square.
• Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: by bus.

Porto or Lisbon? Definitely a difficult decision that will depend on what you want to experience, but when it comes to gastronomy, it is worth visiting the capital where the famous belem cakes originated. Here you can also immerse yourself in the Cod History Interpretative Center, which highlights the importance of this fish in Portugal's culinary culture.

During the interactive experience it is possible to board a typical dori boat, touch cod, prepare local recipes and go through the Cod Encyclopedia hallway to explore educational exhibits. There is also a store for tastings and to buy products based on this animal such as oils, preserves, sea salt, among others.

The experience can be double, as it is located in the same building as Lisboa Story Centre, another museum where you can discover the history of Lisbon through scenography, interactive maps, recordings with testimonies and more.

Interesting details

• Price: from 4 €.
• Location: at Lisboa Story Centre, in the heart of Praça do Comércio.
• Hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: by bus line 760.

Money Museum is a must stop during your stay in Lisbon, as it is a fun and completely free museum. The experience is very complete, as you can take a journey through 2600 years of local history, focusing mainly on the economic growth of the country.

The most interesting thing is that you can create a coin with your face, learn how to print banknotes or observe banknotes with a microscope, to appreciate details that are not normally perceived. In the famous Vault of Truth it is possible to lift a real gold ingot weighing about 12.6 kilos. In addition, you cannot miss the Hermes show, focused on the Greek god of commerce and transactions.

Details of interest

• Price: free of charge.
• Location: Largo de São Julião.
• Hours: Wednesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: by subway or bus.