10 Best Museums in Lisbon

Lisbon is one of the most authentic cities in Europe, so if you're planning to spend a couple of days here I recommend you take a museum tour. It's one of the best things to do in the city, as you'll find buildings housing collections of jewellery, 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's even a building known as the National Tile Museum, where you can learn about the iconic ceramics that decorate the city - read on for more details!

The passion for football 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 Benfica Stadium, also known as Estadio da Luz, which resonates as one of the most iconic attractions and one of the best things to see and do in Lisbon.

With activities for all ages, this place combines the fun of 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 a collection of photographs, trophies and interesting anecdotes. To visit, you will also find tours with priority access, commentary from a local guide and approximately two and a half hours of sightseeing.

Interesting details

• 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: Every day 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 foretaste of what you'll see inside. It is one of the most visited, as you can see an impeccable collection of jewels that belonged to the Portuguese crown. It is divided into 11 themes, making the exhibits more accessible and enjoyable. Be prepared to go up and down its three floors, where interactive experiences await you.

It is a large building that is best 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 former 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'll see include crowns, silverware, items used for royal rituals, medals, diplomas and the world's last Germain crockery.

Details of interest

• Price: from €11.
• Location: on Calçada da Ajuda.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 17:00.
• How to get there: the easiest and quickest way is by bus.

In contrast to the collections of jewellery 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 took place. Through an audio guide it is possible to learn about the history of this event that was triggered by a reverse tectonic fault, which caught the inhabitants completely off guard.

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

Additionally, 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 doesn't end with the earthquake - it's 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 aftermath of this event.

Interesting details

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

The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is another must-see, as it houses one of the finest private collections in the world. The reason it came to public attention 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. As such, you'll find art antiquities, such as pieces ranging from Ancient Egypt to the 20th century.

Specifically, it spans various periods and cultures including Egyptian and Greco-Roman art, pieces from Mesopotamia, objects from the European Middle Ages, René Lalique' s art nouveau jewellery 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 bookshop, 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 help you learn more about the history of each work.

Interesting details

• Price: from 11 €.
• Location: at Av. de Berna 45A, specifically in the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Park.
• Opening 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 of archaeological finds in Portugal, then you need to head to the National Museum of Archaeology in Lisbon. It was founded in 1893 and is housed in the Jerónimos Monastery, so it's one of the best things to do in Belém.

Here you'll enjoy a tour of the most important collections from 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 funerary art corridor with mummies, sarcophagi, talismans, among others. You'll also find Roman pottery, Islamic bronze and the treasure room, which houses a compilation of Portuguese gold and silverware from the 6th century BC.

On the other hand, if you're looking for things to do in central Lisbon, another similar option is the Carmo Archaeological Museum housed in a former medieval convent with an impressive collection ranging from the 19th to the 21st century. You'll see medieval burial mounds, sarcophagi, pre-Columbian mummies, Roman epigraphy, tile panels depicting the Passion of Christ and more. The best thing is that this 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 Jerónimos Monastery, or take advantage of the Lisbon Card which gives you access to dozens of museums and monuments. On the other hand, if you want to visit the Carmo Archaeological Museum, admission starts at €5.
• Location: the Archaeological Museum of Lisbon is located on the site of the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém, specifically in Praça do Império. Meanwhile, the Carmo Archaeological Museum is located in a former convent in the parish of Santa Maria Maggiore, just go to Largo do Carmo 27.
• Opening hours: The Archaeology Museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00, while the Carmo Archaeological Museum is open from Monday to Saturday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: the best option is by tram or bus, so for these cases I recommend you take advantage of a savings pack that includes the tourist bus, tram and Lisbon boat.

It is impossible to ignore the beauty of Lisbon's Pombaline architecture that is highlighted by azulejos, a visual art form characteristic of Portugal since the 15th century and predominant 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-metre tile panel. Here you can hear about the production process and walk through a corridor with international tiles from Spain, Holland and England. You'll also find special activities, such as pottery workshops where you can make your own piece to take home.

Interesting details

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

In the neighbourhoods of Lisbon a musical trend was born that is still very important in the local culture today, so an essential plan is to visit the Fado Museum to learn about its history. Fado is a genre characterised by melancholic songs that tell moving 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.

Interesting details

• Price: from 5 €.
• Location: one of the highlights of what to do in the Alfama neighbourhood, specifically located at Largo do Chafariz de Dentro 1.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: by public bus number 734, or by taxi.

One of the most curious attractions is the National Carriage Museum, which has two buildings housing dozens of carriages, carriages and carriages dating from the 17th to the 19th century. The collection includes the carriage from the royal wedding of João V and Maria Anna of Austria, as well as other antiques that transported diplomats, European royalty, clergymen and 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 every month, around 11:00, when you are likely to see the changing of the Republican guard. This event will make you feel like you're in a period film, 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.
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: by bus.

Porto or Lisbon? Definitely a tough decision depending on what you want to experience, but when it comes to gastronomy, it's worth visiting the capital where the famous belem cakes originated. Here you can also immerse yourself in the Cod History Interpretative Centre, 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 pass through the Cod Encyclopaedia hallway to explore educational exhibits. There is also a shop for tastings and to buy cod-based products such as oils, preserves, sea salt and more.

The experience can be twofold, as it is located in the same building as the Lisbon 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 the Lisbon Story Centre, in the heart of Praça do Comércio.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 18:00.
• How to get there: Bus 760.

TheMoney Museum is a must 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 visible. In the famous Vault of Truth it is possible to lift a real gold bar weighing around 12.6 kilos. In addition, don't miss the Hermes show, which focuses on the Greek god of trade and commerce.

Details of interest

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