9 of the Best Museums in Lisbon and How To Visit

It was an Armenian oil magnate who started the eclectic collection of the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. Now featuring more than 6,000 items, it’s one of Lisbon’s top cultural attractions, combining exhibits with regular concerts and workshops for the whole family.

The collection is split into two buildings, one featuring Gulbenkian’s private assemblage (where you’ll find anything from Egyptian sculptures to French 19th-century jewelry) and another dedicated to modern art, redesigned by Japanese architect Kengo Kuma in 2024. The surrounding gardens also serve as a stage for picnics and jazz gigs in summer.

Don’t miss: The Portrait of Camille Monet, an Impressionist painting by Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

Often nicknamed the museum of green windows due to its facade, the National Museum of Ancient Art is home to some of the country’s biggest national treasures. There are more than 40,000 pieces inside, including silverware, paintings, sculptures, and even furniture.

Head to the first floor to visit a hidden baroque chapel and admire European paintings by the likes of Hieronymus Bosch, take in Renaissance ceramics on the second floor, or head further up for a full immersion into Portuguese painting and sculpture.

Don’t miss: The St.Vincent Panels, a set of six paintings attributed to Nuno Gonçalves depicting the Portuguese Court and elements of high society of the 15th century.

When MAAT opened in 2016, it was the talk of the town. This contemporary art museum designed by British architect Amanda Levete put Lisbon on the map for architecture lovers. Its shimmering tiles and wavy structure are unlike anything else in the city, making the building an artwork in itself.

The exhibits are constantly rotating but are usually thought-provoking, with subjects touching the intersection between art and technology. Indeed, the building is even joined with the Electricity Museum (Museu da Electricidade), which takes you on a journey through industrial Lisbon inside a century-old power station.

Don’t miss: Watching the sunset from the museum’s rooftop overlooking the Tagus River and the 25th of April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril).

If there’s one date that has shaped the Portuguese capital, it’s the 1755 earthquake. This devastating event destroyed much of Lisbon’s historic center, and it’s this moment that the Quake – Lisbon Earthquake Museum has chosen to relive in its immersive exhibits.

After a quick intro about the history of earthquakes and their impact, you’ll be transported back to past Lisbon to experience a simulation of the Great Earthquake, holding onto your seat in a replica church. The whole thing takes about two hours to see, and it’s become one of Lisbon’s most popular museums, earning the prize of Europe’s Leading New Tourist Attraction in 2023.

Don’t miss: After the tour, stop by the café to sample the tremores de Freiras, an exclusive sugary treat inspired by Portugal’s traditional conventual sweets.

Coaches from the 1500s up until the 19th century are on display at the National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches). Part of the collection is still inside the old Royal Riding School, but most of it was moved to a new building across the road designed by Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha.

The move sparked quite a bit of controversy at the time, as the gilded carriages highly contrasted against the stark white walls as opposed to the opulent rooms of the old section, but it does make it easier to spot all those tiny details.

Don’t miss: Spot the bullet holes on the Regicide Landau, which carried the Royal Family during the assassination of King Carlos I and his heir Prince Luís Filipe, an attack that eventually led to the fall of the monarchy.

It’s hard to imagine how you would cross oceans in a wooden boat these days, but that’s exactly what the Portuguese did when they sailed off into foreign lands back in the 15th century. Many of those training boats and caravels are depicted in the Lisbon Maritime Museum (Museu de Marinha).

Here, you’ll see them in detailed paintings, miniature replicas, and even some large-scale models. The collection also features navigation tools, including old maps that helped chart the route to places such as India and Japan.

Don’t miss: The collection of pretty ornate royal barges, mostly used for leisure trips along the Tagus River (Rio Tejo).

If you walk anywhere near Alfama, Lisbon’s old town, you’ll probably hear the sound of fado echoing through the streets. This unique melancholic music genre is one of Portugal’s cultural treasures, and the Fado Museum (Museu do Fado) is the best place to learn about the history of fado.

During your visit you’ll hear all about Maria Severa, the first fado singer to rise to fame in 19th century Lisbon, and listen to vibrant performances by Amália and fellow fadistas (fado singers) who have made this music genre UNESCO–protected.

Don’t miss: The regular concerts and workshops that teach you the ins and outs of this vibrant music style.

The Portuguese were among the first Europeans to land in Japan back in 1543. While this period brought some controversial exchanges, it also opened the doors to a new art world. The Museum of the Orient (Museu do Oriente) focuses on these cultural encounters, showcasing objects not just from Japan but also from China, India, Indonesia, and more.

The pieces in the main collection, named Portuguese Presence in Asia, span from 3,000 BC to the mid-20th century. Meanwhile, the Kwok On collection focuses on Asian theater traditions, featuring puppets, hand-carved masks, and musical instruments.

Don’t miss: The collection of Nanban art, including Japanese screens depicting the arrival of the Portuguese Christian missionaries in Japan.

The Belém district is filled with monuments built during Portugal’s Age of Exploration, but there are a few modern sites dotted among them too, like the Centro Cultural de Belém. Inside this cultural center is one of Lisbon’s top art museums.

Formerly known as the Berardo Collection Museum (Museu Coleção Berardo, the rebranded MAC/CCB Museum of Contemporary Art (Museu Arte Contemporânea) showcases contemporary art movements from the 60s onward. Think: Pablo Picasso, Andy Warhol, and David Hockney mixed in with Portuguese artists such as Amadeo Souza-Cardoso and Maria Helena Vieira da Silva.

Don’t miss: Keep an eye on the calendar to see the latest temporary exhibit.