One of the most popular attractions in Lisbon is the Belem Carriage Palace. The unique collection of the museum consists of various vehicles that at one time belonged to noble families of Portugal, Spain, England, Austria, France and aristocrats of other countries.

The carriage museum opened in 1905 in the part of the Belem Palace that was originally a riding arena. Construction of the Royal Arena began in 1787 by Prince Juan, who soon became King Juan VI. The building was built in the neoclassical style according to the design of Giacomo Azolini; work on the appearance of the arena and its interior lasted more than forty years.

The manege hall is 50 meters long and 17 meters wide. In its upper part there are spectator stands connected by narrow galleries, balconies for the royal family and judges. The hall is decorated with paintings, and on the ceiling there are large-scale frescoes by famous Portuguese artists.

The Carriage Museum was originally called the Transport Museum, and its collection consisted of only 29 exhibits. In 1910, after the fall of the monarchy, the museum was replenished with crews of noble Portuguese families and the patriarchate. To accommodate all the exhibits, the museum's area was expanded in 1944. Work on the project was led by architect Raul Lino.

Today, the collection of the Lisbon Carriage Museum is considered one of the best. In chronological order, vehicles belonging to the 17th - 19th centuries are exhibited here. The oldest carriage and the highlight of the exhibition is the carriage of the Spanish King Phillip II, in which he visited Portugal in 1619.

Carriages of later periods are heavier. Three large carriages, each weighing about five tons, were made for the Portuguese ambassador to the Vatican. They are decorated with massive golden sculptures of human size.

In addition to the luxurious royal carriages, the exhibition of the Carriage Museum includes convertibles, phaetons, children's pony carriages and hearses. The collection also includes a large number of exquisite accessories for horseback riding.

Having been in Lisbon, you can’t help but visit the most popular museum in the capital of Portugal - " National Carriage Museum". The building in which it is located is organically connected with the history of this transport that has sunk into oblivion. Back in 1787, Prince Juan, later King Juan VI, began construction of the Royal Riding Arena for training in horse riding. The building itself was built according to the design of the architect Giacomo Azolini in the neoclassical style, but subsequent decoration of the exterior and interior continued for more than 40 years.

The arena is a ceremonial hall 17 m wide and 50 m long. In its upper part there are stands connected by narrow galleries, and at both ends of the building there are balconies for judges and the royal family, from where they watched the competitions. Magnificent paintings by Portuguese artists depicting allegorical scenes of all aspects of horsemanship decorate the upper part of the hall, but the most grandiose spectacle is the ceiling, covered with frescoes by the great Portuguese masters Joaquim José Lopes, Francisco de Setúbal, José de Oliveira and Nicola Deleriva.

In 1905 the building was converted into carriage museum, and after the overthrow of the monarchy in 1910, the collection expanded so much due to the crews of the patriarchate and some noble families that the museum space had to be increased, which was done in 1944 by the architect Raul Lino. Now the collection of the museum in Lisbon is considered one of the best in the world. In addition to carriages, there are also convertibles, canopies, sedan chairs, palanquins, hearses, phaetons and children's carriages harnessed to ponies.


The oldest and most valuable exhibit in the collection is the carriage of King Philip II of Spain, in which he came to Portugal in 1619. The exhibition then unfolds in chronological retrospective. All carriages are distinguished by magnificent finishing in the style of their eras. Closer to our time, carriages are becoming heavier and more refined, they are decorated with velvet, gilding and mahogany, they are decorated with statues and candelabra. Such carriages were often accompanied by special lighting carriages, where footmen held lamps with burning olive oil. Such carriages were called lampions.


The latest models of carriages weighed more than a ton. Three huge carriages, made for the Portuguese ambassador to Portugal, are decorated with gold and plush and decorated with human-sized statues. Such a carriage weighs 5 tons, and the richness of its sculptural compositions can be viewed for quite a long time.


The upper part of the hall displays pony carts, baby carriages and doll carts, as well as various intricate accessories for horseback riding - spurs, saddles, harnesses and uniforms. The walls of the halls are decorated with magnificent tapestries depicting members of the royal family.


Everyone remembers children's fairy tales, where princes and princesses ride carriages, and an excursion to the National Carriage Museum is a journey into a fairy tale, where they appear in the real world, and it’s even a little pity that we will never see such beauty again on the streets of our cities and We will never ride on such carriages.

  • Address: Av. da Condia 136, 1300-004 Lisboa, Portugal
  • Telephone: +351 21 073 2319
  • Year of foundation: 1905
  • Architectural style: neoclassicism
  • Working hours: Tue-Sun from 10:00 to 18:00

The carriage museum is one of the most popular in . This place is truly interesting and unusual, definitely a must-see.

What is interesting about the museum?

The National Carriage Museum in Lisbon was opened back in 1905 by order of the Portuguese Queen Donna Amelia. Initially, it was located in the building of the royal arena, which was erected in the 18th century. The museum building was incredibly beautiful, and the interior decoration was amazing and aroused admiration. No wonder, because they spent 40 years finishing it!


Initially, there was not much space in the arena; only 29 carriages could fit in its hall. And at the same time, many other, no less interesting exhibits were gathering dust in the warehouses. And so the modern Portuguese authorities decided that this situation needs to be corrected.

In May 2015, the museum changed its location: a huge modern building was specially built for it, the main materials of which were glass and concrete.

There is a lot of space here, so now the Carriage Museum in Lisbon also houses a restorers’ workshop, auditoriums, a library, a souvenir shop, and even a cafeteria. The exhibition has increased to 70 exhibits.

It is simply impossible to describe all the carriages that are on display, but among them there are the most interesting ones that cannot be ignored:



In addition to these exhibits, the collection includes many interesting carriages. For example, stagecoaches, racing carriages, children's carriages, as well as the landau in which the penultimate king of Portugal, Don Carlos I, was killed and his heir was wounded.

How to get to the Carriage Museum in Lisbon?

You can get to the museum by buses No. 28, No. 714, No. 727, No. 729, No. 751. You can also take tram route 15E.

Since the Carriage Museum is located near the river, you can get to the address Av. da Índia 136, 1300-004 Lisboa You can also take a ferry, the stop is Belém.

The National Carriage Museum was opened in Lisbon on May 23, 1905, on the initiative of Queen Amelia of Portugal, wife of Charles I. The museum is located in the former Royal Riding Ground, built in 1787 by the future King Juan VI for horse riding training. The construction was led by the famous Italian architect Giacomo Azzolini, the building was built in the neoclassical style, the decoration of the exterior and interiors continued until 1828. The arena is a large hall 17 meters wide and 50 meters long. At the top there are stands, connected by narrow galleries, and balconies for the judges and royal family, from which they watched the riding competitions. The upper part of the hall is decorated with paintings by Portuguese artists, the ceiling is covered with frescoes by Joaquim José Lopes, Francisco de Setúbal, José de Oliveira and Nicola Deleriva, and the stand is decorated with panels of traditional Portuguese azulejo tiles. At the time of the opening of the museum, the collection consisted of 29 carriages from the royal court, liveries, cavalry equipment, and horse harness provided by Queen Amelia. After the revolution of 1910, the museum became known as the National Museum of Carriages; its collection expanded significantly to include vehicles from the royal and patriarchal courts, carriages and carriages that belonged to noble families of Portugal. After 30 years, the collection had grown so much that additional space was required to accommodate exhibits. In 1940, a new wing was added to the arena building according to the design of the architect Raoul Lino, due to which the exhibition space was significantly expanded. Today the museum has a collection that is considered one of the best in the world. The museum displays ceremonial carriages of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, cabriolets, canopies, sedan chairs, palanquins, charabancs, landaulets, and phaetons. Among the most valuable exhibits are the carriages of King Philip II of Spain, Queen Maria Anna of Austria, Queen Maria Francisca of Savoy, great-granddaughter of the French king Henry IV and the wife of two kings of Portugal - Afonso VI and Peter II, as well as the carriages of the Portuguese ambassador to the Vatican, trimmed with gold and plush and decorated with monograms, statues and sculptural compositions. The National Carriage Museum often hosts temporary exhibitions, has a gift shop and a library with a large collection of documents related to the history of transport and equestrian sports.

National Carriage Museum
Museu Nacional dos Coches
Address: Praça Afonso de Albuquerque, 1300-004 Lisboa, Portuga
Tel: +351 213 610 850
Fax: +351 213 632 503
Email: [email protected]
Web: museudoscoches.pt
How to get there: GPS coordinates - W: 38° 41" 51.52""/L: 9º 11" 59.07""
Portela International Airport, Lisbon - 14 km
Campolide Train Station - 6 km
Belem Commuter Train Station - 300 m
Belem bus stop - 50 m
Validity: constantly
Operating mode: Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 to 18:00
Last visitor at 17:30
Closed days: Monday, January 1, May 1, Easter, December 24 and 25
Price: 6 EUR / 1 person
Adults - € 6
Students, pensioners over 65 years old - € 3
Family ticket - 50% discount
Children under 12 years old, disabled people, unemployed - free admission
First Sunday of the month - admission is free for all categories of the population

Lisbon's museums are must-see attractions. Before visiting the capital of Portugal, each traveler determines for himself a list of the most interesting places. A holiday in the Portuguese capital will certainly be exciting and educational, because it combines a rich historical heritage, a mixture of cultures, traditions and peoples.

Museu da Marioneta

The people of Portugal have always treated the history of their country with care and reverence. That is why Lisbon is unique and colorful - there is a lot of colorful, original, classical, modernism here. Check out the Lisbon Museum of Water, Carriages and Azulejo Tiles. Considering the huge number of museums in the city, it is important to make a route map, and our article will help you decide on your preferences.

The best museums in the capital of Portugal

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

The attraction is located in the northwest direction from Commerce Square (Trading Square). The museum's exhibition includes more than 6 thousand works of art from different historical eras.


The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon was opened in 1969 according to the will of the oil magnate. It contains amazing sculptures, paintings from different eras and masters, jewelry, and 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 where unique editions of books and documents are collected.

The museum presents two chronological exhibitions:

  • works of art from Egypt, Rome, Greece, Persia, Japan and China;
  • works of European art from the 16th to 20th 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 jewelry of René 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);
  • What is the price: 3-5 euros (temporary exhibitions), 10 € (fundamental collection and contemporary art collection), 11.50-14 € (visiting all exhibitions), on Sunday admission for all visitors to the Gulbenkian Museum is free.

The Azulejo Museum in Lisbon tells the story of the evolution of a unique painting borrowed from Mauritania. This art direction became especially popular in the 15th century, when the inhabitants of Portugal could not afford to decorate their homes with carpets.


The first Azulejo ceramic tiles were made in blue and white tones, then the painting changed in accordance with the styles popular in a certain historical period - Baroque, Rococo.

The Azulejo Museum has been welcoming visitors since 1980 and is located in the Shrine of Our Lady. Tourists are told about the origin of the style, the production of ceramic tiles and their use. The exhibits include ceramics from different eras.

Note! The main attraction of the Azulejo Museum is a panel depicting the capital of Portugal before the terrible disaster of 1755. Tourists are also attracted by the mosaic panorama of Lisbon.


Helpful information:

  • Where to find: Rua Madre de Deus 4, Lisbon;
  • Schedule: from 10-00 to 18-00, closed on Tuesday;
  • Tickets: 5€ for adults, 2.5€ for students, free entry for children under 14 years old.

Church-Museum of St. Roch

For two centuries, the church building was occupied by the Jesuit community; after the disaster of 1755, the church passed to the house of mercy.


The temple is named after the saint who protected pilgrims and healed them from the plague. The building was built in the 16th century and is designed in the style of an auditorium, as it was intended for sermons. All chapels of the temple are decorated in the Baroque style, the most famous and notable being the Chapel of John the Baptist. It is recognized as a unique architectural project, on which Italian masters worked. Construction took 8 long years in Rome. Upon completion of the work, it was consecrated by the Pope and the chapel was delivered to Lisbon by sea. The main attraction is a unique mosaic panel depicting scenes from the Bible.

From the outside, the temple looks more modest than other capital shrines, but inside it amazes with its luxury and splendor. Once inside, you want to study every curl of the stucco molding and touch every pebble of the mosaic.


Visiting information:

  • Locations in Lisbon: Largo Trindade Coelho;
  • Open: from October to March the museum welcomes guests 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;
  • Price:€2.50, special card holders pay €1, annual ticket costs €25, family ticket costs €5.

The museum is located in the historical part of Portugal - Belem. Celebrations of the most important historical events for the country took place here. The attraction is named after José Berardo, a well-known philanthropist and entrepreneur in Portugal. Negotiations on the construction of the facility between the country's authorities and Berard lasted almost ten years. The doors to view the exhibition opened to visitors in 2007.

The exhibition is located in the Belem Cultural Center and includes 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! Works by Picasso, Malevich and Dali are exhibited here.


What you need to know:

  • Address: Praça do Império;
  • Working hours: daily from 10-00 to 19-00, if you want to see the collection on holidays, check the schedule on the official website (en.museuberardo.pt);
  • Price: 5 €, children under 6 years old - free, from 7 to 18 years old - 2.5 €.

Archaeological Museum of Carmo

The ruins are located approximately 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 attraction is on the Santa Justa lift.


The monastery was opened at the end of the 14th century and was the main Gothic temple of the capital. In terms of its grandeur, the monastery was in no way inferior to the Cathedral. The disaster 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 was transferred to the Portuguese army. Since the end of the 19th century, the monastery has become an archaeological museum, which displays 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, closed on Sunday;
  • Ticket prices: 4 €, discounts for students and pensioners, free admission for under 14 years of age.

By the way, this object is located in: within walking distance there are restaurants, shops, and main attractions.

Science Museum

If you decide to visit the Science Museum in Lisbon, you can take a walk in the Park of Nations. The exhibition is displayed in the building where the Expo was held in 1998. During the international event, the Knowledge Pavilion was located here.


The museum began accepting visitors in the summer of 1999. There are permanent exhibitions here:

  • “Research” - displays several main areas of activity, information stands contain information about the main achievements and successes, you can also conduct exciting experiments on your own;
  • “Look and Do” - here visitors can show their courage and lie down on a board with nails, ride in a car with square wheels, or send a real rocket flying;
  • “Unfinished House” - this exhibition is most loved by children, because they can try on an astronaut suit, turn into a real builder, having mastered different professions.

There is also a store where you can buy scientific and creative kits, educational toys, and thematic books dedicated to various sciences.

Interesting fact! According to statistics, almost 1000 people visit the site every day.


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, closed on Monday;
  • Cost of visit: adult – 9€, children from 3 to 6 years old and pensioners admission – 5€, from 7 to 17 years old – 6€, children under 2 years old are free.

It is located nearby, which will allow you to combine a cultural program with a shopping trip.

National Museum of Ancient Art


The largest gallery in the capital, within the walls of which thousands of unique works of art are collected - paintings, sculptures, antiques (14-19 centuries).

Initially, the museum belonged to the Church of St. Francis, but as the exhibition 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 Asian countries, the exhibition covers the period from the Middle Ages to the present day;
  • 3rd floor – works of local craftsmen.

The famous painting by Bosch “The Temptation of St. Anthony” receives the greatest attention from visitors.


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;
  • Price full ticket: 6€.

Portugal is known throughout the world as a maritime power, a country of ships. It is not surprising that one of the most popular and visited museums is the Maritime Museum. Its exhibition is dedicated to the peculiarities of the structure of ships. The museum houses more than 15 thousand exhibits, the most interesting being life-size caravels and sailing ships.


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; anyone can climb onto its deck.

While walking through the museum, visit the Hall of Discovery, where the personal belongings of the discoverers are collected, and the Hall of the Royal Cabins, where the chambers in which representatives of the royal families traveled were recreated.


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;
  • Price: varies from 4 to 11.20€ depending on the exhibitions visited. All prices can be found on the website museu.marinha.pt.