Location: Lisbon
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Things to do in Lisbon, Central Portugal: The Best History Museums
The museums of Lisbon celebrate the rich history and culture of this Portuguese capital city. The Maritime Museum is perfect for kids (and grown-ups!) who adore all things nautical, while the Casa-Museu Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves is a hidden gem of colorful artwork. To fully appreciate the city’s dramatic stone architecture you can take a guided walking tour, or customize your own tour, making sure to visit the Padrao dos Descobrimentos, the Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, and the UNESCO World Heritage site the Torre de Belem.
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1. Igreja de Sao Roque
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,078 reviews
Reviewed By eddg2019
Taken together, the Church and Museum of Saint Roque are among Lisbon’s most important artistic, cultural, and historic repositories. In addition to the main altar, the church is noteworthy for its side chapels, particularly that of St. John the Baptist with its central mosaic panel that looks like a painting on canvas, the gilt wood Chapel of Our Lady of Doctrine, and the tile work of the Chapel of São Roque. The painted ceiling is the only one extent from the Mannerist period. The adjoining museum houses one of the most important collections of sacred art, which includes paintings, sculpture, metalwork, reliquaries, altar frontals, and the treasure of the Chapel of Saint John the Baptist.
2. Fundacao Amalia Rodrigues Casa Museu
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 143 reviews
Reviewed By Daphnenero
Capture the voice of Portugal in this former home now made into a loving museum. While Amalia Rodrigues sings in the background you get to experience a personal side of this great singer who recreated Fado with her elegant jewelry and dresses. Our guide Isabelle was enthusiastic and a wealth of information. We thoroughly enjoyed walking through the house with her guidance and commentary. We learned so much and found out there is the lovely addition of Fado on Tues and Fri. Earlier in the evening by reservation. We met the famous Chico, her 29 yr old parrot out in the garden. There is a cute cafe with drinks and goodies available as well as beautiful artifacts for sale. We had a wonderful morning and look forward to a return to hear the live Fado.
3. Museu Centro Cultural Casapiano
4. Carmo Archaeological Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,806 reviews
The Carmo Archaeological Museum is situated in the ruins of the old Church of Santa Maria do Carmo, founded in 1389 by D. Nuno Alvares Pereira. This church was known as one of the most beautiful Gothic temples in Lisbon until the earthquake of 1755, which caused serious damage to the building and destroyed almost all of its religious-artistic contents. Its re-construction began in an experimental Gothic style in 1756 and stopped in 1834, when the religious orders were abolished in Portugal. In 1863, royal architect, Joaquim Possidonio da Silva, founded the Portuguese Civil Architects Association. About one year later, in 1864, the Carmo Archaeological Museum was installed there for the storage and display of important sculptures from old ruined buildings. Curing the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. the museum houses a collection which dates from Pre-History to the present day and shows the way people have thought and felt in different areas of culture throughout the ages.
Reviewed By 958LauraH - El Dorado Hills, United States
This ancient gothic church is roofless, and open to the sky. It is however, quite beautiful. We visited on a sunny day which was perfect for photos. There is also a small but interesting museum attached to it.
5. Museu de Marinha
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,201 reviews
The world-famous Maritime Museum in Belem has a children’s section as well as ship models. Portugal was a world leader in maritime exploration (Christopher Columbus, Vasco da Gama, etc.)
Reviewed By NigelDCapeTown - Cape Town, South Africa
Housed in part of the Monastery of Geronimo, this museum is really very much worth a visit. It gives a graphic depiction of the great marine history of Portugal and ends with a wonderful display of royal barges, which must be one of the largest in the world. Really epic.
6. Rua dos Correeiros Archaeological Nucleus
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 108 reviews
This place is temporarily closed
7. Museu Do Aljube
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 251 reviews
Reviewed By Karen31416 - New York City, United States
This was a fascinating museum, which I highly recommend for anyone wishing to learn more about recent Portugese history. Inexpensive.
8. Museum of National Republican Guard
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 99 reviews
Reviewed By Matthew303 - Geneva, Switzerland
The National Republican Guard (GNR) is effectively Portugal's rural police, with some additional specialist functions. This museum at the GNR headquarters gives an insight into the work and history of the GNR as well as the events of modern Portuguese history, such as the "Carnation Revolution" of 25 April 1974 - when the leaders of the pre-1974 dictatorship became trapped within this building and eventually surrendered. Explanatory notices are in both English and Portuguese. Fascinating for anyone interested in policing and/or in modern Portuguese history. Once inside, some stairs need to be climbed to reach the museum but a lift is available on request for wheelchair users.
9. National Coche Museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 237 reviews
Reviewed By 527nigelv - Castle Douglas, United Kingdom
This is a very well laid out museum showing off coaches through the centuries.It is very interesting with good signage and brilliant displays.You can get really close to the exhibits.If you like the spectacle of Royal coaches then this is the place to see them.
10. Palacio dos Condes de Obidos
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