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Top 10 Military Museums in Portugal, Portugal
– in Europe (green & dark grey)
– in the European Union (green)
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1. Museu Do Ar - Polo Alverca
2. Museu Militar de Lisboa
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 228 reviews
Reviewed By Margo7850p
This was a big surprise. The Portuguese Military Museum is very well situated near the main thoroughfare that connects Lisbon with the Santa Apolonia train station. Interesting museum with an original exhibition of weapons . Valuable medieval, renaissance and contemporary exhibits . The works on display are excellent and illustrate the different historical periods and history of Portugal. The building is palatial with numerous paintings, azulejos, polychrome, etc. It tells also the story of Portugal through paintings and tiles. It was a great experience. Sunday entry is free until 2 p.m. I recommend visiting.
3. 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.
4. Museu do Ar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 174 reviews
Air Museum. Our purpose is to tell the story of the Portuguese aviation through its people and collections.
Reviewed By hans-jaguar - Santa Comba Dao, Portugal
The Air Museum is a museum of aeronautical material of the Portuguese Air Force, based at Air Base No. 1 (Sintra), the museum has two visitable poles one at the Aerodromo de Manobra nº 1 (Ovar), and a second at the Military Complex of Alverca (Alverca do Ribatejo). It has been created on February 21, 1968 and opened on Air Force Day (July 1), 1971, the Air Museum is under the responsibility of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force and aims at the conservation, safety and exhibition of objects of historical, artistic and documentary value, airplanes and miniatures of the same that it is possible to gather and preserve, as they constitute a valuable contribution to the history of national aviation. You can see all kind of airplanes, helicopters etc. it is very nice to visit, we anyhow enjoyed our visit, and are already thinking to visit the second one very soon.
5. Museu Militar Do Porto
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 35 reviews
Reviewed By bfltd0 - London, United Kingdom
This is a small but perfectly formed museum. It does not cover all areas of history of the Portuguese Armed Forces but it is informative about a country that didn't really hit the headlines militarily. The top floor toy soldier collection is impressive and encompasses several people's collections. The other two periods of history covered on the ground floor are short but sweet, and the main area of interest is in the pavilion in the back garden. This is where the bigger exhibits are and more modern conflicts are covered. Would have cost 3 euro each but we got 50% discount with the Porto card. The guy on the desk was fluent in English but the English translations on the exhibits could do with amending/improving. We arrived mid-morning and were so absorbed by the place that we finished looking around the pavilion after the museum had closed for lunch and the side door we had used to get into the garden was locked. We went into what we thought was a cafe and it turned out to be the staff room where they were tucking into their lunch! We simply walked out of the side gate.
6. 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.
7. Nau Quinhentista
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 124 reviews
Reviewed By hans-jaguar - Santa Comba Dao, Portugal
The Nau Quinhentista is located just across the street in front of the museu “Alfandega Régia”, it is a replica from a Portuguese vessel from the North Atlantic career of the beginning of the 16th century, the vessel was designed by Admiral Rogério d'Oliveira and built at the Samuel & Filhos shipyards, which until 1993 were located in this same place. With a length of 27.50 meters, a width of 7.70 meters, a height of 4.75 meters, and a weight of around 300 tons. On the inside, you can see various reproductions of life on board that time, such as the crew members' quarters, places and ways of storing goods, disposal of cartographic material and instruments to aid navigation, artillery pieces, ballast, among others , in order to represent the complexity faced by navigators on their voyages on the high seas. O location not to be missed.
8. Maritime museum
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 45 reviews
Reviewed By Courtney069 - Baltimore, United States
My husband and I recently visited the most incredible maritime museum in Lisbon, Portugal, and it was magnificent. It had everything from the beginning of the history of Portugal to the present time. It was well laid out with maps, weapons, naval implements, uniforms, paintings & ships. It was almost overwhelming and it takes about 2 hours to wander through. At the end is a nifty gift shop. Do not miss this gem.
9. Museu do Combatente
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 165 reviews
This attraction is right beside the Tower Of Belem in Lisbon and it is a fort built in the 1780's. Contains Combatant´s Museum, with exhibitions from great war to peace operations. You can enter a trench of great war and see 500 planes all made in scale showing the history of aviation of the XXth century, exhibitions from Navy, Air Force, Army and Security Forces.
Reviewed By AMsays - Thornhill, Canada
Housed in an 18th century fort, this comprehensive museum depicts Portuguese involvement in Angola, Mozambique, Goa and other places. Dedicated to those that served – entrance fee money here goes to veterans. There are permanent exhibits including; Aviation History, The Trenches, Security Forces and Armoury. The huge selection of memorabilia is highlighted by a tank, an actual aircraft cockpit and 500 or so replica vintage model aircraft. You need time if you are interested. I wish I had known how vast it is. I rushed through as I had to be back at the airport to fly to Terceira. Next time…
10. Alfandega Regia – Museu da Construcao Naval
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 51 reviews
