Location: Lisbon
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What to do and see in Lisbon, Central Portugal: The Best 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.
Restaurants in Lisbon
1. Museu da Filigrana
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 37 reviews
Free Entrance - The Filigree Museum, located at Largo de São Carlos, in Lisbon, presents the ancestral art of filigree manufacture in Portugal. It is the first Portuguese museum exclusively dedicated to filigree.
Reviewed By jazzfizzcat
A fantastic little museum dedicated to the art of filigree jewellery making in the heart of Lisbon. They take you through the history and from time to time have live demonstrations as well.
2. Calouste Gulbenkian Museum - Founder's Collection
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 8,443 reviews
With works ranging from Antiquity to the early 20th century, the Founder’s Collection comprises more than six thousand pieces gathered throughout Calouste Sarkis Gulbenkian’s life, including Egyptian Art, Greco-Roman Art, Islamic Arts, Painting, Sculpture and European Decorative Arts. Works by great masters such as Rubens, Rembrandt, Turner, Degas and René Lalique’s largest set of jewels are just a few examples of what can be found in one of the best private collections in the world. Besides the Founder’s Collection, the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is also comprised by the Modern Collection, which features the largest and most complete collection of modern and contemporary Portuguese Art. The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is surrounded by one of the most emblematic modern gardens in Portugal, open all year. The Museum offers a wide range of facilities to improve the visitor’s experience: three cafeterias overlooking the Garden, a museum shop, free cloackroom service and free Wi-Fi.
Reviewed By bIuetraveler - Menlo Park, United States
The Calouste Gulbenkian collection is a must-see for art lovers and is widely considered one of the best art collections in Portugal. From Ancient Egyptian hieroglyph panels to breathtaking 20th century jewelry, this collection offers some of the finest artifacts, tiles, vases, and paintings. I personally suggest that you bring earbuds, as the museum has a free app that serves as an audio guide. Admission is free on the weekends, but during the weekdays, 12 and under is admitted free, ages below 29 and above 65 are admitted with a 50% discount. The museum also has free WiFi.
3. National Museum of Ancient Art
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,254 reviews
Considered to house the best collection of Portuguese and European art, this museum features works by Gonclaves, Bosch, Raphael and more.
Reviewed By yonas249
This small museum houses many important Portuguese furniture, and European art like Hieronimous Bosch, 9 beautiful paintings by Zurbaran, Raphael, Piero de la Franchesca and others. There is an interesting exhibition of portraits and forbidden art. It is a worthwhile visit for art lovers. Yona Y.
4. 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.
5. Museu Nacional do Azulejo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 4,198 reviews
A must-see for people interested in the history and design of ceramic tiles, this specialty museum houses a splendid collection of decorative tiles dating from the 15th century to the present.
Reviewed By sharonhW264WM - Las Vegas, United States
The amazing museum is located in the former Convent of Madre de Deus (founded in 1509) so the building (the cloister, vestry, upper choir, and St. Anthony’s Chapel) and its original tile work are spectacular examples of 1500’s art and architecture in themselves. In Portugal glazed tiles have been used since the 13th century. Initially tiles displayed plain colors and geometric shapes, but by the 16th century more decorative patterns, based on Hispanic, Moorish, and Islamic knot work and geometric patterns, emerged. These were gradually replaced by European motifs with plant and animal patterns, as well as gothic and romantic motifs. The museum’s collection traces tile development from the second half of the 15th century to present day. It was wonderful to wander from room to room and watch the stylistic changes in the tiles as time progressed. We saw everything from giant religious wall presentations and altarpieces, to fully-tiled rooms and stairwells, to hunting scenes and flowers, to fairytales and legends retold in tiles, to colorful tiled maps of Lisbon. St. Anthony’s Chapel was especially impressive—beautiful barrel-vaulted ceiling with a huge dome, blue and white tiled scenes along the back and side walls, and baroque gilding throughout. This museum is truly one of a kind—a Lisbon must see.
6. 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.
7. Museu da Marioneta
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 143 reviews
The best collection of masks and puppets is in Lisbon! Visit the Puppet Museum and discover a fantastic world of stories, fantasy and emotion!
Reviewed By louismB3870OB
The museum is charming and memorable. I found myself looking at the puppets for a good amount of time to admire the craftsmanship, individuality and of course those staring eyes. For me personally it was one of the best things to do in the city that's not a major attraction. A reminder of times before television and also a reminder of my youth when play acting and puppetry was a way my parents kept me and my siblings entertained. The museum also transports you to other countries, their culture and history with puppets telling the story.
8. Museu De Artes Decorativas Portuguesas
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 164 reviews
Housed in a corner of the 17th century Azurara palace, this museum features decorative arts from the 15th through 19th centuries, including textiles, furniture, painting, jewelry and ceramics. Guided tours to the Arts and crafts workshops which feature artisans demonstrating traditional crafts like bookbinding, wood carving and working with gold leaf.
Reviewed By heidiplusfive - Calgary, Canada
a beautiful , quiet museum set in a period home. there were maybe six other visitors so felt like a private tour! excellent selection of tapestries, furniture , art and lighting. along with some curiosities. the docent was a historian who had compiled a list of the most frequently asked questions (in english). she was very helpful as there was little signage and no audio to help you along. well worht the 3euros and cna be seen in just over and hour.
9. 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.
10. Museu Colecao Berardo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 2,458 reviews
Located in Belém, the Museu Coleção Berardo is The Most Visited Museum in Portugal and is the Main Modern and Contemporary Art Museum in Lisbon, with 6 Major Exhibitions on view. Open every day, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (last entrance: 6:30 p.m.) Admission Ticket (adult): 5€, discounts available. Free on Saturdays, all day. Houses the Berardo Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art, together with temporary exhibits. The permanent collection of the museum presents the major art movements of the 20th century - Cubism, Dadaism, Constructivism, De Stijl, Surrealism, Post-war Figuration, CoBrA, Abstract Expressionism, Kinetic and Op Art, Nouveau Réalisme, British Pop Art, American Pop Art, among others, presenting works from artists like Mondrian, Picasso, Duchamp, Andy Warhol, Jackson Polock, Louise Bourgeois, Alexander Calder, Salvador Dalí, Francis Bacon, Balthus, Lucio Fontana, Yves Klein, Pistoletto, Bill Viola, Andreas Gursky, Frank Stella, among others. A must-see in Lisbon!
Reviewed By jr87traveller - Prague, Czech Republic
Was kind of a spontaneous stop at this museum and we were really happy we entered this place... very interesting expositions and some world famous items from artists such as Andy Warhol or Picasso..
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