Lisbon boasts a host of culturally significant destinations, and once you've seen sights such as the Jeronimos Monastery and the Belem tower, you have a plethora of museums to explore. These museums bring Portuguese and European history to life through their diverse collections of paintings and art objects. You get to see some of the finest art from the continent and beyond, as well as cultural artifacts that illuminate the history of Portugal and other European nations. Lisboa Card provides discounted or free admission to Lisbon's various museums and cultural destinations, as well as providing free public transportation.
MUDE
- Lisbon's Design and Fashion Museum, otherwise known as MUDE, features over 1,200 pieces of haute couture from fashion designers such as Vivienne Westwood, Andre Courreges and Yves Saint Laurent. Visitors can view the dress Renee Zellweger wore to the 2001 Academy Awards, as well as other collections spotlighting furniture and jewelry design. MUDE also hosts rotating temporary exhibits alongside its extensive permanent collection. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Museu Calouste Gulbenkian
- Armenian businessman Calouste Gulbenkian donated his extensive art collection to the Portuguese government in exchange for tax breaks. This collection is now housed in the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian and represents art from several eras. The museum divides the collection between a wing showcasing the ancient world of the Romans, Greeks and Egyptians, and a wing spotlighting European works from the 11th century to the mid-20th century. European paintings are accompanied by antique furniture, jewelry and art objects wrought in gold and silver. The museum is closed on Mondays.
Museu Colecao Berardo
- Jose Berardo began collecting art, concentrating on modern works, during the 1970s. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Berardo acquired the collection that became the basis for the Museu Colecao Berardo's exhibitions. The 1,000-piece exhibit is continually rotating, so visitors have an everchanging vista of artwork to explore, and works from such artists as Salvador Dali and Jackson Pollock are often on display. Visitors can also view an extensive collection of Art Deco furniture. The museum is located in Lisbon's Belem Cultural Center and is closed on Mondays.
Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga
- The Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga displays its artworks in a converted palace. The museum boasts an extensive display of Portuguese works from the 15th and 16th centuries, as well as European art from the 14th century to modern times. The works are displayed across three floors. The first floor features European paintings, while the second floor displays Portuguese and Asian jewelry and art objects. The third floor is dedicated to Portuguese painting and sculpture. The museum is open Thursday through Sunday.
Museu Nacional dos Coches
- The Museu Nacional dos Coches exhibits ceremonial coaches and other modes of ornately decorated transportation used by nobility in the era of horse-drawn vehicles such as carriages and sedan chairs. The museum is set within a former equestrian school and has one of the earliest coaches built on display, the coach of King Philip II, which was built in Spain during the late 16th century. The museum is closed Mondays.
