National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches)

The Basics

The National Coach Museum’s carriages are housed in both an opulent, neoclassical building dubbed the Royal Riding School, and a contemporary building across the street that is used as a display space and a workshop for conservation projects. The Royal Riding School also showcases ceremonial and processional items related to equestrianism as well as several portraits of the Portuguese royal family.

The museum is a stop on hop-on hop-off bus tours of Belém and Lisbon, and holders of the Lisboa Card gain free entry to the National Coach Museum, many other Lisbon attractions, and public transportation.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The National Coach Museum is a must-do for history buffs and those interested in the Portuguese royal family.

• Visitors typically spend about 90 minutes exploring the exhibits.

• The exhibition, reception, and service areas are all wheelchair accessible, and there are elevators to all public areas.

• Access ramps are available to the ground floor of the Royal Riding School.

How to Get There

The National Coach Museum is located in Lisbon’s western Belém district, adjacent to the Afonso de Albuquerque Park. Take the Cascais train line from Cais do Sodré or the historic 15E tram to the Belém stop. Alternatively, take city bus 201, 714, 727, or 751 to the Altinho stop, a 5-minute walk from the museum.

When to Get There

The museum is open 10am to 6pm Tuesday through Sunday. As one of Lisbon’s most popular attractions, it often gets crowded during the summer months; for a quieter experience, visit in the early morning before heading to the UNESCO World Heritage–listed Jeronimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) and Belém Tower (Torre de Belém), both nearby.

Highlights of the National Coach Museum

Some of the oldest and most opulent carriages in the museum’s collection, dating back to the late 1500s, belonged to Philip II of Spain. There are also three of Pope Clement XI’s carriages on display, one of which was given to John V of Portugal. They were built in 1715, designed in the baroque Italian style, and depict scenes of Portuguese military and maritime triumphs.