The National Coach Museum, known in Portuguese as the Museu Nacional dos Coches, is set in Belém, the riverside district of Lisbon. Its address is Av. da Índia 136, 1300-004 Lisboa. The museum holds a collection of historical carriages, coaches and royal vehicles dating from the 16th to the 19th centuries, and it is described as the largest of its kind in the world.
What you will see
The collection centres on ornate ceremonial coaches used by Portuguese royalty and nobility. Their carved, gilded and painted bodies show how state occasions were once staged, and they make a striking group to walk among. Because the vehicles are displayed at close range, you can study their construction and decoration in detail.
What kind of visit it makes
- A focused visit for anyone interested in royal history, court ceremony or the craft of coachbuilding.
- A good indoor stop in Belém, where the building is modern and spacious.
- A visit that pairs well with the other attractions in the same riverside district.
The museum is housed in an impressive modern building, and its setting gives the visit a calm, uncluttered feel. Visitors who enjoy seeing objects of everyday court life at their most elaborate will find plenty to take in.
Getting there and planning
The museum is in Belém, which is best reached by tram, bus or taxi from central Lisbon. For opening times, admission details and any current information, contact the museum directly by telephone at +351 21 732 3002 before you go.