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The best independent guide to Lisbon
LisbonLisboaPortugal.com
The best independent guide to Lisbon
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Museu Nacional dos Coches (Coach Museum), Lisbon
The Museu Nacional dos Coches (Coach Museum of Lisbon) houses an exceptional collection of ceremonial coaches and other ornate horse-drawn carriages. The collection brings together state carriages used throughout Europe from the 16th to the 19th century.
The subject of the museum is incredibly niche and will not appeal to the majority of tourists, but if you have the slightest curiosity, you will find yourself rewarded with one of the finest museums in Lisbon.
The horse-drawn carriage, once a grand form of transport
Incredible craftmanship, on a carriage which, was used just once…
There are two buildings to the Coach Museum
The museum was originally housed in the fabulously ornate royal riding arena but has been extended into the modern concrete complex opposite. The admission is to either building, or there is a combined ticket (€8 individual or combined ticket €10). The royal riding arena is the much more atmospheric building, but the modern complex houses more exhibits, and are more historically significant.
The royal riding area exudes charm,
While the modern complex is characterless, it contains more exhibits
If you can only choose one section of the museum to visit, it should be the modern side, as there is a much better range of exhibits. The royal riding arena only houses eight carriages, a selection of portraits and a wing displaying 19th-century firefight equipment. This is a shame, as the main riding area is ornately painted and a fascinating building.
Our opinion: Purchase the combined ticket, and a visit should be started in the riding arena and then (after a coffee and Pastel de Nata) move on to the modern complex.
The entrance to the royal arena
Lisbon’s early firefighting appliances
What’s the stand out carriage?
The most important and oldest exhibit is the coach used by King Felipe II of Portugal as he traveled from Spain to Portugal in 1619. Another standout exhibit is the ceremonial Coach of the Oceans, a carriage belonging to Pope Clement XI, which was given King John V in 1715, and is lavishly decorated in gold.
The carriage of Felipe II
An early Portuguese mail carriage, which travelled from Lisbon to Porto in 36housrs
Carriages for children
A futuristic litter (Sedan Chair), which, according to the witty artist, will solve future world problems by being both environmentally friendly and reducing unemployment…
How about a small group tour?
One of the best ways to discover Lisbon and to meet fellow travellers is to join a guided tour. We have worked with Getyourguide.com for the last six years, and some of the best tours of Lisbon include:
The history of the Museu Nacional dos Coches
The coach collection was created by Queen Amélia in 1905 and housed in the royal riding arena. The arena was 50m long and 17m wide, and was used for training horses, for horse riding exhibitions and games. The arena used to have balconies so that the Portuguese royal family could watch the events from luxurious surroundings.
The royal riding arena was added as an extension to Belem Palace which was later converted into the Museu Nacional dos Coches under the Queen Amélia requests. The queen included all of the carriages belonging to the Portuguese royal family in the museum’s collection. After the demise of the royal family the Portuguese government maintained the coach museum.
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If you've enjoyed our content, we'd like to ask for your support.
The internet landscape has changed, and small independent publishers like us face increasing challenges. Search engines now prioritize advertising over organic content, reducing our traffic, while AI systems increasingly copy our original work without attribution.
To help support us, please consider bookmarking our website for easy access. If you find an article useful, we encourage you to share it with friends or on social media. Equally, if you notice anything outdated or incorrect, please let us know so we can promptly address it.
We're always open to collaborating with brands, bloggers, and SEO/PR agencies who value independent creators. If you'd like to work with us or offer support, please reach out at: [email protected]
Thank you for being part of our community and helping us continue to provide valuable content in an increasingly challenging digital environment.