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The best independent guide to Lisbon

LisbonLisboaPortugal.com

The best independent guide to Lisbon

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.

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.

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.

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.

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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LisbonLisboaPortugal.com

The best guide to Lisbon

top 10 Lisbon
Where to stay which district Lisbon
3 days in Lisbon
Secret Lisbon
walking tour of Lisbon
Lisbon Nightlife
Lisbon day trips
lisbon beaches
lisbon for families
1 week in Lisbon
48 hours Lisbon
Lisbon sunsets
lisbon Portugal guide
Baixa district Lisbon
belem distrcit Lisbon
lisbon shopping
alfama district Lisbon
Cost of a holiday to Lisbon
Parque das Nações district Lisbon
Alcantara district Lisbon
Sintra Portugal
Costa da Caparica
Cascais Portugal
24 hours in Lisbon
Lisbon viewpoints
lisbon food and meals
lisbon airport guide
wet day in Lisbon
Lisbon museums

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.

top 10 Lisbon
Where to stay which district Lisbon
3 days in Lisbon
Secret Lisbon
walking tour of Lisbon
Lisbon Nightlife
Lisbon day trips
lisbon beaches
lisbon for families
1 week in Lisbon
48 hours Lisbon
Lisbon sunsets
lisbon Portugal guide
Baixa district Lisbon
belem distrcit Lisbon
lisbon shopping
alfama district Lisbon
Cost of a holiday to Lisbon
Parque das Nações district Lisbon
Alcantara district Lisbon
Sintra Portugal
Costa da Caparica
Cascais Portugal
24 hours in Lisbon
Lisbon viewpoints
lisbon food and meals
lisbon airport guide
wet day in Lisbon
Lisbon museums