Navy Museum (Portugal) Museum

Address: Praça do Império 1300-598, Belém, Lisbon (Maritime Museum building area)

Website: https://mnm.incm.pt/

Hours: Tue-Sun 10:00am-5:00pm, closed Mondays

Admission: EUR 6-10 (adult), discounts for students and seniors; children often free or reduced

The Navy Museum (Museu de Marinha) in Lisbon is Portugal’s principal museum of naval and maritime history, located in the Belém district. It interprets Portugal’s seafaring past through models, instruments and artifacts.

Displays cover ship models, navigational instruments, charts and paintings that illustrate the development of Portuguese navigation and shipbuilding from historical periods up to more recent times. Large-scale models and detailed dioramas are prominent elements of the collection.

The museum was created to preserve and present the material culture of the Portuguese navy and maritime exploration. It functions as both a specialist museum and an educational institution.

Situated in Belém on the western edge of central Lisbon, the museum sits close to other major visitor attractions on the Tagus riverside and is easily reached from central Lisbon.

• Visiting tip: Located in Belém, the museum is colocated with other major heritage sites, making it convenient to combine with visits to the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém riverside.

What to See#

• Main exhibitions: Main exhibition halls presenting models, navigational instruments, maps and artworks that trace Portugal’s maritime history.
• Model ship collection: Large collection of ship models spanning medieval to modern vessels, used to illustrate shipbuilding and exploration techniques.
• Belém location: Museum building and display spaces located in the Belém district close to other maritime monuments and the Jerónimos Monastery.

From central Lisbon, take tram 15 or buses to Belém (stop near Mosteiro dos Jerónimos). The museum is a short walk from the Jerónimos Monastery and the Belém Tower along Avenida Brasília.

• Start with the exhibits on Portugal's Age of Discoveries-models of caravels and navigational instruments are well labelled.
• Look for guided tours in English on busy days; reserve ahead for school groups or larger parties.
• Visit the adjacent Museum of the Presidency if the combined ticket is available-both sites explore maritime power and nationhood.