MAAT Lisbon: The Riverside Museum and Roof Walk

MAAT, the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology, is one of Lisbon’s most striking buildings: a low, wave-like structure on the riverside in Belém, covered in white tiles that shimmer in the light. You can walk over its roof for river views, and next door is a red-brick former power station. Here’s how to visit.

Quick answer: MAAT is on the riverfront between Cais do Sodré and Belém. Tickets cost €16 for visitors from abroad (€12 for Portugal residents), but the roof walk is free. It’s closed on Tuesdays. Allow 1 to 2 hours, then walk along the river to the Belém monuments.

Why go

MAAT opened in 2016 and is run by the EDP Foundation, the cultural arm of Portugal’s main power company. It was designed by the British architect Amanda Levete. Even if contemporary art isn’t your thing, the building is worth seeing, and the roof is one of the best free viewpoints on the river. Inside, the shows change several times a year, so there’s often something new.

It’s also a good contrast to the rest of Belém, where most sights are about the 16th century. MAAT is about now: art, design, energy and the climate.

What to see

The museum calls its spaces MAAT Gallery (the new wave-shaped building), MAAT Central (the old power station) and the MAAT Garden, the green space that links them. You’ll see those names on signs and tickets.

• The building: a curving structure clad in about 15,000 three-dimensional white tiles. Walk up and over the roof for views of the Tagus and the 25 de Abril Bridge. Allow 15 to 20 minutes.
• Exhibitions: changing shows of contemporary art, architecture and technology in the galleries under the wave. The large oval gallery is often used for one big installation.
• The power station (Central Tejo): a brick electricity plant that supplied much of Lisbon’s power in the first half of the 20th century. You walk among the original boilers, turbines and control rooms, and it also hosts exhibitions. Allow 45 minutes to an hour.
• The garden: paths, lawns and benches between the two buildings. It’s a pleasant place to sit before or after your visit, and you don’t need a ticket to walk through it.

Inside the power station

Central Tejo burned coal to make electricity for the city for decades and stopped producing power in the 1970s. Inside, the scale is the surprise: tall boilers, pipes, gauges and huge machines, with panels explaining how coal was turned into steam and then into electricity. It’s the part of MAAT that children and anyone curious about engineering tend to like most, and it works even if the current art shows don’t appeal.

Tickets and opening hours

• Tickets: €16 for visitors from abroad and €12 for Portugal residents, with 25% off for students under 30, 15% off for over-65s, and free entry for under-12s. One ticket covers both the new building and the power station.
• Hours: usually 10am to 7pm, every day except Tuesday. It also closes on a few public holidays, including 1 January, 1 May and 25 December, and closes early on 24 and 31 December.
• Lisboa Card: holders usually get free entry. See is the Lisboa Card worth it.
• Check first: galleries sometimes close between exhibitions, so look at the museum’s website before you go.

Getting there

Take tram 15 or the Cascais line train to Belém (or Alcântara-Mar), or walk or cycle along the river. From Belém station it’s a short walk east along the waterfront. Trains on the Cascais line leave from Cais do Sodré. See Lisbon public transport.

• From the Baixa: tram 15 from Praça da Figueira or Praça do Comércio is the simplest option. It gets very full in summer, so the train from Cais do Sodré is often quicker.
• On foot: the riverside path from Cais do Sodré is flat and runs most of the way. It’s a long walk, roughly an hour or more, but it passes the docks and the bridge.

How long to spend

Allow 1 to 2 hours for both buildings, or 20 minutes if you only walk over the roof. MAAT fits well into a riverside half day.

A half-day route

• Morning: start at LX Factory for coffee and a browse of the shops.
• Late morning: walk west along the river to MAAT and the power station.
• Lunch: carry on to Belém for a pastel de nata.
• Afternoon: visit Jerónimos or the Belém Tower.

Food nearby

Belém has plenty of casual places serving grilled fish, bifanas and a good-value prato do dia (dish of the day). Finish with a warm pastel de nata. See the best pastel de nata in Lisbon.

Combine with

• Belém: Jerónimos, the Belém Tower and the custard tarts. See Belém.
• LX Factory: a short walk east. See LX Factory.
• The Coach Museum: royal carriages a short walk west, near the Belém Palace. See the National Coach Museum.
• Sunset: the roof is a lovely sunset spot.

When to go

Weekday mornings are quietest. The roof is busiest around sunset, especially from spring to autumn, when people gather to watch the light change on the bridge. In summer the white surfaces get very hot and bright in the middle of the day, so go early or late.

Practical tips

• Tuesday plans: MAAT is shut, but many national museums in Belém close on Mondays instead, so plan your days around both.
• Sun and wind: the white roof reflects a lot of light, so bring sunglasses. It can be breezy by the river.
• Cycling: the riverside path is flat and easy, and bike hire is available in the city.
• Rainy days: the power station makes a good indoor stop. See Lisbon on a rainy day.

FAQ

Is the MAAT roof free?

Yes. You can walk up and over the roof of the wave-shaped building without a ticket. You only pay to enter the galleries and the power station.

What day is MAAT closed?

MAAT is closed on Tuesdays and on a few public holidays, including 1 January, 1 May and 25 December. On other days it’s usually open from 10am to 7pm.

Is MAAT worth visiting?

For the building, the free roof and the old power station, yes. The art shows change, so check what’s on if contemporary art is the main reason for your visit.

How far is MAAT from Belém Tower?

It’s on the same stretch of riverfront. You can walk west along the river to the Monument to the Discoveries and the Belém Tower in roughly 20 to 30 minutes.

More: the best museums in Lisbon and free things to do in Lisbon.

See also: the Monument to the Discoveries.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.