The National Coach Museum, Lisbon

The National Coach Museum in Belém has one of the finest collections of royal carriages in the world: gilded, carved and painted coaches from the 17th to 19th centuries, used by Portuguese and European royalty and for grand embassies. It’s one of Lisbon’s most visited museums, and a hit with kids.

Quick answer: the museum is in Belém, near the Jerónimos Monastery. Tickets cost about €15. Allow 1 to 1.5 hours. The collection is in a modern building, and the old Royal Riding School has been closed for renovation since autumn 2025, with its coaches moved across the road to the main building. It’s usually closed on Mondays. Combine it with Belém’s monuments and custard tarts.

Why go

The museum was founded in 1905 by Queen Amélie, who wanted to save the royal carriages from neglect. It began in the Royal Riding School, an 18th-century hall that was part of the Belém Palace. In 2015 the main collection moved into a large modern building across the road, designed by the Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha. The coaches are huge, ornate and close enough to see every carved figure and gold leaf detail. Even visitors who aren’t museum fans tend to enjoy it.

It also tells a story about power. In the 17th and 18th centuries, a coach was a statement. When a king sent an ambassador abroad, the size and decoration of the carriages showed off the wealth of the country. Portugal had gold from Brazil, and its coaches show it.

What you’ll see

• Ceremonial coaches: spectacular gilded and sculpted carriages made for royal processions and diplomatic missions. The highlights are the baroque coaches made in Rome for a Portuguese embassy to Pope Clement XI in 1716, covered in allegorical figures.
• Everyday royal transport: sedan chairs, travelling coaches, children’s carriages and carts.
• Harnesses and liveries used by coachmen and horses.
• A piece of history: the open carriage in which King Carlos I and his heir were shot in Lisbon in 1908, an event that led towards the end of the monarchy two years later.
• The Royal Riding School: the original 18th-century hall with painted ceilings. It closed for renovation works in September 2025. Check whether it has reopened before you go.

What to look for

• The embassy coaches: walk all the way round them. The rear of each coach carries large carved groups of figures, which tell the story of Portugal’s voyages and its place in the world.
• The wheels and springs: compare the heavy early coaches with the lighter 19th-century carriages to see how comfort and engineering improved.
• Small carriages: the children’s carriages and pony carts are a favourite with young visitors.
• The coachmen’s seats: look at how high the drivers sat and how little protection they had from the weather, compared with the velvet and gilt inside.

Tickets and opening hours

• Tickets: about €15 for adults since prices for national museums rose in 2025. Children under 12 usually go free and over-65s usually get a discount.
• Hours: usually 10am to 6pm, Tuesday to Sunday. Closed on Mondays and some public holidays.
• Lisboa Card: check whether it includes entry or a discount. See is the Lisboa Card worth it.

Getting there

Take tram 15 from Praça da Figueira or Cais do Sodré to Belém, or the Cascais line train from Cais do Sodré to Belém station. Both take about 20 to 30 minutes. The museum is on the main road near the Belém Palace, a few minutes’ walk from the famous custard tart bakery. See Lisbon public transport.

Tram 15 gets very crowded in summer, so the train is often the faster, calmer choice. From Belém station, cross the gardens towards the main road and the pink Belém Palace, and the museum is a few minutes’ walk away. If you’re driving, parking in Belém fills up quickly on weekends, so public transport is easier.

How long to spend

Allow 1 to 1.5 hours. Coach fans and families with young children may stay longer, as there’s a lot of detail to look at.

A one-day Belém route

• Morning: Jerónimos Monastery when it opens, before the queues build.
• Mid-morning: a pastel de nata, then the Coach Museum.
• Lunch: grilled fish or a bifana in one of the cafes nearby.
• Afternoon: the riverside, with the Monument to the Discoveries and the Belém Tower.
• Late afternoon: walk east to MAAT for a sunset over the river.

Food nearby

Belém is famous for its custard tarts, eaten warm with cinnamon and icing sugar. For lunch, the streets behind the main road have simple places serving the prato do dia (dish of the day), grilled sardines in season and bacalhau (salt cod). See the best pastel de nata in Lisbon.

When to go

Tuesday to Friday mornings are usually the quietest. Weekends and rainy days bring more families. Because the museum is indoors and large, it’s a good choice in the heat of a summer afternoon or on a wet day in winter. Remember that most national museums in Lisbon close on Mondays.

Tips

• Kids: the fairytale coaches are a favourite.
• Combine with Jerónimos and the Belém Tower. See Jerónimos and Belém.
• Getting there: tram 15 or the Cascais line train to Belém.
• Opening days: it closes on Mondays, while MAAT closes on Tuesdays. Plan your Belém day with that in mind. See MAAT.
• Rainy days: it’s all indoors and spacious, so it’s a good choice when the weather turns.
• Photos: photography without flash is usually allowed, but check at the entrance.
• Accessibility: the modern building has lifts and wide spaces, so it’s easier for wheelchairs and buggies than many older Lisbon sights. See accessible travel in Portugal.

FAQ

How much is the National Coach Museum?

An adult ticket costs about €15. Children under 12 usually go free, and over-65s and students usually get a discount.

Is the Coach Museum open on Mondays?

No. It’s usually open Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm and closed on Mondays and some public holidays.

Is the Royal Riding School open?

The Royal Riding School closed for renovation in September 2025, and its coaches were moved to the main building. Check the museum’s website to see whether it has reopened.

Is the Coach Museum worth it?

Yes, if you’re in Belém. It’s one of the best collections of its kind in the world, it takes only an hour or so, and children usually love it.

More: the best museums in Lisbon, Lisbon with kids and Lisbon on a rainy day.

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