Natural History Museums in Portugal
Natural history and marine museums with collections on animals, plants, minerals and the history of the Earth.
Lisbon District (14)
Palácio Nacional da Pena
Palácio Nacional de Queluz
Oceanário de Lisboa
Palácio de Monserrate
Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência
Museu da Lourinhã
Museu de História Natural de Sintra
Museu Geológico
Pavilhão do Conhecimento – Ciência Viva
Museu do Mar Rei D. Carlos
Museu Maynense
EVOA – Espaço de Visitação e Observação de Aves
Museu do Bonsai
Museu de Geociências do DER Técnico
Azores (5)
Faro District (5)
Madeira (5)
Porto District (5)
Coimbra District (3)
Braga District (2)
Bragança District (2)
Castelo Branco District (2)
Viana do Castelo District (2)
Aveiro District (1)
Évora District (1)
Guarda District (1)
Setúbal District (1)
Viseu District (1)
Natural History Museums in Portugal: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 50 natural history museums in Portugal, spread across 15 districts and 35 towns and cities. Most of them are in Lisbon District (14), Azores (5), and Faro District (5).
At the city level, Lisbon (6), Sintra (4), and Funchal (3) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several natural history museums in a single day.
5 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs €7 at the median, and the middle half charge between €4 and €10.
10 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 34 offer dedicated programs for families, and 14 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 natural history museums in Portugal
The best-known natural history museums in Portugal
Palácio Nacional da PenaCastles & Palaces · Sintra
Palácio Nacional de QueluzCastles & Palaces · Queluz
Oceanário de LisboaNature · Lisbon
Palácio de MonserrateCastles & Palaces · Sintra
Museu de História Natural do FunchalNature · Funchal
Museu Nacional de História Natural e da CiênciaNature · Lisbon
Fábrica da Baleia de Porto PimTechnology · Horta
Aquamuseu do Rio MinhoNature · Vila Nova de Cerveira
Ecomuseu Terra MaterRegional · Miranda do Douro
Museu da Ciência da Universidade de CoimbraTechnology · Coimbra
Natural history museums in Portugal with free admission
Natural history museums in Portugal with programs for families
- Palácio Nacional da PenaCastles & Palaces · Sintra
- Palácio Nacional de QueluzCastles & Palaces · Queluz
- Oceanário de LisboaNature · Lisbon
- Palácio de MonserrateCastles & Palaces · Sintra
- Museu de História Natural do FunchalNature · Funchal
- Museu Nacional de História Natural e da CiênciaNature · Lisbon
- Fábrica da Baleia de Porto PimTechnology · Horta
- Aquamuseu do Rio MinhoNature · Vila Nova de Cerveira
- Museu da Ciência da Universidade de CoimbraTechnology · Coimbra
Museu da LourinhãNature · Lourinhã
Wheelchair-accessible natural history museums in Portugal
- Palácio Nacional de QueluzCastles & Palaces · Queluz
- Oceanário de LisboaNature · Lisbon
- Museu Nacional de História Natural e da CiênciaNature · Lisbon
- Museu da Ciência da Universidade de CoimbraTechnology · Coimbra
Museu de História Natural de SintraNature · Sintra
Pavilhão do Conhecimento – Ciência VivaTechnology · Lisbon
Museu Carlos MachadoHistory · Ponta Delgada
Museu de História Natural e da Ciência da Universidade do PortoNature · Porto
Expolab – Centro Ciência Viva dos AçoresTechnology · Lagoa- Museu do Mar e da Terra da CarrapateiraRegional · Aljezur
By district
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many natural history museums are there in Portugal?
Our directory currently lists 50 natural history museums in Portugal across 35 towns and cities.
What are the best-known natural history museums in Portugal?
Some of the best known are Palácio Nacional da Pena, Palácio Nacional de Queluz, Oceanário de Lisboa, Palácio de Monserrate, and Museu de História Natural do Funchal.
Which natural history museums in Portugal offer free admission?
5 museums are free to visit – for example Museu de História Natural de Sintra, Museu do Mar Rei D. Carlos, Centro de Interpretação de Vila do Bispo, and CIRES – Centro Interpretativo do Roaz do Estuário do Sado.
Which natural history museums in Portugal are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 17 are open, such as Palácio Nacional da Pena, Palácio Nacional de Queluz, and Oceanário de Lisboa.
Which natural history museums in Portugal are wheelchair accessible?
10 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Palácio Nacional de Queluz, Oceanário de Lisboa, and Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit natural history museums in Portugal?
A regular adult ticket costs €7 at the median, with prices ranging from €1 to €25.50. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Castles, Palaces & Monasteries · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums