Museu dos Transportes e Comunicações

About the museum

The Museu dos Transportes e Comunicações occupies the building of the Alfândega Nova do Porto (New Customs House), on the right bank of the Douro, next to the historic area of the city. The building was inaugurated in 1869 and designed by the French architect Jean Colson, who relied mainly on iron combined with stone, brick and wood. It consists of a central body and two symmetrical side wings, and the top floor of the central body is covered by a unique structure in Riga oak.

The Associação para o Museu dos Transportes e Comunicações was constituted in 1992. Two years later the renovation of the building began, to a design by the architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, and the museum took on the mission of preserving the memory of the Customs House in its former customs context and of explaining the role of transport and communications in the evolution of society. In 2014 it was a finalist for the European Museum of the Year Award (EMYA).

Today, on the main floor overlooking the Douro, the museum presents the exhibition “Metamorfose de um Lugar: Museu das Alfândegas”, with images, documents, furniture and working tools from everyday customs life. The offer is completed by the Painel Ribeira Negra, by Júlio Resende, the exhibition “O Motor da República”, on the cars of the Presidents of the Republic, and an interpretive route through the building itself.

Highlights

• Alfândega Nova building by Jean Colson (1869)
• Exhibition “Metamorfose de um Lugar: Museu das Alfândegas”
• Painel Ribeira Negra by Júlio Resende, 40 metres long
• “O Motor da República”: the cars of the Presidents of the Republic
• Interpretive route through the building and the customs library

Permanent exhibitions

• Metamorfose de um Lugar: Museu das Alfândegas – Exhibition on the customs memory of the building, with images, documents, furniture and working tools, and on the transformation of the site into a museum and congress centre.
• Painel Ribeira Negra, de Júlio Resende – A panel 40 metres long and 3 metres high, one of Júlio Resende's studies for the azulejo panel next to the Túnel da Ribeira.
• O Motor da República: os carros dos Presidentes – Exhibition, in partnership with the Museu da Presidência da República, on the history of the Republic since 1910 and the vehicles used by the Presidents.

Operated by

Associação Museu dos Transportes e Comunicações (AMTC)

Admission & discounts

The exhibition “O Motor da República: os carros dos Presidentes” costs €3 per person. The exhibition “Metamorfose de um Lugar: Museu das Alfândegas” (Tuesday to Friday) and the Painel Ribeira Negra are free of charge, except on guided visits.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The building has facilities that allow easy access for people with reduced mobility, and two wheelchairs, subject to prior reservation.

Kids & families

• Family tours & workshops

The educational service organises workshops and exploratory routes, such as treasure hunts around the building, for schools and families.

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café

There is a café in the building.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit