Museu do Carro Eléctrico

About the museum

The idea of a transport museum in Porto emerged in the 80s, when the tram was being replaced by buses and trolleybuses and the Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto (STCP) began to preserve vehicles representative of its history. The collection needed space, and the former Massarelos Thermoelectric Power Station, which since 1960 had operated only as a substation, was converted into a museum, opened on 18 May 1992.

The building, designed by the engineer Luís Couto dos Santos and inspired by French factory structures, was completed in 1911 and came fully into operation in 1915 to supply the city's tram network. Its power production ended in 1955, and the Machine Room preserves equipment from Switzerland and Germany, used between 1915 and 2012.

The museum preserves the history of urban rail-based public transport in Porto from 1871 to the 1950s. The collection currently has 28 vehicles and includes technical equipment, uniforms, transport tickets and iconographic documentation. The museum also rents out historic trams from the 1920s and 1930s for rides on the Marginal and Restauração lines.

Highlights

• 28 vehicles unique in the history of the tram, restored to their original design
• Machine Room, with original equipment of the power station (1915–2012)
• Industrial building of the former Massarelos Thermoelectric Power Station, beside the Douro
• An open tram to see the interior
• Rental of historic trams for rides

Permanent exhibitions

• Coleção de carros elétricos – Vehicles restored to their original design, showing the history of rail transport in Porto since 1871.
• Central Termoelétrica de Massarelos e Sala das Máquinas – Exhibition on the former power station, with machines from Switzerland and Germany used for power generation between 1915 and 2012.

Founded

1992

Operated by

STCP – Sociedade de Transportes Colectivos do Porto

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Tram Parade Day (first Saturday of May), International Museum Day (18 May) and the “Entrelinhas” event (one Saturday or Sunday in December).

Discounts for holders of transport passes (for example, Porto Card: €4; tram ride: 30% discount on the 1-trip ticket and 50% on the 2-day ticket) and Ciência Viva (50%). Free admission also for holders of the Porto Ponto card, members of ICOM and APOM, teachers and journalists on duty, STCP employees and unemployed people (solidarity ticket office, limited to 2 entries per day). The museum ticket is not valid for tram journeys.

Accessibility

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

Adapted toilets, parking for reduced mobility, visits for blind and partially sighted people, and visits in Portuguese Sign Language.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Kids’ birthday parties

The museum organises birthday parties with a visit to the collection and a family events programme (“Famílias Elétricas”), published in the museum's agenda.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in Massarelos, on the Marginal of the River Douro. By train, get to São Bento and take bus 500 to the museum stop.

Amenities & dining

• Café: not available
• Restaurant: not available
• Coat check
• Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi for visitors. There is no café or restaurant; their opening is planned in the medium term. Cloakroom with shelf and hooks.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

Up to 400 guests.

Machine Room (up to 400 people) and Mini Nave (about 100 m², up to 80 standing or 60 seated); historic tram rental is also available.

Plan your visit