National Coach Museum Lisbon: all you need to know

If you love museum visits, Belém in Lisbon is the place to be! There are many museums, including the National Coach Museum. Museu Nacional dos Coches contains two museums: the new Coach Museum and the Royal Riding Hall.

The museum’s collection contains an incredible amount of carriages belonging to the former Portuguese royal family. During your visit, you’ll learn what the coaches were used for, and you will make a journey through time as the carriages evolved.

The National Coach Museum Lisbon is the most visited museum in Belém and can easily be combined with visiting the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery. If you prefer visiting more museums, visit the famous MAAT Museum, Quake, or the Museum of Contemporary Art—MAC/CCB.

If you love history, you will enjoy seeing the horse-drawn carriages in the National Coach Museum Belém. In this guide, I will happily share how to get there, how to get tickets, and tell you when the museum is open.

The buildings of the National Coach Museum

You’ll discover two unique museums in the heart of Belém, Lisbon. They are the National Coach Museum (Museu Nacional dos Coches in Portuguese) and the Old Royal Riding School. The new building, designed by Brazilian architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, opened its doors in 2015 and blends in well with the Belém monument area.

The Royal Riding School is located on the other side of the street and was inaugurated by Queen Amélia of Orleans and Bragança in 1905. The construction of the current Royal Riding School started in 1787, including the main hall, which is 50 meters long and 17 meters wide. It was used for training horses, horse riding exhibitions, and games, and from the upper balconies, you had a great view.

The top floor of the Royal Riding School contains columns, and the azulejo tiles were added in 1791. Francisco de Setúbal, Francisco José de Oliveira, Joaquim José Lopes, Nicolau Delerive, and other painters created the stunning interior decoration.

The Royal Riding School became the first coach museum in the world, but very soon, it became clear there was not enough space. Hence we can enjoy two museums nowadays.

The collection at the National Coach Museum

A visit to the Carriage Museum Lisbon is nearly overwhelming. There is such a vast collection of carriages to discover! Thankfully, the museum created an app. With the app, you can see all the carriages and receive more background information about the coaches. There are also signs next to each carriage with further information about the horse-drawn carriages, sedan chairs, and berlins.

You’ll start your journey in the new museum with the oldest carriage in the collection, the Coach of King Philip II, which dates from the 17th century. Many more ancient coaches are on display, such as the Coach of Queen Maria Francisca of Savoy, also from the 17th century, and the ceremonial coach of Pope Clement XI, from the 18th century.

The three coaches for Pope Clement XI were built in Rome in the Baroque Italian style. The carriage is one of the most beautiful and is lavishly decorated with gold.

The collection also includes several unique coaches and berlins (a new vehicle designed by Berlin). Examples include the Processional Berlin, a Cabriolet for Children, the Charabanc, and a Dog Cart. You’ll also discover that the coaches were not only used by members of the Portuguese royal house but that some of them had a broader purpose.

Carriages were also useful for deliveries. Examples are the Mail Coach from the 19th century and the prisoner’s coach. Beautifully painted Sedan Chairs were also used as transport vehicles without wheels.

The collection at the Royal Riding School

The collection at the Royal Riding School is similar but slightly smaller. The main hall at the Royal Riding School was used for equestrian games. Upstairs are two narrow galleries where the royal family and the court would attend the games.

An example of the game is the Alcanzias Race, where the riders hurl the Alcanzia (a ball made from clay) towards the opponent’s shield. The team that breaks the most balls would win. The Race of Heads was the most challenging game due to speed and skills.

Temporary exhibitions at the Royal Riding School

The second room at the Royal Riding School is used for temporary exhibitions. At the time of writing, you can visit unique collections of the Fire Bridge Regiment. You’ll discover fire brigade carriages, hydraulic pumps, and stepladders.

How to get to the National Coach Museum and the Royal Riding School

The museum is located at Praça Afonso de Albuquerque in Lisbon. It’s a short walk between the two museums.

The easiest way to get there is by tram. Tram 15 leaves from Praça do Comércio in the city centre and stops in front of the museum.

From Cais do Sodré, you can take the train towards Cascais and get off at Belém Station. 

Bus 28, 714, 727, 729, and 751 all stop close to the museums. Please click here for more information on Lisbon’s public transport system.

National Coach Museum opening times

The new National Coach Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 6 PM, with the last entry at 5:30 PM.

The museums are closed on holidays, which are January 1st, May 1st, Easter Sunday, June 13th, December 24th and 25th.

Other nearby places in Belém

Belém is known for its many museums and historical sights, and it’s easy to spend an entire day in this area of Lisbon. You can also visit the Contemporary Art Museum – Centro Cultural de Belém, the Popular Art Museum, MAAT, and Museu de Marinha. But most people visit Belém to see the gorgeous UNESCO site Jerónimos Monastery.

Next door, you can taste the famous pastel de nata at the one and only Pastéis de Belém. You can visit the monument Padrão dos Descobrimentos and the Belém Tower along the Tagus River.

Or how about a 2-hour sailing trip on the river!? The views over Lisbon are truly phenomenal, and it’s a unique way to end your day in Belém. Are you looking for some shade instead? There are gorgeous parks like the Tropical Botanical Garden and Jardim da Praça do Império.

Staying in Belém

There is good news for those who can’t say goodbye to Belém. The area is excellent for staying overnight! There are plenty of hotels and apartments available during your stay. You reach Lisbon’s city centre in only a few minutes, and Belém is conveniently located on the tramline to Cascais. Check the accommodations below to make the most of your trip to Belém!

FAQ

Conclusion

Museu Nacional dos Coches is perfect for those who like to learn more about the former Portuguese royal family and their means of transport. Not only will you see ancient carriages used for marriages and official gatherings, but you’ll also discover coaches used daily. Both the National Coach Museum and the Royal Riding School are well worth a visit when you visit Belém in Lisbon.

Discover other incredible museums!

• MAAT Lisbon – Discover the city’s favourite art museum in Belém
• Explore Portuguese heritage in the Popular Art Museum in Lisbon
• Visiting the National Tile Museum and Madre de Deus in Lisbon
• Lisbon’s fabulous Fado Museum in the heart of Alfama
• The National Coach Museum and the Old Royal Riding School in Belém
• Enjoy mesmerising historical art at the Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon
• Join the Lisbon Art Gallery Tour To Spark Your Imagination
• Quake Museum Lisbon: A shaky but groundbreaking and fantastic experience!
• Discover the ruins of the Carmo Convent in Lisbon
• Beautiful contemporary art at the Serralves Museum in Porto

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