The Discover Portugal blog contains affiliate links and is an Amazon Services LLC Associates Program member. If you make a purchase using one of these links, we may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See the Disclaimer for more information.
Beautiful contemporary art at the Serralves Museum in Porto
If you love museums and are visiting Porto, the Serralves Museum should be on your itinerary! The Serralves Foundation contains the Museum of Contemporary Art, a villa, a park and the House of Cinema. We spent hours here during our visit and even returned at night to see the light art during Serralves em Luz! The area is 18 hectares, so be prepared. It’s like being in nature in the middle of the city, and even in summer, the park is never too busy. And there is also plenty of stuff to see for kids!
What to expect at the Serralves Museum and Foundation
What is Fundação de Serralves?
The Serralves Foundation is a cultural institution in Porto. It includes the contemporary art museum (Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves), Serralves Park (Parque de Serralves), Serralves Villa (Casa de Serralves), and the Cinema House (Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira).
In 1923, Carlos Alberto Cabral inherited Quinta do Lordelo, located on Rua de Serralves. At the time, this location was on the outskirts of Porto, with little around. The property could grow until the 1940s, and the Serralves Museum and Park is currently 18 hectares. The Serralves Museum opened its doors in 1999.
Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves
Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza designed the modern Museum of Contemporary Art, and the building project started in 1991. You enter the museum at the atrium, and near the main entrance, you will find lockers, the gift shop and bathrooms.
The museum building has three floors and various spaces with artworks. You can then explore the Central Room (Sala Central), right and left wings. From the stairs, you reach the basement floor, which has more rooms to explore.
During our visit, there was an exhibition by Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama. Her installations and paintings were in the Central Room and the lower floor and her works even continued outside. The other part of the entrance floor contained works of various artists, many of whom were Portuguese.
Discover Parque de Serralves
After seeing most of the arts, we headed outside to explore Serralves Park. The gardens were designed by Jacques Gréber, and there is a lot to see and do in the 18-hectare park! With the help of a handy map, we could find all the fine arts in the garden, such as the Plantoir by Claes Oldenburg & Coosje van Bruggen, The Curious Vortex by Olafur Eliasson, and the Sky Mirror by Anish Kapoor.
The treetop walk is one of the highlights of the gardens. You can follow a path at the same level as the treetops, and you get a whole new perspective on the unique biodiversity of Serralves Park. The project was designed by architect Carlos Castanheira in collaboration with Álvaro Siza Vieira. Near the treetop path, you can also see the Lake.
You’ll reach the herb and vegetable gardens when you continue to the lower areas of the gardens. There are also many flowers blooming, and there is a small greenhouse. One of the highlights here is the animals. During your visit, they might graze in the meadow, or you can find them in the small farmhouse. From here, you can walk back towards the highest points of the gardens and visit the two buildings at Serralves Park.
Tip!
Enjoy a drink at the beautiful tea house! You can find Casa de Chá next to the Tennis Court.
Serralves Villa
The first building is Serralves Villa. Casa de Serralves is a stunning example of Art Deco architecture, built in the 1930s. It is open to visitors, and they can learn more about its history and architecture.
In front of the villa, you will see the central parterre with fountains and some great viewpoints. The blue water is beautiful, contrasting with the pink of the Serralves Villa and the surrounding plants and trees.
The House of Cinema
The last part of the cultural institution is the Cinema House. Inside Casa do Cinema Manoel de Oliveira, there is a permanent exhibition where you can learn more about Manoel de Oliveira’s oeuvre. There are also temporary exhibitions of moving images, and the house was inaugurated in 2019.
Serralves em Luz in Parque de Serralves
The third edition of Serralves em Luz was in the summer of 2024. At the time of writing, I don’t know if it will be back, but when it does, make sure to return to the Serralves Foundation at night! The Times stated it was one of the 10 best European exhibitions, so fingers crossed, it will return!
The light exhibition takes place in Serralves Park. The theme of the 2024 edition was Dreams and Illusions. The route is 2.5 kilometres long, and you discover 25 installations along the way. If the open-air night exhibition returns, I will add the dates accordingly!
Tickets for the Serralves Foundation
Tickets for the Serralves Foundation cost € 24,00 per person. This ticket gives you access to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Álvaro Siza Wing, Serralves Park, Treetop Walk, Serralves Villa, and the House of Cinema Manoel de Oliveira. If you only want to see the gardens, you can get a park ticket for € 15,00.
Children under 12 can enter for free, and kids between 12 and 17 pay half the price. You can also enjoy a 50% discount with the Porto Card. Portuguese residents pay € 20,00 per person and € 12,00 for the park. Entrance is free for everyone on the first Sunday of the month between 10 AM and 2 PM.
Serralves Foundation opening times
The Serralves Foundation is open from 10 AM to 6 PM, Monday through Friday. On holidays and at the weekend, you can visit until 7 PM. Fundação de Serralves is always open between April and September until 7 PM. Everything is closed on December 25th and January 1st. They close at 4 PM on December 24th and 31st.
How to get to Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves?
It takes just over 30 minutes from Porto city centre to reach the Serralves Foundation. For example, you can take buses 200, 201, 202, or 207 from São Bento Station. You can also take the metro until Casa da Música and take lines 201, 203, or 502. With the Porto Card, you can use public transport in Porto for free.
You can also take a taxi, and Bold and Uber are both available in Porto. The drive from the city centre takes around 20 minutes to half an hour, depending on the traffic.
Things to do nearby
The Serralves Foundation is located east of Porto City and is very close to Foz do Douro. Here, you will find some beautiful beaches such as Praia do Carneiro, Praia dos Ingleses, and Praia do Molhe. The Pérgola do Foz is a stunning landmark to see the sun go down. You can also head over to some amazing restaurants in this area. Some restaurants recommendations are AL Mare, Casa Rocha, Vila Foz, InDiferente, Amélia Foz, and Pedro Lemos.
In Porto, there are many more things to see and do. Enjoy a boat tour on the Douro River, go on a Port wine tasting in Vila Nova de Gaia, or discover the many tiles at Porto Cathedral. You have a fabulous view over Porto here, too, but there are many more viewpoints to discover. On a rainy day you can visit famous landmarks such as Bolsa Palace, the Church of Saint Francis, of the WOW Cultural District.
FAQ
Is Serralves worth a visit?
The Serralves Foundation is fantastic if you like contemporary art and culture. The Serralves Museu de arte contemporânea has many temporary exhibitions, so check the calendar before you go. On the grounds of Serralves Park, you can find permanent artworks, a villa, and the House of Cinema.
How do I get to Serralves from Porto by bus?
The Museu de Arte Contemporânea de Serralves is located in the eastern part of Porto City, and the nearest bus stop is on Avenida do Marechal Gomes da Costa. From São Bento Station in the city centre, you can take bus 201 or 207. The journey will take around half an hour.
How long do I need to see the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art?
You need around 2 hours to see the Serralves Museum. But the Serralves Foundation has a lot more to explore. You’ll need at least half a day to explore the gardens and beautiful buildings.
Conclusion
The Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art is a fantastic spot if you like art! There are regular temporary exhibitions, so keep an eye on what will be on display. The gardens are another must-see. Serralves Park is 18 hectares, and here you will find art deco Serralves Villa, House of Cinema and herb gardens.
You can easily explore for half a day at the grounds of the Serralves Foundation. Afterwards, having dinner in Foz do Douro is a great idea. There are many restaurants and beaches, and it’s a pretty romantic spot to see the sunset. When you’re visiting Porto, and you like art, the Serralves Foundation should definitely be on your itinerary!
Other Porto must-see attractions:
- 25 best sights in Porto for your itinerary
- Discover the beautiful Palácio da Bolsa
- Best Porto boat tours, including the 6 Bridges Cruise
- Miradouros Porto: 8x fantastic viewpoints with the best panoramic views
- Livraria Lello bookstore, the most beautiful bookstore in the world!
- Clérigos Tower tickets, opening times and things to see
- The must-see Porto Cathedral and the beautiful Bishop’s Palace
- 20 ideas for what to do in Porto when it rains
- Discover the beautiful golden São Francisco Church
- Book an amazing Port Wine tasting in Porto
- Visit the Wine Experience Museum at the WOW District
- Love rosé wine? Visit the Pink Palace at WOW!
- Beautiful contemporary art at the Serralves Museum
Pin to read later!
