The convent was left in a partially ruined state after the great earthquake of 1755 and the…read morecharacter of the ruins were so much more atmospheric to enjoy. Admission was reasonable and if one had a the Lisboa Card then you would get a 2E discount. The small museum in the remaining covered portion of the convent contained a variety of subjects ranging from a Neolithic site, South American mummies, a library to various sculptures, crypts, etc recovered from around Portugal. A bilingual audio visual show was running on an endless loop in the last exhibit room and presented a brief history and overview of the convent that was worth seeing. The main part of the church was an open air exhibit hall with coats of arms, columns, baptismal basins as well as a gift show. I asked about the outdoor lighting as we were there at sunset but staff said none. We spent about 45 minutes here and then headed off for dinner nearby.

A cathedral ruin? Yes please. It's beautiful, unique, historic, and ornate. Well worth a visit…read moreto see it. While the front part is open to the elements, the back part has an actual interior (with a roof) full of a collection of historic objects, mummies, and other odds & ends. Super neat.

This was a great museum and we also really enjoyed the café and gift shop. The museum showcases…read moretiles from the 15th century through today. It was cool to see how the tradition has evolved over the years. Many signs are in both Portuguese and English. All the staff we spoke with were also very fluent in English. This was also the first place I saw a people love us on Yelp sign (in Portuguese) which was super cool. The café serves coffee, beer and wine as well as sandwiches and pasties in a beautiful setting. Part of the café is indoors and part is in a garden courtyard. Beautiful sculptures and flowers. We got here on the bus but you could also Uber. Bus stop is very close but it's a bit out of the way from the main touristic areas. I would budget about two to three hours here depending on how interested you are in the tiles. Definitely have a drink and a snack and enjoy the courtyard garden area. Shop was well stocked, reasonably priced and featured some work by local artisans.

Everyone and their mother told me to come to the tile museum on my recent trip to Lisbon. Honestly,…read moreit was cool to see, but I didn't spend anywhere near the 1-1.5 hours people recommend spending here. It was a 30 minute max type of museum unless you're going to stop and read every single thing about every single tile in this place...which I guess people must do. One thing that was incredibly cool is the panoramic view of what Lisbon used to look like before the big earthquake they had. It's interesting to see what monuments survived, which ones didn't and what stands there today. Overall, if you have extra time during your trip this isn't a bad way to spend it - I just wouldn't plan on being here for hours and hours (unless you really, really want to).

Beautiful piece of Portuguese history to check out!…read more Such a beautiful monastery to check out. You can buy tickets there at the kiosk, online, or through a tour group to skip the line. They have timed entrances and let in at least 800 ppl per time slot. There is a bathroom in upper level and the bottom near the exit. There is a free chapel to check out to the right of the entrance to the monastery. Not a place to miss!

One of the great landmarks of Lisbon and there's a reason why there are along longs congregating…read morefrom early in the day. The monastery is an ornate architectural marvel with incredible artworks and a beautiful courtyard that is an incredible testament the building prowess of that time. There are plenty of sights to see within and again the courtyard was the real highlight. There is a majestic sense of history that really surrounds you as you walk through the hallways and grand rooms that adorn this very large building. It is recommended to arrive early as I mentioned, the lines will get very long. The other aspect to be aware of is that people will harass you outside to buy things, it wasn't clear if they were gypsies or locals but it got a little annoying when a bunch of them swarm you and you really have to be on the lookout for your belongings. This place is also within walking distance of various other notable sights near the river so it's a great place to make as the centerpiece of your Lisbon walking tour.

The Maritime Museum showcases the history and contributions of Portuguese navigators…read more My husband and I toured this museum for 8 euros each. In about one hour, we saw dozens of model and life-sized ships, canons, statues, paintings, coins, informational plaques, the king's and queen's cabins, a gift shop, and more. I felt most interested in the life-sized ships. Overall, I think that this museum is worth a visit if you are already in the area.

We were fortunate to come here as a Gate 1 tour. With tours you can skip the lines, so I like that…read moreabout them, but of course you are on everyone else's schedule. I was torn between admiration of a culture playing to it's strengths (being surrounded by water has it's perks), and Derek L's view of colonialism. There was exactly 1 acknowledgement of how the country benefitted from slavery. It's a slippery slope of acknowledging how one acquired wealth but also realizing it occurred at a major violation of human rights. The room of boats was awesome, esp being able to view it from above on a balcony. The gift shop had some nice holiday themed items.

A welcome quiet and peaceful experience to escape the noise, crowds and chaos of Lisbon…read more Eclectic museum. Collection has a little bit of everything from 5,000 year old artifacts to modern abstract paintings and sculptures. For a complete overview plan to spend about 3 hours here.. If you are lodging downtown, take an uber to get here instead of changing buses several times. You'll save an hour commute.

(Poem) I went there not expecting…read moreTo be wowed or blown away But after just a bit I wished I could waste the whole day The art itself was good, Not all of it my thing But the breadth of works Was really a -maze-ing From Ancient Grecian coins To paintings by Renoir And one of the great collections Of Iranian tiles and arts by far Ok when I say by far, It's not that I knew this myself But I have a friend who's a potter And this museum books on his shelf Most of all the park and space Right outside is great With families picnicking And interesting green space. I felt good going since I'll be back In Lisbon soon someday If you're expecting modern though Pick another place

This had to be one of the highlights of our visit to Portugal. Ironically, this was not on our…read moreoriginal itinerary. We planned to see a castle farther north, but there were wildfires that had the roads closed to get there. The Palace is extraordinary and so well kept up. The grounds were extraordinary. The gardens were lovely. But the interior was magnificent. The palace was built in the 17th century and was spared from the earthquake that destroyed much of this area of the county. So much is still original, and what needed to be has been restored. I particularly liked the ballroom and the various bedrooms. The ceilings were very nice in some of the palace. Overall, it was an awesome experience.

Ever felt catfish by online photos? I felt that. I really enjoyed the outdoors but felt like the…read moretime spent here could have gone to another site. I would skip it and would have spent more time inside Quinta

A wonderful museum of the history of tiles in Portugal. Without a guide it would have been…read moreimpossible to fully appreciate the experience. Our guide was excellent. The only thing that would have improved this experience would be expansion of the ladies restrooms. At least 30 women waited in line while men came and went easily.

Five stars for the amazing classic art I was able to enjoy here today. With COVID going on, masks…read moreare required for the entire visit and I believe that there are capacity limitations. Since I was here in mid-January and the weather was a little drizzly, the crowds were non-existent. Bonus for that! Exhibits are organized by style with rooms that include surrealism, pop-art, conceptual art and minimalist. I was able to enjoy my favorite Piet Mondrian but also a Calder mobile sculpture, Picasso, Modigliani, Pollock, Lichtenstein and more. Two hours for this slice of art that definitely hits me directly. Captions on the artworks in Portuguese and English. The museum has restrooms throughout and a free wifi. And don't miss the sculpture garden (which is free to access). [Review 16617 overall - 133 in Portugal - 127 of 2022.]

UNESCO World Heritage site…read more The tower was completed in 1519. It served as a fortress and a ceremonial gateway for explorers, customs point, a lighthouse, and a political prison. Unfortunately, it was being renovated when we were there.

This is one of many monuments on the riverside that pays homage to Portugal's history and their…read moreexplorers as well. It's a nice area and the tower was majestic though sadly we were part of the many who visited recently during renovations so the scaffolding covered most of the structure as my photo indicates. However, the area was pleasant with plenty of tourists and a little marketplace nearby that you can buy some modestly priced but mediocre quality souvenirs. I was told by our local tour guide to be careful with our belongings here as there were reports of pickpockets I was was somewhat neurotic when I was walking around but I didn't see anything during my visit - but just flagging here as an FYI.

Definitely a castle you should visit when you're visiting Lisbon. If you're staying in Lisbon,…read moreyou'll see it when you are in the downtown area. Do you see it? Seeing a piece of Portuguese history in person is something I've always wanted to do. Since this castle is atop the city, it offers some of the best views of this bustling town. You probably just need a couple of hours to tour the grounds.

Well worth the hike up the hill and price of admission! I really enjoyed visiting Castelo de S…read more Jorge on one of our last days in Lisbon. The views from the top are spectacular. There's a small museum on the garden grounds which features information about the castle's former residents and very cool artifacts like pottery and even bones. I learned a lot about the castle and Lisbon itself including its roots in Islam which I found very interesting. The castle itself is merely ruins at this point but you can still climb up to many of the towers for even better viewpoints of the city below. The peacocks on the grounds were amazing too and we got to see baby peacocks! There's snacks and a gift shop too but we didn't stick around for more than the sightseeing. It was about 15 euros per person for entry, as far as I can remember. I'd recommend visiting this spot!

What a lovely museum about the history of Lisbon located on the University Campus. It is closer to…read morethe airport than the downtown tourist area. It is also called Pepper Palace. It is 3 euro entry fee that is very fair and worth so much more. Gives you the entire history of Lisbon which is very helpful to understand Portugal from 1300 to the great earthquake of 1755 all the way to modern Lisbon. Highly recommend to get a better appreciation of Lisbon. The museum is 2 floors and you get access to the lovely garden with peacocks walking around. Walk the garden because it is very beautiful with a nice breeze. WiFi available to customers. Bathroom: available and clean

History of Lisbon, the largest city in Portugal and the capital. It is the third biggest city in…read morethe Iberian peninsula after Madrid and Barcelona. It is also one of the oldest cities in the world, the second oldest in Europe after Athens. The museum has five branches. This one is with the history of the city, is located in the former Palácio Pimenta, an 18th century palace built by King John V of Portugal for his mistress. Lots of exhibits and you can expect a brief tour to take at least an hour. A proper examination is closer to three hours if you walk the garden (peacocks!) and a get coffee at the small cafe out there if it's a nice day. The city has been run by Romans, Germanic tribes, Moors and then conquered by Afonso Henriques in 1147. Artifacts on display include ceramics from the 6th century BC, gold pendants from the 2nd century AD, Roman column caps and paintings. One small room is dedicated to the history of the massive Estátua de D. José I in Praça do Comércio and the sculptor, Joaquim Machado de Castro. I found this to be an interesting exhibit. Nearly all the captions are in Portuguese and English. If there's an audio guide on offer, I didn't spot it. [Review 19057 overall - 250 in Portugal - 26 of 2023.]