Lisbon Military Museum image

Lisbon Military Museum

Tourist attraction Museum Army museum

Baroque rooms with displays of cannons, wagons & armor, plus frescoes depicting Portuguese battles. People often mention museum, military, history, visit, collection, rooms, building, worth, cannons, interesting,


Address

R. Museu da Artilharia 51, 1100-366 Lisboa, Portugal

Website

www.exercito.pt

Contact

+351 21 884 2429

Rating on Google Maps

4.60 (1.2K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 5 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: museum (38) military (30) history (26) visit (17) collection (16) rooms (15) building (12) worth (11) cannons (9) interesting (9)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Diana F. 1 year ago on Google
    This museum is a hidden pearl . If you like history you need to visit . Lots of very curious pieces, like the original clock where all army clocks would follow, amazing celling paintings, cannons of over 8 tons, lots of Templar pieces, the armory of D.Sebastião, that despaired in Ceuta, so many other things. Rooms and rooms of interesting pieces . Go you will not regret. You will take around 1:30 m to visit all . The ticket is 3 euros. It has restrooms.
    9 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 HUGH H. 1 year ago on Google
    €3 entry . I spent nearly 2 hours. The rooms alone are beautiful,remember to look up at the ceilings. There are many cannons very large and small. Uniforms , weapons through the ages. Lots of rifles and light machine guns. And a room full of model guns too. Very impressive building.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 S L. 7 months ago on Google • 274 reviews
    The exhibits were lovely but by the end we were almost forced rushed away from canons for no apparent reason. The entry was hidden in the building works so we wasted first 15 minutes by different gate very confused if it's closed or not. They could have put up a sign by the gates that clarify where you need to go if the gate is closed.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Evan H. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing collection of weaponry throughout the ages. The Museum almost felt like an art collection as well, very visually pleasing. I wish there was a bit more information on the actual history of the various wars, but seeing everything was cool. Only needed 1 hour.
    5 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ralf R. 6 months ago on Google • 308 reviews
    Ein Museum,in dem man, sofern man sich für dieses Thema interessiert, Stunden verbringen kann. Die Exponate sind aufwendig und liebevoll arrangiert. Hier gibt es Wissenswertes aus allen Epochen portugiesischer Militärgeschichte zu erfahren. Die Erläuterungen der Ausstellungsstücke sind meist in Portugiesisch, Englisch und Französisch vorhanden aber leider (noch) nicht durchgängig.

  • 4/5 Rose T. 6 months ago on Google • 115 reviews
    This place is bigger than it looks from outside. Expect to walk through many rooms showcasing military equipment from the different wars that Portugal has fought in. Missed having more explanatory points highlighted in English. There is ornate baroque architecture with colourfully-appointed rooms. Impressive paintings line the many walls. Don't forget to experience the basement, housing numerous cannons, carriages and other military equipment.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Kathi H. 2 months ago on Google • 235 reviews New
    Somehow we were the only people in the whole museum when we visited which was great, we had every room to ourselves. For 3 euros this museum is great value. The exhibits are interesting but the building itself is worth seeing too, some absolutely beautiful rooms. While the collection is impressive it felt a bit all over the place - jumping back and forth through the different centuries.

  • 5/5 Guilherme Maciel F. 7 months ago on Google • 231 reviews
    It's worth the visit. Its entrance is NOT included in the Lisboa Card. The museum has a vast collection of military equipment. If you are fan of military history, this museum is a required visit

  • 5/5 Oleh S. 5 months ago on Google • 158 reviews
    Time spent: 75 minutes It is recommended to come 1.5 hours before closure [17:00] Reservation is not required (!)Entrance from the Santa Apolonia's side Price: +/- 3 euros Queue: no The museum is incredibly beautiful and has many rooms with exhibits: from the Middle Ages to the Second World War. Attention: this museum is part of a military zone, so access to certain places is restricted.

  • 5/5 Branko S. 4 months ago on Google • 11 reviews
    The Lisbon Military Museum is a great place to visit if you're interested in learning about history. The museum has a big collection of items related to the military history of Portugal. I was very impressed by the amount of items on display. There are artifacts from wars, uniforms, weapons, and a variety of other items. The museum is very well-maintained and the staff is very friendly and knowledgeable. I had a great time learning about the history of the military and the country. It was interesting to see how the military has changed over time. The museum also has a great selection of souvenirs and books for sale. They also have a library where you can learn more about the history of the military. I would definitely recommend visiting the museum if you're in the area. It's a great way to learn about the history of the military in Portugal.🇵🇹
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 chantal m. 4 years ago on Google
    Fantastic museum to visit in a couple of hours! From art to weapons to big canons ... very interesting and enjoyable museum. See pics for more info. A must if you are docked with cruise ship, just in 3min walking distance from terminal.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Graham T. 3 months ago on Google • 135 reviews New
    This is a remarkable museum. Huge by any standards, it features amazing artworks in addition to its impressive collection of military artefacts. It was almost empty when we visited. A must visit when in Lisbon.

  • 5/5 Nicole S. 3 months ago on Google • 17 reviews New
    Visited the museum before departing for a cruise in November. Within walking distance of the port. My husband is a huge military history buff, but I am not. He loved seeing all of the varieties of cannons in the beginning of the museum and then the different artifacts going through Portugal's history. For me, I thought it was cool to see all of the different types of cannons and learned how decorative they were. The building itself was also very beautiful on the inside with murals and painted ceilings. It took about 2 hours for us to make it through. Because of construction we had to enter through a side entrance, military security was present at the gate but we just said we were there to visit the museum and they let us right through. Highly recommend if you are interested in history, military stuff, or even art because of how the building is designed/decorated.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sarah M. 6 years ago on Google
    GO HERE. I am not a history or military buff, but was blown away by the sheer size and opulence of the rooms of this museum, and the collection of weaponry etc. What's more, we literally had the place to ourselves. I would have paid five times the price (€3) to see it! Don't hesitate, just go :)
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 J W. 8 months ago on Google
    Fantastic huge museum with large collections. Some rooms are more beautiful than a palace! Paintings on the ceilings are extraordinary. Some rare pieces are really educational. No queues. River front.€3 entry. Highly recommended.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Bráulio P. 3 years ago on Google
    A hidden gem i only recently had a chance to visit. This should be a mandatory visit for school kids and everyone interested to know about the history of Portugal. Its such an enriching experience and every single room is packed with historical details. Highly recommend.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Rory B. 9 months ago on Google • 10 reviews
    It is a very interesting museum for those with an interest in military history. The museum building internally is incredibly decorative. The entrance, which is round at the back, was hard to find, and at first, I thought the museum was closed. It is very reasonable to get in at 3€ per person with lots to see. Some of the exhibits are translated into English. It's definitely worth a visit.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jimmy U. 10 months ago on Google
    3Euro to enter, best deal in town. If you like military history and memorabilia...then don't skip this place. The building is very old, the rooms are highly decorative without the military items, so look up too. Around 1.5 hours to see everything.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ryan N. 1 year ago on Google
    Absolutely incredible museum, all for €3 entry. A vast collection of Portuguese armaments, from medieval times up until more modern warfare, all housed inside a stunning Baroque building from the 14th century that served as the Royal Arsenal. Some highlights from the collection include the impressive painted ceilings that I included pictures of, Vasco de Gama's sword, and vast quantities of artillery guns. You can easily spend hours here, and it isn't just for military buffs; lots of fascinating art pieces and painted walls/ceilings!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 louise w. 2 years ago on Google
    Interesting place to spend a wet afternoon. Amazing sword and canon displays - lots to learn if you are interested in Portuguese military history and if you’re not, lots of cool artifacts to look at . Super cheap 3euro entrance fee - cash only.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Jung L. 1 year ago on Google
    It’s deceptively big inside and had large collection of guns, cannons, swords, insignias, model weapons, gears, and other military artifacts from different periods. If you like these type of weapons, especially older trifles with ornate metal works, stop by. It’s only three euros and you can spend a good forty minutes. I am taking a point off for not having English translation for much of the items though. This seems like a relatively inexpensive fix.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ian B. 5 months ago on Google
    This is simply one of the best military museums I have visited in either Europe or North America. The artifacts are labelled correctly, and informatively without any political or social bias. The collection is fantastic and authentic with very few replicas, and those they have are well labelled. A must for the military enthusiast who wants to enjoy the experience without intrusive audio-visuals or other gadgets. The building is magnificent and worth a visit in its own right. A must see, plan several hours and then to return.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Paweł T. 1 year ago on Google
    Totally worth to visit. Big museum with lots to watch. Even if u dont care about swords and guns its worth to visit just to see the rooms. At 3€ its a must see
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 John D. 1 year ago on Google
    A must see for history buffs in Lisbon. More ancient Portuguese canons than you can count along with a staggering display of pistols, rifles, flintlocks, knives, swords, uniforms, and paintings. The inner courtyard is the highlight with the history of Portugal’s conquests presented in blue azulejo tiles with the canons that fought the conflicts in front. The museum itself is extraordinary, an historic arsenal and museum now for over 100 years. Only €3 a bargain.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Ana A. 1 year ago on Google
    Unexpectedly this is very unusual museum. The inside interior is not that you expect when here 'Military museum'. It's reach, full of stucco, frescoes. So, even if you are not a fan of military topic, it seems interesting place to visit. And you can see photos attached to this review. We came here unexpectedly and it was a free day for everybody
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Witold K. 2 years ago on Google
    The Military ⚔️ Museum in Lisbon Portugal 🇵🇹 has a collection of artillery (one of the world’s largest) and war-related pieces displayed in 34 sumptuous baroque rooms, most of them named after national heroes such as Vasco da Gama and Prince Henry the Navigator.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Mohammad A. 2 years ago on Google
    Amazing collections or canons, rifles, swords and other weaponry throught the ages. Visually pleasing interior design. Ticket cost 3 euros. Great place to spend an hour learning about Portugese military history. Unfortunately, some showrooms do not English language.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Maryam K. 3 years ago on Google
    Its an amazing museum and should be appreciated more. the museum is designed very well and gives the feeling of being inside the atmosphere of war. And the fact that the rooms are carefully designed according to the era of military history. free entrance on Sundays before 14:00
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Martin 5 years ago on Google
    Wow. That’s a museum to go to if you are halfway interested in military and old stuff. There are so many big guns, models, swords of all kind. Many with English and French description. Most amazing to me was the old-fashioned setting, just great, no pseudo, posteriori smart explanations of good vs. bad, no multimedia, no war sounds, no doomsday displays: just breathe the smell of past centuries in rooms that are incredibly beautiful (could easily be a palace). Go on Sunday morning and it’s free.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Elizabeth J. 1 year ago on Google • 61 reviews
    The building alone is worth the 3 euro price of admission. Make sure you have Google image translate as almost everything is in Portuguese. This is a good museum for kids with over 200 cannons and lots of different exhibits like a whole room of military hats and a room of uniform figurines. Make sure to leave at least an hour before closing to look through the 26 rooms. Easily accessible by bus, we visited after a day at Belem without having to transfer.

  • 5/5 Eric P. 4 months ago on Google • 41 reviews
    Sehr interessantes Museum in historischen Räumen. Da sich rund um das Gebäude grade Bauzäune befinden, ist der Eingang ein wenig versteckt gelegen. Die Sammlung ist sehr umfangreich und umfasst alle Epochen der portugiesischen Geschichte.

  • 5/5 Lewis W. 1 year ago on Google
    Well worth the visit! Covers a lot of space and has a very unique collection of military history items. Beautiful interior. Also still in use by the Portuguese army.

  • 5/5 John “John Stuart” E. 8 months ago on Google
    This place is absolutely amazing. So much history, like most of Lisbon. I really love this museum.

  • 5/5 David S. 11 months ago on Google
    Great museum, well worth the 3 euros, there's a lot to see. It spans military history from before Middle Ages Portugal through modern wars. Enormous collection of cannons, and a tight layout of rooms packed with paintings, tiles, statues, and other artifacts. Not a curated polished experience, but that makes it easier for you to find your own interests.

  • 5/5 Miriam M. 1 year ago on Google
    AMAZING! I live in Lisbon from years now, best museum in town, I'm sure. Such a pity that not many online guides talk about it, absolutely worth it. If you are in Lisbon, don't miss it!

  • 1/5 Se T. 1 year ago on Google
    The artwork was more interesting than the artifacts. Portugal was the epicenter for slavery and colonization but there no mention of slavery in relation to Portugal's colonial triumphalism. Very disappointed! The building itself is cool and the history of the building is interesting, but the lack of engagement with slavery was rather offputting.

  • 5/5 Daniel H. 1 year ago on Google
    Military museum with great collection of cannons and other militaria through history.

  • 5/5 Wendi C. 2 years ago on Google
    What a great find! Although there was a lack of English and explaination of the artifacts. But overall the collection was extensive and the interior is so ornate! Very worth the visit!

  • 4/5 Mirna T. 2 years ago on Google
    It could be 5 if they could put some english translation below exponents. The museum looks nice, it is interesting to see all those old stuff from the war. You can't pay with card, only cash.

  • 4/5 Eyal A. 2 years ago on Google
    Who like history, army and model kits.... Like me.... Will enjoy this place

  • 5/5 Vlad M. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice museum. Free entrance on Sundays till 2pm.

  • 5/5 Julia E. 2 years ago on Google
    A really nice army museum. Not overcrowded with exhibition stuff and really vivid arranged. Liked that a lot!


Call +351 21 884 2429 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible parking lot

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