Hi everyone, my name is Amy and I am the cultural travel blogger behind www.templeseeker.com. You may already know that I adore Lisbon, and Portugal these days is pretty much my second home! I have spent a lot of time in Lisbon and Porto, and more recently, I have been learning Portuguese at Coimbra University. Lisbon is a city that always has something cultural to offer, even for those on a tight budget. Today I bring to you the best free museums in Lisbon. You may have to concern visiting on certain days, but soaking up the culture through free museum visits is possible with a bit of planning and inside knowledge.
Discovering Lisbon’s Culture Without Spending a Euro
The capital city of Portugal has long drawn British travellers for its sunshine and seafood — but for culture vultures, the real treasure lies in its museums. From world-famous blue-and-white tiles to maritime legends and contemporary art, Portugal’s capital offers an extraordinary cultural scene.
The best part? Many of Lisbon’s top museums are free on the first Sunday of each month (often with a residency card), and some are completely free year-round. You can also consider getting a Lisbon Card as a tourist which is a paid card, but then allows free entry into many Lisbon Museums. If you time your visit well, you can explore Lisbon’s artistic and historical highlights without blowing your travel budget — leaving more euros for pastéis de nata and vinho verde.
Here are seven of the best free museums in Lisbon, plus tips on how to plan your visit.
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What are the best Free Museums Lisbon has to offer?
1. Museu Nacional do Azulejo
If you visit just one museum in Lisbon, make it this one. Housed in a stunning 16th-century convent, the National Tile Museum tells the story of Portugal’s iconic azulejos — from Moorish geometric designs to elaborate 18th-century storytelling panels.
The panoramic tile panel of Lisbon before the 1755 earthquake is worth the visit alone – head straight up to the top floor by lift to admire this masterpiece. It’s one of my favourite pieces of art in the city.
Photography copyright: All the images in this blog are original photography by Amy Green and are property of @templeseeker (unless otherwise stated). Please do not use these without permission or without giving credit. If you would like to use any of these images please email: amy@templeseeker.com for permission.
Free entry: First Sunday of the month with residency card or included for free with the purchase of a Lisboa Card for Tourists. (check current policy before visiting).
Nearest area: Beato / riverside east Lisbon
2. Museu de Marinha
Set in the monumental Jerónimos Monastery complex in Belém, this museum dives into Portugal’s Age of Discoveries. Expect royal barges, intricate ship models and navigation instruments that once guided explorers around Africa and towards India and Brazil.
For UK readers familiar with Britain’s maritime past, this offers fascinating comparative context.
Free entry: First Sunday of the month (for residents; occasional wider free access days).
Pair with: Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery.
3. Museu do Fado
To understand Lisbon, you must understand Fado. This small but moving museum in Alfama traces the evolution of Portugal’s melancholic musical tradition, later recognised by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Listening stations allow you to hear legendary fadistas — a perfect prelude to an evening performance in Alfama. You can clap for Lisbon Fado, but remember not to clap during the Fado song itself, always wait until the end. Interestingly, if you travel on to Coimbra, people do not clap at all during or at the end of Fado there. In Coimbra, Fado is deeply tied to the academic traditions of the university and is treated as a solemn, poetic, and intimate experience, rather than entertainment.
Free entry: Free Sunday mornings for residents; occasional free cultural days, free Fado in the streets around the area of Alfama.
Best for: Music lovers and cultural historians.
4. Museu do Dinheiro
Housed in a former church near Praça do Comércio, Museu do Dinheiro (the Money Museum) is completely free all year round — making it one of Lisbon’s best hidden cultural bargains.
The Money Museum (Museu do Dinheiro) in Lisbon, is located inside the former Church of São Julião and offers an interactive journey through the history of currency. Visitors can touch a real gold bar, explore rare coins and banknotes from around the world, and engage in multimedia exhibits that cover both economic history and over a thousand years of Lisbon’s history. It is open Wednesday to Sundays from 10am-6pm.
Free entry: Always free.
Location: Baixa (central Lisbon).
5. Museu de Lisboa
Spread across multiple sites, this museum explores Lisbon’s layered history – from Roman ruins to post-earthquake reconstruction and modern urban life.
The Palácio Pimenta site, set in tranquil gardens, is particularly rewarding if you want context before wandering the city.
Free entry: Free on Sundays and public holidays for residents; occasional free days.
Ideal for: First-time visitors wanting historical grounding.
6. Museu Coleção Berardo (MAC/CCB)
Located in the Belém Cultural Centre, this major contemporary art museum showcases works by Warhol, Picasso and Dalí alongside Portuguese modernists.
While policies have shifted in recent years, the museum frequently offers free access periods and exhibitions — worth checking before your visit.
Free entry: Selected days / exhibitions.
Best for: Contemporary art enthusiasts.
7. MAAT – Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia
Even if you don’t enter the galleries, MAAT’s futuristic riverside building is worth visiting. The rooftop terrace is freely accessible and offers sweeping views across the Tagus.
Inside, the museum explores contemporary art, architecture and energy innovation, and often participates in free museum days.
Free entry: First Sunday of the month (check ahead).
Highlight: Sunset views over the river.
Planning Tips for Free Museum Visits in Lisbon
- First Sunday strategy: Many state-run museums offer free entry on the first Sunday of each month. Arrive early — queues can form.
- International Museum Day (18 May): City-wide free entry and free entry to museums across the whole of Portugal.
- Lisboa Card: While not free, it may offer value if you plan multiple paid entries.
- Opening hours: Many museums close on Mondays.
Always check official websites before travelling, as policies occasionally change.
Beyond Free Museums in Lisbon: More Free Cultural Experiences
Lisbon feels like an open-air museum in its own right. Don’t miss:
- Wandering Alfama’s tiled alleys.
- Street art in Mouraria.
- Miradouros (viewpoints) like Senhora do Monte.
- The riverside promenade between Cais do Sodré and Belém.
- Free church interiors such as the beautiful São Roque.
For UK travellers used to London-level entry prices, Lisbon’s accessibility is refreshingly generous.
Final Thoughts: A Cultural City That Rewards the Curious
Lisbon proves you don’t need a big budget to experience world-class culture. With a little planning — especially around free Sundays — you can explore maritime history, soulful music, decorative arts and cutting-edge contemporary exhibitions without spending a fortune.
For readers of TempleSeeker, Lisbon offers that perfect balance: depth, authenticity and artistic richness, all wrapped in Atlantic light and terracotta rooftops. If you enjoyed this blog on the free Museums Lisbon has to offer, you also might like to read…
- How to spend 4 days in Lisbon.
- Is Lisbon worth visiting?
- Churches of Lisbon
- The best free tour Lisbon