Best Museums in Lisbon for a Cruise Day

Lisbon’s museums are mercifully manageable. Unlike the overwhelming national galleries of Paris or Madrid, most of the city’s best collections can be genuinely enjoyed in 60 to 90 minutes, which makes them realistic candidates for a cruise day rather than an impossible ambition.

The subjects are distinctly Portuguese. Where else will you find an entire museum devoted to azulejos, the painted ceramic tiles that cover the city’s façades, or one of the world’s finest collections of royal coaches? Lisbon’s museums tell the story of a small country that briefly ran a global empire, and the artefacts, from Indian ivories to Chinese porcelain, reflect that reach.

Museums also solve two classic cruise-day problems. On a rainy or scorching day, they are the most comfortable way to spend your hours ashore. And several of the best sit either near the terminal or in Belém alongside the monuments, so you can fold one into a walking route without a dedicated detour. Most close on Mondays, a detail that catches out many cruise visitors, so check the opening days in each listing below before you commit your day to one.