With so many galleries and museums in Lisbon, it can be difficult to decide which ones to visit. Especially if you have a short time. One that I was excited to visit when we traveled to Lisbon, was the National Tile Museum, or the Museu Nacional do Azulejo in Portuguese. Read on to find out more about this place and whether the National Tile Museum in Lisbon is worth visiting.
What is the National Tile Museum in Lisbon?
The National Tile Museum (Museu Nacional do Azulejo) in Lisbon houses an extensive collection of decorative ceramic tiles. The building, which is now a museum, was previously the Madre de Deus Convent. On site, there is an ornate church and a number of historic rooms and features, including the pleasant courtyard.
The collection of tiles dates back to the 15th century, and you can take a tour through the history of ceramics, learning about this important tradition in Portugal. One of the museum show pieces is the huge landscape of tiles showing Lisbon in the 1700s (don’t miss this on the top floor.)
There are also more modern collections, including a really fun exhibition of digitally printed tiles made by the Portuguese contemporary artist O Gringo. Each piece is accompanied by a poem, the combination of carefully selected words with each vibrant piece of art is particularly evocative.
Is the National Tile Museum in Lisbon worth visiting?
The answer to whether the National Tile Museum in Lisbon is worth visiting very much depends on what you are into and how you like to spend your time on vacation. If you like ceramics and the idea of getting lost in a sea of colourful tiles for a few hours appeals, then this is great place for you to visit. I love ceramics and can’t get enough of the TV show, “the great pottery throw down”, so this museum was right up my street.
The National Tile Museum is part museum and part art gallery – fans of all things art are likely to enjoy it. Around the museum, the pieces tell a wonderful story – showing the history of tiles and how they have evolved over time.The tiles themselves also capture important moments in history, such as Lisbon as it looked before the earthquake of 1755. However, The National Tile Museum does lack a little bit of historical and contextual information unless you get the audio tour. So if you favour very informative museums, this may not be the best one for you.
As the building was formerly a convent, there’s also a very ornate church inside and some wonderful historic features too. If you’re looking for a great spot to take photos, then the National Tile Museum in Lisbon offers this!
How long should you spend at the tile museum in Lisbon?
There are three floors at the National Tile Museum (many people don’t notice the third floor) and various exhibit rooms. We recommend spending around two hours visiting the National Tile Museum in Lisbon.
How much does it cost to go to the National Tile Museum in Lisbon?
Tickets for the National Tile Museum in Lisbon cots 5 Euros.Unfortunately the National Tile Museum is not free, but it is one of the cheapest museums to visit in Lisbon.
Do you need to book tickets for the tile museum in Lisbon?
You can just buy tickets when you arrive. In our experience, there are often queues into the courtyard.
You can skip the line if you book tickets online, or use the Lisboa Card.
Find your tickets for the National Tile Museum in Lisbon with Get Your Guide here.
When is the National Tile Museum in Lisbon open?
The National Tile Museum in Lisbon is open every day apart from Monday. It opens from 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 18:00.
Can you buy food and drinks in the National Tile Museum in Lisbon?
There is a small cafe with a delightful shaded terrace inside the National Tile Museum. There you can buy snacks and refreshments.
Where is the National Tile Museum in Lisbon?
The National Tile Museum in Lisbon is in the Xabregas district of Lisbon and a little out of the centre. From Alfama, you can expect to walk about 30 minutes to the museum – but it’s a flat road!
Bus 759 goes from Alfama, or 781 from Case do Sodre. Both buses stop near to the museum.
With all that walking, you might be wondering about what shoes to wear in Lisbon. Find out more here.
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