Step back in time and picture yourself riding in a luxurious carriage with beautiful wheels and ornate decor at the National Coach Museum in Belém in the district of Lisbon.

​Located in Belém, near the Tagus River and the National Palace (the official residence of the President of the Republic), the National Coach Museum is undoubtedly one of the best places to visit in this tourist area of Lisbon!

When Queen Amélie of Orléans and Bragança (wife of Carlos I of Portugal) realized the great cultural value of the Royal House’s ceremonial coaches collection, she decided it had to be shared with the public.

The museum officially opened on May 23, 1905 in the hall of the former Royal Riding Arena. and then moved to it's current location in 2015.

What’s a Coach?

A Coach is a ceremonial and travel vehicle that emerged at the beginning of the 15th century, in Kocs (Hungary). In fact, the term “coach” (used in English) derives from the name of this village, which inspired linguistic adaptations in other European countries: “coche” (in Portuguese, French, and Spanish), “cocchio” (in Italian), “Kutsche” (in German), etc.

Despite being called National Coach Museum, the collection of this museum consists of almost 80 vehicles of various types that belonged both to the Portuguese Royal House and to figures of the clergy and aristocracy. In addition to coaches, you’ll find berlins (a four-wheeled carriage for two seated people​), chaises, litters, sedan chairs, carriages, landaus, and much more!

The National Coach Museum houses the Coach of King João V. King of Portugal from December 9, 1706 until his death in 1750, he was known as the Magnanimous and the Portuguese Sun King.  His reign saw the rise of Portugal to new levels of prestige and prosperity among European courts. 

​The Coach of the Coronation of Lisbon is another of the five embassy coaches that participated in the procession for Pope Clement XI in Rome. 

Ornate painting and decor were magnificent to look at.

I really loved the intricate wheels.  They are works of art!

This is the oldest horse-drawn prisoner transport vehicle known in Portugal.  Access to the interior is through a single rear door which opens only from the outside.  There are 6 individual cells.

This Mail Coach delivered mail between Lisbon and Porto in the late 1850s. 

There's one car in the National Coach Museum - the first automobile that circulated in Portugal in 1895! It’s was made in France from the Parisian brand Panhard et Levassor.  I love antique cars so it was super cool to see!

There was an interesting collection of chess pieces and Fado guitars in a separate area.

Getting There

Located at Av. da Índia 136, 1300-300 Lisboa, Portugal.

It's easy to get to this museum by public transportation.  You can take the bus (lines 28, 714, 727, 729, 751), tram (number 15E) and train (Cascais Line)! 

For more information, visit their official website.

Like museums?  Check out my other Lisbon museum posts.

Smooth, rich and creamy ― everything you could want in a cup of hot chocolate on a rainy day in Lisbon. 

I'm here in Lisbon on my mission to find an apartment for my D7 application and my move to Lisbon hopefully in the next few months.  It's March and it's cold and rainy which means hot chocolate is a necessity.  It's my favorite winter hot drink.

My friend told me about Landeau Chocolate when she and her family were visiting Lisbon in December 2021.  I kept it in my mental databank for future reference.

I looked it up to find that there are three locations in LX Factory, Chiado and El Corte Ingles.  The one in Chiado is located at  Rua das Flores, 70.  That's not far from where I'm staying so I put the address in Google maps and set off.​

They also serve chocolate cake which the New York Times called "devilishly good".  I didn't want to be up all night with that much caffeine that I just opted for hot chocolate.  I'll have to return at some point when I'm living there and give it a try.

Built in the early 1500s to commerate Vasco de Gama's journey to India, the Jerónimos Monastery is just incredible and is an absolute “must-see” in Lisbon.

​A UNESCO site, this monastery was built in 1502 to commemorate Vasco de Gama’s first journey to India. It's one of the most prominent examples of the late Portuguese Gothic Manueline style of architecture in Lisbon. 

I hope you enjoy the slide shows of my photos from my visit.

The cloisters have incredible detail, each column differently carved with coils of rope, sea monsters, coral, and other sea motifs. It symbolizes a time of world exploration at sea. 

Chapter House where you can find the tomb of Alexandre Herculano. 

Refectory

You can also find the tomb of Fernando Pessoa, Portuguese poet, writer, literary critic, translator, publisher and philosopher.  He's described as one of the most significant literary figures of the 20th century.

In 1880 the remains of Vasco da Gama and the poet, Luís de Camões, were transferred to the Jerónimos Monastery church. 

The Lisbon Zoo (Jardim Zoológico) is set in a pleasant environment and the largest zoological gardens in Portugal located in the  Sete Rios.  It's a fun day out for both kids and adults. There's an aquarium and children's farm as well as an enjoyable ride on a cable car to enjoy the animals from above.

I've always enjoyed going to the zoo.  When I lived in Virginia, I used to visit the National Zoo quite often.  I've also try to go to zoos when I visit other destinations like Miami, San Diego, Seattle, and Tampa.

It's like going on a trip around the world, seeing exotic animals that had only previously graced my TV with shows like Animal Planet. I love all kinds of animals and it's fun seeing them up close and personal.  I've been learning Portuguese so it was a real learning experience seeing the animal names in something other than English.

Lisbon Zoo was founded in 1884 and was the first zoological garden with both fauna and flora on the Iberian Peninsula. First located in Parque São Sebastião da Pedreira, the zoo moved several times before settling at its present location in Sete Rios in 1905.

Some of the first animals at the zoo were donated by the Portuguese royal family.

The zoo holds a variety of animals from all over the world.  I hope you enjoy the slide shows of my photos taken at the zoo.

Larger mammals from Africa include elephants (elefante/a), giraffes (girafa), hippos (hipopótamo), pygmy hippopotamus (hipopotamo-pigmeu), rhinoceros (rinoceronte) and zebras. ​

Gorillas, orangutan (orangotango), Mantled guereza (Colobo guereza kikuyu) and other primates.

Big cats include lions (leão/leoa), cheetahs (chitas), Sumatran tigers (tigre-de-sumatra), White Tiger (tigre-branco) and a pair of Iberian lynx.

There are also African antelope (addax), bears, and bison.

Animals on the smaller side included meerkats, pygmy kangaroo and javelina.

Animals with feathers - white pelicans, Greater Rhea (Nandu), Japanese crane (Grou-do-japao)

There is also an impressive selection of flowers which I totally loved!  I saw some of the best Birds of Paradise I've ever seen and that's saying something from someone who lived in SW Florida for about 10 years.

Lisbon Zoo
Praça Marechal Humberto Delgado
1549-004 Lisboa
Tel: 217 232 900

The zoo is open 365 days a year; in summer hours are from 10 am to 8 pm; in winter from 10 am to 6 pm.

Discounts on entry fee with the Lisboa Card.

The nearest station on the Lisbon metro to the Lisbon Zoo is Jardim Zoológico on the Linha Azul (Blue Line).

Need more info?  Check out their official website.

The National Museum of Azulejo in Lisbon is housed in Convento de Madre Deus, a 16th century convent founded by one of Portugal’s most beloved queens, Queen Leonor. Unbeknownst to many, it is both a museum and a national monument, which introduces the idea that there is more here than meets the eye. 

My friends and I visited the museum this past Wednesday when the temperatures soared to 102°F (39°C).