Top 20 best museums in Portugal2026 ranking

I love old bookstores and I had heard a lot about this one. It is a magical place! The woodwork, the incredible structure of the staircase, and the stained glass windows blew me away. I do not know if the decor really inspired Harry Potter, but I felt very close to that universe. It is a shame that the place is so crowded, as it is hard to move around. Make sure to book a time slot in advance. Entrance costs about 15 euros and includes a 10 euro voucher to buy a book. I think that is a nice concept, even if the bookstore mostly sells major literary classics.

Visiting this gorgeous bookstore is one of my best memories of Porto. Its famous staircase definitely lives up to its reputation. Even though the crowds can make it hard to wander through the place like you would want to, it is a real treat to touch, smell, and flip through the different books. As for the legend about J.K. Rowling, I do not know if it is true, but it is definitely intriguing.

On paper, this bookstore is a must-see: opened in 1906, considered the most beautiful in Europe, and supposedly inspired J.K. Rowling for some of the Hogwarts sets. ... In reality, you end up waiting in an endless line with very strict time slots and paying €10 ($11) just to get in. Inside, only the central double-entry wooden staircase is worth the trip, since the selection of books is unfortunately very limited and really aimed at tourists (The Little Prince, Harry Potter...). There are few books and very little room to move around, but for book fans... it is hard to resist a visit! The pleasant surprise is that you get a discount on a book equal to the price of your entrance ticket!

This gigantic museum consists of two buildings, the foundation and the modern art museum. I spent an entire afternoon there, and there is so much to see. Islamic and Asian arts, Greek and Egyptian antiquities, Impressionist paintings, the collections cater to all tastes. For my part, I loved the section dedicated to Art Nouveau, which features sumptuous glassware by René Lalique. Furthermore, the Japanese-inspired setting of the museum, bordered by a garden, is very pleasant.

I saw these pretty azulejos all over Lisbon and I was curious to learn more about them by visiting this museum. I was not disappointed. The collections are rich and magnificent. I loved the phenomenal fresco of Lisbon, which measures more than twenty meters. With a didactic and historical tour, the museum helped me discover a true art of tile making that has transformed throughout the ages. A local cultural heritage site not to be missed.

I find that the Fatima wax museum is a great addition to a visit to the sanctuary. It explains the circumstances of the Virgin Mary's appearance to the little shepherds. The visit is interesting and informative. You can get through the museum pretty quickly. I recommend visiting it before the sanctuary so you can really understand the whole history behind it.

I found the visit to the Museum of the Apparitions really very interesting. It perfectly complements the visit to the sanctuary. It allows us to learn more about this sacred place and its history, especially the part related to the apparitions of the Virgin. The collections on display are quite rich. You can get through the museum pretty quickly.

Beautiful bookstore/library, but a bit dark, and above all way too cramped given how crowded it gets. I thought this place inspired Harry Potter, but some people say that is fake news? Who knows? All in all, you pay €8 for admission, and then you have to pay ridiculously high prices if you want to buy a book there. In short, this bookstore is taking advantage of its fame to make a ton of cash. We will see if that lasts in the long run?

Modern and contemporary art with a pretty varied mix of paintings, sculptures, and creations. There is plenty of space to walk around and really appreciate the works. The entrance price is reasonable. A nice bonus for families is the kids area where they are introduced to art in a fun way (there are explanations in French in this part of the museum).