Culture, culture and more culture. Mix a little bit of history, science and sports, and you have yourself Porto museums to visit during your stay.
Museums of any kind are something that always shapes the identity of a city, and Porto is no exception. If you’re into contemporary art, photography, or even football, you have a place to go. Check out our list.
Centro Português de Fotografia (CPF)
Occupying the building that used to be a very famous prison, CPF was created in 1997 and dedicates itself to photography. It’s a gorgeous building on the outside, filled with history (the famous Portuguese author Camilo Castelo Branco was incarcerated in here). There are always contemporary photography exhibits available to visit, a museum and free guided tours. For example, until march 25th, you may see the exhibition “Ilha”, about the social housing that existed in Porto during the 20th century. If you are a photography lover, you can drool over the beautiful camera collection.
Location:Campo Mártires da Pátria
Schedule: Tuesday-Friday: 10am-12:30pm and 2pm-5pm / Saturday-Sunday: 3pm-7pm / Closed on Mondays
Free admission
Also: Book A Tour And Learn More About The Jewish Inheritance In Porto (60€/person)
Museu de Serralves
Photo courtesy of: Serralves Museum
The Museum of Contemporary Art of Serralves is included in the Serralves Foundation and built on its incredible property. It was designed by the famous Portuguese architect Siza Vieira, and it features the marriage between contemporary art and culture. It’s mostly a house for temporary exhibitions and music, dance and acting performances. Several artists have had their work on display there: Joana Vasconcelos (website), Paula Rego (Facebook page), Joan Miró (wikiArt page)… Right now and until February, you have the opportunity to see some rare works of Eduardo Arroyo (Artnet page), Paula Rego, Raymond Hains (Artnet page) and more, now owned by the Foundation.
Take the opportunity for a stroll in the gardens and for a meal in the museum’s amazing restaurant.
Location: Rua D. João Castro 210
Schedule: Monday-Friday: 10am-6pm / Weekends and festive days: 10am-7pm
Admission: 10€/free admission on the first Sunday of every month until 1pm
ALSO: Visit MMIPO Museum. Skip the line and get tickets here (5€/person)
Museu da Imprensa
Photo by: Raphael Alvim
This Porto museum’s focus is on press, newspapers and graphic arts. It’s considered to be one of the best in the world regarding this theme, for the pieces are continuously on exhibition. It is actually the only museum of the kind “alive”, in the Iberian Peninsula. Printing presses, from different eras are available to see, as well as important aspects in the history of printing and journalism. It’s famous for being the host of PortoCartoon exhibitions, a focal point for humorous/satirical design in journalism.
Location: Estrada Nacional 108, nº206
Schedule: Monday-Friday: 10:30am-12:30pm and 2:30pm-6:30pm / Saturday-Sunday: 2:30pm-6:30pm
Admission: 2€/pax on week days, 1€/pax on weekends/festive days
Museu Nacional Soares dos Reis
This museum is installed in a palace built in the 18th century. It’s the oldest public art museum in the country, having been opened as such in a particular historical time for Porto, during the liberal revolution in Portugal. It now houses permanent exhibitions for Portuguese painters from the 19th and 20th centuries, and for decorative arts. Until the 18th of march it’s the host of “José de Almada Negreiros: Desenho em Movimento”, presenting the work of this modernist portuguese painter and writer, known for his work with geometry in visual arts.
This national museum also has a very nice cafeteria, for a little break and a cup of coffee.
Location: Palácio dos Carrancas, Rua D. Manuel II
Schedule: Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-6pm / Closed on Mondays
Admission: Free admission for unemployed EU citizens / normal ticket: 5€
AlSO: Book A Napoleon Tour In Porto (35€/person)
Museu Futebol Clube do Porto (Porto FC Museum)
Photo by: Raphael Alvim
If you are a sports fan, specifically football, you must visit this museum, dedicated to FCPorto and its history. It features the testimonials of famous players from Deco to Falcão and a display of the cups won by the historic club since its foundation in 1893. It stands out for its interactive displays and use of technology during the visit. The museum also has a very nice caffé, both incorporated into the stadium of Dragão.
Location: Via Futebol Clube do Porto
Schedule: Monday: 2:30pm-7pm / Tuesday-Sunday: 10am-7pm
Admission: 15€, this ticket includes a tour of the museum and the stadium. On match days, since the stadium in unavailable for visits, prices drop.
What museum intrigued you the most? Let us know which one you are planning on including in your visit!
