National Museum of Ethnology

The National Museum of Ethnology in Belém houses approximately 40,000 objects representing cultures from Africa, Asia, South America, and traditional Portuguese societies. The collection includes tools, textiles, masks, and everyday items from different parts of the world.

The institution was founded in 1965 as an overseas ethnology museum and later renamed when it joined the Institute of Portuguese Museums. This change reflected a shift in focus that highlighted Portuguese cultures more prominently.

The Portuguese Rural Life galleries display everyday tools and household objects that researchers collected from different regions across the country. Visitors can observe how people once worked and arranged their homes.

The museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday afternoon through Sunday, though opening hours vary by day. It is helpful to check ahead to confirm exact times, as hours differ throughout the week.

The museum offers guided tours through storage rooms where visitors can see objects not regularly on display. This behind-the-scenes experience reveals a large portion of the collection normally kept hidden.

Location: Belém

Address: Av. da Ilha da Madeira, 1400-203 Lisboa

Opening Hours: Tuesday 14:00-18:00; Wednesday-Sunday 10:00-18:00; January 01,May 01,June 13,December 25 off;easter off

Phone: +351213041160

Website: https://mnetnologia.wordpress.com

GPS coordinates: 38.70470,-9.20841

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:01