The history of the oldest museum in Portugal dates back to 1833 and even today it is one of the most important in the country. The museum is best known for its extensive collection of sculptures and paintings by Portuguese artists, and it also exhibits ceramics, glass and antiques found in Portugal.

The museum is housed in the Carrancas Palace.

The museum's collections

The main part of the collections is devoted to Portuguese art, mainly of the 19th and 20th centuries, and covers perhaps all the major Portuguese artists of the period.

The most important artists include Domingo Sequeira, Vieira Portuense, Marques de Oliveira and Soares dos Reis himself, the sculptor who founded the museum. In addition to sculptures and paintings, the museum also houses valuable pieces of furniture, as well as handicrafts.

Admission and opening hours

Opening hours

Monday: closed,
Tuesday: 14:00-18:00.
Wednesday to Sunday: 10:00-18:00.

Admission is 5 eur, Porto Card has a 50% discount.

Official website: museusoaresdosreis.gov.pt

Transportation to the museum

The Museo Nacional Soares dos Reis is about 600 metres west of the centre and can be reached easily by public transport. Get off at the "Hospital St. Antonio" stop, where the historic tram number 18 stops as well as the classic buses of lines 200, 201, 207, 208, 302, 501, 507 and 601.