Free entry to museums, monuments and palaces comes into force

As of today, Portugal citizens and residents will have 52 tickets a year to visit the 37 museums, monuments and palaces under public supervision free of charge.

Ajuda National Palace

The Government announced that, from Thursday this week, Portuguese nationals and residents in Portugal will enjoy 52 free tickets to state-run museums, monuments and palaces.

The Minister of Culture, Dalila Rodrigues, had already revealed this intention last May.

This free regime, which began in September 2023, applied only to Sundays and public holidays and now extends to 52 days a year, any day of the week. The measure allows visitors to visit the 37 museums, monuments and palaces managed by the government free of charge.

“Freedom is complete. We can visit any day of the week. Free visits, which until now have been limited to Sundays and public holidays, now have full freedom of action and choice. There is no reason why the Portuguese and residents of Portugal should not visit our museums and monuments,” up to a limit of 52 days, said the Minister of Culture.

To gain access to these spaces, visitors must present their ID card at the ticket offices to register, in order to be counted towards the 52-day limit.

The free admission for 2024 will only account for 22 days of unpaid entry by the end of the year, as the measure comes into force more than halfway through the year.

Here's the list of spaces included in the initiative:

• Alcobaça Monastery

• Sagres Fortress

• Abbot of Baçal Museum

• Alberto Sampaio Museum

• Popular Art Museum

• National Museum of Ancient Art

• Ceramics Museum

• National Museum of Archeology

• National Museum of Contemporary Art of Chiado

• D. Diogo de Sousa Archeology Museum

• Biscainhos Museum

• Conimbriga Museum

• Machado de Castro National Museum

• Fryar Manuel do Cenáculo National Museum

• National Museum of Resistance and Freedom

• Dr Joaquim Manso Museum

• Grão Vasco National Museum

• National Museum of Theatre and Dance

• Soares dos Reis National Museum

• José Malhoa Museum

• National Museum of Music

• Ajuda National Palace

• Guarda Museum

• National Costume Museum

• Terra de Miranda Museum

• Mafra National Palace

• Royal Riding School

• National Coach Museum

• Guimarães Castle

• José de Figueiredo Laboratory

• Fernando de Castro House-Museum

• Palace of the Dukes of Bragança

• The State's Contemporary Art Museum

• Photographic Documentation Archive

• Queen Leonor Museum

• Dr. Anastácio Gonçalves House-Museum

• Ajuda Library

• Church of São Miguel do Castelo

• Royal Treasure Museum

• Church of Santo Amaro, Visigoth Nucleus of Queen Leonor Museum

• Lamego Museum

• Convent of Christ

• Belém Tower

• National Museum of Ethnology

• National Pantheon

• Jerónimos Monastery

• Batalha Monastery