National Museum of Natural History and Science

Overview

The Museu Nacional de História Natural e da Ciência occupies the buildings of the former Polytechnic Academy, combining natural history collections with an attached botanical garden. Its mineral and zoological collections date to the 18th century.

Highlights

• Mineral collection: Over 3,000 specimens including rare Portuguese geological samples.
• Botanical Garden: A lush 4-hectare garden with subtropical trees, a butterfly greenhouse, and lily ponds.
• Science galleries: Interactive exhibits on physics, chemistry, and natural history.

History

The collections originate from the 18th-century Royal Museum of Natural History, destroyed in the 1755 earthquake and rebuilt. The current museum was reorganized in 2011 to merge the former natural history and science museums.

Visitor Tips

• Botanical garden: Worth the visit even without entering the museum — accessed separately.
• Quiet alternative: Far less crowded than Belém district museums.
• Duration: 1–1.5 hours.