The National Coach Museum is situated in one of the noble areas of the cosmopolitan Lisboa, the quarter of Belém, on the exquisite ambiance of the old Royal Riding Arena of the Belém Palace.
This is one of the most visited museums in Portugal, presenting an exceptional collection of ceremonial vehicles from the Royal family, dating from 17th Century to late19th Century, considered to be the most remarkable collection in the world of this kind.

The Museum was inaugurated on May 1905, through the efforts of Queen Amélia of Orleans and Bragança, a lady of great sophistication, that was quite aware of the cultural value of the Royal House’s ceremonial vehicles.
In the original collection were 29 vehicles, dress uniforms, harnesses and cavalry accessories used by the Royal Family. After the establishment of the Republic in 1910, the Museum was renamed the National Coach Museum and its collection was increased with other vehicles belonging to the Crown, the Patriarchate of Lisbon and some aristocratic houses.

Today the museum has a collection that is considered unique in the world because of the artistic variety of the magnificent ceremonial vehicles from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, as well as the number of examples.
Exhibiting Coaches, Berlins, Carriages, Chaises, Cabriolets, Litters, Sedan Chairs and Children’s Carts, the Museum allows the visitor to understand the technical and artistic evolution of the means of transport used by the European courts until the appearance of the automobile.

The Museum is also complemented with an annexe on the Duke’s Palace of Vila Viçosa, in the Alentejo region, at about 200 km east of Lisbon, where other important vehicles are located, such as Carriages, Landaus, Calashes, Phaetons, Milords, Clarences, Broughams, Victorias, a Spider Phaeton or even a Mail Coach.

The National Coach Museum is also endowed with a specialized Library and a interesting Educational and Pedagogic Service.