Museu de Portimão

Very nice little museum! We visited with our 2 kids (5 and 7 years old) in August '25 and spent about 1,5 hours there. Very cheap, we paid 4,5€ for 2 adults and kids entered for free. Very interesting to learn about how the sardine factory worked. The museum is located inside the old factory and there are still many original machines there. The old black and white movie explains very well the process from catching fish at sea until the packaging process. Very much recommended.

We had a very good experience. In addition to the educational experience, we have seen modern art exhibitions and an art exhibition with tiles and ceramic material. The works looked very attractive and bright, you can see the artist's effort in each one of them. The history of the sardines was extremely interesting, I loved the development of how in the industrial era, everyone worked and had a place to take care of the children. The process and how everyone had a function was very interesting and I loved it. The toilets in the museum were clean and the price was super affordable, 6 euros per adult. We also saw the process of sinking a fishing boat and how it became a habitat for marine life.

I enjoyed my visit to the Portimão Museum. It’s housed in a beautifully converted old cannery and gives a fascinating look into the town’s industrial and fishing heritage. The exhibits are thoughtfully put together, with a good mix of visuals, artefacts and interactive elements that really bring the stories to life. Unfortunately, our visit was unexpectedly cut short when the building suddenly lost power, everything went completely dark and we were kindly asked to leave. I assume it was an electricity trip or something similar, which was a real shame as we were only partway through and keen to see the rest. That said, what we did see was excellent, and we’d definitely go back if we’re in the Portimão again.

This is very nice local museum. We were positively surprised by the quality of the exposition. The overall disposition of various items is very chaotic and there is no red thread, but items itself are very fascinating. Definitely, it is worth visiting.

Housed in a beautifully restored 19th-century sardine canning factory, the Museu de Portimão offers a fascinating glimpse into the industrial and maritime heritage of the Algarve. The exhibits are well-curated, blending historical artifacts, interactive displays, and multimedia presentations that bring the region’s past to life. Highlights include the detailed exploration of the fishing and canning industries and the immersive reconstructions of local life. It’s a great stop for history buffs and curious travelers alike. Allow 1–2 hours for a visit. It’s free for students. Recommend it!

Very interesting museum reproducing the production process of canned sardines in the first half of the 20th century, along with a reconstruction of other historical periods of the Algarve. Definitely recommend.

An interesting museum built in an old canned sardine factory. The exhibits are interesting with a lot of history, not only about the sardines, but also about the Portimao area. It isn't huge, so about 45 minutes is enough to cover everything. Only minus was the ticket counter as it is also a souvenir shop. There were only a few people in the queue, but they spent about 10 minutes to chose different types of sardine cans as souvenirs. We were wondering how long would it take if there were 10 customers.

This is a great little museum with insights into historical sardine catching and tinning. Most displays are translated into English and there is a wonderful old film showing the history of production.