Museum of the Orient

Wonderful place. Reminds me of V&A. Can't see it all in one day. 2 temporary exhibition spaces included in entry ticket. We were wowed by the snuff bottles exhibition. It was a public holiday on our visit and the place was really quiet. The restaurant has nice views and we were thinking of eating there but the menu was suspect for vegetarian/ vegan options. The server seemed unsure. One option had gorgonzola which I don't think is vegetarian. We decided not to which was a shame.

The Museum of the Orient, one of the most fascinating museums to visit in Lisbon, hosts a wonderful permanent collection and temporary exhibitions related to Eastern culture. The museum's permanent collection consists of two parts. The first part focuses on Portugal's presence in Asia. While admiring these exquisite pieces, you also get to see concrete examples of colonialism, which unfortunately reflect Portugal's current perspective. For instance, some explanations may seem ridiculous, like they claim that there were no wardrobe in India before the Portuguese. The other part of the permanent collection focuses on the performing arts of Eastern culture. Founded by a Chinese banker named Kwok On, this collection, comprising 600 objects at its inception, now includes over 15,000 items, ranging from musical instruments to puppets, costumes, paintings, prints, sculptures, and ritual objects from Turkey to Japan. During our visit, some of the temporary exhibitions were also quite fascinating. The temporary exhibition titled "Japan: Festivities and Rites," which will run throughout 2024, was one of the best exhibitions I've seen. Exploring the exhibition "Treasures in the Palm of the Hand," featuring a collection of snuff bottles, and examining the great art in tiny objects was also enjoyable. The Foundation Oriente, which operates the museum, utilizes a building dating back to the 1940s. The museum building works, which started in 1993, were completed in 15 years, and the museum was opened in 2008. I generally liked the use and presentation of the museum building. They showcase modern museum practices, and considering its establishment date, I believe it could be one of the pioneering examples in this regard.

Really enjoyed smooching about this museum. Very well maintained and in pristine condition, though the façade and entrance into the building could do with sprucing up. Was fascinated by the exhibits. So much detail, very well displayed. I went on a Thursday around noon and spent a few hours there. It was quiet and felt I had the exhibit rooms al to my sweet self. Definitely worth visiting.

Unfortunately not really any guided tours and little structure to the exhibits. Also not a single corner or event sentence dedicated to colonialism. Disappointing, also considering the somewhat remote location.

It's free on Fridays after 6 pm (until 8 pm). Various, well prepared exhibits about Chinese, Japanese items as well as culture and traditions. You can easily spend 2 hour here.

Very interesting collection of pieces that were brought from Asia thru the expeditions.

Exceptional, first-rate museum. Beautifully laid-out exhibits, and nice explanations in English. An interesting way to learn both about cultures of East Asia and Portugal's colonial presence there. The temporary exhibition on Japan was truly excellent - as frequent visitors to Japan, we were bowled over by the number of fascinating artifacts and insights here.

Pretty good museum, well organized and interesting. On Fridays between 6-8 it's free entrance