Ajuda Palace and the Royal Treasury, Lisbon

The Ajuda National Palace, on a hill above Belém, was the last royal residence in Lisbon. It has lavish 19th-century interiors that look as if the royal family just stepped out, and it’s home to the Royal Treasury Museum with Portugal’s crown jewels. It’s much quieter than the big sights.

Quick answer: the palace is in Ajuda, uphill from Belém. Tickets cost about €15 for the palace. The Royal Treasury Museum in the new west wing is a separate visit. Allow 1.5 to 2 hours. Take a bus or taxi up from Belém, or walk (it’s steep).

About the palace

Construction began after the 1755 earthquake, but the neoclassical palace was never fully finished. In the 19th century, King Luís I and Queen Maria Pia made it their home, filling it with furniture, art and fine decorative pieces. The west wing was finally completed in recent years to house the Royal Treasury.

What to see

• The royal apartments: bedrooms, salons and dining rooms with their original furnishings.
• The ballroom and throne room.
• The Royal Treasury Museum: crown jewels, regalia and precious objects, displayed in a vault-like gallery.
• The Ajuda Botanical Garden nearby, one of Portugal’s oldest.

Tips

• Combine with Belém. See Belém.
• Quiet: a great alternative when Jerónimos is crowded.
• Opening days: check before you go.

More: palaces in Portugal and the best museums in Lisbon.

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