Free entry museums in Porto

Located next to the iconic Clérigos Tower, it is one of the free entry museums in Porto that is worth a visit. It houses one of the most interesting photography collections in Portugal, which includes – for example – an important collection of cameras that are over 100 years old. In addition to permanent exhibitions, its agenda includes temporary ones, organized by theme. Since the building was once an important city prison, you will have the opportunity to mix photographic art with History, and visit the old cells, the “punishment” rooms and discover some of its former “tenants”, including the Portuguese writers Camilo Castelo Branco and Ana Plácido accused, in the 19th century, of the crime of adultery.

This is one of Porto's free entry museums that dazzles us upon entering, given that the building where it is located is also a work of art in Porto, and is classified as a Monument of Public Interest. A good start and a good omen of what we will find inside, as the space has been a meeting point for emerging artists from the Faculty of Fine Arts of Porto and others already established in the national art scene. Its rotating exhibitions always give something new to discover, serving as inspiration to those who visit. Don't miss a visit to the garden, where you will see sculptures from various eras and authors who have passed through the institution.

Located in the heart of the city, the Municipal Gallery of Matosinhos is a project designed by Architect Alcino Soutinho, and is integrated into a vast property that includes, among others, the Florbela Espanca Municipal Library or the Municipal Historical Archive. Created to host exhibitions of Modern and Contemporary Art – namely painting, sculpture or photography – notable Portuguese artists such as Júlio Pomar or Ângelo de Sousa have exposed here. Since you are in Matosinhos, take the opportunity to delight yourself in another type of art (gastronomy), in one of the countless restaurants that make fresh fish and seafood their specialty... and finish with a digestive stroll by the sea.

If you are looking for free entry museums in Porto, cross the Douro River and pay attention to our suggestion: Casa-Museu Teixeira Lopes, in Vila Nova de Gaia. In this space, a nineteenth-century building with a regional appearance, you will find a courtyard filled with works of art and a staircase that will take you to discover the life and work of the sculptor António Teixeira Lopes, both through the residence and his workshop, which show us the genius and sensitivity of the artist, through an important collection of bronze, marble and plaster models of his authorship. An unmissable name in art in Porto and, therefore, a must-visit.

In this imposing 18th century manor house in Vila Nova de Gaia, we delve into the history and local nobility of the region, through a collection of art and precious objects that testify to Porto's cultural richness. Don't miss the Japoneiras or Camélias gardens, with centuries-old specimens, and the Statue of Eça de Queiroz, the writer who fell in love with the daughter of the Counts of Resende in this house. Visit the Historical Documentation Center, with original documentation from the Middle Ages, a Museum Center for Archaeology, Art and Anthropology and a space for temporary exhibitions and Congresses. Entrance is free, as it is another of the free entry museums in Porto and its surroundings, but visits to the interior are only by appointment.

Located in one of the most picturesque fishing villages in the region, it offers a deep immersion in the traditions and ways of life of the Afurada community. This Interpretive Center, in Vila Nova de Gaia, is a unique space that takes us on a fascinating journey through local history and culture, through interactive exhibitions and audiovisual presentations, which reveals a little about the way of life of this unique population and place. And the best of all is that it is another one of the free entry museums in Porto. Make the most of your visit and take a walk along the riverfront, and enjoy the privileged panoramic view of Ribeira, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and an open air true work of art in Porto.

Although we have made a list of free entry museums in Porto on a daily basis, there are also some that have free entry, but only on Sundays. Among them are: the Romantic Museum, the Casa do Infante, the Port Wine Museum, the Guerra Junqueiro House-Museum, the Porto Reservoir, the Papel-Moeda Museum and the Marta Ortigão House-Museum.

If it suits your visit to the city of Porto, we have two suggestions that should be mandatory for all visitors looking for art in Porto: the Biodiversity Gallery, one of the most pleasant places in the city, located in the imposing Casa Andresen, and surrounded by the impressive Porto Botanical Garden (which is always free to visit), with free entry on the second Sunday of each month; and the Serralves Foundation, which celebrates Modern and Contemporary Art and Nature, in a fantastic space, and which is free on the first Sunday of the month, only for national residents.