Timeline
10:00
Enter the Museu Nacional dos Coches. This former riding school houses the world's largest collection of horse-drawn coaches. Go straight to the main exhibits to see the royal vehicles before the midday crowds arrive.
11:00
Walk five minutes to Pastéis de Belém for a snack. Order fresh pastéis de nata served warm with confectioner's sugar and cinnamon. The line can be long, so go early.
11:25
Walk fifteen minutes north to the Ajuda Botanical Gardens. This is one of the oldest gardens in Europe and a peaceful green space where the Portuguese royal family once resided after the 1755 earthquake.
Local tip
The museum opens at 10:00. Arriving right at opening time ensures you have the space to yourself for the first hour. The botanical gardens are a quiet place to digest your pastry and enjoy the history.
Check before you go
- Museu Nacional dos Coches is open 10:00-18:00.
- Pastéis de Belém is open daily 08:00-23:00.
- Ajuda Botanical Gardens opening hours vary by season and day; check current times before visiting.
Built from places in the Wikivoyage guide to Lisbon (CC BY-SA 4.0), with open map data from OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL).