Lisbon, April 30, 2026 (Lusa) – National museums, monuments, and palaces managed by the public company Museus e Monumentos de Portugal (MMP) recorded 4,843,299 visitors in 2025, a 4.38% decrease compared to 2024, the organisation announced on Thursday.
MMP attributed the decline to the "total or partial closure of several museums and monuments for renovation work under the RRP" (Recovery and Resilience Plan), according to a statement on visitor figures. The 4.38% drop represents 221,929 fewer visits than in 2024.
In 2024, admissions to the 38 national sites under MMP management remained above five million (5,065,228 visitors). However, official statistics released at the time showed a slight 1.8% decrease compared to 2023 (5,157,404).
Cultural sites that closed in 2025 include the Abade de Baçal Museum in Bragança (from February to November), the Lamego Museum (since May), the Belém Tower (since April), and the National Museum of Ancient Art (since October) in Lisbon, among others.
The Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon was the most visited cultural site in 2025 with 1,040,203 admissions. The Palace of the Dukes in Guimarães followed with 367,537 visitors, the Batalha Monastery with 357,116 admissions, and the Convent of Christ in Tomar with 350,813 visitors.
The Sagres Fortress recorded 324,926 entries, and the Guimarães Castle received 320,068 visitors, according to the statistics released on Thursday. Among the monuments listed as World Heritage sites, the Alcobaça Monastery received 195,611 visitors, and the Mafra National Palace saw 151,069 visitors in 2025.
Regarding museums, the National Tile Museum in Lisbon received 335,255 visitors. The National Coach Museum and the Royal Riding School, also in Lisbon, saw 193,614 entries, while the National Museum of Resistance and Freedom in Peniche recorded 107,569 visits.
Other highly visited sites include the National Pantheon in Lisbon, with 169,721 visitors, the Ajuda National Palace in Lisbon, with 146,130 entries, and the Belém Tower, with 127,791 visits.
Statistical data shows that visitors with paid tickets represented 61% of total entries. Foreign tourists accounted for 56% of total visitors.
In 2025, paid entries rose to 2,978,173, while free entries totalled 1,865,126. During the same period, 2,129,410 Portuguese citizens and 2,713,889 foreigners visited these sites.
In total, 17 cultural venues managed by MMP were fully or partially closed due to RRP (Recovery and Resilience Plan) works.
In 2017, the number of visitors to national museums, monuments, and palaces exceeded five million for the first time, reaching 5,072,266 entries.
AG/RYOL // ADB.
Lusa
