Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Getting to Belém
You'll get here quickest by taxi (€15 from downtown). Buses #714 and #728 serve Belém,
but I prefer riding the slower and cheaper trolley #15E (30 minutes, catch at Praça da
Figueira or Praça do Comércio). In Belém, the first trolley stop is at the National Coach
Museum, the second is at the Monastery of Jerónimos, and another is two blocks inland
from the Belém Tower. Even if you miss the first stop (subtly named “Belém”), you can't
miss the second stop at the massive monastery.
Consider doing Belém in this order: the National Coach Museum, pastry and coffee
break, Monastery of Jerónimos, Maritime Museum (if interested) and/or lunch at its cafet-
eria (public access, museum entry not required), Monument to the Discoveries, and Belém
Tower. If arriving by taxi, start at Belém Tower, the farthest point, and do the recommen-
ded lineup in reverse, ending at the National Coach Museum. Belém also has a cultural
center, a children's museum, and a planetarium—not priorities for a quick visit. For re-
commended eateries in this area, see here .
When you're through, hop on trolley #15E or bus #714 to return to Praça da Figueira
or Praça do Comércio. Bus #728 takes you to Santa Apolónia Station, and continues to
Parque das Nações and Oriente Station.
Tourist Information
The little TI kiosk is directly across the street from the entrance to the monastery (Tue-Sat
10:00-13:00 & 14:00-18:00, closed Sun-Mon, tel. 213-658-437).
A little Yellow Bus Tour mini-bus offers a handy hop-on, hop-off tour around the
Belém sights—which can feel far-flung if you're tired—departing every hour from the
monastery entrance (€5, includes multi-language audioguide; Mon-Fri hourly 9:30-12:30
& 14:00-17:00, exact pickup times listed at each stop; you can get off to explore a sight
and catch the next mini-bus).
▲▲ National Coach Museum
In 1905, the last Queen of Portugal saw that cars would soon obliterate horse-drawn car-
riages as a form of transportation. She decided to use the palace's riding-school building
to preserve her fine collection of royal coaches, which became today's National Coach
Museum (Museu dos Coches). A new, larger museum is being built kitty-corner from the
present location and is expected to open sometime in 2013. The following description is
based on the current configuration; if you visit after the new building opens, request a
map as you enter.
Cost and Hours: €5, free Sun until 14:00, Tue-Sun 10:00-18:00, closed Mon, last
entry 30 minutes before closing, tel. 213-610-850, www.museudoscoches.pt .
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