This article will help you plan your visit to Lisbon’s Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology (MAAT), or Museu de Arte Arquitetura e Tecnologia.
A cross-cultural center operated by the EDP Foundation, the museum promotes art, architecture, and technology, focusing on the past, present, and future of energy.
The museum opened in 2016. It cost 20 million euros to build, and construction took five years.
Instead of offering a permanent collection, the Museum of Art, Architecture, and Technology offers a lineup of temporary exhibitions of more than 250 Portuguese artists.
The top thing to see at the museum though is the building itself.
There are actually two buildings, combining old and new.
There is the beautiful white, undulating structure designed by British architect Amanda Levete, adjacent to the beautiful brick Central Tejo Power Station – the first power plant in Portugal.
The thermoelectric power plant operated from 1909 until 1972. Visitors can still examine the boilers and generators.
Lavete’s curvilinear building is covered in white ceramic tiles that reflect light.
The building’s shape is meant to mimic a wave and the fluidity of water.
It also seems to be inspired by Oscar Niemeyer and reminds me a bit of his Museum of Contemporary Art in Niteroi, Brazil.
The rooftop is sloped to the ground, and visitors can walk up the slope onto the rooftop terrace.
There are also steps descending down to the high tide line of the Tejo River.
Both vantage points offer fantastic views of the 25 April Bridge.
As far as the exhibits go, some of the signage is in English, but some is in Portuguese only.
Visitors can eat on the premises at the MAAT Cafe and Kitchen.
The gift shop sells local items such as Viarco colored pencils, Arcádia chocolates from Porto, Vicara Design’s cork, Fernanda Lamela hand-painted silk scarves, and ceramics from Margarida Fábrica.
How to get to the MAAT
Avenida Brasilia, 1300
GPS: 38.696099458316866, -9.194517273155135
Take the train to Cascais from the Cais do Sodré station. Get off at the Belém stop and walk east along the river.
Or, take Tram 15E How to get from Alfama to Belém (Hint: Tram 15E) from Praça da Figueira or Cais do Sodré and get off at the Altinho (MAAT) stop.
Walk south toward the river.
Look for the pedestrian overpass in order to cross the road more easily.
Or, take bus 201, 714, 727, or 751. Get off at the Altinho (MAAT) stop.
Hours of operation
Hours: 10 am – 7 pm Wednesday – Monday. Closed Tuesday.
Tickets to the MAAT
Admission: €9. Children under 12 are admitted free. Kids over 12, students, and senior citizens pay €6. A family pass for a minimum of one adult and two kids over twelve costs €17.
Free admission on the first Sunday of the month.
Admission is free with the Lisboa Card. Lisboa Card | Everything you need to know
Cash only.
T: 351 210 028 130
E: maat@edp.pt
Official website: | MAAT
Other attractions near the MAAT
- 25 of April Bridge A guide to Lisbon’s most famous bridges
- Berardo Museum – Dalí, Picasso, Warhol, Mondrian
- Carriage Museum (Museu Nacional de Carruajes) – right down the street
- Pastéis de Belém – the first bakery to sell these awesome egg custard pastries
- Belém Tower Surprising Belém Tower facts about this iconic tower built in 1514.
- Monument to the Discoveries Lisbon’s Monument to the Discoveries | Everything you need to know
- Jerónimos Monastery Is the Jerónimos Monastery worth visiting? You bet it is!
For more information on exploring the Belém neighborhood, see my article Lisbon’s historic Belém neighborhood | Everything you need to know
If you are interested in seeing other examples of modern architecture in Lisbon, read my Modern and contemporary architecture in the old city of Lisbon
I am not associated with any of the businesses mentioned on this page. Thank you for reading about the MAAT.
