Holocaust Museum of Oporto

The Holocaust Museum of Oporto (Portuguese: Museu do Holocausto do Porto) is a museum in Porto dedicated to the history of the Shoah. It opened on 20 January 2021 and is the first museum on the Iberian Peninsula devoted specifically to the Holocaust.

What is the Holocaust Museum of Oporto?

The museum was founded in 2021 and belongs to the network of Jewish institutions that have emerged in Porto in recent years. It sits within walking distance of the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue and the Jewish Museum of Porto, so all three can be combined in one visit to the city.

What will I learn there?

The exhibition follows the history, development and aftermath of the Holocaust in detail. Its main themes include:

• Jewish life before the Holocaust
• Nazism and Nazi expansion in Europe
• the ghettos
• refugees
• concentration, labour and extermination camps
• the Final Solution
• the death marches and liberation
• the postwar Jewish population and the foundation of the State of Israel
• the Righteous Among the Nations

The museum also tells a story tied closely to Porto: that of the Jewish refugees who reached the city between 1940 and 1941, hoping to escape Europe and reach the Americas. Placing this local episode next to the wider history of persecution makes the topic more concrete for visitors, especially those who know Porto mainly as a port city and a wine destination.

Why does it matter in Porto?

Porto's Jewish community has a long and complicated history shaped by the Inquisition. The opening of the museum was widely noted as a milestone for that community, because it gave Portugal its first institution dedicated entirely to the Holocaust. For Portugal and Spain, where Jewish heritage is often approached through the medieval period and expulsion, the museum adds the twentieth-century perspective.

Who is it for?

The museum suits travellers interested in modern European history, families with older children, school groups and anyone exploring Jewish heritage in Portugal. The subject matter is serious, so plan for a reflective, unhurried visit rather than a quick stop between other sights.

How to combine it with other sights

Nearby you will find the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue, inaugurated in 1938. Its architecture is often described as Art Deco with Neo-Moorish elements, and it was named after the family of Sir Elly Kadoorie, a businessman and philanthropist from Shanghai whose family provided much of the funding. His wife, Lady Laura Mocatta Kadoorie, descended from Sephardic Jews from Portugal. The Jewish Museum of Porto completes the trio.

Frequently asked questions

When did the museum open? On 20 January 2021.

Is it the only Holocaust museum in Portugal? It is the first on the Iberian Peninsula dedicated to the Holocaust.

Is it near the synagogue? Yes, the Kadoorie Mekor Haim Synagogue is within walking distance.

What period does it cover? From Jewish life before the war, through persecution and the camps, to liberation and the postwar years.

Does it mention Porto's own history? Yes, it presents the story of refugees who arrived in Porto in 1940-1941.

Check the opening hours and booking rules on the official website of the Jewish Community of Porto before you go.