Museu Benfica

Museu Benfica – Cosme Damião is the museum of Lisbon's Sport Lisboa e Benfica, one of Portugal's most successful clubs. It stands beside the Estádio da Luz and draws football fans as well as anyone curious about sporting history and modern, technology-driven exhibitions.

Who is Cosme Damião?

The museum is named after Cosme Damião, one of the club's founders in 1904 and regarded as its founding father. It was inaugurated on 26 July 2013 under club president Luís Filipe Vieira and opened to the public on 29 July, one year and three months after construction began.

What will you see inside?

The displays spread over three floors and roughly 400 square metres. Visitors move through 29 themed areas showing about a thousand items chosen from a collection of around 30,000 pieces: trophies, documents, photographs, and audio and video material telling the club's story.

Interactivity is central. Touchscreens and audiovisual installations appear throughout, and one highlight is a hologram of Eusébio, the club's legend. There is also a zone of supporters' photographs and a lift surrounded by video walls that show messages and images from fans.

The glass trophy tower

Beside the building rises a tall, glass rectangular volume displaying about 500 trophies won by the club. It is among the most recognisable features of the museum.

Practical information

According to the club, the museum is open daily from 10:00 to 19:00, except on days when the men's football team plays at the stadium and on 25 December and 1 January. Check the official website for current hours and prices, as they can change. Combined tickets covering the museum and a stadium tour are also available.

The museum lies in the northern part of the city near the stadium (coordinates 38.7526, -9.1847), outside the historic centre, so plan your journey by public transport.

Frequently asked questions

When did Museu Benfica open? It was inaugurated on 26 July 2013 and opened to visitors on 29 July 2013.

How many objects are on display? About a thousand items across 29 themed areas, drawn from a collection of around 30,000.

Is it open on match days? No. It is closed on days when the men's football team plays at the stadium, and on 25 December and 1 January.

Do I need to be a football fan? No. The interactive multimedia and the story of a club with over a century of history suit anyone interested in sporting heritage.

Can I also visit the stadium? Yes, combined tickets for the museum and stadium are offered.