Museu da Farmácia

Museu da Farmácia in Lisbon is a museum devoted to the history of pharmacy, taking visitors through roughly five thousand years of health care. It sits in the Santa Catarina district, in the building of the National Association of Pharmacies (Associação Nacional das Farmácias), and its collection holds more than 16,000 objects.

What is this place?

The museum grew out of the wish of Portuguese pharmacists to preserve the history of their own profession. In 1981 the association appealed to every pharmacy in the country to donate items that would form the collection of a future museum. The museum opened in June 1996. It stands at about 38.710 N, 9.147 W, in the western part of central Lisbon.

What is in the collection?

The collection includes testimonies from many cultures and civilizations, not only Portugal. Between 1997 and 2010 the museum deliberately expanded its holdings, acquiring exceptional pieces at national and international auctions and from private collectors. The aim was a representative picture of the history of pharmacy worldwide.

Highlights include:

• recreated interiors of four pharmacies, among them one from Macau,
• a portable pharmacy from the 18th century,
• a portable medical kit that flew aboard the Space Shuttle Endeavour on mission STS-97.

That last item shows how wide the subject is, from old prescriptions to medicine in space.

Who is it for?

The museum suits anyone curious about the history of science, medicine and everyday life. It is a good way to see a less obvious side of Lisbon away from the busiest sights. Objects from different eras and continents show how medicines, containers and the pharmacist's work have changed.

Anniversary and the Porto branch

In 2010 the museum opened a branch in Porto, extending its reach beyond the capital. In September 2026 it marks 30 years of operation, and the occasion has drawn attention to a rare coconut cup from the 17th and 18th centuries, linked to a mention in Camões's epic "Os Lusíadas".

Frequently asked questions

Where is Museu da Farmácia? In Lisbon's Santa Catarina district, in the building of the National Association of Pharmacies.

When did it open? In June 1996, after a 1981 appeal to pharmacies to donate items.

How many objects are in the collection? More than 16,000, covering about five thousand years of history.

Is there anything space-related? Yes, a portable medical kit that flew on the Space Shuttle Endeavour during mission STS-97.

Does the museum have a branch outside Lisbon? Yes, a branch opened in Porto in 2010.

Summary

Museu da Farmácia is an unusual, specialised museum combining the history of medicine, craft and material culture. Add it to your plan if you enjoy focused collections with stories hidden in single objects. Before visiting, check current opening hours and ticket prices on the museum's official website, as they may change.