Museu de História Natural
Museu de História Natural
Museu de História Natural
4.1
About
Sintra's Natural History Museum is located in the historic centre of Sintra's Old Town, in a 19th century building (1893, more specifically). It houses an ongoing public exhibition which emerged from the collection belonging to Miguel Barbosa and his wife, , who, for over 50 years built a unique collection comprising thousands of fossils of incalculable cultural and scientific value.
Duration: < 1 hour
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
4.1
32 reviews
Excellent
13
Very good
12
Average
6
Poor
0
Terrible
1
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Julie C
Sintra, Portugal11 contributions
May 2022
It doesn't look like much from the outside, and we had actually passed it several times before realizing what it was! It is free to enter, and depending on your interest level, could take as little as 1/2 hour to over 1 hour. We had our 5 year old daughter and spent right around 1 hour, and that was a good amount of time.
For such a small museum, they have really great specimens! Some of the signs were in English and Portuguese, and other were just in Portuguese.
Very interesting place and we recommend it.
For such a small museum, they have really great specimens! Some of the signs were in English and Portuguese, and other were just in Portuguese.
Very interesting place and we recommend it.
Written May 22, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Martin B
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Solo
An excellent collection of fossils many dating back to the paleozoic. Highly recommend to anyone with an interest.
Written August 15, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jenn
3 contributions
Sep 2019 • Friends
A fantastic little museum in the centre of Sintra. We ducked into the museum for the promise of fossils (and to get away from the masses of tourists) and were pleasantly surprised!! A lovely employee went around with us and gave a private tour, going into the history of the specimens, museum, and the founder.
This places definitely needs more love from tourists. Interesting for kids, great for adults!!
This places definitely needs more love from tourists. Interesting for kids, great for adults!!
Written September 17, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Emmeline P
Northampton, UK176 contributions
Jun 2019 • Family
We stopped off here on our trip up to see the moorish castle. Entry cost €1 each, and we were greeted by a lady who spoke Portuguese and French. She explained the history of the museum, layout and exhibitions to us in French (I did French for 4 years at school so managed to catch about 50% of what she was saying).
The first floor had a film and some beautiful pictures of space. Unfortunately we were hurried downstairs by one of the guides, even though we hadn't finished looking around. He only spoke Portuguese so I don't know why we were made to leave.
The second floor was split into different areas which coincided with what time period the fossils were from. It was hard to distinguish which fossils were what as the numbered explanations did not match up and were often in the wrong place. We were also under the impression that some of the fossils were actually replicas, but this was hard to tell as most of the explanations were in Portuguese.
Overall, we spent about 30 minutes here. I think it is worth coming here if you have small children, but don't expect anything ground breaking.
The first floor had a film and some beautiful pictures of space. Unfortunately we were hurried downstairs by one of the guides, even though we hadn't finished looking around. He only spoke Portuguese so I don't know why we were made to leave.
The second floor was split into different areas which coincided with what time period the fossils were from. It was hard to distinguish which fossils were what as the numbered explanations did not match up and were often in the wrong place. We were also under the impression that some of the fossils were actually replicas, but this was hard to tell as most of the explanations were in Portuguese.
Overall, we spent about 30 minutes here. I think it is worth coming here if you have small children, but don't expect anything ground breaking.
Written June 7, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
JessTex
The Woodlands, TX57 contributions
Mar 2016 • Family
Our son asked to go to this museum. It is a small collection but has essentials that will please young kids interested in dinosaurs and fossils. There are a few interactive displays. It is very affordable, 1euro for ages 12+. Staff was very friendly and informative!
Written April 4, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
steven e
London, UK104 contributions
Dec 2018 • Couples
We enjoyed an hour in hereand found it quite interesting. It i basically the collection/work of one man.
Written December 17, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
vonnie3314
Sault Ste. Marie, Canada72 contributions
Mar 2017
I really enjoyed this museum but had 2 complaints.A majority of the
exhibits had only Portuguese so I lost some of the display information and secondly, I felt as though there wasn't a good flow from one room to another. I spent about 4 hours going through the displays (2 floors) and many times I had to double back because I missed a room. That being said, I had to be asked to leave because it was closing, so it was very interesting.
exhibits had only Portuguese so I lost some of the display information and secondly, I felt as though there wasn't a good flow from one room to another. I spent about 4 hours going through the displays (2 floors) and many times I had to double back because I missed a room. That being said, I had to be asked to leave because it was closing, so it was very interesting.
Written March 14, 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Noweia
Glasgow, UK68 contributions
Aug 2016 • Solo
This was the private collection of Miguel Barbosa before being donated to the public. As such, it doesn't have the huge range and variety of a major museum, but it has enough!
The entry level has a Triceratops skull near the door, and a reconstruction of a flying reptile skeleton suspended from the ceiling. The basement level has loads of specimens - trilobites, bivalves, meteorite fragments, several large dinosaur skulls, lifesize models of both Deinonychus and Velociraptor, and more.
Entry fee was one Euro per person (over 12).
The entry level has a Triceratops skull near the door, and a reconstruction of a flying reptile skeleton suspended from the ceiling. The basement level has loads of specimens - trilobites, bivalves, meteorite fragments, several large dinosaur skulls, lifesize models of both Deinonychus and Velociraptor, and more.
Entry fee was one Euro per person (over 12).
Written September 25, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Gillian M
1 contribution
Aug 2016 • Couples
I had read that the museum was free, the staff were uninterested when we arrived until we walked through to the main room at which point we were rudely addressed. Apparently it now costs 1 Euro. Hardly a big price and we were happy to pay it. But even then the staff couldn't be bothered. In the first room the film was badly, headache inducingly out of focus. The rest of the exhibits were uninspired and the interactive screens refused to work for me. If it's raining then it's a cheap place to shelter from the rain but that's about all that is going for it.
Written August 21, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
IMAGHI
Rome, Italy23 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Small but welcoming museum, inside it offers high quality artefacts for such a modest museum. The museum staff was very friendly. Suitable for all age groups.
Written August 10, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Is there anywhere anyone would highly recommend to eat near the museum?
Thanks in advance!
Written October 3, 2018
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