I first discovered the town of Lourinhā by accident when I was sitting in the passenger seat on a road trip and suddenly came upon a roundabout full of dinosaurs.
And then another…
And then another!
By this point, the Jurassic Park soundtrack had started to play in my head. As I continued to look around Lourinhā while my friend and I were driving through, I noticed several small businesses in town with dinosaur-themed shops in town. Suddenly, a full-scale dinosaur appeared right in front of me. “What is this town?” I thought. “How have I not heard of this place? What is it with all the dinosaurs?”
Let’s find out together today!
History
Lourinhã likely got its name during Roman times due to a local villa. Medieval Lourinhã’s origins are tied to Jordan, a French knight from the Siege of Lisbon in 1147. Granted by King Afonso Henriques, Jordan received Lourinhã as a fief in 1160. The town flourished under the Lisbon Diocese, with churches and monasteries built from the 14th to 16th centuries.
The 20th century truly put Lourinhā on the map for the outside world when the first dinosaurs in Europe were discovered in Lourinhā in a fossil-rich geological formation (now known as the Lourinhā Formation, stretching from Lisbon up the Silver Coast all the way to Porto).
The Museu da Lourinhā (Lourinhā Museum) was opened in 1984 by Lourinhã’s Group of Ethnology and Archeology (GEAL) and provided the first official place to display dinosaur fossils discovered in the town.
Since then, hundreds of fossils from both the Jurassic and Cretaceous period have been discovered in the geological Lourinhā Formation including fairly complete specimens such as the Lourinhasaurus, a new dinosaur named after the town! Other discoveries in Lourinhā include over 100 well-preserved dinosaur eggs.
In 2018, Lourinhā had its biggest opening yet with the 10-hectare Lourinhā Dino Park about a 10-minute drive from the center of town. Visitors can see more than 200 full-scale and scientifically proven models divided into six different zones of history. The Lourinhā Dino Park draws more than 25,000 visitors per year and continues to expand.
Arriving at Lourinhā Dino Park
Lourinhā Dino Park is a quick 10-minute drive from the center of Lourinhā. After passing a few dinosaur roundabouts, you will know you have reached the entrance when you encounter a huge dinosaur with an ultra-long tail standing on top of the ticket office. This is the Supersaurus lourinhanensis, a long-necked dinosaur (sauropod) named after the town of Lourinhã!
Inside the ticket office lies a large majority of the fossils that were previously kept in the Museu da Lourinhā before the Lourinhā Dino Park opened in 2018. Learn more about the dinosaur egg nest discovered in 1993, saber-toothed cats, and massive marine crocodiles, to name a few. You can even watch scientists and volunteers conducting research in a live lab. Signs are in Portuguese and English.
Park Layout
Once you exit the ticket office/gift shop and fossil exhibition areas, you emerge onto the edge of a large pine forest behind the main building where over 200 dinosaur models are positioned across six different zones starting in chronological order with the Paleozoic, Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous periods. You can also do as I did and start with the Sea Monsters zone closest to the Dinosaur Exhibition and Museum. Ice Age opened in 2023 and features a display of a saber-toothed tiger and a woolly mammoth. Another zone is set to open in 2024.
The dinosaurs are faithfully recreated based on existing research and you never know what dinosaur you may encounter next as you walk through the zones. The pine forest provides an excellent source of shade and there are signs in English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese describing each of the dinosaurs. The dinosaurs are painted in bright colors with fine details, and there are even suggested photo spots throughout the park. One standout is the Supersaurus and Jurassic Observation Tower, where you can stand right under the largest model and truly feel the size of how big these dinosaurs actually were! A Jurassic Park moment indeed.
Kids will be endlessly entertained as they pick their favorite dinosaurs around the park, check out the playground, chisel dinosaurs out of fossils in the activities hall, and try a dino-burger or some dino pasta near the park’s exit. Families can also bring a picnic and eat in a large picnic area near the Activities Hall.
Impressions
Adults and children alike can enjoy the Lourinhā Dino Park. It was much bigger than I expected and was well-maintained. Walking through the pine trees made the land of the dinosaurs come to life. I personally would’ve enjoyed more dino sound effects, as they only seemed to be provided in the Sea Monsters zone. I also would’ve loved to see more animatronics or dinosaurs moving around to add to the entertainment factor (or maybe I’ve just seen Jurassic Park too many times).
Lourinhā Dino Park provides several hours of entertainment and the passion for dinosaurs permeating throughout the park will make you want to return again and again! Be sure to check out Jurassic Nights every Saturday in November if you want to catch a nocturnal glimpse of these fascinating creatures. T-rex in the dark, anyone?
Museu da Lourinhā
After spending a few hours in the Lourinhā Dino Park, I stopped by the Museu da Lourinhā, the original home to the dinosaur fossils in Lourinhā.
History
Opened in 1984 in the former town courthouse, the Museu da Lourinhã focuses on three areas: Ethnography, Archeology, and Paleontology, attracting many visitors and students. Its paleontology section is particularly impressive, with many unique discoveries in and around Lourinhā that have made key contributions to our current global knowledge of dinosaurs.
Visitors to the museum embark on a journey through time starting 250 million years ago. The exhibits showcase various life forms and their activities across different eras – from dinosaurs to modern humans.
The museum begins with a walk through a Jurassic garden with plants that are living representatives of flora existing in this period, ranging from cycads and ferns to horsetails and gingko biloba trees.
In addition to several dinosaur models and an outdoor area displaying dinosaur footprints, there is also a thorough breakdown of the different early human ancestors. Many other exhibits on paleontology are now on display in the Lourinhā Dino Park as of 2018.
Since I visited the Museu da Lourinhā after the Lourinhā Dino Park, I was most struck by the Ethnography section of the museum, which includes a reconstruction of a historical Portuguese house from the late 19th century. After climbing the stairs and entering an adjoining building, you can see a marvelous collection of artifacts from different trades in Portugal. There are sections on cobblers, potters, carpenters, and even barbers, to name only a few. The spotlight on small details of daily life in Portuguese society is really impressive and may delight you just as much as the dinosaurs.
The museum organizes guided tours, both indoors and in the field, with special programs for schools focusing on geology and fossil formation. It also hosts temporary and traveling exhibitions, displaying original fossils and replicas. Local and international volunteers and paleontology students work with the museum, and educational opportunities are provided through internship programs for secondary school and university students.
Dining with a Dinosaur Bone
Just before leaving the town of Lourinhā, I stopped by a cafe for a quick espresso and pastry. While there were no dinosaur-shaped cookies or dino-themed treats of any kind, I was delighted when I found a replica of a dinosaur bone just next to the baked goods. Lourinhā really does celebrate their dinosaur heritage in the most unexpected ways.
If you would like to stare at a replica of the tibia of a Torvosaurus while eating a delicious pastry, stop by Nellus Pasteleria at Praça Marquês de Pombal, 2530-127
Final Thoughts
As my time came to an end during my day trip to Lourinhā, I found myself grateful for those dinosaur roundabouts that helped me discover this gem of a small town and its huge prehistoric past. It is certainly worth a visit and many re-visits with your dino-loving friends and family, or even those just looking for a lovely stroll through the pine trees. The way that the town of Lourinhā has embraced its dinosaur past is delightful, and I’m sure it makes everyday life more fun. With new fossils being discovered nearby every year, this town’s past and present have a bright future.
Visiting Times & Tickets
Lourinhā Dino Park
Address: R. Vale dos Dinossauros 25, 2530-059
Tickets for Adults (13 years+) cost €13.21 (including VAT).
Children (4-12 years old) cost €9.43 (including VAT).
Every Saturday in November, Lourinhã Dino Park hosts “Dinosaur Nights” where you can see the dinosaurs at night until 9:00 PM. As of 2023, ticket prices were as follows:
Tickets for Adults (13 years+) cost €14 including all-day access.
Children (4-12 years old) cost €10 including all day access.
Tickets can be purchased online at a 15% discount here.
The opening hours for Lourinhã Dino Park (open every day) are as follows:
- January, February, October, November, December: 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM (Last entry at 3:30 PM)
- March, April, May: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM (Last entry at 4:30 PM)
- June, July, August, September: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM (Last entry at 5:30 PM)
- Open every day of the year
Museu da Lourinhā
Address: R. João Luís de Moura 95, 2530-158 Lourinhā, Portugal
Please note that you get a 50% discount on tickets with proof of purchase of a ticket to the Lourinhā Dino Park.
Tickets for adults (12-64 years old) cost €5.
Youth (6-11 years old), seniors (66-79 years old), and those with Youth and Student cards cost €3.
Children 5 and under and press tickets are free.
Tickets for those in a group of more than 10 people cost €2.
Family tickets are also available as follows:
(2 adults + 1 child) costs €10.40.
(2 adults + 2 children or 1 adult + 2 children) costs €12.80.
(2 adults + 3 children) costs €15.20.
Tickets, including different tour options, can be reserved online here.
The opening hours for Museu da Lourinhã (open every day) are as follows:
- September-June: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM – 6:00 PM (Last entry at 5:30 PM)
- July and August: 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM, 2:30 PM – 6:30 PM (Last entry at 6:00 PM)
- Open Tuesday to Sunday, closed on Mondays (except July and August)
Closed:
- January 1st
- Easter Sunday
- May 1st
- December 25th
How to Get to Lourinhā Dino Park
Coming from the south (Lisbon), use the A8 highway. Exit at N8-2, then follow signs to Lourinhã. Drive on road N247 towards Peniche for about 7km. At the intersection, turn right onto N247-1. Continue for 2.5km to reach Dino Park.
From the north, take the A8 highway and exit at IP6-Peniche. Proceed to the Atouguia da Baleia/Lourinhã exit. Follow the road for 7km. At the intersection, turn left onto N247-1. Drive 2.5km to Dino Park.
