The MUDE Design Museum in Lisbon explores design’s impact across the decades. Housed in a former bank, the museum showcases over 2,500 design pieces ranging from the mid-1800s to the present day. By presenting Portuguese and international works, MUDE offers visitors a comprehensive narrative of design as a critical form of cultural innovation and creative expression.
History
The MUDE Design Museum emerged from the visionary efforts of Lisbon’s city council to create a comprehensive space dedicated to design’s impact on culture and society. Its first home was the Belém Cultural Center from 1999-2006. It moved to its current home, a former bank, in 2009.
Now housed in the historic former headquarters of Banco Nacional Ultramarino, the museum represents a bold reimagining of architectural space. The building itself tells a story of transformation—much like design itself—transforming from a financial institution to a cultural landmark that celebrates human creativity and ingenuity.
The museum’s collection features objects from furniture and fashion to technological innovations. They are windows into different eras that reflect social changes, technological advances, and artistic movements that have shaped our world. The collection particularly emphasizes Portuguese design but also includes significant international works by renowned designers like Le Corbusier, Tom Dixon, Yves Saint Laurent, Jean Paul Gaultier, Philippe Starck, Vivienne Westwood, Christian Dior, Tommy Hilfiger, and Charles and Ray Eames.
Architecture
The MUDE Design Museum’s architectural design is itself a remarkable piece of creative expression. Although the MUDE moved to its current home in 2009, it closed again in 2016 for a complete renovation of the building. Architect Luís Miguel Saraiva approached the renovation with a philosophy of preservation and reinvention by transforming the former bank into a museum that challenges traditional exhibition spaces. It reopened in July 2024 with a new rooftop restaurant and auditorium. A display depot showcasing graphic design and contemporary jewellery is scheduled to open on the 4th floor in 2025. At 14,000 sq. meters, it is now one of the largest design museums in Europe.
The museum’s interior is characterized by its radical openness and transparency. Exposed concrete structures, preserved bank vault doors, and original architectural elements create a fascinating dialogue between the building’s financial past and its cultural present. Metallic mesh curtains and exposed structural elements give the space an industrial yet elegant feel, which allows visitors to experience design not just through objects, but through the very architecture that contains them.
Glass walls and open layouts ensure that natural light floods the exhibition spaces and creates an inviting atmosphere that makes design feel accessible and alive. The building’s skeletal structure is deliberately left visible, which reinforces the museum’s commitment to showing the underlying principles and processes behind design.
Visiting Times & Tickets
The MUDE Design Museum welcomes visitors from Tuesday to Sunday, operating from 10 am to 6 pm. The museum is closed on Mondays, December 25th, and January 1st. The museum closes at 4 pm on December 24th and December 31st. Last entry is at 3:30pm.
Summer Opening Hours (April to September)
- Tuesdays to Thursdays: 10 am – 7 pm
- Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 9 pm
- Sunday: 10 am – 7 pm
Winter Opening Hours (October to March)
- Tuesdays to Thursdays: 10 am – 6 pm
- Friday and Saturday: 10 am – 8 pm
- Sunday: 10 am – 6 pm
Ticket Prices
Adults
- Long-term exhibition “What are things for”: €13
- Temporary exhibitions: €11
- Full ticket (long-term + temporary): €15
- Guided tour (add-on): +€2
The following groups are eligible for a 50% discount:
- Ages 13–25
- Students
- Ages 65+
- Groups of 15+ people
- Lisbon Card holders
- Protocol agreements with third parties
- Up to 2 adults with young people (up to 18 years old)
- Additional family members: €3 per person
For design enthusiasts, culture lovers, and curious visitors, the MUDE Design Museum provides a dynamic, engaging exploration of how design shapes our understanding of the world. It invites visitors to see everyday objects as expressions of human creativity and potential.
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