Fado Museum image

Fado Museum

Tourist attraction Museum

Exhibition on traditional fado, with audiovisual displays & archives, plus a cafe with concerts. People often mention Fado, music, museum, fado, audio, history, listen, visit, time, guide,


Address

Alfama, Largo do Chafariz de Dentro 1, 1100-139 Lisboa, Portugal

Website

www.museudofado.pt

Contact

+351 21 882 3470

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (4.7K reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

  • Sunday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Monday: Closed
  • Tuesday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Wednesday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Thursday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Friday: 10 AM to 6 PM
  • Saturday: 10 AM to 6 PM

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: Fado (57) music (49) museum (47) fado (29) audio (23) history (21) listen (19) visit (14) time (11) guide (11)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 4/5 João X. 1 year ago on Google
    A Fado Museum, right in the front yard of the traditional Alfama neighborhood. It's a small museum that provides a good overall perspective on fado for the non specialist. The visit is done with an audioguide, and exhibits show numbers which connect with sound and voice explanations. This way, the visitor can decide how thorough he wants the visit to be: check all the available fadista's biographies or just of some? Listen to all the historical notes, or just a few? Ignore all audio explanations and just skim the visuals of the exhibition? The museum tries to go beyond the musical aspect of fado, with paintings, media and other cultural expressions as means to understand the phenomenon. It is aimed at the general public (or tourist) and not to a more specialized crowd. There is no musicology, nor analysis of the music form through time, nor a decomposition of its characteristics, nor of its recent influences, where it comes from and where it is going to. But it does document a broad intuitive picture of the cultural value of Fado. It doesn't promote the advancement of the understanding of fado, but it does help to frame the mindset of those new arrivals and who have not much of an idea of what fado is. The museum is housed in a former water elevatory station, from the 19c. It was renewed into the actual museum by architects Santa-Rita in 1998. The interior architecture is of a post-modern style typical of the duo of architects, with the use of strong colors, play on spacial distortions and an unsettling fragmentation of forms, in an anxious search for drama (which sometimes gets exhausting). Where a corridor is particularly narrow, the visitor is thrown against a big window opening up to the Alfama neighborhood, as if the neighborhood was part of the exhibition - which could be, as so much of fado is rooted to it. There is a (almost) secret room. And the auditorium seems to be suspended over the space. Columns are oblique. The circulation might be a bit confusing, but distribution is simple: the top floor has the permanent exhibition and auditorium, the basement the temporary exhibitions, ground floor has services, souvenir shop, etc. Restaurant and school develops on a side wing. Tickets can be bought at the entrance. Wheelchair accessible. Efficient and friendly staff. Backpacks must be stored in the cloakroom. Photography without flash only.
    8 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Tracy 2 years ago on Google
    Great music, but the museum experience was poor. I expected to be able to listen to more music. One room had three chairs with headphones, records on the wall, and an old stereo console, but no way to actually listen to music. The audio guide touches on some aspects of the history of the genre, but seems amateurish, simplistic, and fragmented. The video in the auditorium where today’s Fado singers talk about their emotional experience of the music was truly insufferable. One of them saying he was not an elitist is probably a clue — maybe to a fundamental issue in the Fado culture. The museum could do a much better job of analyzing and explaining the music’s form, history, influences, and future in a way outsiders can understand. They need to hire some professionals.
    7 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nuno C. 4 months ago on Google • 435 reviews
    Amazing museum located in the Alfama district, considered the birthplace of one of Portugal's most important cultural heritages. Fado is uniquely portuguese and this museum does justice to the wonderful art form. Great exhibits that explain the history of Fado. Showcasing "fadistas", musicians, composers and artists of past and present. The 5€ entrance fee includes an audio guide and full access to the museum including the temporary exhibit on the lower level. Highly recommend if you want to know more about the art and history of Fado, before visiting one of the many Fado Houses in the district for dinner and a show.

  • 5/5 Arin C. 1 month ago on Google • 289 reviews New
    Definitely with the visit to learn about Fado music, the traditional / folkloric music of Portugal. Admissions is 5 euros for an adult and with it you get an audio guide. There are a few videos with interviews and overviews of the history by Fado artists. There is also a restaurant that seems to be open at night.

  • 5/5 Ramona R. 6 months ago on Google • 23 reviews
    I had such an amazing and complex experience at the Fado Museum! The audio guide was really good and it helped me understand more about this beautiful music and listen to fado songs. The museum has a lot more to offer. There were videos and documentaries about fado, the artists, about the making of the Portuguese guitar and an exhibition honoring the legacy of Portuguese fado singer Celeste Rodrigues. I loved going to a restaurant and listening to live Fado music while I was in Lisbon so I had to visit the museum and I can easily say that it was my favourite thing to do in Lisbon. I will return to Lisbon for Fado!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Nancy W. 11 months ago on Google
    This little museum exceeded my expectations. I originally planned a quick visit but now wished I had two hours or more to linger and enjoy the history and the special exhibit on the great singer Celeste Rodriguez. After the museum visit, walk across the street to find many eateries in the meandering alleyways in the old Alfama district to get a refreshing drink or stay for a meal accompanied by Fado singers.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Rafal K. 11 months ago on Google
    Very interesting museum in the old industrial building ( water pump station) Great insight into the fado music history. Absolutely love old posters print collection.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Giorgio Jovani di S. 1 year ago on Google
    We went to a restaurant to listen to Fado music. I should have gone to the museum first and fulfilled my Fado craving there. It would have saved me 100 euros. We paid 5 euros each to listen to a variety of renowned Fadistas, listen to history associated with Fado, and to appreciate some of the instruments and artifacts of the earlier Fado days. You can't get that at the dinner show. The view of Alfama from the museum is classic and the location is centralized to the birthplace of Fado. If you have time, offer them a visit. They make the information accessible in a variety of languages through prerecordings. It's worth the trip.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 Ron G. 1 year ago on Google
    A very basic museum about fado. Mostly deals with the feeling of fado, without going in depth into the style or the artist. Still, if you're interested in some sort of musical history, check it out. It's not expensive. The biggest part is about the singing, and the element of soul to it. There's some attention to the Portuguese guitar and regular guitar ("viola"). Live music would spruce the place up, but that might have just been because I went on a weekday out of season.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 L w. 4 weeks ago on Google • 42 reviews New
    Ticket included audio guide. Sitting room with headphones to listen to full Fado songs from dozens of artists old and new. It was not crowded, so I listened for about an hour to songs. Museum is kind of small. But there is much to listen to. 20 minute, or so, movie documentary on large screen too. Old video footage of the musicians from the 40's through today. Fado is so moving and such an experience. Cheap ticket price. I think it was only 5€. Worth it!!!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Microtonal Guitar - Tolgahan �. 1 month ago on Google • 28 reviews New
    Lovely museum! First time I visited the Fado museum was 25 years ago when I was 19. During that time, there was a room that you time travel to a Fado bar in old times. Unfortunately, they removed that room. All other things are nice, full of Fado, Amalia Rodriguez and others 😍😍😍
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Michael S. 1 year ago on Google
    Interest squandered. Practical issues, like codes for the audio guides that don't work and a baffling traffic flow, fine, but more profoundly it doesn't manage to convey any enthusiasm for the music. Standing in front of a wall of unlabeled faces, trying to find an audio code that produces music, and occasionally striking it lucky with a blast of fado without real context... It would be better done at home with a decent website. Felt designed by somebody who had never visited a museum.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 Martyna A. 2 years ago on Google
    It was easy to get lost because there were so many numbers of audios on the walls. Also I didn't know where exactly I should go. But in general it was good to listen dado and singers interviews. Worth to go! Recommended!!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jeremy B. 2 years ago on Google
    Worth going before you listen to Fado in person. It'll give you the history and culture background to help one appreciate the music.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Julie T. 2 years ago on Google
    Interesting museum dedicated to Portuguese fado music and culture. We took our time and spent about an hour in the museum and small gift shop. It's a convenient starting point for going uphill through Alfama to castelo do Sao Jorge if you're up for the winding climb.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 2/5 Rom 1 year ago on Google
    Not a lot of things. But place is nice. Audio-guide work badly. But documentary of how to make this instrument was nice.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 JHC L. 4 years ago on Google
    I came here because I wanted to learn more about fado but didn’t have the budget to get a seat at nice fado houses for a live performance. €5/adult and comes with English audio guide is very good value of money for me. The museum was beautiful and clean, relatively small. Even though it’s limited in size but the museum gave a good introduction about fado, its origin, related art work and famous artists. You can listen to many samples of fado music from the audio guide. There was a video on display at the auditorium that is about how the fado singers and guitar players are so fascinated by this music and performance experience. Personally, I think the museum could be more lively if there were more events going on, but maybe the best way is still to go to a fado house and immerse in it!
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Goran G. 1 year ago on Google
    I love everything connected to Fado, and in this museum, you can go through the history of this unesco protected Portuguese gem! There was a room in which you can sit and listen to historical records of Fado songs and performers arranged in alphabetical order where I was for the majority of my time in museum. Beautiful museum.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 4/5 W H. 3 months ago on Google • 102 reviews New
    located in the center of Lisbon city, nearby well known shopping street.

  • 5/5 Riaz Uddin P. 2 months ago on Google • 23 reviews New
    Museu do Fado, one of the great history from Lisbon fisher men with their wife. BC 1700 when the farmers went to the river to catch fish & their wife's are waiting for them, during this time they (wife's of fishermen) had benn singing a song called Fado music! According to this song this place named Fado & now Fado Museum. To entire museum under 25 years old people will have to pay 2.5 euro & from 25 years old people will have to pay 5 euro. Here i saw all the houses are very narrow, the guide told me still this houses as this so that people can feel how was their life style 🙏 Its near the ship terminal, so many tourism guide are in here with their TukTuk. Thank you💝

  • 4/5 Daniel B. 1 year ago on Google • 12 reviews
    If the overall objective of the museum was to take a culturally complex topic and simplify it, mission achieved. Step by step it strums you through it’s history through historic and artistic eyes. My favourite contribution was listening stations inviting you to discover the various musicians from past to present. Overall I felt emotional informed and not overwhelmed.

  • 4/5 Riaz u. 1 month ago on Google • 10 reviews New
    Since opening to the public in 1998, the Museum has incorporated items belongings, to hundreds of interpreters, author's, composers, musicians, instruments manufacturers, scholars & researchers, professional & ameteur artists.

  • 5/5 Teodor C. 8 months ago on Google
    One unique experience! After the visit l started to listen to Fado music.

  • 5/5 Michael James G. 9 months ago on Google
    Very interesting history of the music and the connection to the neighborhood of Malala.

  • 4/5 Sze Ling H. 5 months ago on Google
    Lovely expedition of the history surrounding Portugal's fado music in this museum.

  • 4/5 Rob R. 8 months ago on Google
    Not too big a place to but interesting information about Fado, how the artists expressed their poems through song and music.

  • 5/5 Guillermo R. 2 years ago on Google
    An unpretentious and wonderfully chilled place for a meal. At the heart of the old quarter in Lisbon, it offers simple homecooked Portuguese cuisine. Incredible ingredients cooked over an open fire barbacue, we had both the sardines and the chorizo, as well as the pepper salad and potatoes. Excellent service by the two sisters who run it. Would highly recommend! 👌

  • 4/5 Anthony E. 2 years ago on Google
    We knew nothing of Fado music when we entered; we had a favorite Fado artist when we left. The audio guide (in many languages) is great - listen as much or little as you like. Learn about the music, it's history, it's politicalization, and its international rise. We enjoyed this music. Thank you, staff!

  • 5/5 Luciana L. 4 months ago on Google
    Very nice visit if you appreciate Fado music. My grandfather was a big fan of Amalia Rodrigues (although I only have MadreDeus Albums myself), so I stopped by with my family. It was one of the best moments of my Portugal trip, reconnecting with my Portuguese roots. At times it brought me to tears (when I was able to hear Amalia's recordings on a cozy chair with headphones). I even saw the same record player my grandfather had at the museum among Fado guitars, albums, clothing, and memorabilia of several important Fado performers. There is a flattering handwritten note from Madonna to Celeste Rodrigues downstairs, so don't miss visiting the lowest floor. If you go, don't skip the almost hidden small movie theater where you can watch some of Fado's history.

  • 5/5 Rachel 2 years ago on Google
    Very interesting place to learn about Fado. I never heard of it before I came to Portugal, so this place was a great way to learn about it!

  • 5/5 Linda H. 4 years ago on Google
    Wonderful museum describing how Fado music started and developed into what it is today. Had many instruments on display with audio examples from different artists. They showed a movie explaining the Fado music. Small museum but full of information and great displays.

  • 5/5 Rosanna A. 3 months ago on Google New
    We previously knew very little about fado, but we learned so much here! It was an interactive museum, with handheld audio guides, which was helpful for the kids. Very friendly staff, and such an interesting museum!

  • 3/5 ipek S. 3 months ago on Google New
    It is a sweet intro to the fado world and music. Knowing the history gives another perspective. The museum is free which makes it very accessible for all. It is also a great way to promote the culture. Nice exhibition as well.

  • 5/5 Anh T. 1 month ago on Google • 9 reviews New
    I first visited Fado Museum because it was pouring rain outside but I'm greatly glad I stopped by. I learned so much abt Fado, its music, artisits and the culture, all was eye-opening The ticket price is reasonable and the english translation is also easy to navigate. If you are a fan of music, pls stop by

  • 5/5 Andy R. 2 years ago on Google
    Reallly worth it. Beautiful museum. Amazingly set up. Great value for money. Audio guide in English with explanations and music. Loved it

  • 5/5 Sunflower P. 2 years ago on Google
    We really enjoyed visiting this museum last week, and the audio guides were a wonderful touch. The museum was practically empty and we took our time visiting each section reading and listening to the history of Fado. Truly a bargain for €10.

  • 5/5 Darcey 1 year ago on Google
    Awesome museum. I sat in the big auditorium learning about fado and just listened to the different fado musicians on the headset simultaneously (just type in randkm 900 numbers and it will keel playing music for you!). It was so lovely.

  • 5/5 Grzegorz �. 2 years ago on Google
    Absolutelly must have! Audiogid with history and fado.

  • 4/5 David T. 2 years ago on Google
    A small and charming museum with audio tour that gives an understanding of what 'Fado' really is. Would benefit from more interactive and more examples of 'Fado' throughout, such as in the theatre. Inexpensive to get an extra taste of Lisboa and the culture of Fado in the country. Would recommend a visit to a Fado House after.

  • 5/5 Eleni F. 2 years ago on Google
    Incredible experience! Everything you need to know about this unique music. Fados will touch the deepest part of your heart!

  • 5/5 Anna D. 2 years ago on Google
    So vivid! I learned so much about fado and you have the chance to listen to great artists

  • 5/5 TJ G. 2 years ago on Google
    This is one of (or is) the oldest Fado restaurants in Lisbon. For a small price, you get a multi-course meal and some incredible entertainment. The food was great with some fantastic wine. We were fortunate to have some local friends get the reservation for us, so we were very close to the Fado musicians. We got to chat extensively with our neighbors from Finland and had a wonderful time. I recommend the Fish Stew and the steak. For dessert, share the chocolate mousse and ice cream. To die for.

  • 5/5 James D. 1 year ago on Google
    If you love good music, visit here before you go to listen to Fado in the evening in one of the many Fado bars. Get there early enough as the bars/restaurants fill quickly. Very emotional music, you will not be disappointed

  • 5/5 Jennifer W. 2 years ago on Google
    Considering this is a music museum, pretty impressive what they have been able to put together, and well worth it to spend some time with the listening devices as you walk through the place. Great collection of music for sale - check out their website and have a listen on some of their shortlisted suggestions before going. Actually bought a cd (?) but its great!

  • 3/5 Lynne L. 1 year ago on Google
    2022 €5 entry, comes with a audio handset so best have wired headset or ear buds. Just enter number you see and play the audio. However, illogical and not very technology savvy. Good ideas to have handset to listen to but if display is incoherent and not self explanatory, it does little good. Example, 2 entrance mural characters have numbers and you just listen to random fado. Not much of explanation. Second floor most displays are in Portuguese, many have no English and no number. Where there is video on replay with numbers, video and audio does not sync as video is on auto replay and your audio does not sync with it. Some numbers do not work. When you asked why and how can it work? they replied “ that’s the way!” “ It is how it should be. “. Staff are not rude but I guess I don’t get museum where audios do not match videos and have no proper explanation matching visuals displays( ie. pictures or videos) and it is suppose to be a museum explain to you what it is about.

  • 3/5 Steven P. 1 year ago on Google
    We were disappointed with the museum. Not that it was bad, it just didn't answer everything we were curious about. The length of each stop on the audio tour was too much. The tour talked a little about the history of Fado, the censorship and then the 70s. Nothing about current Fado.

  • 3/5 Andrei D. 1 year ago on Google
    It's interesting, but somehow I've expected a bit more: for instance, instead of an empty audition hall, someone playing guitar? Or maybe explain subtleties of different notes or tunes? And where is the modern view (if any)?

  • 3/5 Edson D. 1 year ago on Google
    It was just okay. The people there were nice, but overall the exhibition lacked pizzazz. Would have loved to hear a higher quality sound system. Possibly even some live Fado artists, maybe more

  • 5/5 foojan s. 1 year ago on Google
    If you like music, you must not miss it

  • 5/5 Manfred W. 2 years ago on Google
    Good place to eat and check out other traditional things, like music

  • 5/5 Matthew D. 1 year ago on Google
    This place was so so good. I loved the audio guides they were so easy to use and you control the pace so you can go as fast or slow as you like. The music was brilliant and it was so nice to be able to immerse yourself in the culture and passion of it all. The staff were all very nice and helpful too. Definitely one to visit if you are in Lisbon!

  • 3/5 Michael M. 1 year ago on Google
    5€ per person, which is largely just to get the listening audio device, though you'd probably want one regardless. Get a ticket in the gift shop to the right after you enter. The guy at the front is just a security guard. If it's a rainy day, the museum is probably worth a visit to learn about fado music. The museum's prime objective seems to be education. If it's sunny, I'd probably use the hour to do something else and watch a 20 minute documentary on fado music when you fly home.

  • 5/5 Annamária V. 1 year ago on Google
    A nice historic experience of Fado music. Absolutely worth the 5 euro entrance fee

  • 5/5 Mike M. 11 months ago on Google
    As I enjoy Fado music, I was eager to visit this Museum, which was open during the daytime (although Fado is music of the evening) because I wasn't going to be in Lisbon at night. There is a lot of historical detail about the background and examples of some of the great artists. There is also a lot about the instruments that accompany vocalists, but to my mind it is the singers that make Fado, and they are mostly women, who sing from their heart. To my mind, it is essential to take the audio tour as it mixes excerpts of music together with description in English.


Call +351 21 882 3470 Open on Google Maps

Amenities


  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible entrance
    • ✓️ Wheelchair accessible restroom

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