Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art

Serralves is Portugal’s foremost museum of contemporary art and one of the country’s most complete cultural experiences. Set in a leafy estate in western Porto, it brings together a landmark museum designed by Alvaro Siza, an elegant 1930s villa, a sculpture-filled park and a busy programme of exhibitions, making it an ideal half-day destination for art lovers and families alike.

An estate of three architectures

The Serralves estate combines three distinct architectural layers. The Casa de Serralves is a striking example of Art Deco architecture from the 1930s, designed by Jose Marques da Silva for the second Count of Vizela. The Museum of Contemporary Art, designed by the Pritzker Prize-winning architect Alvaro Siza Vieira, opened in 1999 and was the first large-scale purpose-built contemporary art museum in Portugal. A House of Cinema completes the ensemble.

The estate is managed by the Serralves Foundation, which grew out of the Contemporary Art Centre originally attached to the Soares dos Reis National Museum. Today Serralves is regularly cited as the second most visited museum in Portugal, and in 2025 it featured among the most visited art museums in the world.

What to see

• Serralves Museum: a changing programme of contemporary exhibitions and a growing collection of Portuguese and international art.
• Casa de Serralves: the restored Art Deco villa, itself a work of art, with period interiors and temporary displays.
• Serralves Park: around eighteen hectares of landscaped gardens, woodland and sculptures by leading artists.
• House of Cinema: screenings and film programming.
• A full calendar of talks, performances and family activities.

The garden and park are as much a reason to visit as the galleries, and can be explored independently.

Visiting Serralves

Serralves stands at Rua Dom Joao de Castro 210, 4150-417 Porto, about fifteen minutes from the city centre. Opening hours vary by space and season, and separate or combined tickets are available, so check the official website before your visit.

Opening hours and tickets: serralves.pt.

Image credit: Serralves Museum facade by Leaandroh1, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.