From September 18 to 27, the European Heritage Days will take place, an initiative of the Council of Europe and the European Union whose theme for 2026 is “Revive, Resist, Reinvent.”
An embassy housed in a Baroque palace, a church that has moved to a new location, and the undersea cables that connected the world: these are some of the tours already confirmed in Lisbon, along with their dates, times, and capacity.
An embassy and a church that once served as a vault
Palácio de Santos, French Embassy (Saturday, September 19): As in previous years, the French Embassy opens its doors for the European Heritage Days. According to its officialwebsite, guided tours are organized by the Património association: in French (at 10 a.m. and 5 p.m.) and in Portuguese (at 12 p.m. and 3 p.m.). Registration must be done here, and the number of visitors is limited to 20 people per group.
Former Church of St. Julião, at the Money Museum (Saturday, September 19, in the afternoon, and other dates). The strangest story of these Open House Days: a church that moved to a different block and even served as a vault. The tour shows how the building was restored and offers one of the few opportunities to see the Pombaline downtown area from the inside, at Largo de S. Julião.
Museum of Communications (Saturdays, September 19 and 26, at 3:30 p.m.). A guided tour focusing on the undersea cables that marked a milestone in 19th-century telegraphic communication and supported the first global communications network. The tour lasts one hour, is free, has 25 spots per session, and registration is done via a form on the Portuguese Communications Foundation’s website.
Also worth noting…
These activities are part of the official program for the Days in Lisbon. Check the website for participation requirements before you go, as some may require registration or an admission ticket to the site:
- Monument to the Discoveries — the Days include the tour “Stories Within History” (Saturday, September 19, at 10:30 a.m.) and a tour of the exhibition “Monument. House-Obsession” (Saturday, September 19, at 3:00 p.m.). For families with children ages 6 to 12, there is also the tour-workshop “My House-Obsession | Stories of Make-Believe” on Sunday, the 20th, at 3:00 p.m. All activities are free, but require prior registration.
- Montepio Museum, Rua do Carmo 62 — Thursday, the 24th, at 5 p.m.: tour of the museum, which opened in November 2025; advance registration required by September 23.
- Jardim da Estrela — Saturday, September 26, at 10:30 a.m.: “Photographing Lisbon” workshop, based on photographs from the Municipal Archives;
- Largo das Portas do Sol, 2 — September 18–27: “Costumes for Everyone,” to explore heritage and discover the fashions of the last century.
Registration: space is limited
The complete schedule, with filters by day, municipality, and free activities, is available on the Cultural Heritage portal.
Editor’s Note: Article updated at 7:44 p.m. on September 17, 2026.
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