The Royal Treasury Museum, located in the west wing of the Ajuda National Palace, was named “Museum of the Year 2026” at the first edition of the Portuguese Business Awards, organized by the publication EU Business News. The award is the result of an independent evaluation conducted by the magazine’s editorial team, based on merit criteria.
More than two centuries of waiting
The west wing of the Ajuda Palace remained unfinished for 226 years, until the project was finally completed and gave rise to the museum, which opened in June 2022. It is there that more than a thousand artifacts documenting centuries of Portuguese history are kept in one of the world’s largest museum vaults —with 40-centimeter-thick armored doors—including Crown jewels, royal regalia, coins, and examples of secular and religious goldsmithing. Among the highlights is what is believed to be the world’s second-largest gold nugget, weighing 20 kilograms.
A collection unparalleled in Portugal
The collection is organized into 11 thematic sections, ranging from Brazilian gold and diamonds to royal regalia, including the royal chapel and the treasure’s voyages. It is managed by the Lisbon Tourism Association and continues to garner international recognition: it has now added the title of “Museum of the Year,” awarded by EU Business News, to its list of accolades.
Carlos Moedas’s reaction
For Carlos Moedas, mayor of Lisbon and chairman of the Lisbon Tourism Association, the award places Lisbon at the top of the world as a unique cultural destination. Moedas also highlights that the museum represents the appreciation and preservation of a heritage site that belongs to the country’s collective memory, emphasizing the commitment to continue deepening knowledge about the collection and opening it up to diverse audiences.
Useful Information
Where: Calçada da Ajuda (Ajuda National Palace), Lisbon
Hours: daily , from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (last admission at 6 p.m.)
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