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Chemistry in Lisbon

Overview

The Portuguese capital has a fantastic array of science-themed visits to complement school studies!  Popular museums include the Museu da Farmácia and the Museu Nacional de História Natural e Ciência (which is also home to the Jardim Botânico's plant collection).

Lisbon also boasts the Océanario de Lisboa, Europe's largest indoor aquarium and the interactive Science and Technology Museum, Pavilhão do Conhecimento.

These visits, combined with Lisbon's cultural highlights make this a unique and diverse destination for Science students!  Check out our other Lisbon itineraries for some inspiration of other visits you could include.

Our Suggested Itinerary

  1. Day 1

    Flight from the UK to Lisbon and transfer to accommodation. 

    Get your bearings and learn about Lisbon's fascinating history with a guided walking tour of the city. 

  2. Day 2

    Start your day with a guided tour of the Museu da Farmácia to discover the history of Portuguese pharmacy and technology.  In the museum, you can see examples of several old pharmacies going back to an 18th-century apothecary.

    Then visit the Museu de Medicina, part of the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Lisbon.  Since being founded in 1911, the institution has become an important historical centre for all medicine lovers. 

    (Museu de Medicina is currently open on Wednesdays only, an alternative visit will be arranged if you are not visiting on a Wednesday.)

    Spend the afternoon exploring the Belém district, including the Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Discoveries Monument) and the Torre de Belém, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

    In the evening, head to the top of the Elevador de Santa Justa for some great views over the city! 

  3. Day 3

    Spend the morning at the Museu Nacional de História e da Ciência, Portugal's largest museum dedicated to nature and also home to a fascinating Ampitheatre and Chemical Laboratory. 

    Afterwards, head to the Jardim Botânico's to explore its collection of exotic plants from Portugal's colonies and trading posts around the world. 

    Enjoy some free time in the charming Bairro Alto and appreciate the charm of its cobbled streets and vibrant street art.

    Finally, visit the Pavilhão do Conhecimento, an interactive Science and Technology Museum on the site of the 1998 World Expo.  At the museum, budding scientists can have fun experiencing the gravity on the moon (or lack thereof) and blowing giant soap bubbles!

  4. Day 4

    Train transfer for day trip to Cascais, a coastal resort town just west of Lisbon.  Spend the morning exploring a traditional Portuguese market. 

    Visit the scenic cliff formation, Boca do Inferno, which translates into English as 'Hell's Mouth'.  The mouth was originally a sea cave but it collapsed, leaving a large chasm and sea arch.

    Before returning to Lisbon, enjoy some free time on one of Cascais' many golden beaches. 

  5. Day 5

    On your final morning, learn about conservation and biodiversity with a trip to the Oceanário de Lisboa, Europe's largest indoor aquarium.  The main aquarium holds 5 million litres of seawater and four marine habitats create the illusion of a single ocean.

    Transfer to Lisbon airport for return flight to the UK. 

School Trip Accommodation

Accommodation

We use safe and secure accommodation especially suited to schools. Our accommodation is usually 2* or youth hostel standard and provides a perfect base for enjoying your tour. All accommodation we use is audited, and our auditing regime is verified by independent experts.