Visit World of Discoveries in Porto: tickets, prices, schedules

For a cultural and fun event for a weekend in Portugal, visit the World of Discoveries Museum and theme park in Porto

The Portugal had a huge role in conquest of the world and great discoveries in the Middle Ages. From Henri the Navigator to Magellan through Vasco de Gama, the Portuguese explorers have robbed the seas and oceans to discover new maritime routes. Thus, they colonized many parts of the world while discovering new peoples and cultures.

World of Discoveries is a museum and theme park retracing their history. Visiting World of Discoveries in Porto is a fun way to discover this major part of Portugal’s history.

World of Discoveries in Porto

The World of Discovery Museum and theme park in Porto was opened to the public on April 25, 2014. Born of a desire to bring to the national and international public the great Portuguese discoveries, he retraces the history of the great Lutheran explorers in the 15th and 16th centuries. Porto is the birthplace town of Henri the browser, and turns out to be the ideal place to pay tribute to the adventurers who have gone to the conquest of an unknown world. With an area of 5,000 square meters, it offers a visit divided into two parts: museum and theme park. The various museum rooms welcome you and give you the details of the expeditions and discoveries of the great Portuguese epoch, then you embark on a small boat and relive the path of explorers, for the greatest joy of the little ones as the greatest.

What to see and do at the World of Discoveries in Porto?

World of Discoveries Museum

The visit is organized as a course that will lead you to museum rooms, with an informative character, to the theme park space, more spectacular.

You will first enter the “On-board” space or a video of introduction stages Infante Dom Henrique , explaining the role of Henri the browser in the major discoveries and opening of new marine routes.

The second room, called "Tests and inventions", presents models of boats used by Portuguese. You will discover, among other things, the famous caravelles. We also find navigation instruments such as compas, sextants, astrolabes...

“From worlds to world”, the third room, is resolutely interactive. Through large screens and touch screens, you will understand how marine roads have developed. A scene between two browsers studying a maritime map immerses you in life on a boat at the time.

You arrive naturally in the next room, "The Bridge of the Ship". Here you are inside a real-sized boat. Take a sailor and explore the cargo area. Imagine the living conditions on board thanks to the tools, goods and furniture of time. Discover the spices transported, the riches and objects of lust. Let’s not forget the weaponry, which was available on all boats.

“The shipyard” then welcomes you, with a reproduction of a shipbuilding area. Explanations on materials used, tools and various techniques will be given to you.

World of Discoveries theme park

This space marks the transition with the theme park space or you board a small boat and go to the discovery of the world, like the real Portuguese explorers. The course takes you first to Lisbon, the first step on the road to Africa.

After passing the southern coast of Portugal, you will discover North Africa. You will be immersed in a battle staging Portuguese knights and Moorish warriors. Henri the Navigator led an expedition to resume the port of Ceuta and the control of this strategic area in trade with Africa.

You will then sail on the terrible Sea of Darkness and then pass over the Cap du Tourment that will lead you to black Africa. Sound and luminous effects accompany you throughout the visit for an even more complete immersion. Children are fascinated by the scenery and can imagine the life of the adventurers of the Middle Ages.

You will then discover the different cultures and peoples encountered by Portuguese, as well as the exchanges that took place at the time, both cultural and merchant. Statues represent certain scenes while other actors play them. You will pass decors from desert Africa to tropical forests, then admire India and its palaces, Macau, mystic Japan and finally Brazil. All these countries have been visited and some have been colonized by the Portuguese, the visit brings you light on the world as we know it today.

To finish the trip, the shop Sphera Mundi offers all kinds of objects related to travel and discoveries. A good way to bring back a souvenir of the visit or a gift for your friends.

How to go to the World of Discoveries in Porto?

World of Discovery Park in Porto is located along the Douro River. The exact address is Rua de Miragaia, 106, 4050 – 387, Porto. It is served by the tram and the bus. The nearest public transport stop is Alfândega, a two-minute walk from World of Discoveries Park in Porto. Line 1 of the tram passes through the Alfândega stop, as well as the 1M, 500 and ZM buses.

From the São Bento train station, which will allow you to easily visit the Tour des Clercs, a must-see of Porto, you will take the 500 bus to the Alfândaga stop to reach World of Discovery.

From the airport of Porto-Francisco Sá-Carneiro, you can choose from:

• The 601 bus to the Hosp stop. Sto. António, located 7 minutes walk from the park
• The metro line E to Casa de Música then bus 507 to Hosp. Sto. António./li analog

World of Discoveries in Porto

Schedule

• The museum is open from 10am to 6pm on weekdays and from 10am to 7pm on weekends and holidays.
• The ticket office closes 30 minutes before the museum closes.
• The museum closes on December 25 and January 1.

Rates

• Children under three years old: free.
• Children from 4 to 12 years old: 8 euros at the museum ticket office, 6.80 euros on the online ticket office.
• Adults: 14 euros at the museum ticket office, 11.90 euros on the online ticket office.
• Seniors (+ 65 years old): 11 euros at the museum ticket office, 11 euros on the online ticket office.
• Students (on presentation of the student card): 11 euros at the museum ticket office, 11 euros on the online ticket office.
• Schools: 6 euros.