Pavilhão do Conhecimento – Ciência Viva is Lisbon’s flagship hands-on science center, set on the riverfront in Parque das Nações. Families, school groups and curious adults come for exhibits built to be touched, tested and pushed, plus regular workshops and dedicated play areas for younger children.
The building dates from Expo ’98. Architect João Luís Carrilho da Graça designed it as a pale, monolithic pavilion with a cantilevered volume and a ramped interior that leads visitors through the galleries. Inside, rotating and permanent exhibitions explore physics, biology, mathematics and technology through experiments you run yourself. A long-standing favorite is the high-wire bicycle, which lets visitors pedal along a cable suspended above the atrium, steadied by a counterweight. In 2026 the center marks 30 years of the Ciência Viva network with special programming (Pavilhão do Conhecimento).
Visitor Highlights & Practical Info
Winter hours began on 7 September 2026. The center is open Tuesday to Friday from 10:00 to 18:00, with last entry at 17:30, and it also opens on weekends and public holidays (Musa). Check the official site for current weekend times. Adult tickets cost €15, and children under 2 enter free. Buying online saves time at the door (Ticket Office).
School groups crowd weekday mornings, so weekday afternoons are usually calmer. To get there, take the Metro Red Line or a train to Oriente station and walk about 10 minutes. You can pair the visit with the nearby Oceanário de Lisboa.
