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Central Tejo

It was, for more than three decades, the largest power plant in the country

Close to the MAAT is the old Lisbon Electric Power Station, nowadays better known as the Electricity Museum or Central Tejo.

Central Tejo also known as the Electricity Museum

The Central Tejo, built in 1908 and in operation between 1909 and 1972, was a key thermoelectric power plant for supplying electricity to the Lisbon region. Inspired by German and English industrial architecture, it was one of the first buildings in the city to be fully lit by electricity. From 1951 onwards, the Tejo Power Plant was used as a reserve power plant, i.e., producing only to supplement the energy supply from hydroelectric plants.

It was, for more than three decades, the largest power plant in the country, supplying electricity to the city of Lisbon, its entire district and the Santarém Valley. However, in 1975 it was disqualified, leaving the productive system. Over time, it has undergone several modifications and expansions, having gone through several phases of construction and alteration of the production systems.

In a new Era of its existence, Central Tejo opened to the public for the first time in 1990 as the Electricity Museum. Soon after a new period of restoration work on its buildings and equipment, it reopened definitively in 2006.

Today, it preserves its original machinery and functions as a cultural and educational space, hosting international events and promoting energy education.

Central Tejo at nightfall, completely illuminated

Your building

Its permanent exhibition, called “Circuito Central Elétrica“, features original machinery, in perfect condition, through which the history of this old factory is told, as well as the evolution of electricity to renewable energies. Science space with an industrial base, it is one of the most visited museum centers in the whole country.

Central Tejo is housed in an iconic building of early 20th-century Portuguese industrial architecture, with an iron structure covered in brick and façades that combine styles such as Art Nouveau and Classicism. It was one of the first buildings to be fully lit by electricity, becoming a symbol of modernity in Lisbon at that time.

Central Tejo in the Current Context of Sustainability

The relevance of Central Tejo goes beyond its industrial past. By becoming part of MAAT, it has become a place for reflection on the future of energy and sustainability. Visitors can explore:

Exhibitions on renewable energy;
Stories of energy transition in Portugal;
Impact of climate change;
Innovations in sustainable architecture.

Portugal has been one of the European countries most committed to clean energy, standing out for its wind and solar power production. The Tejo Power Plant thus symbolizes the journey from the first steps of national electrification to the current commitment to green energy.

What are the sources of energy, how does the process of production, transport and distribution of electricity take place, who are the scientists who study it? The answers to these and other questions can be found by visiting this space.

And if you want to know more about the evolution of the Central and the MAAT between 1909 and 2016, you can watch an interesting virtual tour below.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lP_aP_Ber-g&list=PLfcViREGIdHs4TY_y8cbV19nlPg1XxfR5&index=2

Location and How to Visit

Central Tejo is located in the Belém area of Lisbon, next to the Tagus River, in a space that combines history, culture, and leisure.

Address: Avenida Brasília, Central Tejo, 1300-598 Lisbon
Opening Hours: Normally open every day, except on certain public holidays. We recommend checking here beforehand.
Access:
- Tram 15E;
- Train: Belém Station;