Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

Egyptian masks, Persian rugs, paintings by the likes of Rembrandt and Monet, and the spellbinding Dragonfly brooch by Rene Lalique are just a fraction of the artistic treasures housed in this largely underrated museum in northern Lisbon. Avid art collector Calouste Gulbenkian, who made his fortune in oil, bequeathed his entire fortune to Portugal when he died in 1955. The largely contested will delayed the arrival of the artwork to Lisbon until 1969 when the museum finally opened its doors. Because of its location away from more obvious tourist destinations, Gulbenkian doesn’t land atop many travelers’ Lisbon bucket lists. This actually makes it the perfect destination to escape the crowds, because in addition to the world-class collection, the complex also has pretty gardens, a reflecting pool, and library.