Contents:
Hospital de Bonecas, or The Doll Hospital, is not just the first and only shop of it’s kind in Lisbon, Portugal, but is also the oldest in the world.
I was lucky enough to visit The Doll Hospital on my trip to Lisbon in September 2019.
Lisbon’s Doll Hospital
Specialising in doll restorations, miniatures, doll clothes and toys – the shop, located on a large square in the heart of Lisbon, is a small and cosy place. However, it is not the shop itself that drew my attention, but the museum upstairs.
Read more about my time in Portugal here!
A series of rooms above the shop hold The Doll Hospital. It is a creepy yet enthralling place that has walls lined with doll parts, draws full of disembodied eyes and shelves and shelves full of broken dolls.

For the small price of €2 per person, you get a private tour of the hospital, including a run down of the hospitals history and the ability to ask any questions you may have.
A Family History
Founded in 1830, Hospital de Bonecas was a hub for children who wanted somewhere to play as their parents shopped in the market. However, it was not yet a shop but a woman, Miss Carlota, who sat outside her herb stall making cloth dolls.
At the time, Lisbon was a small town and everyone knew each other. This meant that the children had no problem telling Miss Carlota who ran the shop of their own dolls ailments.
Years later, the hospital is being run by the fourth generation to take on the responsibility of caring for the dolls, keeping the business close to home. The hospital is still very much dedicated to its mission of bringing joy to Lisbon’s children and those young at heart.
How To Find Hospital De Bonecas
Address: Praca da Figueira 7, Lisbon 1100-240 Portugal
Visiting Hours: Monday to Saturday 10h30 – 12h30 and 15h30 -17h00
The Doll Hospital is located on Praça da Figueira, a square in the centre of Lisbon.
It is easily accessible via the metro with Rossio station being a 2 minute walk away.
You can also take any of the following buses to visit the hospital: 12E, 15E, 208, 714, 736, 737, 760
Visiting Lisbon? Consider going on a day trip to Sintra!
My Review Of The Museum
I am sure, from the tone of my writing so far, you can tell that I thoroughly enjoyed my time at Hospital de Bonecas.
The hospital is family owned and you can tell. The people that work there are so passionate about their job and genuinely care about the dolls they are working on and the children that they will be returning to. Despite the eerie atmosphere, there is a wholesome feeling which accompanies the whole experience.
As well as their passion, the members of staff at Hospital de Bonecas clearly know their stuff! They were able to give me a run down of several types of doll, where they came from and how you can tell the origin point of dolls in significant detail. I learnt so much on the tour and, even if it wasn’t a fascinating place for it’s sheer uniqueness, it is definitely worth a visit just to pick up a few facts.

If you are a fan of dolls, the museum itself holds a collection of hundreds of dolls, some collected by the doll-enthusiasts that run the hospital while others were neglected by their own homes. Rooms full of dolls are around every corner and it is great fun to look into them and think about the homes those dolls have come from.
All-in-all I think there is no doubt that I would recommend The Doll Hospital to anyone! If you are a fan of creepy attractions, dolls, quirky museums or getting off the beaten track, it is definitely somewhere to go! I think the beauty of the museum is that, as it is a hospital, the ‘patients’ are constantly changing meaning that if you visit again it may look completely different.
Photographs From My Visit




Entire rooms full of dolls lurk around every corner.

Whether they are being repaired or have been replaced, they are found around every corner.
Have you been to any other creepy museums or attractions?
Have you ever visited a doll hospital?
It looks so creepy! I love it! I have never visited any creepy museums but you got my interest peaked!
It was a creepy one but so so worth it! I love unique museums and highly recommend this one if you’re ever in Lisbon!
It’s a wonder how they ever restore so many! It’s a really lovely story how the shop started and has stayed in the same family.
It definitely has a unique history though the people that work there can explain it a lot better than I can! There are an absolutely insane number of dolls in there I have no clue how they get around to doing them all!
What a creepy but interesting post! This seems like such a strange sort of hospital but I think it is nice that they have restored so many! It saves them from being wasted. Thank you for sharing!
Em x
https://www.loveemblog.com/2020/05/5-easy-bullet-journal-spreads-for.html
I completely agree! Even the dolls that are neglected there are kept as part of their collection! Definitely saves them from being thrown out!
It looks so creepy but interesting! Great post! x
Thank you so much! It was definitely worth the spookiness to learn so much about what they do!
Wow! I wish I had known this place existed when I was in Lisbon. I love visitint unusual places!
I’m always on the hunt for unusual museums and the like! I try to visit at least one in every city I go to! Hopefully you’ll be able to visit if you ever return!
This sounds so interesting! I’d love to go to Lisbon one day and if I do, I’d definitely go and visit, it sounds like my type of museum!
You should it was such a great museum, especially for the price! Highly recommended!
Woaah. Never seen anything like it! ;0 So creepy!
It was definitely spooky! One of the best quirky museums I’ve ever been to!
Wow so creepy!! That’s so unique and enthralling haha
It really is a fantastic place! Definitely has an eerie vibe though!
Ha ha, this is definitely something else. I love that you bring something unique about a popular destination.
Thank you! I’m always on the hunt for unique attractions! This was one that I really enjoyed!
Interesting! My grandmother loved dolls and had a huge collection. If she were still alive, she would have loved this place for sure.
Thank you for reading! My grandma would have loved it too I think! She was the person that got me into dolls when I was a bit younger!
It sounds so creepy but so cool at the same time, I think I would want to pop by if I ever visit Lisbon. Do you know anything about the accessibility?
I’m afraid I’m not too sure! There were a lot of stairs that we took but there may be a lift, you would have to check with the venue! Once you are upstairs I believe all rooms are connected so no more stairs at that point! Sorry I couldn’t be more helpful!
It’s ok, I’ll have more of a look into it if I ever get to Lisbon
When I first saw the main picture, it looked so creepy because I had a doll in my childhood that looked exactly the same and when my little sister found it, she felt like destroying it because she was just a cranky baby lol! I have never visited a doll hospital, hopefully I’ll be able to go to one soon!
That’s such an odd coincidence! Hopefully you’ll be able to visit one someday because it is such an awesome experience!
This is so creepy – I LOVE IT! I’ve got a dolls house and absolutely adore anything miniature. I’ve never visited Portugal (it’s on my list) but I need to visit this museum! What an amazing post, thank you!
Toni x
They have whole displays of miniatures downstairs in the shop! You’d love it!!
So interesting! What an offbeat place to visit. I could never work there, the drawers stuffed full of baby parts are too much!
I have to agree! Don’t think I could work there but it was so interesting to learn about what they do and the history behind the place!
The cupboard of doll parts is oddly pleasing to the eye haha but still a tad bit creepy. This is an interesting post though, I may have to add a place like this on my travel bucket list.
Great post, xxo Bri
It is an incredibly interesting place to visit! I highly recommend it if you’re in the area!
This place looks so creepy but SO interesting at the same time! It’s definitely something a little different!
It is a quirkier place for sure but definitely worth a visit!
Goodness that is one creepy place! I didn’t know doll hospitals existed. I admire your courage going through there.
http://www.susanberkkoch.com/blog
I’ve wanted to go to one since I was a kid and Santa fixed one of my porcelain dolls! Did not disappoint at all!!
That is so trippy! I want to go to Portugal but I’ve never heard of the Doll Museum. This will be on my bucket list!
http://hannahonhorizon.com
It’s so worth the visit! I highly recommend going!!
I love finding quirky places to visit and this is definitely going on my list if I ever visit Lisbon!
It is 100% worth the visit you won’t regret it!!!
Great review! Really enjoyed reading this 🙂
However, these images are v scary haha! I cannot imagine seeing them in person :l x
It was definitely creepy 😂 fascinating though!
This look unbelievably creepy but oh my god I want to go so badly?! Never even knew something like this existed, going to make a note of it and hopefully visit something similar someday. xx
El // welshwanderer.com
It is a bit creepy but such a fascinating experience! If you couldn’t tell from the post I highly recommend a visit!!
Wow I’ve never seen anything like this before! Definitely something different to do and seems like you had fun 🙂
It was a great time! The staff were so interesting! Highly recommend it if the dolls aren’t too creepy 😂
How fascinating! I’ve never been to a doll hospital before but it looks so eerie! Would love to visit one now!
I highly recommend it! It is a bit spooky but so interesting at the same time!
Oh my! I had no idea that such a place exists. What does it feel like walking from room to room and seeing all those dolls (and some of them with no eyes like in the last photo)? I have a feeling my imagination would run away with me if I were to visit such a place!
It is eerie for sure but so interesting! I’ve always been a fan of creepy and unique attractions and this one takes the cake!
That’s impressive! I have to say it’d scared me a bit to see all those dolls around … not sure why!
It looks fascinating as well – I did not know such places existed.
Sounds interesting, and interesting pics, I have seen doll museum but doll hospital is something new!
I’ve not heard of this place before but it looks awesome! I must try and visit when I go to Lisbon next!
Kayleigh x
https://hazelnutmusings.co.uk/
It’s so interesting I highly recommend a visit if you’re in the area!
This is both creepy and fascinating. Thanks for sharing!