Adaptive façades, components and systems are very promising technologies to improve energy and environmental performance of building. The characterization and analysis of their thermophysical and optical behaviour is very relevant in order to increase the effectiveness of these systems and to promote both their development and implementation. Characterization tests for adaptive façade systems and components are usually performed in large scale facilities, such as real-scale buildings, indoor and outdoor test cells. In this paper, five different outdoor test cell facilities developed for testing of adaptive façade solutions are presented. Features, advantages, limitations and possible experimental activities for each typology of test cell are reported.