Adorning the cover of numerous postcards and guidebooks, a visit to Lisbon’s beautiful Belém Tower, included in UNESCO, appears on almost every visitor’s itinerary. If you want to know more about visiting this 500-year-old structure, we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to the tower’s history, how and when to go, tips for buying tickets, what to expect once you’re inside, and more.
Here is everything you need to know.
Story
In the 15th century , the king and his military advisers realized that Lisbon’s existing defensive forts at the mouth of the Tagus River did not provide sufficient protection against attacks at sea. Plans were drawn up in the early 1500s to add a new fortified tower on the north bank of the river, a little further down, where the Tagus was narrower and easier to defend.
A small volcanic rock island off the coast of Belém was chosen as the ideal site. Construction began in 1514 and ended five years later, with the tower called Castelo de São Vicente de Belém (The Castle of San Vicente de Belén). Over the next several decades, the structure went through a series of updates and additions to further strengthen its defensive capabilities.
Over the centuries, the tower ended up serving other purposes beyond defending the city from the sea. The troops were stationed in an adjoining barracks, and the tower’s dungeons were used as a prison for 250 years. It also served as a customs house, collecting duties from foreign ships until 1833.
The tower had fallen into disrepair at the time, but major conservation and restoration work did not begin until the mid-1900s. In 1983 a major European science and culture exhibition was held in the tower, which was classified as a World Heritage Site. by UNESCO the same year.
A full year-long restoration was completed in early 1998, leaving the Torre de Belém as it appears today. It was declared one of the “Seven Wonders of Portugal” in 2007.
how to visit
At the southwestern end of the official city limits of Lisbon, the popular neighborhood of Belém is located about 8 km from the city center as Alfama.
Getting there is straightforward: Trains, buses, and trams run along the river from Cais do Sodre and other main stations, and all cost less than three euros for a single ticket. Ferries also run to Belém, but only from a couple of terminals on the south bank of the river.
Taxis and ridesharing services like Uber are also inexpensive, especially when traveling in a group, and it’s also a nice, flat ride along the shoreline under the amazing April 25 bridge, with plenty of other attractions, bars and restaurants along the way.
While the Torre de Belém was originally free-standing on the Tagus River, the later extensions of the nearby riverbank mean that it is now only surrounded by water at high tide. Access to the tower is through a small bridge.
The tower opens to visitors from 10 am, closes at 5:30 pm from October to May, and at 6:30 pm the rest of the year. Interestingly, the last entry is at 5pm, regardless of closing time. When planning your visit, keep in mind that the tower is closed every Monday, as well as on New Years Day, Easter Sunday, May Day (May 1), and Christmas Day.
You can still take photos of the striking exterior when the tower is not open, of course, but you won’t be able to get inside. Head to the right of the tower for the best photos, away from the line and the busy pedestrian zone. Sunset is a particularly good time to take photos of the tower, framed against the river and the orange sky.
Due to its popularity and relatively small size, the site gets very crowded in summer, especially from late morning to mid-afternoon when many of the tour buses and groups show up. For a more relaxed experience, it is worth arriving early or at the end of the day. Lines often start to form half an hour before opening hours, and since people are only allowed in and out in groups, it can be slow. Expect to spend about 45 minutes inside.
Inside the tower
For most visitors, the highlight of the Torre de Belém is the open terrace at the top, but don’t try to rush through the rest of the structure just to get there. A single steep, narrow staircase provides access to all floors, including the roof, and can get quite crowded. A red / green traffic light system controls whether people can ascend or descend at any given time, and the wait provides an excuse to explore each floor on the way up or down.
The ground floor once housed the tower’s artillery, with cannons pointed across the river through narrow window openings. Several of those large weapons remain in place today. Below them (and thus below the waterline) is the magazine, originally used to store gunpowder and other military equipment, and later transformed into a dark, dank prison in later centuries.
On top of that is the Governor’s Chamber, where nine successive governors served for more than three centuries. Little is left in the chamber now, but it’s worth making your way through the narrow tunnels at each end to get to the attached turrets. From one of them, you can see a small stone sculpture of a rhino head, apparently created to commemorate the arrival of one of the first rhinos in Europe, as a gift to King Manuel 1 in 1514.
Go up once more to enter the King’s Chamber. The room itself is relatively unexciting, but it does provide access to a Renaissance-style balcony with great views over the lower terrace and the river. Above that is the Audience Chamber on the third floor, and on the fourth floor, the old chapel that has been converted into a small theater showing a video of the tower’s history and the Portuguese Era of Discovery.
Finally, reaching the top, you will be rewarded with a panoramic view over the coastal walls, the river and the surrounding neighborhood. The 25th of April Bridge and the Christ the Redeemer statue on the opposite bank are clearly visible, and it’s the perfect spot to snap some iconic photos of Lisbon.
Buying tickets
A single ticket for adults costs six euros, with a 50% discount for visitors over 65, those in possession of a student or youth card, and families of two adults and two or more children under 18 years of age. Children 12 and under are free.
It is also possible to buy a combined ticket that gives access to the Torre de Belém and the nearby Jerónimos Monastery and the National Museum of Archeology, for € 12.
An important tip: during busy periods, it is worth buying your ticket before reaching the tower. It can be purchased at the nearby tourist information office or as part of the aforementioned combo pass. The often long line for tickets in the tower itself is separate from the entrance line, and can be skipped entirely if you already have one.
Note that even if you have free access via a Lisbon pass, you still need to pick up a ticket; the pass itself will not take you inside the tower.
When you’re done
Given its location, it makes sense to combine a visit to the Torre de Belém with other nearby attractions. The majestic Jerónimos Monastery is only a 10-15 minute walk away, and as mentioned, combination tickets for both attractions are available at a discounted price.
Near the monastery is the Pastéis de Belém bakery, the original home of Portugal’s famous pastel de nata egg tart; after going up and down those 200+ stairs, it’s definitely a little treat! There can be a long line there too, but it’s worth the wait.
Finally, for something a little less historical, but no less interesting, walk back along the coast towards MAAT (the Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology). Housed in a former power station, and newly opened in 2016, you’ll pay € 5-9 to enter, or, if you haven’t filled up your photogenic spots yet, just head over to the viewing area for free.
