Belém Tower Tickets

• Closed: Mondays, January 1st, Easter Sunday, May 1st, June 13th, and December 25th.
• Last entry: 30 minutes before closing.

Best Times to Visit

Most visitors arrive later in the morning or midday, so dodge the crowds and make the most of your trip by opting for a weekday visit, arriving about half an hour before they open, or later in the afternoon for an unmatched sunset view.

This tower is one of the most visited attractions in Lisbon, so there are plenty of options to get there easily, especially by public transport. 

Train

Head to the Cais do Sodré station and board the Cascais Line. After about an eight-minute journey, hop off at Belém station (the closest train stop). Take the pedestrian overpass and follow Avenida Brasília for a flat, 20-minute walk toward the tower along the riverfront. 

Keep an eye out for a bridge connecting the shore to the tower — that’s your entrance. 

Tram 

Take tram 15E from Praça da Figueira for 30-40 minutes of classic Lisbon charm, passing landmarks like the historic Praça do Comércio and the Monument to the Discoveries. Get off at Largo da Princesa, where the tower will be a five-minute walk away via Doca do Bom Sucesso.

Bus 

Hop on buses 714 or 728 from Cais do Sodré station for a 20-35 minute trip, getting off at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos stop — across the street from Jerónimos Monastery. Head west on Praça do Império, where Belém Tower will be a 15-minute walk away from the monastery.

Car 

If you decide to drive to Belém Tower, the best route would be via Avenida da Índia. It’ll take you 10-15 minutes to get to the tower, but keep in mind that parking is limited and traffic can get pretty heavy. Consider using a nearby parking lot, like at Centro Cultural de Belém. 

Bike 

Since the route along the Tagus River to Belém Tower is relatively flat, biking there can be a fun and scenic way to get there, taking about 30 minutes. Download the Gira app and choose your pass (monthly pass, day pass, etc), and it’ll show you the nearest bike stations. 

Don’t worry about tiring your legs out before you get to the tower. Gira also offers electric bike rentals, showing you how much battery is left on the bike via the app.

Belém Tower is not wheelchair or stroller accessible. Inside is a steep staircase that can be challenging to move through, and the tower doesn’t have alternative routes, such as ramps or elevators.

There’s no dress code at Belém Tower, but you should wear comfortable clothes and a decent pair of walking shoes. Professional photography equipment like tripods isn’t allowed, but you’re welcome to take photos without the flash on.

sam741002/Depositphotos

Situated at the mouth of the Tagus River, where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, Belém Tower has stood for centuries as the star of the waterfront and guardian of Lisbon’s harbor. This strategic position allowed defenders to control naval access into Lisbon, protecting the city from attacks.

The tower also served as a ceremonial point of departure and arrival, marking the area where several Portuguese explorers began their voyages across the Atlantic and later returned.

The stairs of Belém Tower are an adventure in themselves. Inside, you’ll find a singular, spiral staircase that connects to all five levels. This winding staircase is pretty narrow, so it’s probably not the best spot to stretch your arms (unless you want to touch both walls halfway through!).

Climbing these steep stairs can be a bit of a squeeze, but don’t worry about rubbing shoulders with other visitors — there’s a traffic light system that controls when people can go up or down.

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Also known as the bulwark, the Lower Battery was where the tower’s muscle used to be. 17 cannon holes line the thick stone walls on the ground floor, each positioned to fire out across the Tagus.

Below, dungeons were used to store military equipment like gunpowder and later doubled as a prison starting from around 1580.

The Governor’s Chamber is on the first floor, and it was essentially the administrative office for the Governor to oversee matters relating to the tower as the king’s representative. The room is modest yet dignified, with arched windows, a vaulted ceiling, and a stone fireplace.

A standout feature is the cistern with visible rope marks worn into the stone, giving you a tangible glimpse into how the residents lived. It’s also a reminder of how the tower’s builders cleverly planned ahead, making sure those inside could hold out if they ever faced an attack.

Despite the name, no king actually lived in the King’s Chamber. This room was kind of like a VIP area reserved for prestigious guests like royals, as well as a statement of the Portuguese monarchy’s authority and presence (particularly that of King Manuel I), even in his absence.

One of the most interesting features of this room is the eight round holes in the balcony floor, known as machicolations. These openings allowed troops to defend the tower by shooting or dropping objects onto attackers from above.

Gorka_Eh/Depositphotos

After powering through the final flight of stairs, you’ll be rewarded with a 360-degree view of the Tagus River and Lisbon waterfront. This open-air setting is the perfect place to take a moment and spot iconic sights like the 25 de Abril Bridge and Christ the King statue.

Get there before or as the sun is setting to witness the golden light transform the pale limestone into a warm, glowing amber that highlights the intricate stone carvings. The sky alone from your vantage point will be breathtaking, so make sure you’ve got your camera charged.