São Jorge Castle Tickets

Closed: January 1st, May 1st, December 24th, 25th, and 31st.

Best Times to Visit

Visit in autumn (September to October) or spring (April to June) to wander the grounds in temperate weather without the typical summertime bustle of July and August.

Ditch the crowds and arrive about 20 minutes before they open or around 15:30 when the grounds are less busy.

Whether you prefer a quick and direct route or a scenic journey through the city’s cobblestoned streets, there’s a perfect way for you to get to Castelo de São Jorge.

Tram 

Head down to Praça Martim Moniz for a five-minute ride on tram 28 through iconic neighbourhoods like Graça before getting off at the Largo das Portas do Sol stop in Alfama. Keep in mind that this tram is really popular among tourists, so you might have to queue. 

Or, use tram 12 for a 10-minute trip through the more off-the-tourist-map areas like Rua dos Lagares before getting off at Largo das Portas do Sol stop. From there, head uphill along Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo, where the castle is around a 5-minute walk away. 

Bus 

Want to skip the uphill walk? Catch bus 737 from Praça da Figueira for a quick ride straight to the castle. It’s not a very scenic route, but it gets you right to the top, just a short walk from the entrance, in eight minutes. 

Metro

Start by taking the Green Line metro to Martim Moniz station, where you can then board tram 12 or 28 and disembark at Largo das Portas do Sol. Alternatively, take the metro to Rossio station and exit towards Praça da Figueira. 

From there, you can either walk a fairly steep 15 minutes to the castle, following Rua Condes de Monsanto and using the lift in Chão do Loureiro’s parking lot, or just catch bus 737 if you prefer to skip the climb.

Car 

Lisbon’s historic areas aren’t ideal for driving, with narrow, winding streets and limited parking. The closest car parks to Castelo de São Jorge are at Chão do Loureiro and Portas do Sol, around 5-10 minutes from the castle on foot.

If you’re driving and have specific accessibility needs, contact EMEL (a municipal company in Lisbon) a day in advance to receive an access code for the castle’s private parking area. Then contact the ticket office for clearance.

This castle’s medieval architecture means some areas aren’t wheelchair-friendly, including the tower, battlements, and walkways. However, the site has added features to help improve accessibility, like the option to book an inclusive visit in advance. 

Ramps are at the ticket office and museum entrance, with a lift inside to access the Islamic period room. There’s an accessible route to the eastern viewpoint, a wheelchair-friendly bathroom, four wheelchairs, and one Swiss-Trac wheelchair available upon request.

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It’s safe to say that the imposing towers on a military fort perched atop the highest hill in Lisbon (São Jorge Hill) made a powerful statement of dominance and protection. They also overlook the city and the Tagus River, which were intentional positions for observation and defense.

Battlements are stone walls with squared openings in them (crenels), which guards used to watch for enemies and shoot through while being protected by the parts without gaps (merlons). These battlements provide hands-on evidence of what it was like to guard Lisbon centuries ago.

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Once a royal archive named Torre do Tombo (Tower of the Archive), it’s now called the Tower of Ulysses, named after the Greek hero who, according to local legend, founded Lisbon. Today, the tower is home to the Camera Obscura, which is pretty much the early ancestor of a camera. 

This ancient type of camera works by using a series of lenses and mirrors to project a live image of the outside onto a screen inside a darkened room. As the device moves, you get a surprisingly detailed image of the city in real-time, which is a fun way of seeing Lisbon in motion.

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The castle’s archaeological site reveals layers of Lisbon’s history and how it was shaped by the occupation of pre-Roman to Moorish civilisations before being conquered by the Kingdom of Portugal during the Siege of Lisbon in 1147.

Step back in time and check out the oldest preserved structures in the castle, which were potentially a kitchen and a fire area. Then have a look at some antique-as-it-gets pottery, including amphorae (traditional ancient Greek jugs with two handles).

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End your visit in the castle’s leafy escape, where you can relax and enjoy your surroundings under one of the many types of trees, including olive or cork oak. Head to the Place-of-Arms to see two of the castle’s most exotic tree species, the jacaranda and silk floss trees.

Keep an eye out for the resident Indian peacocks who strut around freely as if they know they steal the show. They’re loud and not shy about showing off their feathers — just don’t feed them your food. You can buy small packets of the appropriate food for them from the castle’s shop.