Belém Tower
Torre de Belém
A Manueline-style fortress built in 1514–1520 at the mouth of the Tagus River, a landmark of the Age of Discovery and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
King Manuel I commissioned Belém Tower in 1514–1520 at the mouth of the Tagus River. It was originally a fortress guarding the estuary and collecting duties on passing ships, and it was often the first sight for navigators leaving on or returning from voyages during the Age of Discovery. The tower is covered in Manueline decoration: rope knots, armillary spheres and Order of Christ crosses. The small turret at the northwest corner has a rhinoceros sculpture beneath it, said to be one of the earliest European depictions of a rhino. In 1983 the tower was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site together with the Jerónimos Monastery.
The tower has five levels, including gun batteries, royal chambers and a chapel. A narrow spiral staircase leads to a top-floor terrace with views over the estuary and the 25 de Abril Bridge. The interior is small and access is limited, so in peak season queues often exceed an hour, and many visitors only photograph the exterior from the riverbank. Admission is about 8 euros. Tickets can be bought online or as a combined ticket with the monastery, and residents enter free on the first Sunday of each month. Morning light is best for frontal photos, and sunset gives good silhouettes. Getting there: tram 15E or bus 728 from the city centre takes about 30 minutes to Belém, or take the train from Cais do Sodré to Belém station. The Padrão dos Descobrimentos is a 10-minute walk east along the riverbank.
Opening hours
9:30 am–6:00 pm (until 5:30 pm Oct–Apr); closed Mondays
Nearby sights
- Monument of the Discoveries
- Jerónimos Monastery
- Pastéis de Belém
- National Coach Museum
- MAAT – Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology
- LX Factory
- Sanctuary of Christ the King
- National Museum of Ancient Art