Belém Tower
Fortress · Belém, Lisbon

Belém Tower

Photo: Alvesgaspar · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

A small, ornate 16th-century fortress at the edge of the Tagus that once guarded the entrance to Lisbon's harbour. Look for the carved stone rope, armillary spheres and the rhinoceros gargoyle on the outside.

On day 2 of Lisbon, Sintra and the coast in 5 days

Good to know

Time to spend
45 minutes to 1 hour
Tickets
Paid, timed entry slots with a daily cap; book ahead. Closed Mondays
Best time
Early slot, or outside at sunset for photos
Getting there
Tram 15 or train to Belém, then a riverside walk

Itineraries with Belém Tower

Day 2 of Lisbon, Sintra and the coast in 5 days

Belém by the river

How Belém Tower fits into a day.
  1. 9:30Jerónimos MonasteryBelém
  2. 11:30Pastéis de BelémBelém
  3. 12:30Belém TowerBelém
  4. 14:30MAAT riversideBelém
See all 5 days
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Belém Tower questions

Is Belém Tower open again?

Yes. It reopened in May 2026 after restoration, with a new timed-entry system that limits visitors per half hour.

Is it worth going inside Belém Tower?

The inside is compact with narrow stairs, so the exterior is the main draw. Go in if you like views from the top terrace.

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