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Torre de Belém
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Torre de Belém

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Torre de Belém
4
37,738 reviews
#7 of 805 things to do in Lisbon
Points of Interest & Landmarks
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10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
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About
A 16th-century tower which serves as a monument to Portugal's Age of Discovery on both land and sea.
Suggested duration
2-3 hours
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The area
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Neighborhood: Belém
Belém is the "capital of the Portuguese Discoveries" and a photographer's paradise. You can spend an entire day exploring this neighborhood: monuments (Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, Monument to the Discoveries), museums (Coach Museum, Centro Cultural de Belém) and breathtaking views of the Tagus river will make your visit worth your time. Belém also offers a variety of restaurants and cafes, namely the famous - and delicious - "Pastéis de Belém" (typical Portuguese custard tarts; make sure you buy an extra box of those!). Easily accessible from Lisbon's historic center, Belém is a must-do, especially if you're spending more than one day visiting the Portuguese capital.
Best nearby
Restaurants
664 within 3 miles
O Recanto
565
0.3 mi$ • Mediterranean • European • Portuguese
Feitoria Restaurant & Wine Bar
767
0.3 mi$$$$ • International • Mediterranean • European
Maritima Do Restelo
336
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • Mediterranean • European
Descobre
916
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • European • Healthy
Mister Tapas
275
0.4 mi$$ - $$$ • Bar • European • Spanish
Darwin's Cafe
1,031
0.3 mi$$$$ • Mediterranean • European • Portuguese
O Navegador
530
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • European • Portuguese
Prova - Enoteca
537
0.5 mi$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • European • Deli
Vela Latina
548
0.2 mi$$ - $$$ • Mediterranean • European • Portuguese
Nunes Real Marisqueira
658
0.3 mi$$ - $$$ • Seafood • Mediterranean • European
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Attractions
758 within 6 miles
Museu do Combatente
176
0.1 miMilitary Museums • Monuments & Statues
Monumento aos Combatentes do Ultramar
195
0.1 miMonuments & Statues
Genesis - Sebastiao Salgado
17
0.1 miArt Galleries
Torre da Paroquial
3
0.2 miPoints of Interest & Landmarks • Architectural Buildings
Mosteiro dos Jeronimos
31,454
0.7 miHistoric Sites • Architectural Buildings
Passadiço Do Bom Sucesso - Belém
3
0.2 miBridges
Museu Coleção Berardo
2,533
0.5 miSpeciality Museums • Art Museums
Planetário de Marinha
103
0.6 miObservatories & Planetariums
Sacadura Cabral and Gago Coutinho Monument
138
0.3 miMonuments & Statues
Doca Do Bom Sucesso
3
0.2 miMarinas
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
37,738 reviews
Excellent
17,043
Very good
14,068
Average
5,168
Poor
966
Terrible
493
Edward Hoptrough
Liverpool, UK11 contributions
Beautiful and Symbolic, but perhaps a bit barren inside
Jan 2023
I think it's telling that so many people have left 5 star reviews saying they just sat outside the tower and appreciated it from the outside. Sat next to a lovely park with some information plaques and ideal photo spots towards the Atlantic, you don't have to really go in to understand what is so attractive about the Torre de Belem. Being so close to the Discoveries Monument, the history of the fort as the gateway between Lisbon and it's maritime endeavours leaves a strong sense of past glories that somehow seems to stimulate the air around it.

To note, I had a Lisboa Card and thus free entry, and thus I have absolutely zero regrets about going in, but I'll admit some slight sense of disappointment. Fundamentally it isn't actually a massive building by modern standards, and is very tight even before you throw in the descending hordes of tourists. As such, the staff maintain a fairly strict rotation system for the central keep, with a line on the main floor that gets sent up in groups a floor at a time and kept on a timer for each movement. No furniture remains, meaning the majority of the insides are just bare stone rooms; an accurate reflection perhaps but with a distinct lack of flair. More disappointing to me is the lack of historical info, I think just one plaque per floor. The views from the bastion are pretty great, especially if you want to look over the river towards the Atlantic, but Lisbon has many, many viewpoints to choose from.

In summary, the aesthetics and atmosphere of the Torre de Belem really carry it, and while I encourage everyone to visit the site, I can't really recommend you enter unless you already have entry or a discount.
Written January 19, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
retireeVancouver
Vancouver, Canada1,739 contributions
Lisbon's Landmark - Mildly interesting
Oct 2022
Our ship's excursion had a 20 minute photo stop here which was just enough time to take a photo of the Tower built in the 1500's, view a replica of the seafloat airplane in the park that flew from Lisbon to Brazil in 1922, stroll past the vendors' souvenir stalls, and enjoy a Belem pastry. The Tower was located at the narrowest point on the river and cannons were used to protect the entrance to Lisbon against invaders, pirates. The limestone carvings that embellish the exterior features of the tower, itself made from limestone blocks, are quite eroded, but the overall appearance with its many turrets makes a striking photo. Our guide didn't recommend an inside visit. The tower is located about 1 km away from the Jeronimos Monastery and Monument of Discovery which are grouped together, so I thought this tower with its limited interest was a bit out of the way for tourists with limited time in Lisbon.

Vendors sold tourist souvenirs like tiles (4 E), lage plates (75E), tea towels (1E), cork purses, etc. Belem pastries looked delicious, but pricey at 1.50E, when these tasty custard tarts can also be bought at the Santa Apolonia Metro station grocery store for .35E (our cruise ship docked near it).

Note to cruisers - look for this landmark tower as your ship sails into/out of Lisbon
Written December 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
bluebay06
La Spezia, Italy2,124 contributions
Not very effective in defending Lisbon but attractive
Nov 2022
We reached the Belem Tower using the modern tram 15, comfortable and spacious (very different from the other trams in Lisbon) with the Viva Viagem day ticket valid for it. Like many other tourists, we also visited the other tourist attractions in this area such as the Jerónimos Monastery, the Church of Santa Maria and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos. After passing Avenida da India using the Passadiço do Bom Sucesso, we arrived at the gardens in front of the tower. The ticket office to access the Belem Tower is located along this pedestrian street while the public toilets are on the other side of the tower and just before the Museu do Combatente. The Tower of Saint Vincent, a 16th-century fortification, initially built on a small islet in the Tagus river near the Lisbon shore, is now de facto on the north bank of the river to which it is connected by a short bridge. In fact, at high tide the tower is completely surrounded by water, while at low tide you can touch it by walking on the sand. History tells us that this defensive fortification was not very effective in defending Lisbon from attacks from the sea, but its architectural appearance makes it interesting as well as the river bank is beautiful. Anyone going to Lisbon cannot fail to visit the Belem area even if the decision to visit the inside of the tower must be evaluated on the basis of the length of the queue which in our case was so long to make us give up. As an alternative to visiting, you can, as many tourists do, buy a glass of wine from the local vendors and sit in front of the tower enjoying the view over the Tagus River.
Written December 14, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
138Paul138
Canterbury, UK939 contributions
Dreadful organisation
Jul 2022 • Couples
Yes it’s a gorgeous looking building, but….
The ticket office is 50metres away, no problem, often a lengthy queue and the cost was 6euro per adult. You then walk back to the Tower, have your ticket scanned and walk across the raised wooden platform to the Tower. So far so good. You walk into the lower battery of cannons before heading up the stairs to an open area. By the way, if you use a wheelchair or have kids in a buggy forget going inside.
It then dawns on you that all the people standing around the wall are in fact in a queue to get into the Tower.
The system used is so stupid it has to be seen to be believed. They allow a group in, maybe 30 or 40 at a time. There is only one spiral staircase and 3 floors to visit. There is a member of staff on each floor except the top floor. Each floor is virtually identical, no artefacts on display, no descriptions of which famous persons set sail from here, all incredibly dull. The point is, once you’ve taken 30 seconds to walk around the floor you’re on, you want to leave, but you can’t! You are all held in the room whilst they decide which floor can go first. It should be easy, but the staff are often on Facebook (we watched them), so they forget who to move.
Honestly, save yourself the admission fee and photograph the Tower from the outside.
Written July 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
WilliamWillieWilson
Nashville, TN1,299 contributions
Not worth the effort!
Jun 2022
Built in 1514, Belém Tower appears to be a fortified structure that once battled invaders. It wasn’t. This was merely the place at which people disembarked when arriving in Lisbon by ship hundreds of years ago. The Lisboa card will allow you free tickets which are sold in a mirrored building just a 2-minute walk directly north from the entrance. The closing time was supposed to be 5:30 p.m. on the day we visited, but they extended ticket buying until 5:45 p.m., at which point you were cut off even if you were standing in line. So don’t delay if you want tickets!

The views from the top of the tower of both the Tagus River and the Ponte 25 de Avril (April 25 Bridge) are okay, the latter bearing a striking resemblance to San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge upon which it was based. But I certainly wouldn’t go out of my way for this view. It’s a long walk from other popular attractions.
Written June 27, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mairwen1
United Kingdom8,650 contributions
Is It Worth Going Inside?
Mar 2020
The question of whether it is worth going inside seems to crop up quite often. Although the tower is currently closed due to the pandemic, under normal circumstances I would say it is absolutely worth it. I thought it was excellent and having seen inside, I’d have been disappointed to miss it. The views from the watchtowers are stunning the views and it was amazing to be standing in an ancient tower, looking out across the water in exactly the same spot that sentries stood 500 years ago, guarding the entrance to the harbour.
TIPS:
* The joint Monastery/Tower ticket is no longer available. If I’d known earlier, I’d have bought the 1 day Lisboa card (€20) for our trip to Belem. This would have given us free travel and free entry to the tower, monastery and coach museum. This would’ve been a saving of at least €10pp and we could’ve joined the shorter lines for those with a card. Normal entry is €6
* It’s closed on Mondays. Actually don't plan to go to Belem on Monday at all because the Monastery is also closed
* It's difficult to tell which line is which. One is for tour groups, another for Lisboa card holders and another for those (like us) who were buying tickets on entry. Double-check that you’re in the right line because some poor people found themselves in the wrong line and had to start queuing all over again.
* There are a lot of narrow spiral stone staircases so it won’t suit anyone with bad knees or mobility issues. However you don't have to climb all of the stairs at once, like a bell-tower. There are 5 floors leading to a roof terrace but you only need to do one flight at a time to each level so you get a break in between.
* Information inside is very good
* Look out for the rhinocerous sculpture. It's a tragic story. Manuel I received the rhino as an extravagant gift from the Sultan Muzafar of India in 1515. The rhino survived a hazardous 4 month journey chained on the deck of a ship, but on arrival, Manuel thought it was a good sport to pit the rhino against an elephant in a fight and then, tiring of it, he dressed the animal up in a green velvet collar decorated with golden roses and carnations and shipped it off to Pope Leo X. Sadly the ship was wrecked and the poor rhino drowned. However you can still see the rhino head carved on the side of a watchtower.
Written February 12, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sze Lok M
1 contribution
排隊進去看空空如也的浪費
Apr 2023 • Family
建築物的外面是非常好看，但內部空空如也。不只是進去塔內需要排隊，差不多一個小時之後進去每一層也需要排很久的隊伍，但上到去，內部根本沒有值得看的東西。寧願發多一點時間去看外面的漂亮建築。

The exterior is very nice while the inside is a little bit empty. The queuing time to enter the tower already very consuming, but you still need to queue to different floors inside the tower, which have nothing worth to see inside.

The queuing time in total composite more than 90% of the visit time of the tower. If we knew, we should save the money and spend the time to enjoy the beautiful exterior.
Written April 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Merrowmum
Guildford, UK1,101 contributions
Queues… not views!
Mar 2023 • Couples
To be completely honest, the best part of the Torre for us was the outside view when queueing to get in (which you will do - when we went there was no differentiation between those with pre-purchased timed tickets and those buying from the booth on the day).
Once inside, there is the downstairs level with replica cannons to see (ok, but very plain and just cannons), then a flight of stairs up to the open first level. Here you can take photos of the main part of the tower and out onto the river, but you are not high up.
You then join another queue to wait to go up the tower. This turns out to be in several sections, the most interesting of which is the loggia balcony on the next level, which has good photo opportunities but is very small so crowded. You have to queue each time you change level, as the only access up or down is a single narrow spiral staircase. But you have to do every section once committed, even though to be honest those above the loggia, especially the chapel at the top, are nothing memorable at all. Then you queue to get back down to the open level (but luckily not for the final stairs to the entrance).
So would I recommend this? Answer - yes, go see the outside but probably don’t bother going in unless it’s a really quiet day.
Written March 31, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
chins01
Brooklyn, NY220 contributions
Exterior Only
Feb 2023
If you have a Lisboa card you have to show it here to get a free ticket. Unfortunately when I arrived, close to 5pm, they weren't giving out any more tickets for the day so I was unable to go inside. I had specifically gotten a 24 hour Lisboa Card for my day trip to Belem as I had assumed it would pay for itself between the included transit and tickets to the Torre de Belem and Monastery. Unfortunately, due to crowds/lines I was unable to go inside either so the card ended up being a waste of money. The view from the outside was great, and it's a really nice walk by the water so I'm still glad I went. Definitely skip the Lisboa Card though if you're only planning on using it for a day in Belem.
Written February 27, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lara v
Leiden, The Netherlands5 contributions
Looks okay from the outside, inside in not worth the wait at all
Sep 2022 • Couples
The Belem Tower looks impressive on the outside, but that's the best there is to see. The inside is disappointing and I would definitely not recommend going in during the high season. Once you have waited in the line outside you think you can go in and explore freely, but once inside, the whole experience is one big waiting line. You go from the plateau on the first floor to a few rooms inside, which are not impressive. There is no information about the tower to read and you cannot leave earlier. The view from the tower is okay, but there are way more impressive viewing points in the city to go to.
Written September 2, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Torre de Belém (Lisbon) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go

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