Belém Tower

Inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, the Tower of Belém (or Tower of St. Vincent) is an icon of Portugal’s cultural heritage spread across the world. It is one of the architectural elements punctuating the cityscape of Lisbon’s monumental riverside area of Ajuda-Belém. Built to perpetuate the memory of Lisbon’s Patron Saint, St. Vincent, the Tower was part of a tripartite defence system as it stood between the bulwark of Cascais and the fortress of S. Sebastião da Caparica.

Strategically built on the North bank of the Tagus River to the plan of Francisco de Arruda between 1514 and 1519, the Tower of Belém is one of the jewels of architecture from the reign of King D. Manuel. It combines a traditional mediaevalkeep with a more recent bulwark housing a casemate to store the first devices designed to resist artillery fire. The Tower gradually lost its role as a defence system at the mouth of the Tagus River and after the Spanish occupation,

its former ammunition depots were converted into dungeons. Noteworthy in the Tower’s four stories are the Governor’s Room, Kings’ Room, Audience Room and, finally, the Chapel with its typical 16th-century vaults. 

ACCESSIBILITY

There is medium accessibility for persons with reduced mobility.

HOW TO REACH

Trains: Estação de Belém
Urban Bus: 714 (paragem próxima à Torre de Belém); 727, 728, 729, 751, 113, 144, 149 (paragem junto ao Mosteiro dos Jerónimos).
Electric: 15 (paragem próxima à Torre de Belém); 18 (paragem próxima ao Mosteiro dos Jerónimos).
Boat: Estação fluvial de Belém.

Parking facilities: Parking facilities: a park for cars and buses is available close by.

GPS:
Lat: 38.69158542388979 Long: -9.215978980064392

ADMISSION

Admission

Standard Ticket: 8,00 €

Payment methods: cash, Visa, ATM card and cheque.

Exemptions:

The entrance is free in National Museums and Monuments at sundays and holidays for residents in Portugal.

Children aged 12 and under*
Unemployed EU citizens*
Visitors with reduced mobility (60% disability with documents to prove it) accompanied by one attendant.
ICOM, ICOMOS and APOM members
Researchers /conservators/restorers, museum and/or heritage professionals during the course of their work*
Cultural associations (exclusively for groups of friends of museums, monuments, palaces, castles and archaeological sites)*
Volunteers working for the DGPC with one accompanying person*
European Heritage Days (Sunday)
International Day of Monuments and Sites - 18 April (exclusively for DGPC Monuments)
International Museum Day - 18 May (exclusively for DGPC museums and palaces)
Late-night Museums and Thursday Nights (access restricted to activities organised by the DGPC)
Tourism professionals upon presentation of a proof of registration with the RNAAT
Journalists during the course of their work* with prior notice
DGPC employees* with 3 accompanying persons
Teachers and students of any level of education, including universities for senior citizens, during study visits duly proven, and upon prior reservation confirmed by the relevant Dependent Service*
Groups of accredited Portuguese welfare institutions or social work departments of municipalities or other public interest institutions. Prior approval is required from the DGPC executive board.

* Proof of entitlement required.

Discounts:

Visitors aged 65 or older* - 50%
Student’s card (not for study visits) - 50%
Youth Card - 50%
Family ticket (minimum 4 members of near family or similar) - 50%
Protocols with third party institutions - 20%
Purchase of over 250 tickets per visit with a minimum 48h notice – 7.5%
Purchase of over 500 tickets per visit with a minimum 48h notice - 10%
Purchase of over 1000 tickets per visit with a minimum 48h notice - 15%