Lisbon · Portugal
Santa Justa Lift
A practical guide to the Santa Justa Lift in Lisbon: the elevator is closed, but you can reach its viewpoint for free through the Carmo terrace. How to get there, what to see from the top and which traps to avoid.
The viewpoint is worth it and free via the Carmo walkway. The elevator ride, even when running, doesn't justify the line: the view is the same however you get there.
The Santa Justa Lift is the 45-meter iron tower that has linked the Baixa with Largo do Carmo since 1902. The elevator has been closed for maintenance since early 2025, but the terrace at the top is still open and free via an iron walkway behind the Carmo Convent. From there you see the whole Baixa down to the river, with the castle straight ahead.
Our experience
We came by the free route, which is the only one working today. When we finished at the Carmo Convent we went out on the east side, turned left and crossed the walkway; at 12:40 we were on the terrace. We gave it 15 minutes and then headed down toward Rua Augusta, to Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau and the Rua Augusta Arch.
We planned it that way because, reading before the trip, we learned two things: the line below can run an hour or more even when the elevator works, and the view from the terrace is the same however you get there. With the elevator closed, the decision made itself. The full day is in our arrival in Lisbon.
A bit of history
In 1882 engineer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, born in Porto to French parents, asked permission to build a vertical lift between the Baixa, rebuilt at river level after the 1755 earthquake, and the Carmo, more than 30 meters above. Many guides say he was a student of Gustave Eiffel; no source confirms it. He studied at Coimbra and trained in workshops in France, Germany and Switzerland, and he also designed the Glória, Lavra and Bica funiculars.
Work began in 1900. The walkway opened on August 31, 1901, with King Carlos I, and the lift began carrying passengers on July 10, 1902. It ran on steam and became electric in 1907. In 2002, on its hundredth birthday, it was declared a National Monument along with the city’s three funiculars.
What to see, in order
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The iron walkway
About 25 to 30 meters from the Carmo terrace. It's the original 1901 structure, which King Carlos I opened a year before the lift itself.
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Facing east
The Baixa grid and São Jorge Castle on the horizon. This is the photo to take home, best from midday to 14:00 with the sun behind you.
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Facing south
Rua do Ouro and Rua Augusta as two straight lines ending at the Tagus.
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Facing southwest
The roofless arches of the Carmo Convent right below, with Bairro Alto behind: 1902 iron looking at 1389 Gothic.
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The ironwork up close
Pointed arches and Neo-Gothic tracery that echo the Carmo, rivets left visible as ornament, and foundry marks on the railings.
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The tower from Largo do Carmo
On the way back, it's the only angle where you can see the whole 45-meter tower, with the convent ruins for scale.
Tips we wish we’d known
Tips
- A grille blocks part of the view to the west. Walk a quarter of the way around the terrace to find the best lines toward the castle and the river.
- If you're in a hurry, do only east and south. The castle shot is the one you can't skip.
- When you leave, head down toward Rua Augusta: in five minutes you're at Casa Portuguesa do Pastel de Bacalhau.
- When the elevator runs again, the fare with Zapping credit on a Navegante card is much cheaper than the €5.30 ticket.
Do
- Come through the Carmo Convent, even if you don't go into the museum: it's the free route with no line.
- Wear shoes with grip; the metal walkway is slippery in the rain.
- Bring sunglasses: at midday the metal throws a lot of glare.
Don’t
- Don't line up at the base on Rua do Ouro: the elevator is closed, and some people only find out after 45 minutes.
- Don't buy "skip the line" passes from sellers around Rossio or Rua do Ouro: there is no official one.
- Don't lean over the railing for a selfie. It's 45 meters down to the street.
- Don't eat on the surrounding streets with picture menus and waiters at the door.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Santa Justa Lift open?
The elevator has been closed for maintenance since early 2025 and in May 2026 still had no reopening date. The very top platform is also under works. The viewpoint terrace can be visited for free via the Carmo walkway.
How do you get to the Santa Justa viewpoint for free?
Through Largo do Carmo: leave the Carmo Convent on the east side, turn left and cross the iron walkway. No ticket and no line.
Does the Lisboa Card include the Santa Justa Lift?
When it runs, the Lisboa Card covers the elevator ride but not the top platform, which is paid separately. Right now it doesn't matter: both are closed.
How much time should you give it?
About 15 minutes for a full lap of the terrace, photos and a close look at the ironwork.