Lisbon · Portugal
Belém Tower
A practical guide to Belém Tower in Lisbon: where the restoration stands in 2026, how much time to give it, price, what to look for outside and inside, and the traps around it.
From the outside it is the image of Lisbon and worth the stop; the inside is optional. In May 2026 it was still closed and under scaffolding, so check before you go.
Belém Tower is the best-known image of Lisbon: a four-story stone tower on the bank of the Tagus, built between 1514 and 1520 to guard the entrance to the port and see off the ships leaving for India, Brazil and Africa. It was designed by Francisco de Arruda, a military architect who had been building Portuguese fortresses in Morocco, and it has been a World Heritage Site since 1983 together with Jerónimos Monastery.
Our experience
We had it in Tuesday’s plan at 12:45, after walking along the river from Jerónimos and the Padrão. Originally we gave it 35 minutes to go inside with the Lisboa Card, but we left it marked “confirm”: the tower had been under works for months.
From what we checked before going, in May 2026 it was still closed and covered by about 3,600 square meters of scaffolding, with reopening planned for late June. So we planned it as a short stop outside and used those minutes for the Uber ride to Mouraria, the tightest leg of the day.
A bit of history
When it was built, the tower stood on a small island in the river and could only be reached by boat. Over the centuries the Tagus kept depositing sediment, and in the 19th century the shore was filled in until the island ended up joined to land. It was not the 1755 earthquake, as people sometimes repeat.
Its most famous detail is the rhinoceros. In 1515 an Indian rhinoceros arrived in Lisbon, a gift from a sultan of Gujarat, the first one seen in Europe since the Romans. Manuel I sent it on as a gift to the Pope, but the ship sank off Italy and the animal drowned in its chains. Dürer made his famous woodcut from a drawing and a description, without ever seeing it. The tower has its only portrait in stone.
Under the bastion there were dungeons used as a prison until 1830, including during the union with Spain.
How it fits into your day
The tower closes out the Belém walk on the west end. If it has reopened, try to get there at opening or late. See our day in Belém for how we linked it with the rest.
What to see, in order
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The rhinoceros
At the base of a northwest turret, about a meter and a half up. It is the first depiction of a rhinoceros in European art since antiquity.
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The stone rope
A cornice shaped like a knotted rope runs around the bastion. Each knot is a little different.
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The coat of arms and the cross
The arms of Manuel I and the cross of the Order of Christ, on the bastion wall facing the river.
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Our Lady of Bom Sucesso
A small statue on the south facade, the one that saw sailors off and welcomed them home.
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The governor's room
A Manueline vault and holes in the floor that open onto the dungeon below. Sound carries both ways.
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The top terrace
A view of the river, the 25 de Abril Bridge and the Padrão dos Descobrimentos.
Tips we wish we’d known
Tips
- While it stays closed, nobody can sell you a ticket. Any offer near the tower is a scam.
- The Lisboa Card gets you in free, but it does not skip the line: several visitors say they wait just like everyone else.
- Inside, the spiral staircase fits only one person at a time and traffic is controlled with lights. With crowds, waits of 30 to 60 minutes build up.
- With the scaffolding up, the most realistic angle for a photo is from the riverside promenade, about 50 meters east.
Do
- Check the state of the works on the official site the morning of your visit.
- Pair it with Jerónimos Monastery and the Padrão, walking along the river.
- Watch your bag on the promenade and at the photo spots.
Don’t
- Do not accept "guides" or skip-the-line offers on Avenida Brasília.
- Do not buy coffee or water at the kiosks on the promenade: they charge two or three times more.
- Do not give the dungeon more than five minutes: it is dark rooms with little explanation.
Frequently asked questions
Is Belém Tower open in 2026?
It closed for restoration in April 2025, and reopening was planned for late June 2026. Confirm on the official site before you go.
How much does it cost to get in?
€8 for adults and €4 for ages 13 to 24 and over 65. It is free with the Lisboa Card.
Is it worth going inside, or is the outside enough?
The best part is outside: the silhouette, the turrets and the rhinoceros. The interior has nearly empty rooms and a narrow staircase; go in if you have time and the line is short.
Which days is it closed?
Mondays, January 1, Easter Sunday, May 1, June 13 and December 25.