Torre de Belem
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Torre de Belém is a 16th-century Manueline fortress on the northern bank of the Tagus in Lisbon’s Belém district. Built to guard the port entrance, it also served as an embarkation point for Portuguese explorers and a ceremonial entrance to Lisbon.
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Why go
- Share the UNESCO World Heritage distinction with Jerónimos Monastery, held since 1983.
- See the carved rhinoceros, a feature considered the first of its kind in Western European art.
- Learn how three towers could trap enemy ships in crossfire.
- See an early example of modern fortress construction in Portugal and its overseas territories.
Opening hours
Today09:30 – 17:30Show all
MondayClosed
Tuesday09:30 – 17:30
Wednesday09:30 – 17:30
Thursday09:30 – 17:30
Friday09:30 – 17:30
Saturday09:30 – 17:30
Sunday09:30 – 17:30
Interesting facts5
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The tower is built from lioz limestone native to the Lisbon region.
Belém Tower - Wikipedia -
17 large
The bastion held 17 large breech-loading cannons behind walls 3.5 metres thick.
Tour de Belém - Wikipedia -
An open cloister above the casemate helped clear cannon smoke.
Belém Tower - Wikipedia (part 2) -
The first-floor Governor’s Hall is octagonal and opens into the cistern.
Belém Tower - Wikipedia (part 2) -
The tower was originally built on a small island in the Tagus near the shore.
Belém Tower - Wikipedia
Shorts
History
As weapons and defences evolved, the tower lost its original military role. For centuries it served mainly as a prison, including for political prisoners; its underground cells often flooded.
- 1481–1488Earlier defensive towers were built across the Tagus and at Cascais; the opposite-bank tower was later destroyed in the 1755 earthquake.
- 1515Manuel I commissioned the defensive tower, designed by military architect Francisco de Arruda.
- 1516Construction began.
- 1519The building was completed.
- 1580The tower’s garrison surrendered to Spanish forces.
Show all
- 1655A plaque recorded the tower’s role in customs control and navigation on the Tagus.
- 1808–1814French troops were quartered in the tower during the Peninsular War.
- 1830The tower’s dungeons ceased to be used as a prison.
- 1845–1846Renovations added a southern façade veranda balustrade and a Virgin and Child niche. Some shields and parapet ornament also date from the mid-19th-century restoration.
- 1865–1867A beacon was installed on the southeast terrace and a telegraph service began; the tower also served as a lighthouse.
- 1910The tower became a national monument.
- 1997–1998A restoration reinforced the structure and cleaned its exterior.
- 1999The exterior restoration received a Europa Nostra award.
Tips for your visit
- If interior visits have resumed, reaching the upper levels involves a spiral staircase.
Know before you go
- The tower closed in late April 2025 for conservation and restoration. Work was expected to continue until spring 2026; reopening has not been confirmed here.
Don't miss
- Carved rhinocerosThe carving recalls an animal given to King Manuel I by an Indian ruler. It is considered the first rhinoceros sculpture in Western European art.On a watchtower base
- Drawbridge entranceArmillary spheres, a royal coat of arms and plant motifs decorate the entrance.At the entrance
- Carved ropes and knotStone ropes evoke Portugal’s nautical history; look for a knot on the north façade.North façade
- Saints in nichesStatues of Saint Vincent of Saragossa and the archangel Michael occupy second-floor niches. Interior viewing depends on confirmed reopening.Second floor
- Covered verandaSeven arches overlook the river. Interior viewing depends on confirmed reopening.Second floor
- Virgin and Child statueA terrace statue of the Virgin and Child includes a bunch of grapes. Viewing depends on confirmed reopening.On a terrace
- Fourth-floor chapelThe chapel has a rib-vaulted ceiling and Manueline niches. Interior viewing depends on confirmed reopening.Fourth floor
How to get there
- TramLargo da Princesa is the tram stop for reaching the tower.
- On footFrom the western end of Avenida de Brasília, cross a small bridge to the tower. It stands between Bom Sucesso dock and Pedrouços.
On the same route
Sources: Belém Tower - Wikipedia · Belém Tower - Wikipedia (part 2) · Lisbon/Belém - Wikivoyage (see) · Torre de Belém - Wikipedia · Torre de Belém - Wikipedia · Tour de Belém - Wikipedia · checked 24 Sep 2026
Where
Avenida Brasília, Lisbon
- Phone
- +351213620034
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