São Jorge Castle (Castelo de São Jorge, the Castle of Saint George) crowns the highest hill of old Lisbon, above Alfama. You can walk its walls and towers, see an archaeological site that goes back to the 7th century BC, and get the widest view over the city and the Tagus. It opens every day. Until 31 October 2026 the hours are 9:00–21:00, and from 1 November 9:00–18:00. Adults pay €17. The ticket includes free guided tours and the camera obscura. Allow about two hours.
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Tickets and tours for Castle of Saint George
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Why the castle matters
People have lived on this hill for nearly 3,000 years. The oldest remains found inside the walls date from the 7th century BC, the Iron Age, when the settlement traded with Phoenicians from the Strait of Gibraltar. Under Islamic rule the hilltop became the alcáçova (citadel) of a walled city, where the military, religious and administrative elite lived in the 11th and 12th centuries.
After Afonso Henriques took Lisbon in 1147, the citadel became a royal and episcopal seat. The castle you see today is essentially Gothic, the work of later kings such as Afonso III and Dinis. It has a square plan, a bent entrance gate, ten square towers and a barbican with a moat on the weaker south-east side. After the union of the crowns in 1580 it served as a barracks, prison and hospital. The 1755 earthquake badly damaged the castle and the palace. The military buildings added afterwards were demolished in 1939–40, when the walls were restored to the outline you see now.
What you’ll see
- The walls and towers: walk the ramparts between the square towers for views over Baixa, Alfama and the river. For safety, wall-walks and towers may close from 18:00 in the summer season (the exact time depends on daylight) and close at 17:30 in winter.
- The archaeological site: three layers of Lisbon’s history in one place. There is an Iron Age house, the walls of two 11th-century Islamic houses built around patios (one still has a storage pantry and painted plaster), and the ruins of the last palace on the hill, destroyed in 1755. You can visit it only on the free “Discovering the Castle” guided tour.
- The camera obscura (periscope): in the Ulysses Tower, which once held the royal archive (the Torre do Tombo) between the 14th and 17th centuries. A system of lenses and mirrors projects a live 360° view of the city. Access is by short guided session only (up to 20 minutes), weather permitting. Hours: 11:00–13:00 in October to February, 11:00–14:00 in March, 11:00–15:00 in April and September, and 11:00–16:00 from May to August.
- The museum: finds from the 7th century BC to the 18th century, with a focus on the Islamic period. As of October 2026 the castle says the museum is temporarily closed while its toilets are upgraded.
- The gardens and peacocks: shady courtyards and resident peacocks. Please don’t feed them; unsuitable food can make them ill.
How to visit
From the official castle website, as of October 2026:
- Hours: daily, 9:00–21:00 from 1 March to 31 October (last admission 20:30), and 9:00–18:00 from 1 November to the end of February (last admission 17:30).
- Closed: 1 January, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December. A strike was announced for 17 October 2026 that may disrupt visits that day.
- Tickets: adults €17, ages 13–25 €8.50, over-65s €14; children up to 12 free, but they still need a (free) ticket. Bring proof for any discount.
- Where to buy: online through the castle’s official ticket shop (it warns against unofficial resellers), or at the ticket office on Rua de Santa Cruz, right of the entrance. Online tickets can be shown on your phone. Once inside, there is no time limit.
- Lisboa Card: free entry for adult card holders through the “Lisboa Card/Residents” queue.
- Free guided tours: “Discovering the Castle” (about 1 hour) in English daily at 11:00 and 15:00, plus 16:00 from March to October and 18:00 from May to August; Portuguese tours at 11:30, and 15:30 from April to September. Sign up at the ticket office on arrival; places are first come, first served.
How long to allow and when to go
Two hours is comfortable, three if you join a guided tour and the camera obscura. Morning gives you the best chance of tour places. In the summer season the castle stays open until 21:00, so a sunset visit over the rooftops is a lovely, cooler option. Lisbon’s other monuments close on Mondays, but the castle doesn’t, so it’s a good Monday plan.
Accessibility
The castle has an accessible route with a level surface from the entrance (after the turnstiles) to the eastern viewpoint. The ticket office has a ramp and priority service. The museum has a ramp and an internal lifting platform. The castle lends four standard wheelchairs and one Swiss-trac power add-on, has an adapted toilet and baby-changing, and welcomes guide dogs (other pets are not allowed). Visitors with reduced mobility can arrange car access to the castle by contacting EMEL one day ahead and then calling the ticket office on +351 218 800 620. Inclusive visits can be booked in advance.
Getting there
- Bus 737 from Praça da Figueira to “Castelo de S. Jorge”, then a 2-minute walk.
- Tram 28E to Miradouro Santa Luzia or Largo Portas do Sol, then about 5 minutes on foot.
- On foot from the Metro: about 11 minutes from Rossio, 12 from Martim Moniz (using the Escadinhas da Saúde escalator) or 15 from Baixa-Chiado.
- Public lifts shorten the climb from downtown: the Castelo lift at Rua dos Fanqueiros 176, and the lift in the Chão do Loureiro car park, reached from Largo do Caldas.
Combine it with
Walk down through Alfama to the Santa Luzia and Portas do Sol viewpoints, then on to Lisbon Cathedral, about half a kilometre away. For another side of Lisbon’s history, take tram 15E to Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower, but not on a Monday. Our Lisbon travel guide has day plans that start here.
São Jorge Castle FAQ
How much does São Jorge Castle cost?
€17 for adults, €8.50 for ages 13–25 and €14 for over-65s, as of October 2026. Children up to 12 enter free but need a free ticket.
Is São Jorge Castle open on Mondays?
Yes, every day except 1 January, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December.
What time does the castle close?
21:00 (last admission 20:30) until 31 October, then 18:00 (last admission 17:30) from November to February. Wall-walks and towers can close earlier for safety.
Is the guided tour included?
Yes. The “Discovering the Castle” tour and the camera obscura session are included in the ticket, subject to availability. Book them at the ticket office when you arrive.
What is the easiest way up the hill?
Bus 737 from Praça da Figueira stops 2 minutes from the entrance. Or use the public lifts from Rua dos Fanqueiros or Chão do Loureiro to skip most of the climb.
Is the castle museum open?
As of October 2026 the castle says the museum is temporarily closed while its toilet facilities are upgraded. Check the official site before you go.