How To Visit The Belem Tower In Portugal

Belem Tower, or Torre de Belém on the banks of River Tagus, stands today as a sturdy reminder of Portugal’s Age of Discoveries.

Built-in the early 16th century, it is a magnificent depiction of Portugal’s Manueline architecture and witness to years of navigation and maritime success.

Here’s my ultimate guide to Belem Tower in Lisbon. You will learn

• All about visiting Torre de Belem including tickets, opening hours, and tours.
• A sneak peek into Belem Tower facts and intriguing history.
• Helpful tips to make your visit enjoyable.

Very often, visitors from Lisbon to Belem skip exploring this majestic monument apart from taking pictures from outside. While I agree that the exterior gives you the most unique shots, I have to admit that the interiors of Belem Tower is where the real meat is.

If you are a history lover, you just cannot miss taking a complete tour of Belem Tower. Plus, the views that you get from the top are mind-blowing.

Interesting Facts about Belem Tower

• Torre de Belém is Portugal’s most famous landmark. It is also one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal, a list that features many illustrious Portuguese heritage sites.

• Belem Tower along with the Jeronimos Monastery was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983.

• The tower is also referred to as the Castle of St. Vincent. This was, in fact, the original name given to the tower in honor of the patron saint of Lisbon.

• The tower is built of a special kind of limestone called as lioz.

• There are several levels inside the Belem Tower – each with a unique character of its own.

• Interesting animal figures including that of an Indian rhino are carved on the external turrets of the Belem Tower. In fact, the existence of an exotic creature like the rhino has a fascinating story behind it.

• Even though the tower was built for defense, it fired only a few times. For a good part of its life, it was a state prison.

• The southern façade of Belem Tower, the one facing the river, is the most impressive. It was built that way on purpose so that it could impress visitors who arrived at the harbor.

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Outside the Tower

There are 4 levels and a hexagonal bastion that projects into the river at the Belem Tower.

The lower bastion, which was also the dungeon for prisoners, has numerous openings for cannons to fire through. It is plain and simple.

The upper bastion, on the other hand, is more flamboyant with Moorish watchtowers decorated with images of exotic animals. One of them is the famed rhinoceros that traveled all the way from India to get here.

From the lower terrace, you can also get a view of the exterior of the Belem Tower which is beautifully Manueline. Royal and naval motifs are carved into the stone.

Look out for the nautical ropes that adorn every window and arch.

A Gothic statue of the Virgin Mary and Child dominates the scene. Also referred to as “Our Lady of Safe Homecoming”, she is believed to have ensured the safe return of voyagers.

Once you are done appreciating the bulwark, take a moment to stand and notice the water in front of you. It is from here that Henry the Navigator, Vasco da Gama, and scores of others sailed out on their voyages of discovery.

Right behind, is the neighborhood of Belem featuring the glorious Jeronimos Monastery and a beautiful marina.

Inside the Tower

The tower has four floors connected by a narrow spiral staircase.

The staircase is the only way to go up and down. Even though there is a traffic light system in place, the staircase can be a little problematic for people with claustrophobia.

On the ground floor is the lower battery which houses the Belem Tower’s artillery – 17 cannons. This is also where prisoners were held captive.

As you climb up the stairs, the first room that you will come to is the Governor’s Chamber. 9 successive governors lived and worked here between 1517 and 1830.

Next is the King’s Chamber which features a stone fireplace and a mantelpiece. The most impressive bit about this room is the balcony that gives you sweeping views of the river and the lower terrace.

After climbing some more, you will get to an audience chamber and then a chapel. There is a panel in the chapel that plays a short video on the history of the monument.

On top of the chapel is the roof or upper terrace from where you can get stunning views of River Tagus and the 25th April suspension bridge.

Best Time to Visit Belem Tower

Get here early in the morning. The tower opens at 10 am. Come here an hour earlier to get the best photos of the exterior. Crowds are thin at that time and morning rays of the sun give you the best photo ops.

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