Visit Saint George’s Castle in Lisbon

If you’re planning a trip to Lisbon (Lisboa) in Portugal and would like to include a visit to Saint George’s Castle in your itinerary, you’ve come to the right place. This emblematic monument of the city is not to be missed, and you’re making the right choice by choosing to discover it.

Here’s all the information you’ll need during your stay.

Castelo de São Jorge in a nutshell

Saint George’s Castle, or Castelo de São Jorge in Portuguese, is a magnificent building high above Lisbon. Of Lisbon’s many tourist attractions, this is probably the most beautiful and famous. Built in the fifth century by the Visigoths, it was the Arabs who shaped and enlarged it in the ninth century.

A place steeped in history, the castle has witnessed many historic events, including the fall of the Roman Empire. After suffering a terrible earthquake in 1755, the castle was completely restored in 1938. Today, still standing and prouder than ever, it continues to dominate Lisbon with its majestic stature.

Highlights of Saint George’s Castle

The Castelo de São Jorge was originally a military fortress designed to house the military garrison and protect the elite in the event of an attack. This is the main reason why it boasts no fewer than 11 towers and a huge protective wall.

Now restored, the site has several areas that are well worth a visit. In this vast domain, there are some that are truly unmissable, and these are precisely the ones we suggest you discover below.

1 – The archaeological site

The archaeological site is a vast area of the castle where you can discover the origins of the site. Visitors can admire a number of remains that bear witness to the three key periods that helped shape the history of the city of Lisbon.

Excavations are still underway to recover Phoenician, Greek and Carthaginian remains. If you are interested in a guided tour, please contact the castle reception desk.

2 – The permanent exhibition

The permanent exhibition is an essential part of the castle. Here, visitors can admire the various artefacts found during excavations on the archaeological site.

3 – The Black Chamber or Camera Obscura

The Camera Obscura is a dark room at the heart of Saint-Georges Castle. It’s an attraction open to all, and involves entering a darkened room at the heart of which sits a huge lens. It is in fact an optical instrument that allows you to observe the different monuments and districts of Lisbon in a 360° panorama, all in real time.

4 – The giant ramparts and their staircases

To round off your visit to Saint George’s Castle in style, there’s nothing quite like descending back into the city via the staircases of the castle walls.

Good to know: once you’ve left the castle, you can continue to enjoy the site by wandering through the narrow streets of the surrounding districts. Lisbon Cathedral is just a few minutes’ walk from Saint George’s Castle. This could be a great stop on your day’s visit before returning to your hotel.

How much does it cost to enter Saint George’s Castle?

If you wish to visit the Castelo de São Jorge, you should be aware that there is an entrance fee. Here’s how the price structure works:

• Children’s ticket (under 12): free

• Young people under 25 and students: from €5.

• Adult” ticket price: from 10 euros.

• Senior ticket (over 65s): from 8.50 euros.

You can buy your tickets directly from the château’s official website at the following address: https://castelodesaojorge.pt/fr/

What are the opening days and times of Château Saint-Georges?

Saint George’s Castle in Lisbon is open 7 days a week, all year round. Exceptional closing days are 1 May, Christmas and New Year.

Opening times vary:

• 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from 1 November to 28 February.

• 9am to 9pm from 1 March to 31 October.

Tickets are sold up to 30 minutes before closing time. It should be noted that a full tour of the site generally takes between 2 and 4 hours, so you won’t miss a thing. If you want to visit the Château in peace and quiet, we recommend that you go early in the morning, when it opens if possible. That’s when there are the fewest visitors.

Additional information

PRM accessibility:

Château de Saint-Georges has done everything possible to make the site accessible to people with reduced mobility. To this end, ramps and stairlifts have been installed at strategic points in the château. In addition, two dedicated lifts provide access to the top of the Castelo.

Pet policy:

If you are travelling with your pet, it is possible to visit Castelo de São Jorge with your dog. All you need to do is keep your dog on a lead. Be careful, though, as some areas are inaccessible to them, such as the Camera Obscura, the archaeological site and the permanent exhibition area. The gardens, towers, fortress, corridors and other areas of the castle pose no problem.

Catering

If you fancy eating in, the castle has a small café/restaurant: Café do Castelo. Meals and drinks are available on site. For practical reasons, we still advise you to bring something to hydrate yourself before coming so that you can concentrate fully on your visit.

In conclusion:

Château Saint-Georges now holds no secrets for you. All that’s left to do is book your tickets to Lisbon. Once there, you’ll be able to enter the heart of one of the city’s most unique historic buildings.