Top Attractions in Belem, Lisbon

Belem is a district to the west of Lisbon (Lisboa) in Portugal. Below is a list of top attractions in Belem, Lisbon such as Belem Tower (Torre de Belem), Monument to the Discoveries and Jeronimos Monastery. The name Belém derived from the word Bethlehem.

Belem Tower (Torre de Belem)

Belem Tower is a medieval defensive tower that was built between 1514 and 1520. The pearly-grey chess piece was designed by Francisco de Arruda and commissioned by Manuel I to defend Lisbon’s harbor. It is the most visited attraction in Belem.

When you get inside the tower you will find a narrow spiral staircase that leads to the top of the tower where you are graced with beautiful views of Belem and Tagus River which runs into North Atlantic Ocean. In 1983 the tower continued making history when it was classified as a ‘Cultural Heritage of Humanity’ by UNESCO.

The monument of the airplane in the block of pictures above is called Sacadura Cabral & Gago Coutinho and is found outside the tower. The tower is one of the main attractions in Lisbon, therefore, there could be a lot of people viewing at peak hours. Address for the Tower is Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, Portugal; for information on tickets and how to get there see below.

Harbors of Belem

The beautiful harbors are where the 14th century’s voyages of discovery departed from; today ships continue to sail around the world from here.

Monument to the Discoveries

The monument to the Discoveries (Padrao dos Descobrimentos) stands on the Belem waterfront. It was built in 1960 to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator. It is 52m high and was commissioned by the Salazer regime in order to commemorate the Marines, royal patrons and all people who took part in the Portuguese Age of Discovery.

Henry the Navigator (1394-1460) is the one who stands at the top and first in line with a caravel in hand. Vasco da Gama (1460-1524) is standing on the third position from the front. The others include Afonso V (1432-81) who was the patron of the first explorers; Pedro Alvares Cabral (1467-1520), discoverer of Brazil; Fernao Magalhaes (Magellan) who crossed the Pacific in 1520-2.

Right at the end, there is a Padrao that was erected by Diogo Cao in the Congo in 1482

Ponte 25 de Abril: This is a bridge that links central Lisbon with Almada and the surrounding region on the south bank of the Tagus river; it stretches for 2 km. It was originally called Ponte Salazar, after the dictator who built it in 1966. It was renamed to commemorate the 1974 revolution which restored democracy to Portugal. The bridge was inspired by the Golden Gate in San Francisco, USA and together with the monument to the discoveries is considered as one of the top attractions in Belem, Lisbon.

Jeronimos Monastery

Jeronimos Monastery (Mosteiro dos Jerónimos) was erected in the 15th century at the instruction of King Manuel I in order to have a large monastery close to the church built by Henry the Navigator and on the banks of River Tagus. The name came from the ‘Order of St. Jerome’ after receiving the monastery from King Manuel I. Later the monastery became a burial place for kings and poets.

The Church of Sta. Maria at the site houses the tomb of Vasco da Gama and other known people. The monastery also houses archaeology & maritime museums in its wings. It was classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site in 1983 after it was declared as a national monument in 1907.

Navy Museum (Museu da Marinha) showcases the maritime history and is found in the western end of Jerónimos Monastery).

Jardim da Praça do Império: is the beautiful garden with a stunning water fountain facing Jeronimos Monastery.

The Address for the monastery is: Praça do Império 1400-206 Lisboa, Portugal. Visit Jerónimos Monastery Official Website for more information.

Getting to Belem from Lisbon City Center

Trains: Train stations that serve the Belem area are Belem and Alges both on the Linha de Cascais line. But if you are going to the tower first, the nearest train station is Alges which is 1.1 km away (about 15 minutes walk).

Buses: You can also take city bus lines: 727, 28, 729, 714 and 751

Tram: 15

Ferry: Belém Ferry station

Sightseeing Tour Buses: I used the City Sightseeing Hop-on-Hop-off Bus; the Red Line (Linha vermelha) tours the Belem district and stops right at the Tower, Jeronimos Monastery and a few other stops in Belem. They have tour maps and timetables on their website.

Entrance Belem Tower and/or Jerónimos Monastery

Tickets to enter Belem Tower and/or Jerónimos Monastery are sold on site. Individual Tower Ticket costs €6 while individual Jerónimos Monastery Ticket costs €10.

To visit both the tower and Jerónimos Monastery entrance fee will be €12. If you want to add museums visits to your ticket you can do so and get a discount.

Lisboa Card

This card offers free or discounted entrance to many Lisbon attractions including museums. It’s best to buy it from the tourist information center or kiosk in Lisbon. Before buying it make sure you check the value of having such a card as some places are free on certain days; for example, entering the Tower and Jerónimos Monastery is free every 1st Sunday of each month. Also, most places including the Tower, Jerónimos Monastery and most museums offer 50% discount to visitors over 65, families of four people and students.

Viator has day and sightseeing tours if you prefer a guided tour.

Other top attractions in Belem, Lisbon

• Belem Palace (home to the president of Portugal); you can also find information here.
• Centro Cultural de Belem (Conference, Exhibition & Arts Complex and home to Colecao Berardo museum).
• Electricity Museum.
• Museu de Arte Popular  (a museum very close to the tower and monument of discoveries).