St. George's Castle

The St. George's Castlee, o Castelo de São Jorge, is one of the monuments most emblematic in the city of Lisbon. It stands crowning the top of one of the hills in the historic center.

It is located between Alfama and the Baixa. From up here you can see several points of interest, such as the Praça do Comércio.

It offers wonderful views over the Tagus River and what remains of the castle is well preserved. The building tells the story of Lisbon and Portugal in a single place and is one of the most important castles in Portugal. And without a doubt, one of the most important places to visit in Lisbon in the capital.

Cannon at the Castle – ©policas – stock.adobe.com

The Lisbon Castle dates back to the Islamic era, and its function was to protect and house the military garrison. Unlike many other castles in Europe, it did not serve as a residence.

11 towers, a moat, courtyards, sentry boxes, and various other structures are still preserved.

Traces of occupation have been found in the surroundings of Castelo de São Jorge since the Iron Age. Some kind of defensive enclosure already existed around the monument when Lisbon was called Olissipo, in the Roman era, when it was invaded by the Suebi and the Visigoths, and when the Muslims invaded and renamed it Lissabona.

During the Christian Reconquest of the Iberian Peninsula, the forces of D. Afonso Henriques seized the castle after a three-month siege against the Muslims. It was placed under the invocation of the martyr São Jorge, to whom many of the crusaders were devoted.

What to See at Castelo de São Jorge in Lisbon

The Camera Obscura

Within the castle complex you can find a camera obscura. It is an optical system of lenses and mirrors, offering real images of Lisbon through history in a 360º view.

Archaeological Museum of the Praça Nova do Castelo

Also visit the space dedicated to the oldest remains of the castle, the Archaeological Museum of the Praça Nova do Castelo de São Jorge. On this part of the hill, the first human settlement was established during the Iron Age, which eventually gave rise to the city of Lisbon.

Over this remarkable archaeological site, a protective enclosure and museum was created, which won one of Europe's most prestigious architecture awards shortly after its inauguration.

Viewpoint at Castelo de São Jorge, Lisbon © bennymarty – stock.adobe.com

Permanent Exhibition of the Castle

The objects found during the excavations of the archaeological site are brought together in this exhibition. Valuable artifacts dating as far back as the Iron Age, through the Islamic period and the Middle Ages.

The area occupied by this exhibition, along with the café and restaurant operating within the castle, has been set up in the remains of the former Royal Palace of the Alcazaba, which was severely damaged by the 1755 earthquake.

Within the castle grounds there is also a garden featuring native Portuguese woodland species and a viewpoint with one of the best views of the city.

How to Get to Castelo de São Jorge

To get to the castle, in addition to using public transport (tram 28E and 12E or bus 737) or walking from Alfama, you can take a shortcut by using the  Elevator to reach Castelo de São Jorge from the "Baixa«.

Address

Rua de Santa Cruz, 1100-250 Lisbon

Prices

General admission – €10

Disabled visitors and over 65s – €8.50

Under 12 – free

Opening Hours

1 Nov to 28 Feb | 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
1 Mar to 31 Oct | 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM