TLDR: Castelo de São Jorge sits on Lisbon’s highest hill at 110 m above sea level. Built by the Moors in the 11th century, captured by Afonso I in October 1147, royal residence until 1583, restored 1938-1941. €15 entry, open 9am-9pm March-October, 9am-6pm November-February. Battlements, archaeological museum, peacocks in the gardens, and the most amazing 360-degree view of the city. From Casa Almada it is a 10 minute uphill walk.
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Luxury Apartment Stays at Casa Almada — check availability and book direct.
Insider tip from Casa Almada
Buy the timed ticket online for the 9am opening slot. The first 30 minutes of the day are essentially empty — you can walk the entire battlements without queueing for the photographic spots, the morning light is far better than the harsh midday glare, and the peacocks are still hungry enough to come up to people. By 11am the cruise-ship walking tours have arrived and the wait at the entry gate stretches to 25 minutes.
The Castelo de São Jorge crowns the hill above Casa Almada like a small medieval kingdom. Eleven towers, 6,000 m² of battlements, 100,000 m² of grounds full of pine trees and peacocks, and the single best panoramic view of the city. Most visitors do it badly — late morning, harsh light, 30 minutes in queue. Done well, the castle is the right first stop on a Lisbon trip.
Casa Almada sits 10 minutes’ walk downhill from the castle gate, which makes us the easiest base in the city for an early visit. This is the practical local guide to climbing the castle properly — when to go, what to see, what to skip, and the parts the tour groups never reach.
A short history of the castle
The hill has been fortified continuously for over 2,500 years. Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Visigoths all defended it in turn. The Moors took the city in 711 AD and rebuilt the existing fortifications into a major castle around 1100, using it as the residence of the Moorish governors of Lisbon.
King Afonso I (the founder of Portugal) captured Lisbon on 25 October 1147 with a passing crusader fleet. The castle became the Portuguese royal residence and was renamed in honour of Saint George (São Jorge) in 1378 by King João I, on the occasion of the Anglo-Portuguese alliance with Henry IV of England.
The castle remained the royal residence until 1583, when the Spanish Habsburg kings (during the Iberian Union) abandoned it for the riverside Ribeira Palace. The 1755 earthquake damaged the structure heavily. After a long period of military use through the 18th and 19th centuries, the castle was finally restored as a public monument between 1938 and 1941 under the Salazar regime.
Planning a Lisbon stay?
Why not stay with me at Casa Almada?
220 m² luxury apartment in the heart of the old town, sleeping up to 9 guests plus 2 infants. Tram 28 at the bottom of the street, Sé Cathedral around the corner. From €219 per night.
Check Casa Almada availability →
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What to see and do once inside
The battlements are the headline experience. 11 towers connected by 6,000 m² of stone walls, all open to visitors, with the panoramic 360-degree view of the city, the river and the seven hills laid out below. Allow 45-60 minutes to walk the full circuit.
The permanent archaeological exhibition in the small castle museum (included in the €15 ticket) shows the Roman, Moorish and medieval Portuguese layers of the site. Worth 30-45 minutes.
The Moorish-era foundations visible in the lower courtyards include sections of the Roman wall, a 9th-century mosque ruin, and the remains of the Moorish governor’s palace. Underrated and quieter than the battlements.
The gardens around the castle hold the resident peacocks (about 15 of them, descended from a small flock introduced in the 1940s), the official ducks and chickens, and a handful of stray cats. Worth a slow loop with the kids.
Tickets, hours and the practical detail
Ticket price: €15 adult full price, €7.50 youth (13-25), €12.50 senior (65+), under-13s free. A €27 family ticket covers 2 adults plus up to 2 children under 18. The Lisboa Card gives 15% off the entry. Tickets bookable online at castelodesaojorge.pt or at the gate.
Opening hours: March-October 9am to 9pm (last entry 8.30pm). November-February 9am to 6pm (last entry 5.30pm). Open every day except 1 January and 25 December. The castle does occasionally close for state events — check the website if it is a public holiday.
Best times to visit: 9am opening slot is the calmest of the day. 7pm in summer for the sunset light on the battlements. Avoid 11am-3pm in summer when the crowds peak.
Accessibility: the entrance and the lower courtyards are step-free. The battlements involve uneven stone surfaces and steps — workable for confident walkers but not for wheelchairs or pushchairs. The on-site café Casa do Leão is fully accessible.
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How to climb up from Casa Almada
From Casa Almada the walk is 10 minutes uphill via Rua de Santiago and Rua do Chão da Feira. Steep but on flat smooth pavement and a wide signposted route. The walk is the right way to arrive — it sets up the height of the castle properly.
Alternative routes: Tram 28 from the Sé stop to the Largo das Portas do Sol (4 min, €1.80 with Lisboa Viva), then walk 5 min uphill. Or take the Castelo dedicated minibus 737 from Praça da Figueira (every 20 min, €2 single, terminates at the castle gate). The minibus is the right call if you have older guests with mobility issues.
For lunch after the castle, walk down 4 min to Cantinho do Aziz on Rua de São Lourenço (Mozambican-Portuguese, €15-€25). Or eat on site at the castle’s Casa do Leão restaurant, which has the same panoramic view from a covered terrace (€35-€55 per head, set lunch menu €25). Booking advised on weekends.
- Ticket: €15 adult, €7.50 youth (13-25), €12.50 senior, under-13s free.
- Family ticket: €27 for 2 adults + up to 2 under-18s.
- Lisboa Card: 15% discount.
- Hours (Mar-Oct): 9am-9pm. Last entry 8.30pm.
- Hours (Nov-Feb): 9am-6pm. Last entry 5.30pm.
- Closed: 1 Jan, 25 Dec.
- Best time to arrive: 9am opening slot. Avoid 11am-3pm.
- From Casa Almada: 10 min uphill walk via Rua de Santiago.
- Alternative transport: Tram 28 to Portas do Sol + 5 min walk. Or 737 minibus from Praça da Figueira.
- Resident peacocks: ~15 in the gardens. Beloved by children.
Photos of Casa Almada
View the full Casa Almada gallery →
FTC disclosure: links to our own apartment booking page.
Stay with us in Lisbon
Casa Almada — luxury family apartment in the heart of Lisbon
220 m² of beautifully restored space across 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, sleeping up to 9 guests plus 2 infants. Three super king beds that split into singles, blackout blinds throughout, original art by Lisbon artists, Egyptian cotton linens, Rituals products, and a stunning rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. Tram 28 at the bottom of the street, Sé Cathedral around the corner, Castelo de São Jorge ten minutes on foot. A far cry from the soulless chain hotels of yesterday.
From €219/night. FTC disclosure: this is our own apartment booking page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Castelo de São Jorge?
€15 adult full price. €7.50 youth (13-25). €12.50 senior (65+). Under-13s free. Family ticket €27 for 2 adults + 2 under-18s. The Lisboa Card gives 15% off. Tickets bookable online at castelodesaojorge.pt.
What time does Castelo de São Jorge open?
9am every day except 1 January and 25 December. Closing time is 9pm in summer (March-October, last entry 8.30pm) and 6pm in winter (November-February, last entry 5.30pm). The 9am opening is the quietest slot of the day.
How long do you need at Castelo de São Jorge?
Allow 90-120 minutes minimum. 45-60 min for the battlements, 30-45 min for the archaeological exhibition, plus a slow walk through the Moorish-era foundations and the gardens. A full half-day if you also want lunch on site at Casa do Leão.
How do I get to Castelo de São Jorge from central Lisbon?
Walk uphill from the Sé Cathedral via Rua de Santiago (10 min from Casa Almada). Alternatively, take Tram 28 to Largo das Portas do Sol then walk 5 min uphill. Or the dedicated 737 minibus from Praça da Figueira every 20 min, €2 single, which terminates at the castle gate.
Are there peacocks at Castelo de São Jorge?
Yes — about 15 resident peacocks live in the castle gardens, plus official ducks and chickens. The flock descends from a small group introduced when the castle was restored in the 1940s. They roam freely and are particularly photogenic in spring when the males display their full tails.
If you are planning your stay around this, take a look at the rest of our Lisbon travel blog for itineraries, restaurants and seasonal tips.