Essential Tips for Planning Your Visit to Sao Jorge Castle
São Jorge Castle | Visitor Information At A Glance
- What are the São Jorge Castle opening hours?
1 March to 31 October: Monday to Sunday - 9 AM to 9 PM
1 November to 28 February: Monday to Sunday - 9 AM to 7 PM
Last Entry: 30 minutes before closing time.
Closed: 1 January, 1 May, 24 and 25 December. - Where is the São Jorge Castle located?
São Jorge Castle is located at R. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal. Get directions. - How many entrances does the São Jorge Castle have?
São Jorge Castle has three main entrances: west gatehouse, south vaulted passage, and north gatehouse. - How many number visitors does the São Jorge Castle see per year?
São Jorge Castle is one of Lisbon's most visited tourist attractions, with over two million visitors each year.
Where is São Jorge Castle Located?
Address: R. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal
Sao Jorge Castle sits atop Lisbon's highest hill, São Jorge. It offers spectacular views of Lisbon city and the gorgeous Tagus River.
Closest Landmark: Santa Luzia Belvedere (290 m)
Getting to the São Jorge Castle in Lisbon
By Metro
Closest Station: Rossio
Duration: 15 minutes
- Rossio is the nearest metro station, eight minutes from the castle.
- You can take the metro route from Parque Colombo, Lisboa or from Urb. da Ribeirada, Odivelas to reach Rossio metro station.
By Bus
Closest Stop: Praça Do Comércio
Duration: 11 minutes
- Praça Do Comércio is the closest bus stop to Sao Jorge Castle.
- It is connected to bus routes: from Ubbo, Amadora, from Restelo, Lisboa, from Parque Colombo, Lisboa, from Cristo-Rei, Almada, and from Edifício Atlas I, Oeiras.
By Taxi
Duration: 12 minutes
- Taxi is an easy way to reach Sao Jorge Castle, but more expensive than public transport.
- You can take a taxi from Lisbon city center and reach Sao Jorge Castle in 12 minutes.
By Car
You can also travel by car to Sao Jorge Castle, but ensure you park downtown on the waterfront. The streets leading to the castle are narrow, with no parking available.
How To Skip the Line at São Jorge Castle?
Book Your Tickets In Advance
To skip the line at São Jorge Castle, you can book your tickets in advance online. This will allow you to select a specific date and time slot of your choice, ensuring that you don't have to wait in long queues.
Take a Guided Tour
Another option is to take a guided tour of the castle, which will provide you with priority access and an expert guide to show you around the highlights of the castle. Although this option is slightly more expensive, it can be worth the extra cost.
Go Early
Additionally, you can go early in the morning to avoid crowds. São Jorge Castle opens at 9 AM every day, so arriving at least 15 minutes early can help you get in with minimal delay. By planning ahead, you can skip the lines and enjoy a hassle-free visit to this iconic landmark.
Know Before You Go To São Jorge Castle
- Café and restaurant: Sao Jorge Castle has a café and a restaurant (Casa do Leão), allowing you to explore without draining yourself out.
- Restrooms: The castle has several restrooms. They’re adapted for individuals with disabilities, ensuring everyone can use them.
- Guide dogs: Guide and assistance dogs are welcome inside Sao Jorge Castle.
- Priority service: Individuals with mobility issues get priority service at the castle. It also has wheelchair accessibility throughout the complex.
Audio guides are available for the Sao Jorge Castle tour.
- Self-paced tour: Explore at your own pace.
- Multilingual support: Available in several languages, making it easy for tourists to understand.
- Interactive experience: Engaging content like stories, anecdotes, and historical facts keeps tourists engaged.
- Enhanced learning: Detailed description of history and significance makes the tour more enriching and educational.
- Cost-effective: Cheaper than personal guides. A readily available and affordable option for learning about the castle's history.
- Photography for personal use is allowed inside Sao Jorge Castle. But ensure you inform the staff if you intend to use the pictures and videos for commercial use.
- Pets, except guide dogs covered by Decree-Law n.º 118/99 published in the Diário da República n.º 87/1999, Series I-A of 1999-04-14, are not allowed inside Castelo de São Jorge.
- Feeding peacocks at the castle is prohibited.
- The Food Temple - This restaurant serves excellent vegan food.
- Altar - From salads to meat, Altar is renowned for its delicious range of cuisine and friendly staff.
- Restaurant ODAAN (Nepalese & Indian) - Head to this amazing Indian restaurant for lip-smacking tandoor and Indian meals.
Lisbon Cathedral - An iconic religious building in Lisbon, the Lisbon Cathedral has been with Lisbon through thick and thin. Built on the site of an ancient mosque, Lisbon Cathedral saw the baptism, marriage, and passing of Portugal kings and queens.
Lisbon Military Museum - Lisbon Military Museum is the oldest museum in the city, dating back to the end of the 19th century. It has one of the world’s largest artillery and war-related antique collections.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara - An iconic observation point in Lisbon, Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara offers panoramic views of the city. You can see attractions like Avenida da Liberdade, Restauradores and Baixa, and Castelo de São Jorge.
- Hotel Portuense Lisboa - This two-star hotel is reasonably priced and is just five minutes from Rossio metro station, the closest station to Sao Jorge Castle.
- Mouraria Lisboa Hotel - Mouraria Lisboa Hotel offers price comfort, great dining options, and free WiFi.
- Dalma Old Town Suites, Lisbon - Although a three-star hotel, Dalma Old Town Suites, Lisbon is affordable and within touching distance of souvenir and handicraft stores.
- This is Lisbon Hostel- A super affordable accommodation option, This is Lisbon Hotel is built inside a 19th-century restored building.