Torre de Belém
Av. Brasília, Belém
Di–So 10–17:30 Uhr (Okt–Apr), 10–18:30 Uhr (Mai–Sep)
10€, Kombiticket mit Jerónimos 17€
The Torre de Belém (1514–1520) is Lisbon's landmark and UNESCO World Heritage — a Manueline watchtower on the Tagus that guarded the harbor entrance. It looks like a mix of fortress and fairy-tale castle: balconies with delicate tracery, rope ornaments, Moorish turrets, and a famous rhinoceros figure on the west facade — the first rhinoceros to reach Europe in the 16th century.
Is the entrance worth it?
The interior is small and cramped — a narrow spiral staircase leads to the terrace (nice view, but not the best in the city). The queue is often long (45–90 min.). Honest recommendation: Admiring it from the outside is at least as impressive. In the morning light (before 10 AM), the tower is most photogenic — the golden light on the bright stone is magical.
