10 Best Castles in and Near Lisbon

Castles in and Near Lisbon at a Glance

Castles in Lisbon

1. São Jorge Castle

São Jorge Castle stands on the highest hill of the historic center, above Alfama. The site was occupied long before the Moors, who strengthened the fortress, and in 1147 Afonso Henriques took it with the help of crusaders after a four-month siege. Legend says the knight Martim Moniz died wedged in a gate to keep it from closing, and a gate still bears his name.

After the capital moved to Lisbon in 1256, the castle became the seat of royal power, and in 1498 King Manuel I received Vasco da Gama here on his return from India. The court later moved to a new palace by the river. The castle was damaged by earthquakes in 1531 and 1755, and most of what you see today comes from a restoration carried out between 1938 and 1944, which rebuilt the walls and added gardens.

What to see: walk the walls and towers for views over the city and the river, visit the museum area with finds from the Iron Age, Moorish and medieval periods, and see the archaeological site of the Moorish quarter. The castle opens at 9 am every day.

2. Belém Tower

Not a castle in the classic sense, the Belém Tower is a fortress built between 1514 and 1519, to a design by Francisco de Arruda, to defend the mouth of the Tagus. It is on the UNESCO World Heritage list with the Jerónimos Monastery, and it reopened in May 2026 after a year of restoration, with visits by half-hour time slots.

Castles Near Lisbon

3. Moorish Castle, Sintra

The Castelo dos Mouros runs along a ridge above Sintra. It was founded under Islamic rule, and the Moors held it until 1147, when Afonso Henriques took Sintra after the conquest of Lisbon. In the 19th century, King Ferdinand II restored it in the Romantic style as part of the landscape around Pena Palace. Excavations since 1976 have uncovered an Islamic quarter and grain silos carved in the rock, and the old Church of São Pedro de Canaferrim now holds an interpretation center.

4. Palmela Castle

Just over 40 km from Lisbon, across the river, Palmela Castle sits on a hill about 250 meters high, with a 360-degree view over Setúbal, the Sado estuary, the Tróia dunes and the coast toward Lisbon. A fortress of the Muslim period, it changed hands several times before it was finally taken in 1194. From 1443 to 1834, it was the headquarters of the Order of Santiago, and its former convent is now the Pousada de Palmela, a historic hotel inside the walls.

5. Sesimbra Castle

Above the fishing town of Sesimbra, between the Tagus and Sado estuaries, this castle was taken by Afonso Henriques in 1165, lost to the Almohads in 1191 and taken back for good in 1199. Inside the walls is the Church of Santa Maria do Castelo. Ruined by the 1755 earthquake, the castle was restored in the 20th century and is managed by the municipality. Combine it with Cape Espichel or a boat trip along the Arrábida coast.

6. Óbidos Castle and Walls

About 85 km north of Lisbon, Óbidos is a medieval village enclosed by walls about 1.5 km long. Afonso Henriques took it in 1148, and King Dinis gave it to Queen Elizabeth as a wedding gift, the first of many queens to own the town. The castle has been a pousada since 1948. You can walk the walls for free, but the path is narrow, with steep steps and no railings, so skip it if you are afraid of heights. Do not leave without a ginja, the local cherry liqueur, served in a chocolate cup.

7. Almourol Castle

Almourol is one of the most striking castles in Portugal, on a small island in the middle of the Tagus, near Vila Nova da Barquinha. After it was taken from the Moors, it was entrusted to Gualdim Pais, master of the Knights Templar in Portugal, and an inscription over the gate dates its rebuilding to 1171. It was part of the Templars' defensive line along the Tagus. Entry is free, but you reach the island by a short paid boat ride.

8. Templar Castle and Convent of Christ, Tomar

In Tomar, the Knights Templar founded a castle in 1160 under Gualdim Pais. In the 14th century it passed to the Order of Christ, which built the Convent of Christ inside the walls, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983. Its round Templar church, the Charola, dates from the 12th century.

9. Leiria Castle

On a hill above the city of Leiria, this castle was built by Afonso Henriques as a defense against the Moors and reinforced in 1142. King Dinis ordered its keep in 1324 and lived here with Queen Elizabeth. The highlight is the royal palace, with a Gothic loggia of eight arches overlooking the city.

10. Evoramonte Castle

On a hilltop in the Alentejo, between Évora and Estremoz, Evoramonte Castle has a distinctive keep with four round towers. It was rebuilt in the Manueline style in the early 16th century, with the work supervised by Francisco de Arruda, the architect of the Belém Tower. On 26 May 1834, the Concession of Evoramonte, which ended Portugal's civil war between liberals and absolutists, was signed here. It has been a National Monument since 1910.

Worth the Longer Trip: Marvão

Near the Spanish border, in the Alentejo, the castle of Marvão sits on a granite peak, with its keep about 867 meters above sea level. It dates from the Islamic period, King Dinis built its keep after 1299, and its walls were repaired during the War of Restoration in the 17th century. It is too far for a relaxed day trip from Lisbon, but it is a highlight of any trip through the Alentejo.

Tips for Visiting Castles Near Lisbon

• Combine them by area. Sintra with Lisbon's castle, Palmela with Sesimbra and Arrábida, and Óbidos with Alcobaça, Batalha or Nazaré.
• Rent a car for the smaller castles. Palmela, Sesimbra, Almourol and Evoramonte are much easier by car than by public transport.
• Wear good shoes. Castle paths and walls are uneven, and many have steep steps without railings.
• Check opening times. Opening days and hours vary, and some sites close on public holidays.