Belém Tower Torre de Belém
Lisbon, Portugal UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Belém Tower is a 35-meter tall fortified tower designed by Francisco de Arruda in the Manueline architectural style. Completed in 1515, this cultural heritage monument is part of the UNESCO World Heritage site that includes the Monastery of the Hieronymites. It is the most looked-up sight in Portugal on English Wikipedia.
Planning a visit
The tower is open Tuesday through Sunday. Hours are 10:00 to 18:30 from May to September, and 10:00 to 17:30 from October to April. Access requires an entry fee, and the site is not wheelchair accessible. The driest time to visit is from June through August, when rain is minimal and daily highs reach 22 °C to 24 °C. The winter months, particularly November and December, experience the most rainfall.
Located in the Belém district of Lisbon, the tower is 12 kilometers from Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport and 7 kilometers from the center of Lisbon. You can combine a visit with nearby landmarks such as the Monument of the Discoveries, which is 0.9 kilometers away, and the Jerónimos Monastery, located 1.1 kilometers away. Other nearby sites include Belém Palace, the 25 de Abril Bridge, and Christ the King.
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 24 °C. The wettest is December, with about 114 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 19 | 22 | 24 | 24 | 23 | 20 | 17 | 15 |
| Average low, °C | 10 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 18 | 16 | 13 | 11 |
| Rainfall, mm | 86 | 70 | 52 | 64 | 44 | 14 | 4 | 6 | 31 | 92 | 111 | 114 |
| Rainy days | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for this spot (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
