The Castle of St George

( Castelo de Sao Jorge)

The Castelo Sao Jorge is a must-see on your visit to Lisbon. Both the building itself and the view of the city from the castle make for a very interesting a pleasant visit.

The castle is located in the Alfama district, on the very steep Sao Jorge hill. It's a hard climb up. If you're feeling particularly energetic you can walk up, otherwise you can take bus number 37 or the tramway (nice views on your way!).

Like the city of Lisbon, the castle has seen many different owners throughout its history, as it was the ideal watch tower for the city. Most of the time, the castle was either a royal residence or military headquarters. The building was also used as a prison several times in its history.

Inside, there is an exhibition hall and a multimedia room that offers a different vision of the city. Outside, you can walk in and out of all the nooks and crannies of the castle, all the while admiring the gorgeous view of Lisbon and the Tagus river.

While you're there, why not take a walk through the charming district of Alfama, at the bottom of the hill from the castle. It is one of the most picturesque areas in the city.