Wheelchair Accessible Highlights of Lisbon: A Complete Guide

Planning a trip to Lisbon with a wheelchair or scooter? Then make sure the Belém area is on your list. Here are 3 of the most famous highlights of Lisbon. Also unlike much of Lisbon, which is steep, cobbled, and challenging for mobility aids, Belém is flat and lies along the beautiful Tagus River. Here, you find some of the city’s world-class landmarks, including the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, and the Monument of Discoveries.

Getting around Belém

Getting around Belém is relatively easy, but still requires a bit of planning. The three main attractions are spread along the waterfront, with a mix of smooth paths and uneven cobblestones, so be prepared for some bumps along the way.

Public transport options are convenient. Tram 15E is wheelchair accessible and runs along the waterfront from the city centre and is the most direct route. It gets crowded on weekends, and not every stop is fully step-free. Alternatively, buses 714, 727, and 728 have low floors and ramps, with bus 727 being quieter during weekdays.

Keep in mind: the main sites are roughly a kilometre apart, so plan your route and timing accordingly. With a bit of preparation, Belém is one of the most wheelchair-friendly areas in Lisbon and a joy to explore.

The Jerónimos Monastery

A building five centuries in the making

King Manuel I ordered the construction of the Jerónimos Monastery in 1501, funded by the wealth flowing into Portugal from Vasco da Gama’s sea route to India. It took over a century to finish, and it is a must-see when visiting Lisbon. The facade is covered in stone carvings: ropes, coral, armillary spheres and exotic creatures. Together with the Belém Tower Lisbon, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.

Can you visit the Jerónimos Monastery with a wheelchair?

Yes, partially. The church and the lower cloister galleries are reachable without stairs, and ramps and lifts are available in parts of the complex. Accessible toilets are on site too. Some areas have uneven stone floors and narrow passages that can make navigation tricky. The upper galleries are only reachable by stairs and are not accessible for wheelchair users.
Manual chairs are available and free to borrow at the entrance, subject to availability.

• Tickets are available here at the official website
• Opening hours: 10:00 to 17:30 (October to April) / 10:00 to 18:30 (May to
• September)
• Closed on Mondays and public holidays

The Church of Santa Maria de Belém

The Church of Santa Maria de Belém is situated right next to the monastery and is free to enter through a separate entrance on the right side of the complex. Inside, you will find the tombs of Vasco da Gama and Luís de Camões, Portugal’s national poet. The ground floor is fully step-free, so both tombs are reachable. Appropriate clothing is required to enter. Queues can be long, so it’s recommended to take your disability tag for priority access. Want to more about this tag? Here you can read our blog about it!

The Belém Tower Lisbon

Five hundred years at the mouth of the Tagus

The Belém Tower Lisbon might be the most photographed building in Portugal. King Manuel I commissioned it between 1516 and 1521 as a ceremonial gateway and watchtower at the mouth of the Tagus. For centuries, it was the last thing explorers saw as they left for unknown waters, and the first on their return. Over time it became a customs post, a lighthouse, and eventually a political prison. Today it stands as a beautifully preserved example of Manueline architecture. Look closely and you will spot armillary spheres, knotwork, and a tiny carved rhinoceros beneath one turret, said to be among the earliest depictions of the animal in European art.

Can you visit the Belém Tower Lisbon with a wheelchair?

Unfortunately, the interior of the Belém Tower is not entirely accessible for wheelchair users. There is a raised threshold at the entrance of approximately 9 cm, though staff are happy to assist you. If you can manage the threshold, the ground floor houses 17 cannons and iron-barred openings in the floor that reveal the dungeon cells below, where political prisoners were once held. The upper floors are only reachable by steep, narrow spiral staircases. There is no lift inside.

That said, the outside of the tower is absolutely worth your visit. The riverside walkway around it is flat and easy to navigate, and the stonework is just as spectacular from ground level.

• Tickets are here available at the official website
• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10:00 to 17:30 (October to April) /
• 10:00 to 18:30 (May to September)
• Closed on Mondays

The Monument of Discoveries

Where the Age of Discovery is carved in stone

Standing on the northern bank of the Tagus, the Padrão dos Descobrimentos is impossible to miss. Built in 1960 to mark the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator, it is shaped like the prow of a caravel. Henry stands at the front holding a miniature ship. Behind him are 32 carved figures: explorers, mapmakers, missionaries, and poets of the Age of Discovery. You will spot Vasco da Gama, Ferdinand Magellan, and Bartolomeu Dias among them. In front of the monument is a 50-square-metre compass rose mosaic showing the routes of Portuguese exploration. South Africa gifted it in 1960. This plaza is one of the most striking spots in all of Belém.

Can you visit the Monument to of Discoveries with a wheelchair?

The open plaza and the compass rose mosaic are fully step-free and free to visit. For most visitors this is a unique highlight of their visit to Lisbon.

Getting inside of the monument is unfortunately more complicated for wheelchair or scooter users. Contact the monument in advance if you want to use it, via this email info@padraodosdescobrimentos.pt.

Once inside, a lift reaches the sixth floor. The very top requires 42 more steps after the lift and is not reachable for visitors with limited mobility.

• Tickets are here available at the official website
• Opening hours: 10:00 to 18:00 (October to February) / 10:00 to 19:00 (March to September)