São Jorge Castle Opening Hours 2026 — Summer & Winter
São Jorge Castle is open every day from 9:00, closing at 21:00 in summer (1 March–31 October) and at 18:00 in winter (1 November–end February), with last admission 30 minutes before closing. It is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December. The Camera Obscura runs weather-dependent daytime sessions that end earlier than the castle.
São Jorge Castle keeps generous hours, especially in summer when it stays open until 21:00 — long enough for a sunset on the walls. The one thing to plan around is the season: winter closes the castle three hours earlier, and a handful of public holidays close it entirely.
This guide sets out the 2026 opening hours season by season, the last-admission cut-off, the days the castle is closed, and how the Camera Obscura’s shorter hours affect your timing.
São Jorge Castle Opening Hours at a Glance
| Season | Dates | Hours | Last admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Summer | 1 Mar–31 Oct | 9:00–21:00 | 20:30 |
| Winter | 1 Nov–end Feb | 9:00–18:00 | 17:30 |
The castle is open every day within these seasons except the closed public holidays below. Hours can be adjusted for events, so confirm your date on the official site before you go.
Daily Opening Hours
São Jorge Castle opens at 9:00 all year. It closes at 21:00 in summer (1 March to 31 October) and at 18:00 in winter (1 November to the end of February), with last admission always 30 minutes before closing. There is no weekly closing day — only the fixed public holidays keep the gates shut.
The 9:00 opening is the same in every season, which makes an early start the most reliable way to beat both the queues and the midday heat in summer. The big variable is the evening: in summer the late 21:00 close leaves room for a leisurely visit and the sunset, while in winter you’ll want to be up the hill by mid-afternoon. For the quietest and best-lit windows within these hours, see our guide to the best time to visit São Jorge Castle.
Last Admission
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing — 20:30 in summer and 17:30 in winter. Because a full visit takes around 1.5 to 2 hours, treat last admission as the latest you can enter, not the ideal arrival: get in an hour or two earlier if you want to walk the ramparts and see the Camera Obscura without rushing. Our guide on how long to spend at São Jorge Castle helps you judge the timing.
Days the Castle Is Closed
São Jorge Castle closes on five days a year: 1 January, 1 May, and 24, 25 and 31 December. On every other day it opens at 9:00. If your trip falls over New Year or Christmas, check the exact dates, as the days either side can be busy or run adjusted hours.
These closures catch out visitors travelling over the festive period and the May Day holiday. If you’re in Lisbon on one of these dates, plan the castle for another day. Around the closed days themselves the castle can be busier than usual and occasionally runs shortened hours, so it’s worth a quick check of the official schedule when you’re visiting in late December or early January.
The Camera Obscura’s Shorter Hours
The Camera Obscura in the Tower of Ulysses is included in your entry, but it runs its own shorter, weather-dependent schedule — daytime sessions that end well before the castle closes, and only when there’s enough daylight and clear conditions for the optics to work. In the darker months the sessions are short; in high summer they run longer into the afternoon. If seeing it matters to you, come earlier in the day rather than at closing, and ask at the ticket office for the day’s session times. Our guide to the Camera Obscura explains how it works.
Seasonal Notes
The castle’s core pattern — a 9:00 opening with a summer and a winter closing time — holds year-round, but exact timings can shift for events or at short notice, and sunset moves by several hours across the year. If you’re planning a sunset visit in particular, check the closing time against the actual sunset for your date, since in high summer the sun sets close to the summer closing hour. Always confirm on the official site close to your visit.
Because the castle sits at the top of a steep, cobbled climb, factor the journey up into your timing too; our guide on how to get to São Jorge Castle covers the tram, bus and walking routes up the hill.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are São Jorge Castle’s opening hours?
The castle opens daily at 9:00, closing at 21:00 from 1 March to 31 October and at 18:00 from 1 November to the end of February. Last admission is 30 minutes before closing. It’s shut on 1 January, 1 May and 24, 25 and 31 December. Hours can change for events, so check the official site for your date.
Is São Jorge Castle open every day?
Yes, apart from five public holidays a year: 1 January, 1 May, and 24, 25 and 31 December. There is no weekly closing day, so on any other date the castle opens at 9:00. Around Christmas and New Year it’s worth confirming the exact hours, which can be adjusted.
What time does the castle close?
It depends on the season. In summer (1 March to 31 October) the castle closes at 21:00; in winter (1 November to the end of February) it closes at 18:00. Last admission is always half an hour before the closing time, so 20:30 in summer and 17:30 in winter.
What time is last admission?
Last admission is 30 minutes before closing — 20:30 in summer and 17:30 in winter. Since a full visit takes 1.5 to 2 hours, arriving right at last admission means a rushed look, so aim to be up the hill an hour or more before closing for a relaxed visit.
Can I watch the sunset from the castle?
In summer, yes — the 21:00 close means the walls stay open through the golden hour, and sunset over the Tagus from the ramparts is one of the castle’s highlights. In winter the earlier 18:00 close may fall around or after sunset depending on the date. Our guide to São Jorge Castle at sunset has the details.
What are the Camera Obscura’s hours?
The Camera Obscura runs daytime sessions that finish earlier than the castle and only in suitable weather, since it needs daylight. Session times vary by season, running longer in summer and shorter in winter. Come earlier in the day to be sure of catching it, and check the day’s times at the ticket office.
Is the castle less busy at certain hours?
Yes. The 9:00 opening and the first hour or two are the quietest, while the hour before sunset is the busiest as people come up for the view. Midday in summer is hot and moderately busy. Weekdays are generally calmer than weekends.
Do I need to book a ticket in advance?
You don’t have to, but booking ahead lets you skip the ticket-office queue, which builds on busy afternoons. A skip-the-line entry ticket puts your entry on your phone. Off-season and early in the day you can usually buy at the gate without much wait.
