Frequently asked questions
Do I have to visit on the exact date I selected at checkout?
No. Castelo de São Jorge tickets sold by the Castle are open-date — they admit you on any single day within 90 days of purchase. We collect a planned visit date at checkout so we can send you weather forecasts and the audio history at the right time, but your ticket is not locked to that date. Show up any day within 90 days and the gate will admit you. If your plans shift, no need to contact us — just use the ticket on a different day.
What's included in the skip-the-line ticket?
Entry to the entire Castelo de São Jorge complex: the inner castle (Castelejo) with its eleven towers, the rampart walks with panoramic Lisbon views, the Camera Obscura optical projection in the Tower of Ulysses, and the archaeological site preserving Phoenician, Roman, and Moorish layers beneath the fortress.
When should I arrive?
Late afternoon. Arriving 90 minutes before sunset puts you on the eastern ramparts at golden hour with Lisbon below in honey tones — the photograph everyone takes home. Mid-morning between 10:00 and noon is coach-tour peak; avoid if you can.
How long does a visit take?
Allow 2 hours minimum, 3 hours if you want to absorb the Camera Obscura, the archaeological museum, and the ramparts at a slow pace.
What about the famous Tram 28?
Tram 28 stops at Largo das Portas do Sol, a 5-minute walk from the castle gate. It's a romantic option but it's also the most pickpocketed tram in Lisbon — keep belongings front-zipped. Walking up through Alfama is more rewarding if you have decent shoes.
Is the castle wheelchair-accessible?
Partially. Outer courtyards and main viewing terraces are reachable. The inner castle involves narrow medieval stairs. Contact the Castle at +351 218 800 620 in advance for the most current accessible route.
What is the Camera Obscura?
A working medieval-style optical device in the Tower of Ulysses that projects a live image of the surrounding city onto a concave screen — like a giant in-room periscope. A guide rotates the apparatus through 360 degrees and narrates what you're seeing. Twenty minutes well spent.
What's your refund policy?
Tickets are issued for a specific date and are non-transferable once issued. If your plans change, reply to your confirmation email at least 48 hours before your date and we will rebook your visit to any open slot in the operator's calendar.
Why book through a concierge?
The official BOL portal defaults to Portuguese, surfaces MB Way (a Portuguese-only payment app) prominently, and many international cards fail at checkout without a clear error. We handle the portal in English on your behalf, deliver a clean QR ticket to your inbox within 2 hours, and give you a real human contact if anything changes.