São Jorge Castle and the view from the top

Crowning the highest hill in the old city, the Moorish São Jorge Castle is one of Lisbon's few big-ticket paid sights genuinely worth the entry. The ramparts give you the finest panorama in the city, peacocks roam the grounds, and the history runs back over a thousand years. Go near sunset if you can, when the light turns the whole city gold. Book ahead in peak season to skip the queue. We'll tell you the best time to go and how to combine it with the Alfama wander below.