Castles, Palaces & Monasteries in Portugal
Palaces, castles, residences and monasteries with museums, guided tours and historic rooms.
Lisbon District (16)
Torre de Belém
Palácio Nacional da Pena
Castelo de São Jorge
Palácio Nacional de Mafra
Palácio Nacional de Queluz
Palácio Nacional de Sintra
Castelo dos Mouros
Quinta da Regaleira
Palácio Nacional da Ajuda
Palácio de Monserrate
Palácio Fronteira
Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães
Museu de Artes Decorativas Portuguesas
Centro de Interpretação das Linhas de Torres Vedras
Museu do Tesouro Real
Galeria Municipal do Castelo de Pirescouxe
Évora District (4)
Braga District (2)
Leiria District (2)
Porto District (2)
Santarém District (2)
Aveiro District (1)
Azores (1)
Castelo Branco District (1)
Coimbra District (1)
Faro District (1)
Guarda District (1)
Madeira (1)
Setúbal District (1)
Vila Real District (1)
Castles, Palaces & Monasteries in Portugal: Overview & Tips
Our guide lists 37 castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal, spread across 15 districts and 26 towns and cities. Most of them are in Lisbon District (16), Évora District (4), and Braga District (2).
At the city level, Lisbon (6), Sintra (5), and Porto (2) lead the way – ideal if you want to see several castles, palaces and monasteries in a single day.
5 museums are free to visit. For the others with a published price, a regular adult ticket costs €13 at the median, and the middle half charge between €10 and €15.
5 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, 13 offer dedicated programs for families, and 13 have a café or restaurant. These figures come from our ongoing research – museums whose details we haven’t verified yet aren’t included in the counts.
Top 10 castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal
The best-known castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal
Torre de BelémHistory · Lisbon
Mosteiro da BatalhaCastles & Palaces · Batalha
Mosteiro de AlcobaçaCastles & Palaces · Alcobaça
Convento de CristoCastles & Palaces · Tomar
Palácio Nacional da PenaCastles & Palaces · Sintra
Castelo de São JorgeHistory · Lisbon
Palácio Nacional de MafraCastles & Palaces · Mafra
Palácio Nacional de QueluzCastles & Palaces · Queluz
Palácio Nacional de SintraCastles & Palaces · Sintra
Castelo dos MourosHistory · Sintra
Castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal with free admission
Museu Condes de Castro GuimarãesArt · Cascais
Palácio de São LourençoCastles & Palaces · Funchal
Centro de Interpretação das Linhas de Torres VedrasHistory · Torres Vedras
Centro de Interpretação das Rotas da Transumância / Palácio do PicadeiroRegional · Fundão- Castelo de SesimbraCastles & Palaces · Sesimbra
Castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal with programs for families
- Palácio Nacional da PenaCastles & Palaces · Sintra
- Castelo de São JorgeHistory · Lisbon
- Palácio Nacional de QueluzCastles & Palaces · Queluz
- Palácio Nacional de SintraCastles & Palaces · Sintra
- Castelo dos MourosHistory · Sintra
Palácio Nacional da AjudaCastles & Palaces · Lisbon
Palácio de MonserrateCastles & Palaces · Sintra
Casa de MateusCastles & Palaces · Vila Real
Paço dos Duques de BragançaCastles & Palaces · Guimarães- Museu Condes de Castro GuimarãesArt · Cascais
Wheelchair-accessible castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal
By district
Cities with the most museums
Good to know
Frequently asked questions
How many castles, palaces and monasteries are there in Portugal?
Our directory currently lists 37 castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal across 26 towns and cities.
What are the best-known castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal?
Some of the best known are Torre de Belém, Mosteiro da Batalha, Mosteiro de Alcobaça, Convento de Cristo, and Palácio Nacional da Pena.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal offer free admission?
5 museums are free to visit – for example Museu Condes de Castro Guimarães, Palácio de São Lourenço, Centro de Interpretação das Linhas de Torres Vedras, and Centro de Interpretação das Rotas da Transumância / Palácio do Picadeiro.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal are open on Mondays?
Many museums are closed on Mondays, but according to their regular hours 22 are open, such as Mosteiro da Batalha, Mosteiro de Alcobaça, and Convento de Cristo.
Which castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal are wheelchair accessible?
5 museums are fully wheelchair accessible, including Palácio Nacional de Queluz, Palácio da Bolsa, and Palácio Nacional da Ajuda. Others are partially accessible – you’ll find the details on each museum’s page.
How much does it cost to visit castles, palaces and monasteries in Portugal?
A regular adult ticket costs €13 at the median, with prices ranging from €4 to €20. Children, students and families usually pay less.
Other categories: Art & Design · History & Cultural History · Natural History · Science & Technology · Archaeology & Antiquity · Memorials · Open-Air Museums · City & Regional Museums · World Cultures & Ethnology · People & Literature · Special-Interest Museums