Why go

The Padrão dos Descobrimentos, or Monument to the Discoveries, rises from the riverbank in Belém like the prow of a ship heading out into the Tagus. It honours the explorers, navigators and patrons of Portugal’s 15th and 16th-century voyages, and it stands close to the spot from which many of those expeditions set sail.

The first version was a temporary structure made for the Portuguese World Exhibition of 1940, staged by the Estado Novo regime. The permanent monument in concrete and stone was built in 1960 to mark 500 years since the death of Henry the Navigator, who stands at the front holding a caravel. Behind him, on both sides of the ramp, 32 other figures include kings, sailors, missionaries, cartographers and the poet Camões. The monument’s message has become the subject of debate in recent years, and the exhibitions inside often address its history and meaning.

Whatever you make of it, the view from the top is one of the best in Belém, and the monument is a natural stop between the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower.

What to see

  • The sculpted figures. Henry the Navigator leads a procession of explorers including Vasco da Gama, Pedro Álvares Cabral and Ferdinand Magellan.
  • The compass rose. A huge marble compass rose and world map, a gift from South Africa, is set in the pavement in front.
  • The viewpoint. The terrace, 56 metres up, looks over the Jerónimos Monastery, the 25 de Abril Bridge and Belém Tower.
  • The exhibition. Temporary shows inside; in 2026 the exhibition looks at how the monument has been drawn and copied since 1940.
  • The film. A short film screened on weekends and public holidays.

Plan your visit

From October to February the monument opens daily from 10am to 6pm, with last entry at 5.30pm; from March to September it opens until 7pm, last entry 6.30pm. It is closed on 1 January, 1 May and 25 December, and some sources also list 24 and 31 December. A ticket for the viewpoint, the exhibition and the film costs €10 in 2026, €5 for young people aged 13 to 25 and €8.50 for over-65s who do not live in Lisbon, and an exhibition-only ticket costs €5. Children under 12 and Lisboa Card holders go free.

A lift goes to the sixth floor, then 42 steps lead to the terrace, which is narrow and can be windy. Allow 30 to 45 minutes. From November to January the sun sets before the last entry, so a late afternoon visit gives you sunset over the river.

Belém station on the Cascais line is about five minutes away through the underpass.

The riverside promenade around the monument is free and is one of the most pleasant walks in Belém, with views upstream to the 25 de Abril Bridge. Many Belém walking tours stop at the monument, but most do not include entry to the top, so check before you book if the view matters to you.

Nearby

The Jerónimos Monastery is directly across the gardens and the main road. MAAT is a few minutes’ walk east along the river, and Belém Tower about ten minutes west.