Jerónimos Monastery

The Jerónimos Monastery (also known as the Hieronymites Monastery) is, along with the Tower of Belém, one of the most visited sites in Lisbon. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, this landmark was designed by the Portuguese architect Diogo de Boitaca, to serve as a final resting-place for members of the House of Avizto. It also serves as a resting place for other legendary Portuguese figures, including explorer Vasco da Gama, the first European to reach India by sea.

The construction began on 6 January 1501 and wasn’t completed until the seventeenth century.  The building is predominantly Manueline style (Portuguese late Gothic). Curiously, the monastery was built on the site of the former Ermida do Restelo, the chapel where Vasco da Gama and the rest of the sailors prayed before setting sail down the African coast to India. 

Buy Tickets to Jerónimos Monastery

There are a number of different ways of visiting the Jerónimos Monastery:

Jerónimos Monastery Official Tickets

Visit the monastery and explore it at your own speed by buying an official ticket to the Jerónimos Monastery with Civitatis.

Lisboa Card (Lisbon Tourist Card)

If you're looking to make the most of your trip to Lisbon at the best price, the Lisboa Card (Lisbon Card) includes access to 50+ attractions and free travel on public transport. Buy the Lisboa Card.

Jerónimos Monastery Guided Tour

Learn more about the monastery as part of a guided tour of Jerónmios Monastery, which includes entry to the site, and a tour of the parish of Belém. 

The Church of Santa Maria

Inside the Jerónimos Monastery, you'll find the stunning Church of Santa Maria, which is constructed in a markedly different style from the rest of the monastery. The church's interior definitely has a more austere and harmonious interior, while the monastery as a whole is generally ornate. The temple has a single nave that is held up by six beautifully sculpted columns.

As mentioned, the church houses the tomb of Vasco da Gama. You'll also find that of Luís de Camões, a Portuguese poet and writer, as well as Alexandre Herculano, a 19th-century historian, writer.

Jerónimos Monastery's Cloister

The two-story cloister of the Jerónimos Monastery is one of the most exquisite examples of Manueline architecture in Portugal, rivalling Lisbon Cathedral’s cloister in scale, intricacy, and symbolism.

When you explore the cloister, you’ll see the church of Santa Maria from above and the tomb of Fernando Pessoa, a renowned Portuguese writer and poet. One of the cloister’s halls is dedicated to the history of the Monastery, which is compared to the country and the rest of the world’s evolution.  

Must-See Attractions Near Jerónimos Monastery

After visiting the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, we recommend heading to the Archaeology Museum, which is located in the building adjacent to the monastery. Moreover, Belém Tower and the Monument to the Discoveries are also close by. These two monuments and the Jerónimos Monastery represent Portugal's most prosperous period and are definitely worth visiting.