Visiting the Sesimbra Castle – Portugal
The Sesimbra Castle (also known as the Castelo dos Mouros (Castle of the Moors)) sits high above the town of Sesimbra on a cliff, in between the estuaries of the Tagus river and the Sado River. This restored castle became a national monument in 1910, but the castle itself dates back to the 9th century. In this guide, I’ll give you everything you need to know before you visit the Sesimbra Castle so you can see for yourself if you think paying this castle in Portugal is worth a visit. Let’s begin!
Sesimbra Castle – Overview
- Free admission
- Parking is free
- In addition to the castle, you’ll find a cafe (closed when we visited), church and a graveyard here.
- Castle is open from 7am – 7pm in the winter, 7am – 8pm in the summer.
- Free toilets are located near the church
- This will take you about 30-45 minutes to see the castle, take in the views and pop inside of the church.
Sesimbra Castle – Quick history
The castle dates to the 9th century Muslim occupation, and after several centuries of destruction and rebuilding, the castle was abandoned by the 1500s. In 1910, the Sesimbra Castle was declared a National Monument and the Portuguese Government began restoration efforts.
Where is the Sesimbra Castle?
The Sesimbra Castle is located just outside of the town of Sesimbra, which is about an hour south of Lisbon. You could easily make a day trip out here if you’re staying in Lisbon, but you’d probably want to have a car, as you’d have to navigate both trains and bus services to get here. A rental car would make your life easier!
If you are staying in Sesimbra, it’s possible to walk to the castle, but be prepared for a climb! From the townsite, you will see signs directing you to the castle.
Visiting the Sesmibra Castle
We visited the Sesimbra Castle while on a road trip through Portugal. This was our last day in Portugal and it was a dreary, rainy day. We were making our way back from the Algarve to catch our flight out of Lisbon later that evening so we had some time to kill. I love castles, so stopping here was a no-brainer.
The Church of Santa Maria is located right next to the parking lot (it’s inside the castle walls and it’s still in use), so we checked that out first. It’s worth checking out the inside of the church as the blue mosaic tilework inside is beautiful!
As you go through the castle, you’ll see some interpretive signs here and there giving you historical context of the Sesimbra castle. For the most part, the castle is well-maintained, but there isn’t an extensive amount of things to see and explore. The iterior of the castle is, for the most part, hollowed-out.
The views from the Sesimbra Castle are amazing! On a clear day, you can see the ocean, the town below, and the countryside – if you’re not into castles, the view is worth the drive up here!
Sesimbra Castle in Portugal – Final Thoughts
While it’s not the most exciting castle in Portugal to visit, nor is it a must-see destination, it’s a quick stop that you might want to make if you are passing through the area – if anything, stop here for the views! Some Portugal tours include the Sesimbra Castle on their itinerary, so if you’re traveling Portugal via tour bus, you may have this on your agenda. This castle won’t take long to explore and the church is really beautiful inside.
Have you visited the Sesimbra Castle in Portugal? What did you think?
