Belém concentrates some of the most majestic monuments in Portugal, dating back to the 16th century, in the period of King Manuel I. The beautiful Mosteiro dos Jerónimos ("Jerónimos Monastery") is the most notable Portuguese monastic complex. Just like Torre de Belém ("Belém Tower"), it was classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
The important thing to know about Mosteiro dos Jerónimos is that its church is separate from the monastery itself. Both have different visiting hours and you can get inside the church free of charge, whereas in the monastery, the regular ticket costs 10€. Moreover, there are no lines to visit the church, while the same doesn't happen to visit the monastery.
Inside the Igreja do Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, besides the remarkable manueline architecture, you can find the tombs of two world-renowned Portuguese: the poet Luís de Camões and the explorer Vasco da Gama, the first European to reach India by sea.
Right next to it, you can find the original Fábrica dos Pastéis de Belém, where you can taste the most famous custard tarts in Portugal, whose original recipe remains a secret. This is our recommended next step in this tour!