EN
Home / Blog / Padrão winter hours 2026-27

The Padrão in winter

From October the monument closes an hour earlier. In return, the winter sun sets over the Tagus while the terrace is still open.

The Padrão dos Descobrimentos on a clear winter afternoon, low sun over the river and the bridge in the distance
Late afternoon light on the Padrão in winter.

Booking choice: The Belém half-day with Jerónimos, from $71 per person. Check dates Tour details

The Padrão dos Descobrimentos (Monument to the Discoveries) runs on two timetables. Winter hours apply from October to February, and they are the ones that catch people out: the door shuts at 18:00, last entry is 17:30, and four days around Christmas and New Year are closed.

There is an upside. Between the clock change in late October and early February, the sun sets before the last entry, so you can stand on the terrace and watch it go down behind the bridge.

The quick answer

From October 2026 to February 2027 the Padrão opens every day from 10:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:30. It switches back to 10:00 to 19:00 (last entry 18:30) on 1 March. It is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and 1 January. From 25 October to early February, Lisbon's sunset falls before 17:30, so a late visit catches it from the top.

What are the Padrão dos Descobrimentos opening hours in winter 2026-27?

October to February: every day, 10:00 to 18:00, last entry 17:30. March to September: 10:00 to 19:00, last entry 18:30.

That is the timetable on the official Padrão website. There is no Monday closing, which makes the Padrão the one big Belém sight you can visit at the start of the week.

The summer hours return on 1 March 2027, a few weeks before the clocks go forward. The EUR 10 ticket (viewpoint, exhibition and film) does not change with the season; the details are in our tickets guide.

PeriodOpenLast entryMondays
1 Oct 2026 to 28 Feb 202710:00 to 18:0017:30Open
From 1 Mar 202710:00 to 19:0018:30Open

When is the Padrão closed this winter?

On 24, 25 and 31 December and on 1 January. It was also shut from 18 to 20 October 2026 for technical reasons.

The official list of closing days is short: 1 January, 1 May, and 24, 25 and 31 December. On top of that, a notice on the monument's website in October 2026 said it would be "closed from October 18 to October 20" due to technical issues. Unplanned closures like that are posted on the homepage, so check it the morning you go.

Jerónimos and Belém Tower follow a different calendar. They close on Mondays, 25 December and 1 January, but 24 and 31 December are not on their list. On Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve, then, the cloister and the tower are the options, and the Padrão is the one shut.

DatePadrãoJerónimos and Belém Tower
Any MondayOpenClosed
24 Dec 2026ClosedNot on the closing list
25 Dec 2026ClosedClosed
31 Dec 2026ClosedNot on the closing list
1 Jan 2027ClosedClosed

Can you watch the sunset from the Padrão in winter?

Yes, from 25 October to about the end of January. Sunset then falls between about 17:15 and 17:50, before or near the 17:30 last entry.

Portugal's clocks go back one hour on Sunday 25 October 2026. Overnight, sunset jumps from about 18:47 to 17:45. The earliest sunsets come in the first half of December, around 17:15. Go up at about 16:45, and you have the terrace for the last light, the 25 de Abril bridge to the west and the wind rose below turning gold.

In February the window closes: by mid-month the sun sets after 18:00, when the monument has shut. In March it opens again, because the closing time moves to 19:00 while sunset sits around 18:30 to 18:45, until the clocks go forward on 28 March 2027. Times below are approximate, for central Lisbon; check timeanddate.com for your exact day.

DateSunset (approx.)Last entrySunset from the top?
1 Oct 202619:2017:30No
24 Oct 202618:4717:30No
25 Oct 2026 (clocks back)17:4517:30Yes, go up by 17:30
15 Nov 202617:2417:30Yes
7 Dec 202617:1517:30Yes
1 Jan 202717:2417:30Closed that day
15 Jan 202717:3717:30Yes, just
1 Feb 202717:5617:30Tight, closes 18:00
15 Feb 202718:1317:30No
15 Mar 202718:4218:30Yes
View down from the top of the Padrão over the marble wind rose, the Praça do Império garden and the Jerónimos Monastery
The view inland from the terrace: the wind rose, the garden and Jerónimos.

What are the Jerónimos and Belém Tower hours in winter?

The same all year: Tuesday to Sunday, 9:30 to 17:30, last entry 17:00. Both close on Mondays.

The official Jerónimos and Belém Tower visitor page gives no separate winter timetable. The cloister and the tower open at 9:30 and take their last visitors at 17:00; the church is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10:30 to 17:00, and on Sundays from 14:00. The ticket kiosk in front of Jerónimos closes at 16:30. Both need a timed slot, and the tower may close in bad weather.

The practical upshot: in winter the Padrão is the last thing to close in Belém. Do Jerónimos and the tower first and finish at the monument. Our post on the reopened tower covers the new slot system.

Belém Half-Day: Jerónimos Ticket & Pastel Tasting

A winter morning sorted: the guide handles the Jerónimos ticket, you taste a pastel de Belém, and the tour stops 20 minutes at the Padrão before you climb it on your own.

★ 5.0 · 3 hours · from $71

Explore the Belém half-day with Jerónimos Tour details

What is Belém like in winter, and what should you bring?

Mild and often bright, but wet and windy on the river. Daytime highs in December and January average about 15°C.

The IPMA climate normals for Lisbon (1991 to 2020) give an average high of 14.9°C in December and 14.4°C in January, with lows of 8.7°C and 7.8°C. January averages about 10 days with 1 mm of rain or more. On the riverside, and even more on the open terrace, the wind makes it feel colder.

  • A windproof layer for the terrace, even on a sunny day.
  • Plan B for rain: the exhibition inside the Padrão and the Jerónimos cloister are under cover. The film runs on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at 11:15 and 16:00.
  • The last climb: the lift stops at the 6th floor, then 42 steps lead to the terrace, which is not wheelchair accessible. Periscopes are available at reception.

Half an hour at the Padrão with a group of eight at most, then Jerónimos and the tower on foot.

Check dates for the small-group Belém walk

How should you plan a winter afternoon in Belém?

Start at Jerónimos around midday, walk to Belém Tower for an early afternoon slot, and end at the Padrão about an hour before sunset.

A winter day in Belém is short, so let the closing times set the order. One plan that fits November to January:

  1. 12:00 Jerónimos cloister slot (book ahead), then a pastel on Rua de Belém.
  2. 14:30 Belém Tower slot, then the 12 to 15-minute riverside walk east.
  3. 16:00 The wind rose and the figures on the Padrão from the ground.
  4. 16:45 Up the Padrão for sunset; the door closes at 18:00.

On a Monday, swap the first two stops for the traditional boat cruise or a long riverside walk, and keep the Padrão. More options are in the one-day Belém itinerary.

Belém Tower glowing at dusk, its footbridge lit and the river calm in front
Belém Tower at dusk. In winter it takes its last visitors at 17:00.

Frequently asked questions

What time does the Padrão dos Descobrimentos close in winter?

From October to February it closes at 18:00, with last entry at 17:30. From 1 March it closes at 19:00, last entry 18:30.

Is the Padrão open on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve?

No. It is closed on 24, 25 and 31 December and on 1 January.

Is the Padrão dos Descobrimentos open on Mondays?

Yes, every day of the week, unlike Jerónimos and Belém Tower, which close on Mondays.

Can I see the sunset from the top of the Padrão?

From the clock change on 25 October 2026 to about late January, yes: sunset falls around 17:15 to 17:50, and the last entry is 17:30. In March it works again with the 19:00 closing.

Ready to book

Choose your tour

Free cancellation up to 24 hours before on every option. Prices are from-prices in USD and move with the season.

Belém Half-Day: Jerónimos Ticket & Pastel Tasting

Belém Half-Day: Jerónimos Ticket & Pastel Tasting

★ 5.0 · 3 hours

  • Entry ticket to the Jerónimos Monastery cloister
  • Church of Santa Maria and the tomb of Vasco da Gama
  • Original pastel de Belém tasting
From$71per personCheck dates
Belém & Jerónimos Small-Group Walk

Belém & Jerónimos Small-Group Walk

★ 4.9 · 3 hours

  • Professional guide, group of 8 at most
  • Pastéis de Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower
  • 30-minute stop at the Padrão (monument entry not included)
From$38per personCheck dates
Belém Walking Tour with Pastéis

Belém Walking Tour with Pastéis

★ 4.9 · 2 hours

Two hours of Belém history, pastéis included

From$37per personCheck dates

Plan your date before you go

A guided Belém half-day with the Jerónimos ticket and a pastel tasting included, and 20 minutes at the Padrão. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.

Check dates for the Belém half-day with Jerónimos