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An adventurous journey on the Santa Justa Lift in Lisbon
A ride on the Santa Justa Lift is fantastic when visiting Lisbon in Portugal! The elevator travels from the Baixa district to the higher Largo do Carmo and Bairro Alto area. From the observation deck, you have incredible views of Lisbon! You can see Castelo de São Jorge in the distance, the downtown Baixa Pombalina district, and the Tagus River.
But what else makes Elevador de Santa Justa so unique? And what else is there to see and do nearby? Let’s take a ride with the famous Santa Justa Elevator!
Overview of your Santa Justa Lift Experience
The easy way up with the Santa Justa Elevator
In the middle of Lisbon’s city centre, you’ll discover a unique structure. It’s the 45-meter-tall Santa Justa Elevator from the 19th century! As you might know, Lisbon is built on seven hills. Walking up and down those hills all day can be challenging, and there are several shortcuts to find. The Santa Justa Lift is one of them!
The Santa Justa Lift, or Elevador de Santa Justa, became a much-needed structure as part of the public transport system in Lisbon. Nowadays, it’s more like a tourist attraction, and you will probably not spot any locals taking the lift up. The Santa Justa Elevator rides between the lower streets of Rua do Ouro in the Baixa (low) district and Largo do Carmo. It’s a ride well worth taking!
The Carmo Lift structure
The cast iron elevator may remind you of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. You’ll spot gorgeous neo-gothic details and arches, and the wooden lift brings you up glamorously! You’ll notice the elegantly decorated interior with brass and wood inside the elevator.
The construction of the Santa Justa Elevator started in 1900 and was designed by Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard. Gustave Eiffel inspired him, so you can see where the resemblance to the Eiffel Tower comes from!
The builders even used some of the same techniques. Other structures designed by Mesnier de Ponsard are Elevador de Glória, Elevador da Nazaré, Elevador do Bom Jesus in Braga, and Funicular dos Guindais in Porto.
The elevator opened to the public on July 10th, 1902, but King Carlos I had already inaugurated the tower and the walkway in August 1901. On that first day, 3,000 tickets had already been sold! After only six months, the lift was used by 500.000 people. Back in those days, it was originally powered by steam.
The steam engine was replaced by an electric motor in 1907. The Santa Justa Elevator has been a national monument since 2002. The three remaining cable railways, Lavra, Glória, and Bica, were declared national monuments in the same year.
Insanely long queues at the Santa Justa Lift
Unfortunately, due to its popularity, the queue can be long! You’re better off trying to arrive here early or later in the day to avoid a long waiting time. It can take anywhere from 45 minutes to two hours in summer.
Elevador de Santa Justa is part of the public transport system and runs by schedule. Every 10 minutes or so, a full lift will go up to Largo do Carmo. The elevator has two cabins with space for only 29 people, so the queue can be extensive. You can take the Carmo Lift down or visit some sights on this Lisbon hill.
Tip!
You may want to skip riding the Santa Just Lift but still go to the Bairro Alto district. Then, the easiest way is to take the escalators inside the Baixa-Chiado station. Discover the best routes! There are many ways to discover the Lisbon hills.
The viewing platform
You reach the viewing platform after taking the Elevador de Santa Justa or walking up. In the front, there are two spiral staircases. The spiral staircase is usually closed to the public.
From the top floor, you will enjoy panoramic views of many neighbourhoods in Lisbon. You can see the Baixa district below, the Carmo Church, Lisbon Castle on the other hill, and the river Tagus.
Santa Justa Elevator Tickets
Santa Justa is part of the Carris’ public transport network. The most expensive Santa Justa Lift price is buying a ticket at the elevator’s entrance. The Santa Justa Lift tickets are currently €6,10 for a return ticket (2025 prices). You can pay for this just before entering the elevator.
You can also use Zapping, which will be considerably cheaper. With Zapping, you can add money to your pre-paid Navegante Occasional Card and travel at a discounted price. The Viagem Card costs only € 0,50, and you can add travel credit between € 3,00 and € 40,00. You can buy Viagem Cards at the metro stations. The price for riding the Santa Justa Elevator will be reduced to € 1,66.
Another option is the 24-hour ticket for a full day of Lisbon travel (including Tram 28!). The price for a day ticket is currently € 7,00. If you plan on using public transport a lot that day, this will be the cheapest option. You can’t buy a 24-hour ticket at the elevator, but they’ll be available at most metro stations. The closest station is Baixa-Chiado, around the corner, or at Rossio.
Free options for Elevador de Santa Justa
The Lisboa Card, which includes a 24-hour public transport ticket, makes your ride free. It also provides free access to many monuments, museums, and famous Lisbon sights, such as the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, the National Pantheon, and the Ajuda National Palace.
🎟️ Get Your Lisboa Card Today and Enjoy many Discounts and Free Attractions
So, although the Lisbon Card is paid for, many monuments and landmarks are included in this ticket. On top of that, you’ll receive many discounts on other Lisbon attractions.
If you want to skip a ride on the Santa Justa Elevator, you can access the viewpoint for FREE. Simply enter the viewing platform from the upper area next to the Carmo Convent. Click here for the location on Google Maps.
After taking amazing pictures from the Santa Justa Lift from the ground level, you can walk past the queue towards Rua do Carmo. Turn left, and turn right onto Rua Garrett. Take another right turn onto Calçada do Sacramento until you reach the Carmo Convent.
Once there, you can take another right turn to reach the stunning viewpoint. Before Calçada do Sacramento, there is also an alley. This will also take you to the top of the Santa Justa Lift, but by stairs.
Opening times Elevador de Santa Justa Lisbon
The Santa Justa Lift hours run from 7:30 AM until 11 PM and until 9 PM in the winter.
How do you get to the Santa Justa Lift in Lisbon?
The famous landmark is on Rua de Santa Justa, Lisbon, and it’s straightforward to find. If you travel by public transport, go to the metro stations Baixa Chiado (blue and green line, and the closest), Restauradores (blue line), or Rossio (green line). Exit the metro station and walk towards Rua de Santa Justa. The waiting line often starts on Rua do Carmo or Rua do Ouro.
Nearby sightseeing spots
Several other beautiful places are around the Carmo Lift. Rossio Square is only 200 meters down the street, and once you make it up to Largo do Carmo, you can see the ruins of the Carmo Convent. The haunting ruins of the Carmo church are worth visiting if you like history. The ruined convent was never rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake.
You might also like to stop at the terrace to order a pastel de bacalhau and a drink. The codfish cake is filled with Queijo da Serra DOP from Serra da Estrela! This is the highest mountain range in mainland Portugal and adds to the authentic flavour. It goes very well with a refreshing glass of Port Wine.
In both downtown Lisbon and Bairro Alto, there are many more spots to see. A famous tourist attraction, for example, is the Arco da Rua Augusta. Did you know you can climb to the top? Rua Augusta is the main shopping street, and Praça do Comércio is well worth visiting. In Bairro Alto, visiting the Bica funicular is a must. And make your way to Miradouro de Santa Catarina for a stunning sunset over the city!
FAQ
Is the Santa Justa Lift worth it?
It depends. There can be a very long queue (a 1-2 hour wait is typical in summer), and you might want to spend your time elsewhere. If there is no line, it’s excellent! Come early in the day or later in the afternoon and evening to avoid crowds. The view from the observation deck is definitely worth it!
When is the Santa Just Lift open?
Elevador de Santa Justa runs from 7:30 AM until 11 PM and until 9 PM in the winter.
How much is the Santa Justa lift?
A ride in the Elevador de Santa Justa costs €6,10 for a return ticket in 2024. Walking to Largo do Carmo, you can reach the observation deck for free. If you have the Lisbon Card, a ride on the elevator is included in your ticket. If you use public transport tickets, the price varies between € 1,66 (single ride) and € 7,00 (24-hour ticket).
What do you see on the top of the Santa Justa Lift?
After walking up or taking the lift to the Elevador de Santa Justa observation deck, you’ll enjoy an incredible view over Lisbon. There is a spiral staircase and stunning neo-gothic-style designs, and you can visit the Carmo Church.
Did Gustave Eiffel build the Santa Justa Lift?
No. When you see Elevador de Santa Justa Lisbon, it might really remind you of the Eiffel Tower. And the Eiffel Tower fame is no surprise. Designer Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard was inspired by Eiffel, and similar methods were used during the construction of the elevator.
Is the Santa Justa Lift free?
No, the entrance ticket for riding the elevator is €6,10 for a return journey. You can walk to the viewpoint on the top of the lift without charge! The Santa Justa Elevator is free when you have the Lisboa Card.
Conclusion
While the queue might be extended for the tourist attraction, visiting the Santa Justa Lift is well worth it. Even if you walk around the Lisbon elevator to admire the beautiful designs and arches. Elevador de Santa Justa is in central Lisbon and travels between Baixa and Bairro Alto. A steam engine was initially powered by a steam engine, but it has been electric since 1907. If you want to ride the elevator, the queue might be shorter before 11 AM and after 4 PM.
Save money with the Lisboa Card, or prepare ahead and purchase a Navegante Occasional travel card. From the top, you’ll enjoy fantastic views over Lisbon. Afterwards, you can discover the Bairro Alto district or visit the Carmo Convent. I hope this travel guide was helpful so you can decide whether to ride the elevator (or not) during your holiday in Portugal.
More must-see places in Lisbon, Portugal
- Incredible views and things to see at Castelo de São Jorge!
- 10 beautiful sights not to miss in Alfama Lisbon
- Discover the view over Lisbon from the top of Arco da Rua
- An adventurous journey on the Santa Justa Lift in Lisbon
- The magnificent Jerónimos Monastery in Belém
- Inside Torre de Belém, a UNESCO masterpiece in Lisbon
- Inside the stunning Lisbon Cathedral, the oldest cathedral in the city
- Inside the National Pantheon in Lisbon and views from the top
- Oceanarium in Lisbon Guide; how to get there, tickets, and incredible species
- Discover the ruins of the Carmo Convent in Lisbon
- The colourful walls of São Vicente de Fora Monastery
- First time in Lisbon: 25 best attractions + travel tips
- LX Factory Lisbon: Creative hub, shops, offices, street art and restaurants
- Fun itinerary for 2 days in Lisbon, Portugal
- 33 incredible and easy day trips from Lisbon
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