Mosteiro dos Jeronimos, Central Portugal, Portugal

4retireeVancouver 5:00 PM Dec 19, 2022

Spend a day in Belem with several attractions at the Monastery and a Coaches Museum nearby
The Jeronimos Monastery stands out in Belem on the main street. The building is a block long and has several attractions inside, each with its own entrance door and fee. All are closed on Mondays. The more popular attractions, the Cloister (5E) and the Church of Santa Maria (free), are located at one end of this building and have separate line-ups to enter. The Archaeology Museum, entrance along the main street, and the Marine Museum, entrance on the side street, are the other attractions at the Monastery. This building was paid for by the spice trade, particularly pepper. The Church, which is important for its tomb of Vasco da Gama and the royals - King Manuel and Queen Maria, was a sailors' church as they would visit the church prior to sailing to distant lands. Consequently the carvings on the exterior doors have motifs that reflect the exotic plants and animals and twisted rope the seamen would encounter. We went to visit the Church with a tour group, but our visit was limited to the exterior, because the Church was closed on a Tuesday for a function. From the Monastery, it's an easy walk to the Discoveries Monument by the riverside (use the underground pedestrian tunnel at the end of the Square, Jardim de Praca) or to the coffee shop/bakery called, Pasteis de Belem, to line-up to buy a custard tart. McDonald's is located in the park across the road. A block further down is the new Coaches Museum with 100 coaches used by royals which I would like to visit on my next stay in Lisbon. The Palace of Ajuda and its Treasury Museum are a short bus ride up the hill. There are a lot of attractions in Belem and nearby. One could easily spend a day in Belem.

4Tiffany B 5:00 PM Mar 2, 2023

worth the wait
I'd recommend buying a ticket via an app ahead of time, otherwise, you can go into the Archaeological Museum to buy a ticket. (We bought via an app for sake of ease.) Please just make sure you have a ticket! Don't queue for 2 hours only to get to the front to not have a ticket. I personally would not queue for more than an hour to visit the monastery, especially if weather conditions are not ideal (heat, rain, etc.). I think the church is more beautiful and impressive than the monastery BUT the monastery is also beautiful and impressive. If you have to choose one to see and don't want to wait in line, then see the church (free entry). If you have time to kill and can stand in line for 1-2 hours, then see the monastery and then get in line to see the church.