Santa Justa Elevator

Santa Justa Elevator showing heritage architecture and a city
Ride the elevator designed in the 19th century to connect the districts of hilltop Bairro Alto and downtown Baixa. Enjoy views from the café atop the gothic lift.

The Santa Justa Elevator connects the hilltop neighbourhood Bairro Alto with downtown Baixa. The gothic, iron structure rises up from the neoclassical architecture of downtown. The elevator has been in operation since 1905 and was originally operated by a steam engine. Today it’s powered by an electric engine and is a great way to enjoy views over the city. Visit the elevator’s rooftop café.

This famous elevator is also known as the Carmo Lift, as it connects with Carmo Square and the ruins of Carmo Church at the top. The elegant structure was designed by the apprentice of Gustave Eiffel, the architect of the Eiffel Tower in Paris. The Santa Justa Elevator bears some similarity to the French icon in its appearance. It is particularly beautiful when lit up at night. 

As you travel the 147 feet (45 metres) to the top, there’s plenty of time to admire the views of the city. Examine the historic wood paneling and mirrors of the two counterbalancing lift cages. 

Once you reach the station at the top, take the ornate spiral staircase up to the rooftop for views over the River Tagus. Admire the fountains and neoclassical buildings of Pedro IV Square from above.

The elevator’s restaurant is located at the Bairro Alto entrance to the lift and serves food, coffee and cake from lunchtime every day. Between midnight and 2 a.m. the restaurant becomes a bar, where you can enjoy live music and cocktails with picturesque views of the city and the Carmo Monastery lit up. 

The Santa Justa Elevator is open from early morning until evening. Use a valid metro ticket to ride or purchase an admission ticket from either station at the elevator. There can be lines for the lift in summer. If you don’t want to wait, take the staircase that leads up the hill. 

Reviews of Santa Justa Elevator

4
Top destination
5 - Excellent
185
" "5 - Excellent 25.73018080667594%
4 - Good
370
" "4 - Good 51.46036161335188%
3 - Okay
132
" "3 - Okay 18.358831710709318%
2 - Disappointing
23
" "2 - Disappointing 3.198887343532684%
1 - Terrible
9
" "1 - Terrible 1.2517385257301807%

4/5 - Good

Verified traveller
21 Feb 2020

Great city views, worth visiting but you can avoid the queues and charge by using a hidden lift which is free within a gift shop opposite.

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
10 Feb 2020

Rather than wait in line and pay at the bottom to get up there, there is a restaurant (Bellalisa Elevador Restaurante) situated in a higher street where you have a similar view one level down from the top for FREE - or you can pay on this level to go up one floor to the top with none of the tourist queues

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
2 Jan 2020

Huge queues

5/5 - Excellent

Verified traveller
15 Nov 2019

Public transport day ticket 6.5 euro) also gets you access to the elevator/funiculars etc.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
3 Nov 2019

Queues very long even out of season.

3/5 - Okay

Verified traveller
3 Nov 2019

Instead of the major queues for lift go to the shop across the road which has a free lift up to the ruined cathedral and a beautiful rooftop bar (Topo) . From here you can access the walkway to the lift above the street and go to the lower lift levels. No queues at all and totally free

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