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The best independent guide to Lisbon
LisbonLisboaPortugal.com
The best independent guide to Lisbon
Cristo Rei, the Christ Statue of Lisbon
The Cristo Rei statue towers above the southern banks of the Tejo Estuary, with its arms outstretched in eternal blessing of Lisbon. This 28-metre Christ stands atop a 75-metre pedestal on Almada's highest hill, and its serene figure is visible from almost every corner of Lisbon.
Inspired by Rio de Janeiro's Christ the Redeemer, Portuguese church leaders envisioned their own monument of thanksgiving for the country's escape from the horrors of World War Two. Construction began in 1950 during a deeply religious period of Portuguese history, and when Cristo Rei was finally consecrated in 1959, it instantly became a major pilgrimage destination.
The Christ statue stands at the top of a 75m tower, and the hill it was constructed on, is the highest point of the region
Today it remains both a religious center and one of Lisbon's most popular viewpoints. Most visitors come for the panoramic views from the top of the 80-metre observation deck. The perspective is stunning, with the entire city laid out below and the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge stretching across the Tejo Estuary.
The journey to Cristo Rei makes for an enjoyable half-day excursion and provides the perfect excuse to cross to the southern side of the estuary. Getting there is surprisingly easy, a scenic ferry ride from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas, followed by a short bus journey up the hill.
This guide will help you make the most of your visit to one of Lisbon's most impressive monuments.
Related articles: Cacilhas guide
A tourist boat passing in front of the Cristo Rei statue
Tourist guide to the Cristo Rei, Lisbon
The Cristo Rei monument is set within a sprawling complex of pilgrimage buildings and gardens, which overlook the Tejo Estuary and the suspension bridge. These grounds are free to visit, and due to their large size, never get too crowded with tourists.
Insight: The views from the cliff tops are just as good as from the top of the monument and are better for selfie/portrait photos with the bridge, estuary or the city in the background. The viewing platform at the top of the monument has a high safety fence that can obstruct photos, while the cliff edge offers uninterrupted views.
Some of the best views of the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge are from the viewpoint at the top of the cliffs.
The Cristo Rei complex, cliff top walk, and the Chapel of Our Lady of Peace are all free to visit. The only admission fee is for the viewing platform at the top of the pedestal. Tickets cost €8.00 (13+), €3.00 for children aged 8-12, and free for children under 8.
Once you've purchased tickets, an internal express elevator whisks visitors up the 75m to the top of the pedestal. On exiting the lift, visitors are greeted with a surprisingly large religious gift shop, and it is a further flight of spiral stairs to the viewpoint.
This final set of stairs is narrow and steep, making it inaccessible if you have limited mobility.
Once at the top, the view is simply breath-taking. On a clear day, the high vantage point makes it possible to see the Serra de Sintra hills 24km to the north-west and the Serra de Arrábida 27km to the south.
The Cristo Rei monument is open every day from 10am to 7pm (April to September) or 10am to 6pm (October to March). Last access is 20 minutes before closing.
At the base of the monument is the Chapel of Our Lady of Peace, where masses are held in Portuguese. Mass times are weekdays at 5pm, Saturdays at 12pm and 5pm, and Sundays at 11:30am and 5pm.
For refreshments, the site has the Cerger Cafeteria that serves basic meals, snacks and drinks. Peak times can be busy, and reviews are mixed. Menu details and reviews can be seen on Google Maps https://maps.app.goo.gl/iHvcuRMahYKGpj329
There is a large free car park at the site, making it easy for those driving from Lisbon or elsewhere.
Insight: One of the curiosities of the gardens is the constant low buzzing sound. This originates from the traffic crossing the mesh surface of the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge.
Cristo Rei is a popular and important pilgrimage destination, for details about organising a large group pilgrimage here, please see their webpage :cristorei.pt/
How about a small group tour?
One of the best ways to discover Lisbon and meet fellow travellers is to join a guided tour. We have worked with Getyourguide.com for the last six years, and some of their best tours of Lisbon include:
Travel to the Christ Statue of Lisbon
The best way to reach Cristo Rei from Lisbon is by ferry and bus. Take the ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas, then catch the 3001 bus for the final 3km to the monument.
An Uber or Bolt will get you there faster, costing around €12 for up to 4 people. However, heavy traffic around the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge can significantly increase the fare.
For a half-day trip, the ferry route is highly recommended. The journey is part of the experience, you will cross the scenic Tejo Estuary and arrive in Cacilhas, a traditional town famous for its affordable seafood restaurants.
The orange ferries that connect Lisbon to Cacilhas
The Ferry Journey
The ferry from Cais do Sodré to Cacilhas takes 15 minutes and offers wonderful views of the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge. Cais do Sodré ferry terminal connects to the green metro line (final stop) and sits just a short walk from the Baixa district.
A single ferry ticket costs €1.55 and is loaded onto a Navegante card, which works across Lisbon's entire public transport network. Ferries depart approximately three times per hour, with increased frequency during rush hours. Check the latest timetable on the Transtejo e Soflusa (TTSL) website: ttsl.pt
Note: The riverside footpath from Cacilhas to the Boca do Vento lift and Ponto Final restaurant is currently closed. The old warehouses have become unsafe and the rejuvenation of the waterfront may begin soon.
The Bus Journey
In Cacilhas, the ferry terminal connects directly to the bus station where the 3001 bus route to Cristo Rei departs from.
This route runs directly to Cristo Rei's base, and there are departures every 30 minutes during the summer and hourly in winter. For current timetables, check the Carris Metropolitana website:
www.
The 20-minute journey winds through Almada's residential streets before climbing steadily to the statue. Tickets cost €1.25 and must be purchased in cash from the driver. Alternatively, you can use a prepaid Navegante card for just €0.85 per journey if you've loaded it with credit beforehand.
While waiting for your bus, consider visiting the magnificent Dom Fernando II e Glória, Portugal's last sail-powered ship. This beautifully restored vessel sits in the docks next to the bus station.
3001 bus waiting at the Cristo Rei bus stop, the building to the rear is the Pavilhão Multiusos do Rosário
The bus stop for the 3001 bus in Cacilhas bus station
The lovingly restored Dom Fernando II e Glória; Portugal's last sailing warship which was launched in 1843
History of Cristo-Rei Lisbon
The Cristo Rei statue was conceived during one of the most turbulent periods in European history. Portugal had miraculously avoided the devastation of World War Two, and the country's deeply religious population wanted to express their gratitude.
The inspiration came in 1934 when Lisbon's Cardinal Patriarch visited Rio de Janeiro. He was so moved by Brazil's Christ the Redeemer that he dreamed of creating a similar monument for Portugal.
However, the project had to wait for over a decade until the late 1940s before the church secured funding for this ambitious vision. The timing coincided with António de Salazar's nationalistic dictatorship, which embraced religious monuments as symbols of Portuguese identity.
Construction finally began in 1950. For nine years, workers laboured to create this massive structure. The 28-meter Christ statue was mounted on a 75-meter reinforced concrete pedestal, placing it on Almada's highest point at 133 meters above sea level.
On May 17, 1959, thousands gathered for the inauguration. Though the monument stands in the diocese of Setúbal, it was Lisbon's Catholic Church that funded the entire project. Their investment created not just a religious monument, but one of Portugal's most recognisable landmarks.
Cristo-Rei Statue for limited mobility
Most of Cristo Rei is accessible to visitors with limited mobility. The complex sits on a flat summit with gravel paths connecting all the main areas, gardens, and buildings.
The only limitation is the viewing platform itself. While the elevator takes you most of the way up, the final section requires climbing narrow spiral stairs with no accessibility lift. However, this shouldn't discourage anyone from visiting. The views from the cliff-top gardens are equally spectacular and completely accessible. You'll get the same breathtaking panorama of Lisbon and the bridge without any barriers.
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If you've found our content valuable, we'd welcome your support.
The digital publishing landscape has evolved significantly. As a small independent publisher, we face growing challenges. Search engines increasingly favour paid content over organic results, while AI-generated content often reproduces original work without attribution.
To support our work, please consider bookmarking this page (press Ctrl + D) for quick access. If you find an article helpful, we'd be grateful if you'd share it with friends on social media.
For specific questions, please see our Reddit community at r/LisbonPortugalTravel.
Should you notice any outdated or incorrect information, please contact us at [email protected]
Thank you for helping us continue to provide valuable content in an increasingly challenging digital environment.