Towering over the southern bank of the Rio Tejo, with arms outstretched toward Lisbon, the Cristo Rei is one of those landmarks you simply cannot miss. The Christ stands on the cliffs in the municipality of Almada at about 133 metres above the river. The monument itself reaches roughly 110 metres in total height. The Cristo Rei is Iberia’s third most visited pilgrimage site after Santiago de Compostela and Fatima, and a beautiful place to visit regardless of your faith.
The idea for Cristo Rei was born in 1934, when the Cardinal-Patriarch of Lisbon visited the famous statue in Rio de Janeiro and felt inspired to create a similar monument in Portugal. Then, in 1940, during a meeting of the Portuguese bishops in Fátima, the church pledged to build a monument dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus — as a plea to God that Portugal be spared the horrors of the war then sweeping Europe. After the war ended, the vow was kept — the monument became a symbol of thanksgiving and faith for having been spared.
Today, visitors can enjoy sweeping panoramic views of Lisbon, the river, and the 25 de Abril Bridge from the observation deck near the top, as well as from the terrace at the foot of the monument. The observation deck is definitely one of the best “balconies” you can find to take in the beauty of Lisbon!
Getting There
Getting to the Santuario de Cristo Rei from Lisbon is quite easy. This is one of the cases where the journey is as beautiful as the destination!
From Lisbon, you start the trip at Cais de Sodré’s Terminal Fluvial. You can easily reach Cais de Sodré from anywhere in Lisbon. At the Terminal Fluvial, buy a ticket (or use your Navegante card) for the ferry that goes to Cacilhas. The ferry ride is about 15 minutes long, and what it lacks in length, it exceedes in scenic beauty.
Once you arrive in Cacilhas, simply follow the waterfront path all the way to the Ponto Final restaurant. After the restaurant, turn left and follow the rainbow steps up the hillside. We enjoyed the climb, but those who are not used to walking uphill or up stairs might find it more challenging.
Once you reach the top of the stairs after the Ponto Final, you can just follow the signs for Cristo Rei. We did that on the way there, and then took the Google Maps route on the way back. Check out this map for walking directions to the sanctuary from the ferry and back.
There is a bus that runs from the ferry terminal up to the Sanctuary every 20-30 minutes. The bus stops right outside the sanctuary. We didn’t take it because the walk looked beautiful and we wanted to explore a bit more.
At The Sanctuary
Once you reach the Sanctuary complex, use one of the machines to buy tickets to the “Observation Deck.” Tickets cost 8 Euros for adults. Visit the sanctuary’s website to see the most updated ticket prices and opening hours. After buying tickets, follow the signs to the entrance and wait for the elevator to take you up. The elevator only takes you most of the way up, and you need to go up some narrow stairs (think of going up a tower) for the final climb to the observation deck. The views from up there will blow you away! Honestly, seeing the statue of the Christ from that close was super impressive too!
When you are ready to go back down, follow the exit stairs, go through the gift shop, and wait for the next elevator down. If you have time, visit the Capela dos Confidentes do Coração de Jesus right by the elevator while you wait. There are 4 ancient relics displayed inside the chapel that belonged to four saints devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Once you go back down, you can also visit the Capelo do Santíssimo. The Capela do Santíssimo is a peaceful chapel inside the monument’s base, where you can still attend mass. Renovated in 2006, it features a bronze sacrarium, contemplative artwork, and a quiet, prayerful atmosphere — offering visitors a calm spiritual space beneath the towering statue above.
Finally, you can’t miss the terrace overlooking the Tejo River, Lisbon, Amadora, and beyond. This is a great option if you don’t feel like paying the 8 Euros to visit the observation deck, or if you are not able to climb the final steps at the top.
Where To Eat
If you are looking for places to eat while on this little excursion, there are plenty of available options to choose from! The most popular place to grab food on this route is the Ponte Final Restaurant, which has been prominently featured on social media lately due to its view of the 15 de Abril Bridge. Sadly for us, this restaurant wasn’t open when we walked past it on our way back to the ferry (it opens at 12:30).
On the way to the sanctuary, we stopped at a local cafe/bar for a coffee and a pastel the nata. There are plenty of places along the way-especially while walking through town-where you can stop for a snack.
We ended up grabbing lunch at Restaurante Farol de Cacilhas next to the ferry. The restaurant serves traditional Portuguese food, and a good variety of seafood for affordable prices. Also, if you arrive early (which we did), you’ll be seated by the window overlooking the water.
Final Thoughts
Overall, this was a super fun outing to do really close to home for us. I think this would be fun to do if you have an extra day in Lisbon, or if you are looking for something unique and off-the-beaten path to do here. Moreover, if you enjoy walking as a way to see a place, I think you’d love this side trip. Walking by the water taking in the views was very nice, and there were hardly any people there mid-morning on a Friday. If possible, I would try to time the whole outing to be walking back by the Ponto Final Restaurant around 12:30-1pm to get a table without much wait. At least that’s what we are planning to do next time we go there.
To learn more about our adventures in Portugal, visit this page. For all of our other travels, visit this page.
