Carmo Convent Guide (2026): Ruins, Mummies & Ticket Prices

TLDR: Carmo Convent (Convento do Carmo) is Lisbon's most famous earthquake ruin, now housing the Carmo Archaeological Museum. It is famous for its roofless nave, medieval tombs, and two Peruvian mummies. Tickets cost €7 (free for kids <14), and it is closed on Sundays.

Standing roofless against the sky, the Carmo Convent is the most powerful visible reminder of the 1755 Great Lisbon Earthquake. Once the largest church in Lisbon, today it serves as a stunning open-air memorial and houses a fascinating archaeological museum.

This guide covers the 2026 entrance fees, the strange artifacts hidden inside (including mummies!), and the secret walkway to the Santa Justa Lift.

What is the story behind Carmo Convent?

Carmo Convent was founded in 1389 by the military hero Nuno Álvares Pereira. The Gothic church collapsed in the 1755 earthquake and fires, leaving the nave roofless.

Rather than rebuild, Lisbon kept the ruins as a visible memory of the disaster. In 1864 the Association of Portuguese Archaeologists installed the Carmo Archaeological Museum inside the site, which is what you visit today.

What happened to the Carmo Convent?

The 1755 quake struck during morning mass, bringing down vaults and the stone roof. Subsequent fires gutted the library and much of the complex. Reconstruction after the quake prioritized Baixa, so the church remained a ruin and, eventually, a museum.

Today you walk beneath pointed arches open to the sky, then through small galleries with stones, inscriptions, and surprising artifacts.

Can you go inside Carmo Convent?

Yes. Your ticket grants access to the roofless church and the museum rooms. Expect a compact, well curated collection set around a cloister and chapels. The site is wheelchair accessible, photography is allowed without flash, and there is staff on hand for brief guided visits.

I usually start in the nave for light and scale, then circle through the galleries for details.

Helpful notes:

• Entrance on Largo do Carmo, Baixa-Chiado metro nearby
• Museum inside the ruins, with rotating displays
• Free Wi-Fi, no flash or tripods, suitcases discouraged

What to see inside the Carmo Convent Museum?

You should really take your time and enter the Carmo Convent ruins, as the museum highlights are:

• The Roofless Nave: The iconic open-air arches perfect for photography.
• The Mummies: Two pre-Columbian mummies from Peru, famously displayed in the library section.
• King Ferdinand I’s Tomb: An intricate Gothic masterpiece.
• The Manueline Window: A preserved example of Portugal's unique 16th-century architectural style.
• Azulejos: Panels of historic blue-and-white tiles depicting the Passion of Christ.

How long to spend at Carmo Convent?

Most visits take 30 to 45 minutes, depending on how closely you read labels. If crowds swell, allow extra time for photos in the nave.

I time my stop before or after the Santa Justa walkway so I can enjoy the terrace and the view as a single sequence. On rainy days the open nave still works, since the galleries provide shelter.

Local secrets:

• The Hack: You do not need to pay for the Santa Justa Lift to see the view. Walk around the right side of the Convent to find a gated path leading directly to the lift's top bridge.
• The Cost: Accessing this bridge is often free (or sometimes a small €1.50 viewpoint fee), saving you the €5.30 lift ticket and the hour-long queue from the street below.
  

Why doesn't the Church of Carmo Convent in Lisbon have a roof?

The stone vaults collapsed in 1755 and were never rebuilt. The decision, influenced by cost and symbolism, left Lisbon with a rare ruin right in the historic center.

The result is a powerful memorial, where Gothic arches frame the sky and tell the city’s seismic story in one glance. It also explains why the site feels both sacred and raw.

What event should you experience at the Carmo Convent ruins?

During spring and summer evenings, the ruins often host Lisbon Under Stars, an immersive light-projection show that turns the walls of the church into a 360-degree canvas telling the history of Portugal.

Tickets for this are sold separately from day admission.

What are the Carmo Convent tickets prices?

Tickets are sold on site, with discounts for students, seniors, Portuguese residents, and Lisboa Card holders. Adults pay a modest fee.

• Adults: €7.00
• Students/Seniors (65+): €5.00
• Children (0-14): Free
• Lisboa Card: ~20% Discount (€5.60)

What are the Carmo Convent hours of opening?

Hours run Monday to Saturday, 10:00 to 18:00 in winter and 10:00 to 19:00 in summer, with last entry about twenty minutes before closing. The museum is closed on Sundays and major holidays.

• Opening Hours: Monday – Saturday, 10:00 – 19:00 (May–Oct) or 10:00 – 18:00 (Nov–Apr).
• Important: The Convent is CLOSED on Sundays, Christmas Day, New Year's Day, and May 1st.

Is it worth seeing Carmo Convent?

Yes, if you value atmosphere and history. The museum is small and can feel brief if you want blockbuster galleries, but the nave is striking and the story is essential to understanding Lisbon.

I treat it as a high quality stop between Baixa and Chiado. If time is tight, choose Carmo over a second viewpoint and keep your route efficient.

What else is nearby Carmo Convent?

After you have experienced the Carmo Convent, you should really check out these other highlights in Lisbon:

• Elevador de Santa Justa, iron tower whose upper platform links to the Carmo terrace
• Igreja de São Roque, an unassuming facade with ornate chapels inside
• Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara, a classic garden terrace with castle views
• Praça do Rossio, a lively square of wave patterned stone and theatres