How to Skip the Line at Pastéis de Belém
The long line on the pavement is for takeaway. Walk past it and go inside: the sit-down rooms are huge, and you'll often get a table faster than you'd get a box to go. For the shortest wait, come at opening (8 am) or in the evening, and avoid the late-morning and mid-afternoon rush after visitors leave Jerónimos.
- The hack
- Skip the takeaway queue and sit inside
- Wait (takeaway)
- Often 20-40 minutes at peak times
- Wait (sit down)
- Often shorter, though service can be slow
- Hours
- Daily from 8 am until late evening
- Best time
- 8 am, or evening
- Busiest
- Late morning to mid-afternoon, weekends and summer
- Next door
- Jerónimos Monastery
How long is the queue at Pastéis de Belém?
Pastéis de Belém has been baking its custard tarts to a secret recipe since 1837, and it's one of Lisbon's most famous stops. The takeaway queue on Rua de Belém can take 20-40 minutes at busy times. Inside, a maze of tiled rooms seats hundreds of people, and the table turnover is fast.
Before you go, check how busy Pastéis de Belém is likely to be. BeatTheCrowd shows the live crowd level and an hourly forecast for any date, adjusted for Portuguese holidays, school breaks and weather.
Check today’s crowds at Pastéis de Belém →Best (and worst) times to go
- At 8 am opening: warm tarts and almost no queue.
- Evening: the day-trippers have gone back to central Lisbon.
- Worst: late morning to mid-afternoon, especially after Jerónimos opens.
- Mondays: Jerónimos and Belém Tower are closed, so Belém is a little quieter, but the café is open.
Our hourly forecast for Pastéis de Belém shows how busy each hour is expected to be on your date.
Check today’s crowds at Pastéis de Belém →