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Saint George's Castle can be seen from almost everywhere in the city. Its oldest parts date from the 6th century, as it was fortified by the Romans, Visigoths, and Moors. It served as a Moorish royal residence until Portugal's first king Afonso Henriques captured it in 1147 with the help of northern European crusaders on their way to the Holy Land. It was then dedicated to St. George, the patron saint of England, commemorating the Anglo-Portuguese pact dating from 1371, and became the royal palace until another one (that was destroyed in the Great Earthquake) was built in today's Comercio Square.

It is now an oasis of peace, but the just past the main castle gate and a statue of King Afonso Henriques, is a series of cannons, reminders of the castle's original purpose. What remains of the Alcaçovas Palace where medieval kings lived, is a stone building now housing a restaurant, and round the back, an excellent multimedia exhibit on Lisbon's history called Olissiponia. This show in three underground chambers (including the one where Vasco da Gama was once received by King Manuel) is named after Roman Lisbon, and uses images projected on a 3m(10ft) wall with narration offering an overview of the city's history. It includes a simulation of the 1755 earthquake that depicts, among other things, the collapse of Carmo Church and the tidal wave in Lisbon harbor, and goes through all the historical periods, from the Inquisition to Salazar's regime.

Most of the castle was destroyed over the years, especially in the Great Earthquake, but still includes a long extension of walls and 18 towers. Visitors can climb the towers and walk along the ramparts for the most breathtaking views of the city, or relax on the gardens where there are peacocks, geese and ducks strutting around. One of the castle's inner towers, the Tower of Ulysses, holds the Câmara Escura, a periscope that projects sights from around the city.