An Introduction to Lisbon - Walking Tour
1 Review
5.00 out of 5 stars Based on 1 reviews collected by City Boat Tours and TripAdvisor
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Recommended by 100% of reviewers
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Lisbon, Portugal
4 to 5 hours (approx.)
Mobile ticket
Overview
We will give you an educated, fun, professional, multi-approach, eye-opening, tour of downtown Lisbon (or Old Lisbon). You will learn A LOT about Lisbon, Portugal, and the Portuguese. Our approach mixes History and Culture with current affairs, current social and lifestyle issues, gastronomy, and so on. We will also give you many recommendations and suggestions for the rest of your stay in Lisbon and Portugal in general. Have a look at our itinerary to have a more precise idea of what you will be seeing on this tour.
What's Included
- Guiding Services and all the info and recommendations you need for the rest of your stay.
- Snacks No food or drink are included in the price however there will be MANY opportunities and places where to eat/drink along the way. We can recommend.
- Private transportation
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup point
Terminal de Cruzeiros de lisboa
Show on Google Maps
Show on Google Maps
Pickup details
For an extra charge to be paid to the guide (contact us for quote) we can pick up/drop off from/to any hotel or apartment in Central Lisbon to take you to the starting point of the tour. Since this is a walking tour the pickup maybe by UBER or Tuk-Tuk. For other locations in Greater Lisbon please contact us before booking.
OR
Meeting point
Cais do Sodré
1200 Lisboa, Portugal
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.
Detailed check-in instructions, including the exact address, are provided with your booking confirmation.
What To Expect
Bairro Alto, Bica & Cais do Sodre (Pass By)
When Lisbon's Bica and Bairro Alto districts close at around two in the morning, people flock to "Pink Street' (Rua Cor-de-Rosa), two pink-surfaced blocks running beneath Rua do Alecrim. In the heart of Cais do Sodré, the street teems with a diverse mix of hipsters, retro, graffiters, emos, alternatives, a little of everything. Conversations trail into the night, punctuated by a cocktail or beer, until the crowd moves on to any of the many area nightclubs. Most of the area appears trashy and forgotten but clubbing here remains an important right of passage for the young, especially since the opening of the Musicbox and Pensão Amor. At one time, this was the heart of our multi-cultural city, where the magnificent open square along the river welcomed sailors from around the world. Several bars recall those days as they kept names taken from foreign cities: Jamaica, Tokyo, Liverpool and so on. Yet everything changes during the day. Thousands of people throng the riverside, arriving via train and ferry, dashing to the metro or busses, everything moving to the beat of a pendulum. Because it's an excellent transportation hub, business is being attracted back to the area. An example is the new Central Station, repurposing former postal service space into an entrepreneurial center. The revived waterfront connects Cais de Sodré to the central Praça do Comércio via a pedestrian walk way.
Chiado & Carmo (Pass By)
Chiado is Lisbon's most elegant and trendiest neighborhood. It is where everyone meets for coffee, shopping, or before dinner and a night out in neighboring Bairro Alto. Most of the buildings are from the 1700s, although many were restored in the 1990s by architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, after their destruction by a devastating fire in 1988. It's a neighborhood that flashes back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries, the "Belle Époque" when writers such as Fernando Pessoa and Eça de Queiroz used to write at the now-historic cafés. It's also the neighborhood of theaters, of charming old bookshops and major international brands, giving it a lively cosmopolitan ambience at any time of the day. (from lisbonlux.com)
The Carmo Convent at the time of the earthquake was the largest church in Lisbon, but today the roofless nave open to the sky is all that remains of the arches and rubble that caved in on the congregation as they were attending mass. In what used to be the main altar is now a small archaeological museum with an eclectic collection of tombs (the largest one is of King Ferdinand I), statuary, ceramics, and mosaics. Among the more ancient finds is a remnant from a Visigothic pillar and a Roman tomb carved with reliefs depicting the Muses. Other noteworthy pieces include shrunken heads, South American mummies, a jasper sculpture of the Virgin Mary, ancient tombstones, Visigothic artifacts, and coins dating back to the 13th century.
At the entrance of the museum is a stone engraved with gothic lettering, informing visitors that Pope Clement VII granted 40 days of indulgence to "any faithful Christian" that visits this church.
Baixa, Rossio & Restauradores (Pass By)
The Baixa district is the heart of Lisbon and comprises of magnificent plazas, wide avenues and grand Pombaline architecture. The district is popular with tourists, as contained within Baixa are many of Lisbon’s major tourist attractions, along with a huge variety of restaurants and outstanding hotels.
Baixa has not always been so magnificent, on the 11th November 1755, one of the world’s strongest recorded earthquakes devastated the district and, along with the massive tsunami, killed thousands. The rebuilding of the ruined district was assigned to the Marquis of Pombal, who disregarded the original city layout of narrow streets, and created the first city plan that followed a grid pattern. The buildings of Baixa were constructed in a magnificent neoclassical style (referred to Pombaline architecture) but more importantly, incorporated the earliest examples of earthquake resistant architecture.
Rossio is the liveliest square in the city, where people stop to sit and relax, or for a drink at the several atmospheric cafés with outdoor sitting (the most popular is the art-deco "Cafe Nicola" on the western side).
On either side of the square are two baroque fountains, and in the center is a monument measuring 27 meters in height. It consists of a pedestal with marble allegories of Justice, Wisdom, Strength, and Moderation, qualities attributed to Dom Pedro IV, whose statue stands on top of the monument. In the 19th century, the square was paved with cobblestones in wave patterns, a design seen today in many other pavements all over Portugal, and that has spread to Portugal's former colonies from Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) to Macao (China). On the north side of the square is the Dona Maria II National Theater, a monumental neoclassical building built in the 1840s. The portico has six Ionic columns (originally from the Church of St. Francis, destroyed in the 1755 earthquake), and crowning the pediment is a statue of playwright Gil Vicente.
Castelo, Alfama & Mouraria (Pass By)
The Alfama is Lisbon's oldest quarter. Spread over the southeastern slope of the hill crowned by Castelo de São Jorge, the picturesque neighborhood is composed of a maze of narrow streets, winding alleyways, and steep flights of steps. Its kasbah-like layout is deliberate - this is the city's ancient Arab district, and although there are no Moorish houses still standing, the tightly-packed lanes, small archways, and stone-paved terraces are full of atmosphere and great fun to explore.
Lisbon's old quarter offers many things to do. Besides the castle, there are several historic 17th-century churches in the vicinity, as well as the city's impressive cathedral. A clutch of excellent museums provide cultural diversion, and Lisbon's biggest flea market is here. Some of the best views in Lisbon are from lofty squares such as the Miradouro Largo das Portas do Sol - once the entrance gates to the old city.Alfama wakes up at night, when some of the city's most authentic cafés and restaurants open their doors to serve delicious traditional cuisine and plenty of bonhomie. The neighborhood is also home to traditional fado houses, where this unique Portuguese musical expression can be appreciated in rustic and romantic surroundings.
Praca do Comercio (Terreiro do Paco) (Pass By)
The Praça do Comércio is the grandest of Lisbon’s plazas. This magnificent plaza opens out on the Tejo Estuary, and is surrounded on three sides by distractive yellow Pombaline architecture, with the decorative Arco da Rua Augusta as the focal point of the plaza
Historically the Praça do Comércio was the location of the Paço da Ribeira, the royal palace of Lisbon, the complex was obliterated by the devastating earthquake of 1755. Though completely destroyed there are remnants of this once mighty palace throughout the plaza.
For you as a visitor, there is a lot see and do within the Praça do Comércio. There is the Arco da Rua Augusta viewpoint, the Lisboa Story Centre museum, some of the best photo opportunities in Lisbon, along with numerous fine restaurants and authentic cafes.
Additional Info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
Frequently Asked Questions
(7)Q: What is the cancellation policy for the An Introduction to Lisbon – Walking Tour?
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
Still have questions?
We're here to help.
Activity code: C-100487P8
Reviews
5.00
1 reviews
Average 5.00 out of 5 stars based on 1 traveler reviews collected by City Boat Tours and partner sites such as Cool Destinations and TripAdvisor
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Frequently Asked Questions (7)
The answers provided below were previously given in response to questions from City Boat Tours customers.
Filter by:
Q:
What is the cancellation policy for the An Introduction to Lisbon – Walking Tour?
A:Apr 2025
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the tour for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the tour start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the tour start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the tour start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the tour local time (WEST).
- This tour requires a minimum number of travelers. If it’s canceled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.
Q:
What's included in the price?
A:
Apr 2025
The following is included:
- Guiding Services and all the info and recommendations you need for the rest of your stay.
The following is NOT included:
- Snacks. No food or drink are included in the price however there will be MANY opportunities and places where to eat/drink along the way. We can recommend.
- Private transportation.
Q:
What is the weather cancellation policy?
A:
This tour requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
Apr 2025
Q:
What is the minimum age for this tour?
A:
The minimum age to participate is 16..
Apr 2025
Q:
My date is not available in the calendar, I am just checking to see if it is available?
A:
If a date or time is not listed on the calendar, it’s sold out or unavailable for another reason. Support cannot assist further if a date or time is not on the calendar.
If you find a date and time that works for you, book it NOW because things always sell out at this time of year.
Apr 2025
Q:
Is this an accessible tour?
A:Apr 2025
Accessibility information for the An Introduction to Lisbon - Walking Tour is as follows:
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Q:
Where is the meeting point for this activity?
A:
Detailed check-in instructions – including meeting point address, Google map, and parking information – for An Introduction to Lisbon - Walking Tour will be included in your confirmation email from City Boat Tours. Please be sure to double and triple check your email address is correct at checkout so this important email makes its way to you!
Mar 2024What's Included
- Guiding Services and all the info and recommendations you need for the rest of your stay.
- SnacksNo food or drink are included in the price however there will be MANY opportunities and places where to eat/drink along the way. We can recommend.
- Private transportation
Additional Info
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for pregnant travelers
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travelers
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