Things to Do in Lisbon
With The Most Entertaining and Passionate Local Guides, you’ll get to know:
- The historical neighborhoods of Bairro Alto, Chiado, Baixa (Downtown) and Alfama;
- The essential history of Portugal throughout the streets of Lisbon;
- Fun facts about the Portuguese people, their culture and their habits;
- Great sightseeing spots;
- A lot of smart tips to make the most of your vacation in Lisbon;
- Free Tasting of the best Pastel de Nata (Portuguese Custard Tart) in Lisbon;
- And much more.
Our brand name raises expectation and so we strive on every tour to give you truly the tour of your life. At the end you determine what a tour was worth for you (i.e.: 10€, 15€, 20€, … per person).
Tours Of My Life is Officially Licensed by Turismo de Portugal (national tourism office).
On this day trip from Lisbon, we'll go on a guided tour of the Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra. We'll also see Cascais and Estoril.
Come along on a captivating walking tour through the heart of Lisbon, learning all about the 3.000-year history of this magnificent city.
Discover the fascinating stories of:
* City's origins and why many of the ancient civilizations came here for safe harbor
* The Moorish era, when mosques dominated the skyline
* Learn about Portugal's founding king and when Lisbon came under siege
* How Henry the Navigator ignited the Age of Discoveries, leading to the first global empire
* The most devastating earthquake in European history and the heroes immortalized in the iconic Rua Augusta Arch
* The Carnation Revolution, dubbed the "coolest coup in the world", which overthrew Europe's longest dictatorship
* Rich literary history of our poets, before concluding the tour with the breathtaking view from the Santa Justa lift
Along the way, we will share valuable tips for you to make the most of your day to day in the city, from hidden gems to visit, to the best places to experience food and lifestyle of this vibrant city.
By the end, we hope you become enchanted with Lisbon, just as we did.
Whether you are a tourist, an ex-pat, or even a local, this historical, city center walking tour is made for those who want to get a better understanding of Lisbon's rich history in a detailed, yet informal approach.
We will leave from Rossio square, the heart of the city, and head up to explore the classic neighborhoods of Chiado and Princípe Real and the bohemian neighborhood of Bairro Alto, while bypassing beautiful churches such as S. Domingos (XIII century), the Carmo Convent (XIV century) and S. Roque (XVI century), as well as seeing some Neo-Manueline architecture, intriguing azulejos ´tiles´, and trendy cafés and restaurants.
We will cover in this tour:
- The earthquake of 1755 and the reconstruction of the city by Prime Minister Marquês de Pombal.
- The Inquisition and persecution of Jews and Muslims.
- The restoration wars and their consequences.
- Ulysses and the mythological foundation of Lisbon.
- Santa Justa Elevador, Carmo Square, São Pedro de Alcântara Miradouro and much more.
A difference between this proposal and other walking tours is that I want people to connect with each other and, towards the end of the tour, I do stop for the guest to get some take-away drinks and, after the tour is over, we can all share some drinks at a local bar. This is, simultaneously, a very historical tour with bits of informality.
The tour can always be adjusted upon weather conditions. The duration of the tour is of approximately 3 hours.
Join in, book the tour, learn and have fun! 😀
French Tour upon demand (pour la visite en français, il faut me contacter, s´il vous plaît).
Important notice: I do have a constant amount of bookings, meaning that I need to rest my voice a few tours per week to maintain my optimized performance. During such events, I ask some of my colleagues to do the tour in my place. Although each have their unique style, they have been instructed to follow the same route. These are the guides doing the tour and the moment: Kate, who is a Master in Anthropology and did a research in a similar field as I did. Bruno, a talented actor with many years of experience in guiding.Telma, an amazing story teller with a kick for contemporary arts. I fully entrust them as capable to replace me while I am taking care of my other tours or resting. Should you book the tour in such occasion, I will send you their WhatsApp number and send yours to them.
Disclaimer: as this tour is getting mainstream, I am starting to get reservations from people who are perhaps not understanding the concept of the tour. I am a Ph.D. title candidate, so I am obviously extremely historical. Although I do stop to get drinks and I have a sarcastic sense of humor, this is quintenssencialy a very historical tour. If you are not into history and are looking for a more ´fun facts´ kind of tour, please feel free to book with somebody else. This is specially valid for reservations over three people. If you are into history, but your friends are not, be aware that your friends looking bored at me disturbs my performance and deranges the general quality of the tour. I am a professional and I can ignore your friends, but if they are just simply convincing you to leave at the middle without paying and write a bad review for a tour you did not complete, I prefer you to book a lighter tour. The tour is absolutely NOT recommended for children. Teenagers with a high school level of education may or may not capture my historical references, but children will surely not. I may accept one or two children at the tour per reservation, but more than that I will refuse to accept the group as I already know the children will be convincing the parents to leave at the middle. It does not matter if you tell me your children love History. This is not Cartoon Network level of History, it is beyond that. Likewise, although I am not a native English speaker and I have a slight Portuguese accent, I know my vocabulary well. If you are not 100% fluent in English, this tour is not for you. The tour is crafted to be the most detailed historical tour of Lisbon.
Join us on a fantastic tour around Alfama and Mouraria, the oldest neighborhoods in Lisbon and discover the origins of this incredible city, which is one of the oldest ones in Europe.
For over 3000 years, different civilizations left their mark in Lisbon. The Phoenicians, the Romans, the Visigoths, the Moors and finally the Christians, led by the first King of Portugal, Afonso Henriques.
From the shores of the Tagus river up to São Jorge Castle, you will be able to feel the mix of cultures so unique to Lisbon and learn a bit more about its history, culture and curiosities. The charming narrow streets, the famous “azulejos” on the walls, the clothes on the balconies, the iconic trams, the many steps up and down, the delicious local food, the friendly locals and the soul of the Portuguese culture, Fado.
Our team of local guides, are very knowledgeable, well informed, entertaining and free to give their touch to guarantee the best tour!
Some places we'll see on this tour:
- Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square)
- Augusta Street Arch
- Sé Cathedral
- Casa dos Bicos
- The streets of Alfama
- St. Antony's Church
- Portas do Sol viewpoint
- The National Pantheon
- St. Vincent's Church
- Santa Luzia viewpoint
- St. George Castle
- The old wall of Lisbon
- The streets of Mouraria
- The oldest house in Lisbon
- The incredible street art of Lisbon
- 25th of April Bridge
- Christ the King
- Vasco da gama Bridge
- and many more.
Join us on a free walking tour of Lisbon to take a journey through the city's most iconic spots. Discover the city of Fado's vibrant past and present.
Join us through the main neighborhoods of Lisbon, the Baixa Pombalina, the Bairro Alto and Chiado, to discover the history of an unique city, witness of the Crusades, the rise and fall of Empires, and the Age of Discoveries. A city razed by nature and raised again as a monument to human perseverance. In about two and a half hours, our guides will tell you this fascinating story, in addition to recommending you the best places to taste Portuguese cuisine, listen to the most authentic fado and continue to know the city. Among other places, we will visit: -Praça do Comércio -Baixa Pombalina -Church of St. Nicholas -Elevator of Santa Justa -Rossio Station -Convent of Carmo -National Theater -Praça de Camões -Chiado -Lisbon City Hall
Join Our Exciting Free Walking Tour of Alfama – Discover Lisbon’s Hidden Treasures!
Explore Alfama, one of Lisbon's oldest neighborhoods, that survived the famous 1755 earthquake
Visit amazing viewpoints with views over the terracotta rooftops and the sparkling Tagus River
- See iconic and beautiful landmarks in Lisbon:
- Rossio Square – A lively and historic spot in the heart of the city
- Dona Maria II Theater – A grand and charming 19th-century theater
- São Domingos Church – A stunning church with a rich past
- Figueira Square – A busy and welcoming square with lots of character
- São Jorge Castle (Exterior) – A historic castle exterior view with breathtaking views of the city and intense history and amazing facts
- Portas do Sol Viewpoint – A perfect place to take in the view of Lisbon’s skyline
- Miradouro de Santa Luzia – A charming viewpoint with calm vibe of the city and river Tagus with live music almost every night
- Sé Cathedral – A beautiful and impressive gothic cathedral
- Saint António Church – A lovely and a very special church with a peaceful atmosphere.
- Wear your comfiest shoes for a fun adventure with our friendly local guides!
- Pay What You Want – Based on your experience, most guests typically contribute 10-20 €.
Meet us at D. Pedro IV Square (Rossio) near the statue – look for our yellow t-shirts and umbrellas!
We can’t wait to show you around!
In this gastronomical tour through Lisbon's trendy neighborhood of Chiado and the bohemian area of Bairro Alto, customers will indulge into experiencing local dishes in typical "tascas", small and family-owned restaurants which capture the soul of Portuguese cuisine.
If you think Portugal is limited to codfish and sardines, be prepared to a culinary journey ranging from dishes created by Crusaders in the XII century all the way to delicacies used by Jews and Muslims to escape the Inquisition as well as the influences brought from all over the world during the Age of the Discoveries. Feast on the flavors from Portugal's former colonies and understand why Portuguese cuisine ranked the 4th best in the world according to the 2023 edition of Taste Atlas.
Needless to say, Portuguese wine also ranks amount the best for a good reason. Port Wine, for example, is one of the world's oldest denominated protected regions, but costumers can also indulge into a refreshing glass of green wine. Most visitors to Portugal are aware about the famous pastéis de nata, but have you ever tasted the licquor version of it?
Join in to this restaurant - bar - tasca hopping experience and eat your full of Portuguese dishes beyond the basic codfish you can get at any other place in the country!
We will leave from Camões Square and explore the culinary scene at the heart of Lisbon, going to both popular places among locals and off-the-beaten track restaurants.
Things to notice:
Do come hungry! It is a food tour, after all! Make sure your previous meal was a light one!
As requested by the restaurants, the tour can only host around 10 guests.
The tour is NOT suitable for vegetarians or vegans.
The standard tour contains BEEF, PORK, CHICKEN and ALCOHOL! Do NOT book the tour if you do not consume these items. Some of the restaurants we go are small, and I cannot occupy space for guests that will not eat the proposed food.
VERY IMPORTANT: guests will share the costs of the dishes among themselves. The idea is to eat several portions of different dishes and have a full-scale journey through the cuisine with an estimated price of a dish and a half per person. Obviously, the more people on the tour, the more dishes to be experienced at a lower price per person (calculate around 20 - to 30 euros per person including drinks). Hence, the importance of the guests being able to eat all the proposed dishes.
This does NOT include the contribution to the guide at the end of the tour.
There are some small variation of the selected restaurants and the route to be followed depending on the time slot and day of the week.