First Time in Lisbon: The Private Express Tour

Highlights

  • Begin your tour at Chiado Square, a cultural hub in the heart of Lisbon

  • Explore the open-air ruins of Carmo Convent, a reminder of Lisbon’s devastating 1755 earthquake

  • Enjoy panoramic views from Lisbon’s ornate iron lift, the Elevador de Santa Justa

  • Experience Rossio and its cobblestone square with Baroque fountains

  • Visit Baixa and Praça do Comércio to learn how Lisbon was rebuilt with distinctive Pombaline architecture

  • Learn about Roman Catholicism at Sé de Lisboa, the city’s grand cathedral

  • Stroll through the steep streets of trendy Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest district

Summary

Trace Lisbon’s fascinating history, from ancient origins right up to the present day

Tour info

Duration
3 hours
Group Size
10
Pricing (From)
Commentary
English
Meeting Point

Baixa-Chiado Metro Station, Lisbon, 1200-443 , PT

123 Main St, Main St, Kings County, New York, 11217, United States

Dropoff location

Why take this tour?

Discover Lisbon, one of the world’s oldest cities and seaports, home to winding cobbled streets, wide piazzas, UNESCO treasures and vibrant yellow trams

 - Begin your three-hour tour at Chiado Square, a cultural hub in the heart of Lisbon
 - Explore the open-air ruins of Carmo Convent, a reminder of Lisbon’s devastating 1755 earthquake
 - Enjoy panoramic views from Lisbon’s ornate iron lift, the Elevador de Santa Justa
 - Experience Rossio and its cobblestone square with Baroque fountains
 - Visit Baixa and Praça do Comércio to learn how Lisbon was rebuilt with distinctive Pombaline architecture after its infamous earthquake
 - Learn about Roman Catholicism at Sé de Lisboa, the city’s grand cathedral
 - Stroll through the steep streets of trendy Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest district

On this three-hour walking tour, an expert local guide will introduce you to Lisbon, a city stuffed with Medieval towers, Baroque palaces and dome-topped monasteries. Dating back to 1200 BC, Portugal’s capital has always been one of Europe’s key seaports, a powerhouse to rival London, Paris and Rome. On this express tour, you’ll get a flavour of Lisbon’s past, visiting some of its most iconic historical and cultural sights

 Rising from the ruins of the 1755 earthquake

Meet at Largo do Chiado and journey back in time to the Middle Ages to uncover Jewish and Moorish heritage. Learn about one of the city’s defining moments, November 1st 1755, when a magnitude nine earthquake, one of the strongest ever recorded, hit the city followed by a wave of tsunamis and fires. The ruins of Convento do Carmo lend testament to this historical turning point; its nave remains roofless after caving in on that fateful day

In Baixa, Lisbon’s downtown, commercial centre, you’ll learn how the ruined district was revived by the Marquis of Pombal, who designed a revolutionary new grid pattern for Lisbon, filling the streets with neoclassical architecture and earthquake-resistant buildings. Walk through the grand Arco da Rua Augusta in Commercial Square and ride the skinny, 450-metre-tall Elevador de Santa Justa to appreciate Lisbon’s iconic street plan from an aerial perspective

 Colourful culture in Alfama

At Rossio Square, you can admire the wave-patterned cobblestones, pavement-side coffee shops and marble monument. The tour ends with a walk around the Alfama district, once a poor area set outside the city walls but now a popular arty district with labyrinthine streets. Wander the steep alleyways where yellow trams wind up to St George’s Castle, past ancient houses, Fado bars and colourful shopfronts. The district is home to Sé de Lisboa, the 1147 Romanesque cathedral that has miraculously withstood the city’s many quakes

If you’re looking for a quick, informative introduction to Portugal’s multi-cultural capital, then this express tour is the perfect option

What’s included?

  • A friendly, professional tour guide for your own private group

  • Plenty of time to take photos of your favourite places

  • Cost of transportation on the day (if required)

  • Food and drink, although your guide will be happy to recommend local favourites along the way

  • Gratuities (optional)

Things to know

Before you book

  • This is a walking tour

  • Cost of transportation on the day is not included

Before you go

  • Please bring comfortable walking shoes

  • Please bring any medical requirements you need throughout the day

  • In summer, please remember to bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water

Covid Policy

  • Hand sanitizer available to travelers and staff
  • Social distancing enforced throughout experience
  • Gear/equipment sanitized between use
  • Transportation vehicles regularly sanitized
  • Guides required to regularly wash hands

Cancellation Policy

    Up to 24 hours before the beginning of the activity: full refund Less than 24 hours before the beginning of the activity or no-show: no refund

About operator:

Travel Curious, based in Shoreditch/London, researches, creates and owns immersive, cultural tours and experiences in cities throughout the world. We provide our tours and experiences as a service to the travel industry and are privileged to name some of the biggest global brands as our partners