Tour Details
Duration
3 hrs
Product Type
Tour
Venues
- Church of São Roque
- Carmo Convent
- Santa Justa Lift
- Praça do Comércio
- Bairro Alto Neighborhood
- Baixa Neighborhood
- Chiado Neighborhood
Photos & Highlights
Select a date
Tour Description
This walking tour of Lisbon takes you to the heart of the bohemian, historic, and creative hubs of Lisbon in the company of an expert guide, where you’ll explore its three most iconic neighborhoods: Bairro Alto, Chiado, and Baixa.
There’s no better place to kick things off than at the São Pedro de Alcântara viewing point. With a sweeping view of the hills of Lisbon before you, you’ll learn about the origins of the city—arguably the oldest in Western Europe— as well as the decisive moments in its history that have shaped the way the city has evolved into a modern cultural capital. You’ll then make your way through the winding streets of Bairro Alto. You’ll marvel at the treasures within the São Roque Church as evidence of the prominence of the Jesuits in 16th-century Portugal, continuing through the Carmo Convent—a visceral representation of the impact of the 1755 earthquake.
You’ll continue into the Chiado neighborhood, a popular shopping district that has long been a haven for artists and creatives. This is the perfect setting to touch upon Portuguese café culture and the literary and artistic movements that have been nurtured here, like the great Renaissance poet Luis de Camões, who gives his name to a nearby picturesque square, or the vibrant contemporary art scene. Your expert guide will wrap things up with a stroll through Baixa and the iconic Praça do Comércio to take in the impressive panorama of the Río Tejo, leaving you much more acquainted with central Lisbon, with plenty of recommendations from your expert about how to best explore the city further.
Experts
"A conversation with a trusted friend"
"He was a terrific guide and storyteller. Providing excellent context and answered all our questions authentically. It was like having a conversation with a trusted friend and someone who loves the city."
Nancy E.
Nancy E.
"Tailored to our interests"
"Tiago was an enthusiastic knowledgeable and intelligent tour guide who tailored the walk talk to our interests and needs"
Yolanda K.
Yolanda K.
"The perfect way to start our time in Lisbon"
"Raquel was a wonderful guide. We learned so much - it was a perfect way to start out our time in Lisbon. I loved how personalized the tour was, both in how she related the information to us, and also how she shared her own stories. Thank you Raquel!!"
Elizabeth P.
Elizabeth P.
- You love to walk and want to cover a lot of ground to orient yourself in the city
- You're a culture lover interested in deeper knowledge of local traditions and customs
If you’re looking to go even deeper into Lisbon’s history, we recommend our Lisbon Old Town Tour in Alfama or our Lisbon Belém Tour.
- São Pedro de Alcântara offers a panoramic view of Lisbon from its terrace, serving as a beloved lookout point that also features a serene garden.
- Bairro Alto, Chiado, Rossio, and Baixa neighborhoods form the vibrant heart of Lisbon, each with its own character, from bohemian vibes to chic boutiques and historic squares.
- The Church of São Roque, modest from the outside, hides a rich interior with ornate chapels, showcasing a splendid example of baroque artistry.
- Santa Justa Lift, an industrial age marvel, connects the lower streets of the Baixa with the higher Largo do Carmo, and is a striking urban landmark.
- Carmo Convent stands as a poignant reminder of the devastation of the 1755 earthquake, with its roofless nave offering a unique glimpse into the city’s resilient past.
- Praça do Comércio is a grand riverside square that has been the gateway to Lisbon for centuries, framed by yellow Pombaline architecture and the Tagus River.
Resources
- For more information on planning your trip, take a read through our Insider’s Guide to things to do in Lisbon
- Lisbon is a very hilly city, and unfortunately, we cannot recommend this walking tour of Lisbon for wheelchair users. Although we have designed this tour to generally walk downhill, there may still be stairs and inclines that are difficult to navigate.
For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQs.
How should we arrive at the meeting point?
You can get to the viewpoint on foot, although it is a bit uphill. You can also easily order an Uber or a taxi to bring you to meet your expert guide.
Can someone with mobility issues attend this tour?
Lisbon, overall, is quite a hilly city. Consider that there are mostly cobblestone streets, and this is a walking tour that mainly visits the exterior of various locations. While we have designed the tour to generally walk downhill, there may be some stairs and inclines. We may then have difficulty and a lack of control in curating the tour to fit the needs of someone with mobility issues.
Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.
Where You'll Start
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762 Reviews
Reviews can only be left by Context customers after they have completed a tour. For more information about our reviews, please see our FAQ.
Bert was a fantastic guide! We really appreciated his knowledge of Lisbon and his history of Portugal. Our group was small and fun and he gave us great recommendations for food and shopping for after the tour. Thank you so much!!
Wanda
Reviewed on:
Sep 4, 2025
We had an amazing tour with Tiago! He’s smart, funny, and incredibly kind — truly one of the best guides we’ve ever had. The tour was so informative and engaging; it felt like he knew something interesting about every little corner of the city. His passion for local culture really came through, and he did such a great job showing us how history connects with everyday life today.
Tiago took us to hidden gems and local shops we never would have found on our own, and even explained how to recognize authentic local places versus touristy ones. The variety of knowledge he shared — from shopping and culture to history and architecture — made the experience so well-rounded.
Most importantly, he really cared about making it a two-way conversation. He listened to what we were interested in and went above and beyond to make sure we got the most out of our time. We couldn’t recommend this tour enough!
Samantha
Reviewed on:
Sep 3, 2025
Our intro tour of Lisbon with Estela was the perfect way to start our trip. She gave one of the most fascinating and well-structured overviews of the city’s history, organized and concise, which really helped us understand the context before exploring. From there she led us on a wonderful walking tour that highlighted key areas and gave us a great orientation. Thanks to Estela, we felt much more grounded and ready to enjoy the next few days in this gorgeous city. Highly recommend her tour to anyone visiting Lisbon for the first time.
Jessica
Reviewed on:
Sep 2, 2025
