The Best Walking Tour through Lisbon, Portugal
This walking tour through the city of Lisbon thoroughly exceeded my expectations.
Our tour guide was very knowledgeable about Portugal’s history and uncovered many unique spots with lots of information we would have never known had we not done the tour.
Let’s start with a quick preview of the tour details, and then I will show you the different spots we stopped at.
Tour Details
Guide: Best of Lisbon walk by Inside Lisbon
Duration: 3 hours
Meeting point: 9:30 am – In front of D. Pedro IV statue at Rossio Square
Price: Regular 22 Euros, under 12 is free
Free Cancellations: Cancel up to 24 hours in advance and receive a total return
Additional Info: Bring comfortable shoes and comfortable clothes – Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level – Not wheelchair accessible
Areas we visit: Baixa, Carmo, Chiado, Alfama
The Walking Tour
D. Pedro IV statue at Rossio square
Erected in 1870, this 75-foot column with a bronze statue was dedicated to King Pedro IV. The four figures around the base represent strength, wisdom, justice, and restraint.
Igreja de São Domingos (Church of St. Dominic)
In the year of its dedication, 1241, Igreja de São Domingos was the largest church in Lisbon. The blood-red coloured ceiling of the church was painted in memory of the tragic history from 1506, which noted a large massacre of up to four thousand Jew-to-Christian converts who attended the church. Jews were previously forced to convert to Catholicism in 1497.
Later, damaged by the 1531 earthquake and almost destroyed by the 1755 earthquake, the church saw several restoration projects—unfortunately, a massive fire in 1959 distressed the interior. The Igreja de São Domingos was later reopened in 1994.
The monument - Igreja de São Domingos
The monument is a metal Star of David within a circular stone slab. It is situated just outside of the church, in the square.
“Em memoria dos milhares de judeus vitimas da intolerancia e do fanatismo religioso assassinados no massacre iniciado a 19 de abril de 1506 neste largo.
(In memory of the thousands of Jews who were the victims of intolerance and religious fanaticism and murdered in the massacre initiated on April 19, 1506, in this square)”
A Ginjinha Espinheira
A ginjinha is a sweet yet sour gin made with Morello cherries, a substantial percentage of alcohol, and ‘aguardente’ spirits. Many years ago, this mix was used as a cultural medicinal concoction, and some people took several shots each day.
We were sure to try this historic drink at €1.50 per shot (with cherries for the most authentic experience). A Ginjinha Espinheira is historically noted as the first to make and sell the drink in Lisbon, Portugal.
Estação do Rossio (Rossio Train Station)
Located in the centre of the Baixa district, Estação do Rossio is a beautiful building inspired by classical 16th-century Portuguese Neo-Manueline architecture. Its exterior features horseshoe-shaped archways, a clock in a small turret, and romantic sculptures on its pinacol-lined roof.
We took a quick two-levels-up escalator ride through the train station, as the locals do since it allowed us to lessen a fair bit of an uphill walk to our next destination. By the escalator exit, just outside at the balcony, you can see Castelo de São Jorge in the distance.
Museu da Guarda Nacional Republicana (National Republican Guard Museum)
Museu da Guarda Nacional Republicana is adjacent to Igreja do Carmo in the Chiado district.
We didn’t enter the museum; however, our tour guide shared information about the dictatorship of António de Oliveira Salazar (Former Acting President of Portugal).
Chafariz do Carmo (Carmo Fountain)
A late baroque style, Carmo Fountain is located within Carmo Square, and it's enclosed within an elegant porch supported by four large pillars. It was built above the Aqueduto das Águas Livres and dispersed water through Lisbon.
Santa Justa Lift
Did you know that instead of joining a long queue to go up in the Santa Justa Lift, you can just walk around through a side street near Carmo Square, and you’ll be at the top of the lift near the elevator exit/entrance? We were all in shock. We got the same view of Lisbon for free! We were all so surprised. It’s a beautiful view, and even greater when you realize that you didn’t have to pay for it, haha!
Convento da Orden do Carmo (Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel)
Following the 1755 earthquake off Lisbon’s coast, the Convent of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, also known as the Carmo Convent, was left roofless.
Despite being closed at the time (and not included in the walking tour), we could still see a bit of it from the Santa Justa Lift area.
Pastel de Nata at Casa Brasileira
The pastel de Nata that we had at Casa Brasileira was delicious! It's a Portuguese egg custard tart pastry, typically dusted with cinnamon. Sometimes, it's referred to as pasta de Belém.
About the Portuguese blue tiles
Azulejos are Portuguese and Spanish-painted tin-glazed ceramic tilework. The import of Chinese porcelain and Dutch Delftware was believed to have inspired the shift of azulejos from blue, yellow, green, and white tiles to mainly blue and white.
Green wine & Tapa tasting
We all sat outside Praça Júlio de Castilho and enjoyed a cup of classic Portuguese green wine and a codfish cake.
Jardim Júlio de Castilho
Next to Igreja de Santa Luzia is Jardim Júlio de Castilho. We visited in late January, so the flowers had yet to bloom. However, the scenery was still lovely, and we were able to take a closer look at the Portuguese blue tiles along the garden walls and the nearby church.
Moorish Alfama neighbourhood
This community has cobbled narrow streets and winding alleys with a bright fragrance of the oranges grown on its roads. Your legs will surely get a bit of a workout as you walk down the streets.
Our tour guide said that the orange trees were grown in abundance to filter out the scent of grilled sardines as neighbours hung their laundry on lines outside of their windows.
Chafariz d'El-Rei (The King's Fountain)
This historic landmark once demarcated the Lisbon’s border in the 1700s. It was built against the city walls and contains The King’s Fountain.
This fountain took water from the Alfama springs. It’s no longer in use, but the building has been renovated into a posh yet classic boutique Portuguese hotel named Palacete do Chafariz d'El-Rei (Small Palace of the King’s Fountain).
