Our 7-hour Lisbon in a Day tour will offer the perfect overview of the many layers of this charming city — from medieval ramparts to modern architecture, and of course, picturesque views. We'll spend our time exploring some of the best neighborhoods and quintessential venues while learning about the city’s unique history and cultural identity with a local expert.

Your walk begins at São Pedro de Alcântara, a picturesque lookout point with sweeping views of Lisbon’s hills. From this vantage point, your expert guide will walk you through decisive moments in the city’s history that have informed its evolution over the centuries. From the lookout, you’ll continue on to Lisbon’s oldest Jesuit church, the São Roque, best known for its lavish, gemstone-encrusted Baroque interior. Next, you’ll visit the beautiful Largo de Carmo, the square from which you can see the exterior of the famous Carmo Convent, whose partial ruins open to the skies and illustrate the impact of the devastating 1755 earthquake.  Your route progresses from Bairro Alto down into Chiado, a haven for artists and creatives where you can get a taste of the vibrant local life as you wander amongst cafes, museums, art galleries, and local shops.

 

You’ll continue your stroll through Baixa and the iconic Praça do Comércio to take in the impressive panorama of the Río Tejo, the famous river that solidified Lisbon as an important Roman port. You will stop for lunch at a local restaurant (at your own expense). This is the perfect opportunity to ask your expert questions on what you’ve seen so far on your sightseeing day, or any aspect of Lisbon history or culture.

 

After lunch, you’ll continue your exploration of Lisbon’s old town: Alfama. First you will ascend to the neighborhood around the São Jorge Castle, one of Lisbon's most iconic sites. Your expert will give you background on its extensive history, which saw the fall of the Romans, the Moorish occupation in the 10th and 11th centuries, and a range of sieges, occupations, and earthquakes. You won't wait in the long lines to enter the castle, but instead you will be able to catch views of the building from several vantage points as you wander the area. 

As you continue through to Alfama, you may stop to soak in some of Lisbon’s dramatic skyline from the iconic lookout point, Miradouro das Portas do Sol. Your tour will conclude in the neighborhood of one of the city's oldest structures, the Lisbon Cathedral, or Sé, where you will discuss the Christian crusaders and the aftermath of their 1147 reconquest. 

 

At the end of our most immersive Lisbon itinerary, you will emerge with a beneath-the-surface understanding of Lisbon. You’ll have ventured across the city to the most quintessential sites in Lisbon's evolution.

 

If you’re looking to see more of Lisbon, check out our Savoring Lisbon or Bélem Neighborhood Tour. Or get out of the city and visit the enchanting Sintra on a half-day or full-day excursion.

For our curious travelers looking for learning before their trip, check out our online seminars about Portugal at Context Learning.

For more information about Context tours, please visit our FAQs.

Book with confidence — see Context's flexible cancellation policy here.

 

Yes, just let us know in your client notes. If we start much later than 12pm, the expert guide may need to modify the route to accommodate this request.

 

Absolutely! It’s a long day but we have some expert guides specifically trained to work with younger learners who can adapt the material on this tour for families.

 

Is this tour appropriate for someone with mobility issues?

Lisbon is a very hilly city and although we have designed this tour to generally walk downhill, there may still be stairs and inclines and uneven cobblestones. 

 

The cost of lunch is not included on the tour. Depending on your expert guide's route, you may enter certain sites that ask for a nominal entry fee or donation. It is a good idea to have small coins on hand for this.

No, we will not visit the interiors on this tour. Your expert will give you historical background on all of these buildings, and advise if you wish to go back and visit on your own. 

We can arrange transfers to and from the meeting point from your accommodation. Lisbon’s streets are very narrow and driving is not the suggested method of touring the city. Adding a vehicle would significantly alter the walk route. Please contact us for pricing or any specific questions regarding a car service.

 

You’ll meet your expert guide in São Pedro de Alcântara lookout point. Your confirmation email will have the exact meeting point details along with a map. This tour ends in the Alfama district. Exact route and end point will vary depending on the discretion of the guide and preferences of the group.