Lisbon: Alfama District Walking Tour
Description
Discover the wonders of Lisbon’s atmospheric Alfama neighborhood during a 2.5-hour walking tour. Walk around the tight cobbled lanes of this old hilly district, whose streets, squares and town houses have stood for centuries. See intricately tiled houses and hole-in-the-wall restaurants, and walk past notable landmarks including St George’s Castle (Castelo de Sao Jorge), Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa) and the National Pantheon. Admire views from the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte viewpoint, where vistas stretch out across Lisbon and the Tagus River, and learn about Fado music from your expert guide.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Meet your guide in central Lisbon in the early afternoon and begin your ascent up the narrow hills of the Alfama district.
Discover the Alfama District, one of the most charming and colorful neighborhoods in Portugal. It was one of only a few districts to survive a devastating earthquake in 1755 and much of its original architecture remains.
See the imposing turreted complex of St George’s Castle, which stands on an Alfama hilltop overlooking the shimmering Tagus River. Venture into the heart of Alfama, following your guide through mazes of narrow streets so tight you can touch both sides with outstretched arms.
Climb up to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, one of the highest and most fabulous viewpoints in the whole city. From here, the panoramic views stretch over all of Lisbon and you’ll be able to see the city's other hills, as well as the glistening Tagus River.
A traditional working-class district, Alfama is still popular among fishermen and their families, and you might even get to see some people selling fresh fish from roadside stalls. Stop to admire the Lisbon Cathedral, which dates back to the 12th century and pass by Lisbon’s National Pantheon, where important local figures including presidents, dignitaries and a famous Fado singers are buried.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Children up to 13 years old are welcome to join this tour for free. We reserve the right to ask for a valid ID for children joining our tours.
- The independent guides who employ us to market their tours have your best interests in mind; while the tour usually includes the sites & stories mentioned and lasts about 2.5 hours, your tour may vary depending on what your guide thinks is best for your group
Reviews(385)
Antonio was a sooooopa tour guide....lots of good information about Lisbon...highly recommend....Peter from Boston
I think it is the sixth tour I have done with the company and as always perfect, in this case Alejandra, brings you closer to old and current Lisbon, giving you many curious facts and tricks. We will repeat again
Cécilia was a great guide. Before the start of the tour she set the mood by explaining what we will see. She shared her knowledge and emotions elevating the walking tour significantly. Book it and enjoy.
Great tour. Highly recommend it if you're short on time and want a quick overview of Lisbon and the main attractions. Our guide Partick Hughes was very engaging and knowledgeable.
Thank you JIMMY for the perfect introduction to Lisbon! For me a walking tour is when the holiday truly begins. JIMMY made the tour so enjoyable for myself and my family. He had such a cheerful positive energy, gave such great detail and kept us all engaged This of course set the tone for all of us, talking and laughing with each other as we moved from spot to spot. Never hesitating to answer question/ and give great recommendations he really went above to ensure we got the best out of the tour. His balance of humour and sensitivity on certain topics came across so well. You’ll be lucky to have him as your guide and you’ll recognize him by his welcoming smile. Best wishes Marie, Isata (UK) & Sally (USA)
We first did a city centre walking tour with Rita and it was so impressive that we then booked an Alfama one with her the following day. Alfama is such a historic and intriguing area but having the insider knowledge really brought the place to life for us. It felt like Rita gave us a real glimpse into the Alfama of today, and yesteryear. She was such a genuine, engaging guide with a clear love for her city. The walking tours with her were definitely one of our highlights. Also she makes sure everyone keeps up and can manage....an advantage with the hills! Many thanks. Highly recommended.
Rita was a great tour guide with local knowledge and connections. She was well informed on the history of Alfama and Lisbon as well as modern developments in the area. She brought us to a "private" ginjinha bar run by an Alfama local who served us the tastiest ginjinha of our Lisbon stay.
Jaime aka Jimmy , out of five free walking tour I attended, got the second highest tip from me. With him, I felt like I was guided by a friend, a feeling I haven't got in the other four tours. His knowledge and his stories were also very pleasant to hear and almost at the same level as the best tour. I was lucky to have a tour with him and to enjoy a passionate city like Lisbon
We arrived in Lisbon on April 25. On 4/26 we were assigned a walking tour at 2pm with JIMI. We were very lucky to have him as our guide. He took his time as he showed us many of the highlights of Lisbon. He answerd all our questions and directed us to some fine restaurants.
I had mixed feelings about this tour. The Alfama neighbourhood was definitely fascinating to look at, explore and hear about. Something I had some reservations about was a couple of stops we made at some private residences. Both elderly men. One we were told we could sample some Ginjinha from and our donation would help cover his medical expenses. All of our guides during our stay in Lisbon mentioned the poor state of the economy and how people in the Alfama neighourhood in particular had it very tough. We were encouraged to peek inside and see how tiny his kitchen was. He certainly seemed happy, chatty and welcoming but I found it a little confronting as it certainly wasn't what I was expecting. I guess if the money from tourists genuinely does help him it's a good thing, but it did feel a little unethical, kind of like treating impoverished people like animals in a zoo. We made a second stop at another house just to briefly chat to another elderly gentleman who very clearly looked unwell, but again happy enough to see us. Our guide Antonio was very engaging and charming and seemed to have genuine connections/relationships with the men we visited.
