D
Great tour
Excellent tour of the Lisbon synagogue. Both guides were knowledgeable about Jewish history in Portugal. Would recommend
Jewish Sephardic history in Lisbon
+8 photos
At a glance
- Duration
- 3 hours
- Price from
- $80 / person
- Location
- Lisbon, Portugal
- Rating
- 4.7 / 5 · 64 reviews
- Languages
- PT, EN
- Group
- Small group, up to 8
- Cancellation
- Free cancellation up to 24 hours before
- Confirmation
- Within 24h
- Ticket
- Mobile or paper ticket accepted
- Operator
- TakingUThere
- Meeting point
- Your guide will be in front of our synagogue to meet you.
Description
Explore the history and culture of our Jewish community during this small group tour in Lisbon. Portugal was one of the first world powers to recognize the Jewish people, and has served as an important home for the community ever since. You will stop by historic areas, important memorials, and landmarks, especially the Shaare Tikva, Lisbon’s synagogue, to learn about the history of various religions in the city.
Schedule & prices
- Runs
- Mon, Tue, Wed, and Thu
- Start times
- 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM
- Next available
- Mon, Oct 19
- Adult (ages 13+)
- $80
- Child (ages 4–12)
- $40
- Infant (ages 0–3)
- Free
Larger groups pay less per person.
From the operator’s live schedule on Viator, checked Oct 13.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Lisbon
Please note the following: There are very few visible landmarks connected to Lisbon’s Jewish historical presence, as much of this part of the city was completely destroyed in the 1755 earthquake. For this reason, visitors will not find many surviving Jewish sites today. Most of the Lisbon we see now was rebuilt after 1755, with only a small number of buildings surviving the earthquake, tsunami, and subsequent fires. In addition, the centuries of the Holy Inquisition also contributed to the destruction or transformation of many Jewish symbols, sites, and locations. So, please do not expect to see monuments, or sites in Lisbon. During the tour, your guide will take you to the areas where Jewish communities once lived, providing historical context and explaining their significance on site.
Sinagoga Shaare Tikva
The start of the tour will be at the Shaare Tikva, Lisbon Synagogue, the 1st synagogue to be built in Portugal since the late 15th century. Learn the story of the Jewish community in Portugal (specially Lisbon) on this tour, visiting significant sites to the community in the Portuguese capital. Since the Jewish exodus from Egypt, and the journey through lands, countries, and continents as the ultimate nomads, they reached what is nowadays Portugal. Learn how communities appeared, disappeared, and reappeared; belonging everywhere and yet nowhere.
Principe Real
From the synagogue we walk through the Principe Real Park down to the Chiado neighborhood.
Praca do Comercio
In the Baixa neighborhood you will walk to the biggest square in Portugal, Terreiro do Paco, modernly known as Praca do Comercio. Here you will be explained a few very important situations that changed the history of Portugal.
Praca Dom Pedro IV
Walk to the center of the Holy Inquisition, the Rossio Square. Column of Pedro IV In the centre of Rossio Square sits the Column of Pedro IV of Portugal, known as “the Soldier King”. At the base of the pillar are four female figures that represent the King’s various qualities: Justice, Wisdom, Strength and Moderation. The D. Maria II National Theatre was founded in 1842, replacing the "Estaus Palace", that was headquarters of the Portuguese Inquisition since mid-fifteenth century.
Igreja De S Domingos
Passing by the sight of the April 19th, 1506 Lisbon Massacre, you will learn what happened and why. From this day, and during the next 3, more than 3000 "New Christians" where murdered in the streets only being stopped by the Kings Royal Army. The epicenter, being the Sao Domingo Church.
Bertrand
Reaching Chiado, you will learn about a very famous Jewish writer and see one curiosity in the oldest bookstore of the world, since 1732, founded by Pedro Faure.
What's included
Included
Guaranteed to skip ticket lines.
Visit the Sinagoga Shaare Tikva from the inside (tickets included);
Guide will accompany you inside locations to explain its history;
Small group tour with Professional guide;
Not included
Lunch and any other items not mentioned in the program
Traveller Ratings
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
4.7
64 reviews
How it compares in Lisbon
- Starting price $80 is 27% above the typical $63 for tours of similar length in Lisbon
Excurgo comparison of 4,255 Viator tours, recalculated daily.
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- We are only able to visit the inside of our synagogue on Tuesdays and Thursdays!
- We will need Passport details (name, number, expiry and country) at time of booking for all participants for security reasons
- There is a dress code (no uncovered shoulders, shorts, mini-skirt etc.)
Cancellation
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
1+ days before100% refund
0–1 days before0% refund
Frequently asked questions
How long does Jewish Sephardic history in Lisbon take?
Jewish Sephardic history in Lisbon lasts about 3 hours. The itinerary has 7 stops.
How much does Jewish Sephardic history in Lisbon cost?
Prices start at $80 per person for this Lisbon experience, booked through Viator with the price shown before checkout. There is 1 booking option, so the final price depends on the option you choose.
What days does Jewish Sephardic history in Lisbon run?
According to the operator’s current schedule, it runs on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays, starting at 9:30 AM and 2:30 PM.
How much does Jewish Sephardic history in Lisbon cost for children?
Children aged 4–12 pay from $40, adults from $80. Infants go free.
Can I cancel Jewish Sephardic history in Lisbon for free?
Yes. Cancel at least 1 day before the start for a full refund. Later cancellations are non-refundable.
Where does the tour start?
The meeting point is Your guide will be in front of our synagogue to meet you. Hotel pickup is not part of this experience.
What languages is Jewish Sephardic history in Lisbon offered in?
The experience is available in PT, EN.
Is this a private or a group tour?
It is a small-group experience with a maximum of 8 participants.
Is the tour suitable for children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Will my booking be confirmed immediately?
Confirmation is sent by the operator within 24 hours of booking.
Is Jewish Sephardic history in Lisbon worth it?
Travellers rate it 4.7 out of 5 across 64 reviews on Viator and Tripadvisor; it is run by TakingUThere.
Reviews(64)
Reviews collected by Viator and Tripadvisor
D
Paulo Levy was a great...
Paulo Levy was a great guide. His knowledge was extensive and kept us entertained throughout. Definitely recommend this tour.
J
Great tour
It was a very interesting tour. We enjoyed the historical explanation of the synagogue and the congregation given by Sandra. Paulo was excellent, very passionate about his work and his background. We visited many places and enjoyed the experience
P
Fascinating Presentation of Lisboa Jewish History
A fascinating and very informative presentation of Lisboa and Portuguese history generally and the very important part played by the Jewish community and specific Jewish personalities. Our tour guide Paulo was very passionate about Portuguese Jewish history and offered a wealth of information. I would highly recommend this tour to anyone with even the slightest interest in Portuguese Jewish history or just Portuguese history generally.
A
Sephardic Lisbon
Both a guide at the Sephardic synagogue, and the Viator general guide were extremely knowledgeable. The tour should not be more than two hours, as there are very few Jewish sites beyond the synagogue that you can see. The information provided by Paolo Levi was overwhelming. His enthusiasm and his knowledge were infectious, and it was a treat to hear him; nevertheless, this true or need not last 3 to 4 hours.
G
Jewish heritage tour
Very comprehensible and enthusiastic tour by Paulo. Lots of insight on jewish history throughout the ages and its jewish influence in Portugal. We loved the tour and even stopped in a few shops along the way! We recommend it highly!
C
Tour with Paolo…Not to be missed!
Paolo was so much more than just a guide. His knowledge of Lisbon, Its Jewish history, people, customs and landmarks, his passion for people, and especially, Jewish people, his newly discovered roots is likely unmatched or unmatchable. He led us and shared his stories and those of the Jewish people and places in Lisbon with incredible passion! We learned so much and cannot recommend Paolo highly enough. We would spend part or all of a day with him again and will definitely do so if/ when we come back to Lisbon. Do not miss this or any tour with Paolo!
N
Fascinating, personal, energetic
Paulo was wonderful, and we very much enjoyed and learned from Helena's presentation at the synagogue.
J
Highly recommended
Pablo was full of energy and his story of finding out his Jewish heritage just 15 years ago were remarkable. His knowledge of the Jewish history of Lisbon was great.
G
An Inspiring Jewish History Tour of Lisboa
Pablo was an amazing tour guide! His passion for Jewish history, combined with his love and passion for Portugal and Portuguese history, was contagious. I learned more than I ever thought I could in a few hours. The tour gave me a deep connection to and appreciation for Portugal. I would highly recommend this tour. It is important to see the Synagogue in Lisboa, but that was just the start. His walking tour around the city was extensive, comprehensive, and inspiring. It gave me a real love for the city, the country, and its long, long Jewish history.
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from$80
4.7(64) Free cancellation