Guided tours of Lisbon: my selection
Ahhh Lisbon! The Portuguese capital is attracting more and more tourists and although I usually direct my advice to those who wish to come and live there, I decided to give some more information for those who wish to visit it. Unfortunately, I see many people disappointed by their stay and this article will at least allow those who pass by to visit Lisbon in the most beautiful way. There are countless guided tours in Lisbon but I have chosen to make a selection of the ones I like the most below. They have very good marks, are orchestrated by professional guides who speak fluent english and those who have passed before you have only said good things about them.
On this page, I won’t talk about Lisbon Tuk Tuk tours as I already have a dedicated page that offers you 6 different Tuk Tuk tours of the city to discover its gastronomy, its fado, its history, its culture or its beaches and wonderful landscapes.
On this page you will find a selection of guided tours of the Portuguese capital and its region, each with a link to the dedicated website to get all the details and book your visit. I have chosen guided tours of Lisbon that can be done over half a day, a day or even several days because I think that’s what it takes to leave with stars in your eyes! At the end of the page, you will also find some suggestions for visits outside Lisbon that may be of interest to some.
You can consult specific guided tours of Lisbon by following the menu below (Guided tour of the city of Lisbon by day, by night, its wines, its gastronomy or its Fado) or go through this selection below which are the best rated and most appreciated guided tours of Lisbon by those who came to Lisbon :
To find you there, I propose you a direct menu towards the various types of selected visits:
- Guided tours of the city of Lisbon
- Guided tours of the Lisbon region
- Guided tours and wine tastings in the Lisbon area
- Guided tours of Lisbon in the evening
- Guided tours of Lisbon Fado
Guided tour of Lisbon city
To start with, here are some private guided tours of Lisbon that have been made by many and very much appreciated. This is only about the city of Lisbon and not its region. These are visits with English speaking guides who will show you all the important places of the capital. These visits usually last a whole day, which allows you to take your time and especially to have personalized requests that will certainly be taken into account by your personal guide.
You should know that there is the Lisboa Card in Lisbon, a card that will give you access to many discounts on entrance fees to monuments, public transport and even free entrance to some of Lisbon’s sights. Discover the main discounts and all you need to know about the card by visiting the Lisboa Card page, or click on the card to order it directly online.
Click on the Lisboa Card to order it online
Guided tour of more than 15 sites in the city
The advantage of this guided tour lies in the personalization. You will be able to choose the places you want to visit according to your interests and desires. If you have no idea, then don’t worry, your guide is there for that. You will discover many places of interest in the Portuguese capital such as the Belem district for a typical lunch, the Lisbon cathedral, the statue of Cristo Rei, the Jerónimos monastery or the São Jorge castle. You will learn more about this city steeped in history and will marvel at its panoramic views and its most beautiful districts: Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto…
An air-conditioned vehicle with Wi-Fi internet access will pick you up at your hotel or accommodation to start your guided tour of Lisbon. The guide speaks English and will be open to your suggestions to personalize the tour.
Walking tour of Lisbon
Organising a tour of Lisbon by car is good, but the alternative of walking is not bad either. Lisbon is a city made of beautiful cobbled streets, narrow or atypical places on top of the hills where it will be much easier to get to on foot. The Portuguese capital is also very well served by bus, metro or tram, so the walking experience will be just as enjoyable. This private walking tour of Lisbon lasts 3 hours, can accommodate a group of 6 people and will be led by a English speaking guide.
You will be able to take the old yellow tramway, visit the Rossio Square, Carmo Square, the Cathedral, walk through the most beautiful areas of Lisbon and taste some specialities (Tapas, wine, Pastel de Nata), all in the company of an experienced guide who will teach you more about the history of each place you will visit.
Gastronomic guided tour of Lisbon by Segway
You don’t know the Segway? Well, neither did I until I saw them walking around the city. Segways are electric vehicles for a person that move back and forth with the sway of your body. It may seem complicated or unstable to you, but it’s not, they are very easy to handle. That’s why I include this private guided tour of Lisbon in the list. You will be able to do this tour in a group with a private English speaking guide but also discover the typical Portuguese gastronomy. Many people have questions about the good restaurants or pastaleria (bakeries) where to go to discover the authentic Portuguese gastronomy: no problem, your guide will be able to guide you!
This private gastronomic tour lasts two and a half hours and will take you to the old quarters of Lisbon but also to typical bars and cafés to taste beer, ice cream or authentic pastries.
Guided tour of Lisbon Street Art
The Portuguese capital is known for its artistic and cultural soul. Street art is an integral part of the culture of the country and its capital. That’s why I offer you in my selection this guided tour of street art in Lisbon. This tour is done in small groups, which makes it much more enjoyable and allows the English-speaking guide to be available for any questions of each participant.
It will take you 3 hours for this visit in the heart of the alleys of Lisbon to discover graffiti, urban art, 3D paintings, committed frescoes and artists at the origin of all this street art. The guide who proposes this visit is an expert in the field.
Guided tour of Lisbon region
You may not know it, but the Lisbon area is full of places full of history and breathtaking landscapes. It would be a shame to visit the city without going to its surroundings. I have therefore prepared below a list of tours to book to visit Sintra, Cascais, Sesimbra, Setubal or Fatima with a private guide who speaks perfect English: he will be able to guide you, advise you and direct you to the places you absolutely must not miss!
Guided tour of Arrábida and Sesimbra
This guided tour will start at the foot of your hotel from where you will be picked up and dropped off. You will then cross the largest bridge in Europe and spend a full day exploring Arrábida and Sesimbra, south of Lisbon. This is a region with breathtaking scenery, fine sandy beaches, lush greenery with a protected nature park and typical Portuguese restaurants where you can enjoy grilled fish caught in the morning!
That’s not all, your private guide, who speaks English of course, will take you to a wine farm in the heart of the Arrábida Natural Park to taste 4 typical wines of the region. On the program of the visit of this region of Lisbon: the Tagus, the Sado, the National Park of Arrábida, the Portinho da Arrábida beach (the most beautiful in Portugal), the Atlantic coast, the castles of Palmela, the city of Sesimbra or the statue of Cristo Rei overlooking Lisbon.
Guided tours of Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca
You can find several guides who will take you around these areas which are a must in Lisbon but many take larger groups which depersonalizes the experience a little bit. So I have selected for you a private guided tour that I think is much more fun. The guide speaks English, will accept you in groups if you are not more than 3 and will be available all day long to answer your questions and take you to the most beautiful corners of Cascais, Sintra and Cabo da Roca.
This private guided tour lasts 8 hours and you will be picked up at your hotel, a definite plus! You will visit the parks and gardens of Sintra, Cape Roca (the westernmost cape in continental Europe) and the typical town of Cascais. The journey will be along the Tagus River and the sea between Lisbon and Cascais.
Guided tour of Fatima and Batalha
Fatima is a little further north of Lisbon, but for many of you it is inconceivable not to go there before leaving. You don’t know how to get there? What to visit? Where to start? That’s the purpose of this article. I have selected for you a guided tour of Fatima in the Lisbon area with a English speaking guide who will pick you up directly at your hotel to start the tour. You will visit not only the sanctuary of Fatima but also the monastery of Batalha and other important Portuguese religious sites.
Places steeped in history that you will be able to discover during an 8-hour day with your local guide. As a reminder, the Monastery of Batalha is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, nothing less!
Guided tour of Tomar: a day with the Templars
Not all guides accompany you to the historic buildings of Portugal, unlike the one who organizes this guided tour in Tomar, north of Lisbon.
This city is little known and yet has a lot to offer. Your car will pick you up from your hotel here as well to start the adventure. The tour lasts a full day and your English guide will take you to discover the history of the Portuguese Templars. You will visit some of the largest caves in Portugal, explore the Templar headquarters or the Almourol castle located in the middle of a river, all accompanied by a professional and knowledgeable guide to take you to the heart of these places steeped in history.
Guided tour of Lisbon wines
We tend to forget that, as in some european countries, Portugal is recognized throughout the world for the quality of its wines. Wineries all around Lisbon take advantage of a favourable climate all year round to offer tasty, authentic wines steeped in a strong traditional family culture. I propose below some guided tours around Lisbon for wine tasting days that will make your trip to the region unforgettable.
Guided tour of the vineyard of Arrábida
Arrábida is generally better known and coveted for its beaches and natural park. But this guided tour that I have selected for you is mainly for wine lovers. This tour lasts 9 hours, will start at your hotel when your guide will pick you up and take you directly to the Livramento market via the Vasco da Gama bridge (The longest bridge in Europe). After discovering one of the most beautiful markets in the world, you will head to the Arrábida Natural Park for a guided tour of a family winery that produces a wine that won several prizes at the Brussels International Wine Competition: you will taste 5 different wines and you will have the opportunity to stop at the Castle of Sesimbra.
After lunch in a typical and picturesque village of the region, your private guide will take you to the José Maria de Fonseca winery for a new wine tasting of Lisbon region wines. You will also visit a tile factory and their artisanal production method which is the pride of Portugal. Your visit will end with a stop at Cristo Rei and its panoramic view of the Portuguese capital. A beautiful visit to combine wine tasting and the discovery of the most beautiful corners of the Lisbon region.
Guided tour of Évora and wine tasting
Évora is a beautiful city to visit in the Lisbon area. It is classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and not for nothing. This guided tour of Évora will start at your hotel where your guide will pick you up and bring you back at the end of the day. You will be able to climb on the roofs of the cathedral of Évora, visit an authentic Roman temple (temple of Diana), visit the chapel of the bones, discover the village of Arraiolos and its craftmanship but also and above all participate in a tasting of wines and olive oils which are the pride of the city.
During this visit, you will go to an old rest home for the Jesuits. This wine press has been absorbing the wine production of the region since 1776. You will visit the facilities, discover the methods of production of wine bottles in this region of Lisbon and participate in a tasting of these wines and olive oils.
Guided tour and tasting of Alentejo wines
Be accompanied by a private English speaking guide who will make you discover and taste the wines of two emblematic places of the Lisbon region: Setubal and Alentejo. This guided tour will start at your hotel from where you will be directly picked up. This tour offers you the opportunity to discover the landscape and history of southern Lisbon while stopping in the Alentejo and Setubal Peninsula to visit two vineyards and taste award-winning wines such as Moscatel. Your guide and the speakers will be able to share with you all the secrets of how these Portuguese wines are made and the passion for wine that drives this region of Lisbon. You will have lunch in a local and typically Portuguese restaurant to discover the true gastronomy of Portugal.
Guided tour of Lisbon in the evening
You may have planned to book a guided tour of Lisbon and its region during the day but it would be a shame not to discover what the city has to offer at night. The Portuguese capital is known for its breathtaking scenery and panoramic views. Imagine that this city lights up at night and that its landscapes offer a new face, that the streets come to life to the rhythm of Fado and that the nocturnal atmosphere so much appreciated by the Portuguese is gradually taking hold in the capital. Would you like to discover this second Lisbon but don’t know where to start? I offer you below a 5-star selection of guided tours of Lisbon in the evening and at night.
Guided gastronomic tour of Lisbon in the evening
I have proposed above a discovery of the best Portuguese flavors but in daylight. This time it is at night that you will be able to go to bars, cafes or typical restaurants of Lisbon to taste all the richness of its gastronomy. This guided tour lasts 4 hours and is conducted by a professional guide who will be able to guide you to the unmissable places but also to advise and inform you about the history of gastronomy in Portugal and Lisbon.
You will taste typical meat and fish dishes, wines, cheeses and other specialities that will delight your taste buds! This gastronomic guided tour of Lisbon will start with an aperitif with a breathtaking view of the Tagus. An activity not to be missed!
Information and Booking (This guided tour is no longer available)
Guided tour of the Lisbon coast
Here I don’t really offer you a tour of Lisbon with a guide, but rather a romantic moment that deserves to be known! This particular visit is a magical moment to share with your partner along the coasts of the capital, and it has been very popular with those who have been tempted before you. You will indeed spend a night together in the luxury cabin of a yacht entirely privatized for you and for the occasion. A 5 star accommodation with a welcome drink, a skipper attentive to your needs & service and a delicious dinner & breakfast on board.
Your adventure will start at the Doca de Belem and will take you off and along the Portuguese coast to discover Lisbon in a different way. The tour has 5 stars and I am personally very tempted by a reservation I will make soon!
Guided tour of Lisbon by Tuk Tuk by night
I did say that I won’t talk about a guided tour of Lisbon in Tuk Tuk as I already have a dedicated page for that which proposes a lot of nice tours, very well rated and proposed by English guides. But I haven’t selected any to visit Lisbon by night. So I propose you this one. You will be able, in groups of 3 people and during one hour, to visit Lisbon by night and discover the city differently. Your guide will take you through streets, alleys and small squares that only a Tuk Tuk can reach, learn more about the city thanks to the experience of your guide and discover the charming panoramic views of the city at night: it is illuminated and will show you a whole new face.
This tour is offered with a 100% electric Tuk Tuk!
Guided tour of Fado in Lisbon
Fado is a typically Portuguese music that you won’t find anywhere else. It has been able to please and to make adepts over time thanks to the singers who interpret it and live it. This music has a real history that many tourists in Lisbon want to discover before leaving. This is what the different Fado tours I have selected offer you. Whether in the streets, in restaurants, on stage or in emblematic places of the capital: Fado will have no more secrets for you!
Guided walking tour in the fado’s footsteps
This very special guided tour of Lisbon deserves to be known for its difference and the private guide is absolutely passionate about what she teaches you. Many tourists come to discover Fado in practice with a concert but as I said Fado also has a soul and a history. It is this history that you can discover with this guided tour of Fado in Lisbon. It lasts 3 hours during which you can walk through the streets, squares and alleys of the capital in the footsteps of this typically Portuguese musical genre.
The special feature of this tour is that you are accompanied by a singer who will be happy to answer with passion all your questions about Fado in Lisbon. On the programme: visit the essential places in the history of Fado, discover Portuguese flavours in an authentic Fado house in the Alfama district and stroll through the Mouraria district.
Night visit of Lisbon with Fado dinner
As I was saying, Fado has a history but it’s also and above all a beautiful music carried by the singers who bring it to life on stage. Coupled with the beauty of Lisbon and the good comments of those who took part, there is no doubt that this night tour of Lisbon with Fado dinner will leave you with a delicious souvenir of your visit to Lisbon. On the programme: visit the capital’s emblematic places in the middle of the night, discover the panoramic landscapes from a different angle with the capital’s illuminations and dine with a Fado show in a typical Lisbon restaurant.
This activity will answer the question of what to do in Lisbon perfectly. Allow a total of 4 hours and memories to fill your head!
