Free Walking Tour in Lisbon

I don’t think you really get to know a place until you hit the streets of the city you’re visiting.  One of the best ways to do that is with a walking tour.  These tours are offered in cities and communities across the world.

I ended up on a free walking tour of Lisbon, Portugal, organized through a group called Chillout Lisbon.  if you haven’t taken a tour like this before, here is what you can expect.

I googled “free walking tours in Lisbon” and found one that fit with my schedule.  The Chillout tour started at 3:00 p.m.  It worked well since we couldn’t check into our hotel yet and had time for a quick lunch.

PRO TIP:  Make sure you have on comfortable clothing and walking shoes for this tour.  You will cover some ground!

The site will tell you the meeting point for your tour.  In Lisbon, it happened to be Praca Luis de Camoes.  It’s a square in Lisbon with a statue in the middle.  The statue is of the 16th-century poet Luis de Camoes.  The pedestal of the statue includes other Portuguese authors.

The next stop is the Bairro Alto district.  While it didn’t look like much during the afternoon, this is a place you’ll want to return to later in the evening.  It has the best nightlife in the city.  The streets are lined with tiny bars.  Because of the size of the bars, people end up spilling onto the narrow streets to celebrate and chat with friends.

Then the guide headed over to Largo do Carmo — another historic square in Lisbon.  This is where you’ll find buildings such as police headquarters and the Guarda Nacional Republicana Museum.  This is where the Carnation Revolution took place in 1974 when Portugal overthrew its dictatorship.

Pro Tip:  Admission to the Guarda Nacional Republicana Museum is free if you’d like to check out what it offers.

Largo do Carmo is also the neighborhood in Lisbon where you’ll find the Igreja do Carmo Church — or what remains of it.  A massive 8.9 earthquake damaged it in 1755.  The roof collapsed, killing hundreds of people worshiping inside.  The candles inside the church and other damaged buildings sparked fires that burned for days.  You will still be able to see the arches that once supported the roof.  The building’s been reinforced and now houses a museum.

The Baixa district in Lisbon is where we spent a lot of time during our stay.  It’s full of shops and restaurants, as well as government and the official gateway to the city.  It’s also a tourist area.  Keep in mind if you eat or shop in Baixa, you will likely be paying more than in other areas of the city.

Only in Lisbon:  If you can find the Ginjinha bar, in the Baixa district of Lisbon, go in an order a glass of Ginja.  It’s a cherry liquor and this bar is the traditional home for the drink.

If you’re looking for a break from Lisbon’s hills, the Baixa district is also where you can find the Santa Justa Elevador.  The lift will take you all the way up to see the Carmo Church … and you won’t have to tackle the massive hill to get there!  There is also a viewing platform at the top of the lift that will give you beautiful views of the city.  The round-trip ride will cost you 5.30 euros … but that also includes admission to the viewing platform.

Pro Tip:  The lifts are included in Lisbon’s public transportation network.  Buy a pass at any metro station for 6.40 euros and it will also include transportation on the Elevador de Santa Justa, the Gloria Funicular, and the number 28 tram.

The final district to explore on the free walking tour is the Alfama district.  You’ll probably get lost here on your own, but everyone eventually finds their way out of the area.  Alfama is one of the oldest districts in Lisbon.  It’s full of hilly, narrow, windy streets.  Look at the tiles and murals as you explore the quaint, friendly, area.  This is also the area where you’ll find Lisbon castle.  It was restored to its original glory in the 1940s.

If you do get lost on your own, just walk downhill and you’ll eventually end up near the water.  Follow that and you’ll end up in the Baixa district.

At the end of the tour, we ended up at a restaurant between Baixa and Alfama with a beautiful view of the water.  Snap all the free pictures you want … and don’t forget to tip your guide for his or her knowledge over the three hour walking tour.