Alfama And Old City, Spanish

Overview

This Spanish-language walk starts on Commerce Square, next to the equestrian statue in the square, where the guide waits with a yellow Revolutours umbrella. From there it moves through the old city: Casa dos Bicos, the old Jewish quarter street, Largo de São Miguel, and then the alleys of Alfama itself, with viewpoints along the way that look out over the Tagus. The full route has 8 stops, and the GuruWalk listing shows the first 3.

Along the way the guide covers the layers of the neighbourhood's history, from Roman and Arab times through the medieval period, with the Roman Theatre, Lisbon Cathedral and Saint Anthony's Church all named on the route. Saint George's Castle appears from the outside only, so no castle ticket is involved. The route runs through cobbled streets and narrow alleyways, as the GuruWalk listing describes.

The tour runs in Spanish only and lasts 2 hours 30 minutes. Booking is free on GuruWalk and guests pay the guide what they think the walk was worth at the end.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Commerce SquareFind the guide with a yellow Revolutours umbrella in Commerce Square, next to the equestrian statue in the square.
2. Casa dos BicosThe first stop is Casa dos Bicos, which also houses the José Saramago Foundation.
3. Largo de São MiguelThe walk continues into Alfama as far as Largo de São Miguel.
4. Portas do Sol ViewpointThe third listed stop is the Sun Gates Viewpoint, one of the viewpoints that look out over the Tagus. The GuruWalk listing notes the full route has 8 stops and shows only the first 3.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points before you reserve a spot on this walk.

• Spanish only. The tour runs in Spanish, so it is the right pick for Spanish speakers or anyone comfortable following a guide in that language. The GuruWalk listing states the language plainly, with no bilingual option mentioned.
• Walking pace. Expect 2 hours 30 minutes on foot through the old city and Alfama's lanes.
• Finding the guide. The meeting point is Commerce Square, next to the equestrian statue in the square. The guide carries a yellow Revolutours umbrella, which is the detail to look for in a busy square. Arriving with the umbrella description in mind makes the meeting straightforward.
• Guides rotate. Reviews name different guides, so the person leading your walk may vary. Judge the walk on the format rather than on a specific guide's name.
• Open viewpoints. Nothing is listed as included on the walk, so plan for anything you might need along the way.

Common issues. The GuruWalk listing does not mention any included extras, food, drinks or entry tickets, so plan for those separately. Saint George's Castle is seen from the outside only, which matters if you expected a castle visit. The route has 8 stops but only the first 3 are published in advance, so the later part of the walk is not detailed ahead of time. No suitability information for children or limited mobility is given, and the route runs through cobbled streets and narrow alleyways, so anyone with concerns should weigh that before booking. The tour is in Spanish only, with no other language offered on this walk.

What To Know Before You Walk