Alternative Side Walking Tour

Overview

This walk starts at Martim Moniz, beside the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde, where the guide sets up the theme: Lisbon's place in European underground culture and the difference between graffiti, urban art, and artistic intervention. From there it heads into Mouraria, described by the operator as a multicultural and soulful neighbourhood, and continues through Graça towards its viewpoints. The guide is easy to spot under a blue umbrella in front of the chapel.

The route is built around specific works rather than general sightseeing. You stop at Largo da Severa for Camila Watson's tribute to the fadistas, see VHILS's carved faces on Rua dos Lagares, pass an open-air gallery on the Caracol da Graça stairs, and reach Miradouro da Graça, where Aka Corleone's mural sits beside the view. Later stops include Leonor Brilha's embroidery-inspired work in Beco dos Peixinhos, Bordalo II's "Ferry" on Rua do Sol à Graça, and works by Obey, Add Fuel, Oze Arv, and Daniel Eime, before the walk ends at Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte.

The whole thing runs 2 hours 30 minutes, in English, and is listed on GuruWalk. It suits travellers who want the creative, rebellious side of the city rather than the standard monuments. Reviewers describe the street art as interesting and the tour as entertaining. Booking is free and you pay the guide what you think the walk was worth at the end.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Martim MonizThe group gathers by the Chapel of Nossa Senhora da Saúde, where the guide waits with a blue umbrella and opens with an introduction to street art in Lisbon.
2. Beco SurradoresA walk through Mouraria's alleys, where works by Gagosh, Losk, and Mário Dionísio open a discussion on the legitimacy and ethics of street art.
3. Largo dos TrigueirosA stop at Magda Sayeg's urban knitting, yarn wrapped around the urban landscape, showing how street art can soften the city.
4. Largo da SeveraCamila Watson's tribute to the fadistas anchors a conversation about identity, tradition, fado, and cultural resistance in Mouraria.
5. Rua dos LagaresVHILS's "Olhares Anónimos" carves anonymous faces into the wall, prompting questions about who inhabits and transforms the city.
6. Caracol da GraçaAn open-air gallery on the stairs, with works by artists including uTOPÍA and MOULIN, showing how everyday corners become spaces of collective expression.
7. Miradouro da GraçaAka Corleone's "Desasosiego" sits beside one of the city's emblematic views, with talk of art, landscape, and literature.
8. Rua do Sol à GraçaAfter Vila Bertha and Beco dos Peixinhos, the route reaches Bordalo II's "Ferry", a piece built on material reuse and environmental critique.
9. Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do MonteThe tour ends at a spot the operator calls one of the most spectacular points in Lisbon, tying together the art, memory, and neighbourhood change seen along the way.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points will help you get the most from this walk.

• Pace and terrain. The walk lasts 2 hours 30 minutes and runs from Martim Moniz through Mouraria and Graça. Part of the route follows stairs, including the Caracol da Graça.
• Route can change. The GuruWalk listing states that stops may change depending on the guide leading the tour, weather, and local events. If one specific mural matters to you, ask the guide before the walk begins to confirm it is on the agenda.
• Language. The tour runs in English. Travellers who do not speak English comfortably should check the GuruWalk listing for any other language options before reserving.
• Photography. The route passes two major viewpoints, Miradouro da Graça and Miradouro de Nossa Senhora do Monte, so there are plenty of photo stops. The murals themselves, from VHILS to Bordalo II, are also worth photographing.
• Weather. Weather can affect the stops, as the operator notes on GuruWalk. Much of the walk is outdoors on streets and stairs, so bring something for sun or rain depending on the forecast.
• Paying the guide. Booking is free and you pay the guide what you think the walk was worth at the end. Reserve your spot on GuruWalk, where the pay what you want model is explained on the walk's own page.

Common issues. The operator is upfront on GuruWalk that the stops may change depending on the guide leading the tour and on conditions such as weather and local events, so a specific mural you hoped to see is not guaranteed. There is no pickup: everyone meets at Martim Moniz by the chapel. The route involves stairs, including the Caracol da Graça, which may not suit every traveller. No food, drink, or entry fees are mentioned as included, so plan for those separately.

What To Know Before You Walk