Old Neighborhoods And Stories

Overview

This walk, run by Tours Of My Life and listed on GuruWalk, sweeps through the historic centre of Lisbon in 2 hours 45 minutes: Bairro Alto, Chiado, the Downtown and Alfama. It starts at Praça Luís de Camões, where the team in black shirts and carrying black umbrellas with the Tours Of My Life logo gathers the group. From there the route works through the old quarters, past the Church of São Domingos, the ruins of Carmo Convent, Rossio Station and the Santa Justa Elevator, and through the main squares of the centre, among them Praça Luís de Camões, Largo do Carmo, Rossio, Praça do Comércio and Portas do Sol.

The content is a broad historical arc. Guides cover how the city grew over some 3000 years, the marks left by Romans, Barbarians and Moors, and the figures who shaped Lisbon, from writers and performers to kings and knights. Key chapters of Portuguese history come up along the way, including the 1755 earthquake, the battle of Aljubarrota and the Carnation Revolution.

The tour runs in English, Spanish and French, takes place in the morning, and is free to book on GuruWalk: at the end you pay the guide whatever you felt the walk was worth. Tours Of My Life is officially licensed by Turismo de Portugal, the national tourism office. It suits anyone who wants the main old neighbourhoods covered in a single, well paced morning walk.

Itinerary

1. Meet at Praça Luís de CamõesThe group meets on Praça Luís de Camões in Chiado. Look for the team in black T-shirts with the Tours Of My Life logo, carrying black umbrellas.
2. The old neighbourhoodsThe walk covers Bairro Alto, Chiado, the Downtown and Alfama, with the heritage and the stories of each. The operator's description does not give a fixed order for the neighbourhoods.
3. Monuments of the centreSights shown on the route include the Church of São Domingos, the ruins of Carmo Convent, Rossio Station and the Santa Justa Elevator. The operator names these among the significant monuments of the city centre without giving a sequence.
4. The main squaresThe route takes in the main squares of the centre, among them Praça Luís de Camões, Largo do Carmo, Rossio, Praça do Comércio and Portas do Sol. No stop order is given.

What To Expect From The Tour

A few practical points from the operator's description are worth knowing before you reserve your spot on GuruWalk.

• Morning timing. The operator runs this walk in the morning, when temperatures in the centre are milder. No start time is given, so check the walk's GuruWalk page for the departure you reserve.
• Pace and length. The walk lasts 2 hours 45 minutes and the operator describes it as well paced. It covers a lot of ground across several neighbourhoods, so reasonable stamina for city walking helps.
• Finding the guide. Meet on Praça Luís de Camões and look for the Tours Of My Life team in black T-shirts with black umbrellas. The square is the stated meeting point for every departure.
• Paying the guide. Booking is free and nothing is paid in advance. At the end of the walk you decide what the tour was worth and pay the guide that amount.
• Language choice. The tour is offered in English, Spanish and French. Check the GuruWalk page for the walk to confirm which language applies to the departure you reserve.
• Licensing. Tours Of My Life is officially licensed by Turismo de Portugal, the national tourism office. The guides are local, according to the operator's own description.

Common issues. The limits below come from the operator's own description. No pickup is included: you make your own way to Praça Luís de Camões. The operator does not state a policy on children, accessibility or cancellations, and does not list food, drinks or entry fees as included, so treat anything you buy along the way as your own expense. The walk also depends on the morning slot, which may not suit travellers who prefer an afternoon start.

What To Know Before You Walk