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Downtown and Bairro Alto Free Tour: History versus Modern Facts

Duration: 3h
Languages: English, Spanish
Quality Verified Registered on November 19, 2018

Live History is a 100% Portuguese registered trademark and a licensed company by the tourism bureau of Portugal. Learn the history and legends of the old town most representative neighborhoods, told by real local guides (sometimes impersonating Portuguese historical figures), getting a truly personal and insightful view on Lisbon, walking through the city's narrow alleys up and downhill, lost in time on a genuine "back to the past" entertaining and informal guided tour where history, stories, and fun facts combine together. :) For the best tours in Lisbon, look for our white umbrellas at Praça Dom Pedro IV, also known as Rossio. ;) Live History - Live Lisbon

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  • No minimum number of attendees
    No minimum number of attendees is required for the tour
  • Free booking and cancellation
    Free payment tour, no set price, booking and cancellation are free

Tour description

Cross the downtown of the city and discover its most representative neighbourhoods, Baixa, Chiado, Cais do Sodré, Bica, Bairro Alto, all brought up during the discoveries era and risen from the ashes into glory in the romantic period with the reconstruction made after the big earthquake in 1755. 
Learn all about the discoveries, the romantic period, the end of monarchy and the dictatorship and revolution periods. :) 

Learn the history and legends of the old town most representative neighbourhoods, told by real local guides, getting a truly personal and insightful view on Lisbon, walking through the city's narrow alleys up and downhill, lost in time on a genuine "back to the past" tour. :) 

Along the way, we will be visiting points of interest in the historic center of the city on an entertaining and informal guided tour where history, stories, and fun facts combine together. :)

Join us a bit before 10:45 by the statue at the center of Praça Dom Pedro IV. Our team is easy to identify using white umbrellas with our company branding Live History Walking Tours.

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Highlights

What will we visit on this tour?

  • Meeting point:
    Praça Dom Pedro IV 19, 1100-202 Lisbo...
    Praça Dom Pedro IV 19, 1100-202 Lisboa, Portugal
    View on map

    at the center of Praça Dom Pedro IV, our team is easy to identify using white umbrellas with our company branding Live History Walking Tours

  • 1
    Outside visit
    Praça Dom Pedro IV

    Meeting point and introduction to the tour's route. This square was a hippodrome during the Roman period. During the Inquisition period both an Hospital and the Palace of the Inquisition operated on this square till both were destroyed by the big Earthquake in 1755.

  • 2
    Outside visit
    Arco da Bandeira

    formerly known for the "Balcony of the Inquisition" this place allows for an introduction to Lisbon's reconstruction after the big earthquake of 1755 with a modern vision of architecture, the presence of symmetry on street planification and the distribution of types of commerce to each street or quarter which is still present and visible on the current toponymics

  • 3
    Outside visit
    Elevador de Santa Justa

    The Santa Justa Lift is an elevator, or lift, created originally in order to facilitate the movement between the Downtown and Uptown areas of Lisbon. The elevator is a vertical structure, consisting of a metal tower, observation platform, walkway and base, all decorated in a Neo-Gothic style in iron. Since its construction the lift has become a tourist attraction for Lisbon.

  • 4
    Outside visit
    Largo do Carmo

    famous square in the Uptown area of Lisboa where the last decisive moments of the Carnation Revolution (the end of dictatorship in Portugal) took place. Important buildings in this location are the headquarters of the National Republican Guard and the Convent and Church of Carmo a gothic construction famous for still showing heavy signs of the destruction made by the big earthquake in 1775

  • 5
    Outside visit
    Largo Trindade Coelho

    famous square in the Uptown area of Lisbon well known for the statue of the Lottery Man associated with the vicinity of the Holy Mercy (Santa Casa da Misericórdia) which manages gambling in Portugal directing profits to social wellfare and also another statue dedicated to Padre António Vieira, world famous and controversial Jesuit priest. On the same square it's possible to visit the Church of Saint Roch the earliest Jesuit church in the Portuguese world and one of the first anywhere

  • 6
    Outside visit
    Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara

    sightseeing spot that allows a major overlook of the historical city center. usual meeting and ending point of the nightlife at Bairro Alto

  • 7
    Outside visit
    Bairro Alto

    Typical neighbourhood that resulted from urban expansion in the 16th century, forming outside the walls of the historical city, and is characterized by an almost orthogonal tract. Along centuries it has been home to bohemian lifestyles and it's now known as one of Lisbon's most popular nightlife areas

  • 8
    Outside visit
    Luís de Camões Square

    Square with a statue dedicated to Luís Vaz de Camões who is considered the Portuguese language's greatest poet and that wrote a considerable amount of lyrical poetry and drama but is best remembered for his epic work Os Lusíadas whose influence is so profound that Portuguese is sometimes called the "language of Camões". The day of his death, 10th of June , is Portugal's national day. This square is a typical meeting and ending point of the nightlife at Bairro Alto

  • 9
    Outside visit
    Elevador da Bica

    The Bica Funicular, sometimes known as the Elevador da Bica (Bica Lift), is a famous funicular railway line in the historical city center of Lisbon.

  • 10
    Outside visit
    Igreja de São Paulo
  • 11
    Outside visit
    Pink street

    Officially called Rua Nova do Carvalho, this small pedestrian street is better known as “Pink Street” since 2013, when an urban renewal project painted the pavement between the terraces, bars and clubs in pink. It's well known as a trendy nightlife area in Lisbon with bars, restaurants, clubs and concert venues

  • 12
    Outside visit
    Doca da Ribeira das Naus
  • 13
    Outside visit
    Cais das Colunas
  • 14
    Outside visit
    Praça do Comércio

    Praça do Comércio is a large, harbour-facing plaza facing the Tagus (Tejo) to the South. The plaza is still commonly known in Portuguese as Terreiro do Paço as it hosted the Royal Palace of Ribeira until the latter was destroyed by the great 1755 Lisbon earthquake. After the earthquake, the plaza was completely remodeled as part of the rebuilding of the Pombaline Downtown (Baixa), ordered by the Marquis of Pombal

How much does this tour cost?

Free tours do not have a set price, instead, each person gives the guru at the end of the tour the amount that he or she considers appropriate (these usually range from €10 to $50 depending on satisfaction with the tour).

Tour opinions

137 ratings
4.8
By category
Professionalism
4.79
Fun
4.56
Expression
4.64
Quality
4.73
Route
4.75
Generic
5 stars
111
4 stars
21
3 stars
4
2 stars
0
1 star
1
Mollie 19 Apr 2024
Manchester

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Apr 2024
Diego was exceptionally knowledgeable. As with every Guru tour we have taken we come away amazed at the local information given. Would thoroughly recommend.
Bud 17 Apr 2024
Durham

Verified booking
Travelled in group - Apr 2024
Had a great walking tour with Francisco He was informative, funny, knowledgeable, and even sang beautifully for us! Really fun several hours!
Galya 15 Apr 2024
Sofia

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Apr 2024
Very, very good 🤩
Luke 13 Apr 2024
Iklin

Verified booking
Travelled alone - Apr 2024
Nuno was a great guide - very knowledgeable and really helpful and friendly with any questions that the group had - would definitely recommend both the tour and the guide
Martin 11 Apr 2024
London

Verified booking
Travelled in couple - Apr 2024
Great tour, the guides are great and give their all. The tour is free, so you can tip the guide at the end, depending on how good you thought it was.
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Who is this tour for?

Accessibility
Non suitable for people with reduced mobility.
Groups
Does not accept large group reservations.
Pets
Suitable for carrying pets.

What should you know?

Minimum of attendees
There is no minimum number of people required for the tour.
Additional costs:
The tour does not require the payment of entrance fees or additional expenses.
Free cancellation
If you will not be able to attend the tour, please cancel your booking, otherwise the guide will be waiting for you.
Payment methods
Only cash payment is accepted.
When do you want to go?
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