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Offered languages
- Portuguese
- English
- Spanish
Discover the history of Lisbon through its architecture, from Roman remains and the city’s Arab and medieval past to the extraordinary rebuilding that followed the 1755 earthquake.
We will explore the remarkable urban plan of Baixa and its innovative earthquake-resistant construction, discover the flair of 19th-century Lisbon, and venture beyond the usual sights to explore the architecture and urban developments of the dictatorship years.
From there, we will follow Lisbon’s transformation through the late 20th and 21st centuries, from the city’s early embrace of Modernism to the major urban changes that continue to shape Lisbon today.
This tour is ideal for anyone interested in architecture, history, art and Lisbon’s culture and way of life. By exploring very different parts of the city, we will go beyond the main sights to understand how Lisbon has evolved over time.
What's Included
Meeting and pickup
We will meet right at the entrance to Casa dos Bicos. Its facade, with its distinctive diamond-shaped decorations, is a very recognizable landmark.
We’ll finish in Parque das Nações, which has excellent transport connections by metro, train, bus and taxi, making it easy to continue your journey from here.
Itinerary
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1Casa dos Bicos-Museu de Lisboa
Casa dos Bicos is a distinctive historic building beside the Tagus, known for its diamond-patterned stone façade. Inside, we’ll discover around 2,000 years of history, including Roman and Arab remains and parts of Lisbon’s medieval walls.
15 minutes • Admission ticket free -
Lisbon Cathedral (Pass by)
Lisbon Cathedral (Sé) is one of the city’s finest examples of medieval architecture. Built in the 12th century, its Romanesque façade and fortress-like appearance reflect its defensive origins. Inside, we’ll explore how the cathedral evolved over nearly 900 years.
Admission ticket free -
Moorish Quarter Of Lisbon ( Mouraria ) (Pass by)
Mouraria offers a fascinating glimpse of Lisbon before the 1755 earthquake. Once the Moorish quarter of medieval Lisbon, much of its historic street layout survived, along with buildings preserving earlier architectural features. We’ll also see rare examples of pre-18th-century construction designed to withstand earthquakes, offering insight into how Lisbon’s builders responded to seismic risk long before 1755.
Admission ticket free -
Baixa de Lisboa (Pass by)
Baixa is an extraordinary example of 18th-century urban planning and reconstruction following the 1755 earthquake. We’ll explore its carefully organized street grid and the innovative anti-seismic construction techniques used in its rebuilding, including the timber “cage” system that combined architecture and engineering on an unprecedented scale.
Admission ticket free -
Praca Dom Pedro IV (Pass by)
Rossio Square offers a glimpse into Lisbon’s 19th-century additions and cultural influences within the reconstructed city centre. We’ll explore the artistic patterns of Portuguese calçada, the Neoclassical D. Maria II National Theatre, and the view towards the Carmo ruins, which became an expression of the Romantic fascination with ruins after the 1755 earthquake.
Admission ticket free -
Areeiro - Lisbon (Pass by)
Explore Areeiro and the architecture of the Estado Novo dictatorship, including the Portuguese Suave style and the major urban developments that reshaped Lisbon during the 1930s–1960s. This is a more local part of Lisbon, making it a great place to stop for a snack or lunch and experience the neighbourhood at a more relaxed pace.
Admission ticket free -
Instituto Superior Tecnico (Pass by)
Explore how the Estado Novo embraced Modernism in its early years at Instituto Superior Técnico and the nearby Instituto Nacional de Estatística, two important examples of Lisbon’s changing architectural landscape.
Admission ticket free -
Parque das Nacoes (Pass by)
Discover Parque das Nações, where Expo ’98 marked a turning point in the reshaping of Lisbon’s eastern waterfront, transforming a former industrial area into a new urban district that continues to evolve today. We’ll also have the chance to admire the Pavilhão de Portugal, designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Álvaro Siza Vieira.
Admission ticket free
Additional info
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
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Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Cancellation Policy
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
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