Seven hills, one earthquake and legends that ride up and down on the tram.
Lisbon was Olisipo, al-Ushbuna and the capital of an ocean-facing empire, until the earthquake of 1755 forced it to reinvent itself. Its hills hide a Roman theatre, a battlemented cathedral, roofless ruins and poets' cafés. Three free routes to explore it on foot, at your own pace.
Choose your free tour
All routes are free and can be combined. If it’s your first visit, start with the essentials.
From the great riverside square to the castle walls: Romans, kings, crusaders and the catastrophe of 1755.
From the Inquisition's court to the church that took 284 years to finish: Lisbon's shadows, with the evidence always in view.
Pombaline squares, an iron lift, a roofless convent, the city's finest balcony and Pessoa's café.
The map
The routes cross in the old town. Tap a point to see which story awaits you there.
Filled points already have a published article; the rest are in the works.
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A day in the city
Link the three routes and you will see the best of the city on foot, for free: the essentials in the morning, history in the afternoon and legends as the sun goes down.
Morning
Afternoon
Early evening
Where to eat. Try Pastel de nata at Pastéis de Belém.
What to eat
The dishes you can’t leave without trying, and the classic spots that have been serving them for years.
Crisp puff pastry and an egg custard scorched on top, best warm from the oven with a dusting of cinnamon. The Fábrica de Pastéis de Belém has been baking them since 1837 to a recipe attributed to the monks of the nearby Jerónimos Monastery.
Where to try it
Shredded salt cod with matchstick potatoes, onion and soft-scrambled egg, finished with black olives and parsley. It's one of hundreds of Portuguese cod recipes and was born, so they say, in a Bairro Alto tavern.
Where to try it
A sour-cherry liqueur knocked back in one go, standing in the street, with or without a cherry in the glass. The tiny counter of A Ginjinha on Largo de São Domingos has been pouring it since the nineteenth century.
Where to try it
Garlic prawns, clams Bulhão Pato style and, to finish, a steak in mustard sauce topped with a fried egg. This is beer-hall food, and Cervejaria Trindade has served it since 1836 in the tiled former refectory of a convent.
Where to try it
Lisbon's espresso: short, strong and served in a small cup at any time of day. Ordering one at the counter of A Brasileira in Chiado is almost a ritual.
Where to try it
