In a nutshell
- First time in Lisbon and want to make the most of it? Book a guided city tour — it’s the fastest way to get your bearings and discover the highlights.
- A classic walking tour of Lisbon is our top pick for first-timers — it covers the key sights and is available with a guide in multiple languages.
- Rather skip the walking? You can explore on an e-bike tour of Lisbon, zip through the old quarter by tuk tuk, or watch the sunset from a sailboat on the Tagus.
- Below we walk you through all seven of our favorite Lisbon tours — including some genuinely unique options you might not have considered.
Guided Tours of Lisbon in German
If you’re on your first short trip to Lisbon, a walking tour of Lisbon is honestly one of the best ways to start. You’ll hit the most important sights in Lisbon and get a real feel for how the city fits together.
Many of the guided tours in Lisbon can be booked with a German-speaking guide, which is a huge bonus if you want to catch every detail.
The walking tour covering Lisbon’s history, anecdotes, and lifestyle is a great example — you can request a German-speaking guide. The tour runs three hours and includes delicious Pastéis de Nata and coffee. Yes, please!
You can book it as a group tour or as a private guided tour. Group tours are more affordable, but with a private tour you’ll have your guide all to yourself — perfect for asking as many questions as you like.
Private tours are especially worth it if you’re traveling with a group or your family.
Book the guided walking tour of Lisbon
Boat Tours on the Tagus
Boat tours in Lisbon are a fantastic way to see the city’s highlights from a completely different angle. The Tagus River runs right through the city, so you’ll cruise past some of the top sights without even having to walk.
Most boat trips depart from near Cais do Sodré and Praça do Comércio. From there you’ll glide past the Cristo Rei statue, under the Ponte 25 de Abril, and all the way out to Belém.
One tour we really love is a sunset boat tour in Lisbon. Sunsets here are seriously magical, and watching one from a sailboat on the Tagus is an experience you won’t forget.
Of course, you can also catch the sunsets from one of the many viewpoints in Lisbon and do the boat tour during the day instead — for example with the Yellow Boat Lisbon.
Book the sunset sailing tour of Lisbon
Book the daytime boat tour of Lisbon
Read all our tips for boat trips in Lisbon
Bike Tours of Lisbon
We’re big fans of sightseeing by bike. You cover ground faster than on foot and can reach tucked-away corners that a bus simply can’t get to.
On top of that, cycling is a super fun activity in Lisbon — and you don’t need to be particularly fit to enjoy it. Seriously!
Book an e-bike tour of Lisbon and you’ll tackle the city’s famous hills without breaking a sweat. Or go for a bike tour to Belém — you’ll ride along a beautiful riverside promenade the whole way.
Book the e-bike tour of Lisbon
Book the bike tour from Lisbon to Belém
Street Art Tours in Lisbon
Lisbon is one of those cities where extraordinary street art turns up on almost every corner.
What makes a street art walking tour so great isn’t just that your guide handpicks the most stunning murals and tile art for you — you’ll also learn about the artists behind the work and the political stories they’re telling.
Your guide will take you to spots where spray-painting is officially permitted, so you can watch artists at work in real time. Along the way, you’ll also experience the Alfama and Bairro Alto neighborhoods from a much more authentic angle.
For a first visit, we recommend the Kickstart Street Art Walking Tour — it’s a fantastic introduction to Lisbon’s street art scene.
If the subject really grabs you, the more in-depth small-group street art tour of Lisbon is absolutely worth it.
Book the Kickstart Street Art Walking Tour in Lisbon
Book the small-group street art tour in Lisbon
Tuk Tuk Tours of Lisbon
Tuk tuks have become a seriously popular way to get around Lisbon over the past few years. Unlike their Asian counterparts, they run on electricity, making them very eco-friendly.
They fit up to six people, so a tuk tuk ride works really well for a family trip to Lisbon too.
Our favorite pick is the guided tuk tuk tour along the route of Tram 28E. It’s especially enjoyable in the hot summer months when the actual tram is packed to the brim. Your guide will share plenty of stories and insider tips along the way.
And the best part: you can request a German-speaking guide for this one.
Book the Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour along the route of the 28E
Culinary Tour of Lisbon
Pastéis de Nata, gorgeous port wine, and fresh fish — getting hungry already? On a culinary tour of Lisbon, you won’t just hear about Portuguese specialties — you’ll actually taste them.
Over three hours, your guide will lead you through exclusive gourmet shops, traditional tascas, and historic cafés. You’ll sample chouriço, bacalhau, Portuguese coffee, and ginjinha liqueur along the way.
Your guide will also share insider knowledge about Portuguese food culture and point you toward authentic local restaurants in Lisbon you might not find on your own.
At 68 euros, it might look pricey at first glance — but think of it as a guided tour and a very generous lunch or dinner rolled into one. The value for money is excellent.
Book the culinary tour of Lisbon’s historic center
Hop-on/Hop-off Tours in Lisbon
A super convenient way to explore Lisbon is by hop-on/hop-off bus. You’ll pass by many of the city’s major highlights and can jump on and off whenever you feel like it.
There’s no live guide, but the buses feature audio commentary in multiple languages. You can buy hop-on/hop-off bus tickets for Lisbon valid for one or more days.
And because Lisbon has so many narrow streets, there’s even a hop-on/hop-off tram in Lisbon that winds its way through the old quarter.
Good to know: With the Lisboa Card you’ll get about 15% off the Yellow Bus hop-on/hop-off tours.
Read all our tips on hop-on/hop-off in Lisbon
Extra Tip: Guided Day Trips from Lisbon
Once you’ve done one of the best Lisbon tours and ticked off the major highlights, you should seriously consider a day trip from Lisbon.
There are some really cool excursions into the surrounding area you can book right in the city. The most popular destinations are Sintra, Cascais, and Cabo da Roca.
Book the guided day trip from Lisbon to Sintra, Cascais, and Cabo da Roca
For something a little off the beaten path, consider a day trip to Fátima, Batalha, Óbidos, and Nazaré — you’ll be picked up right at your hotel in Lisbon.
From Lisbon: Day trip to Fátima, Batalha, Óbidos, and Nazaré
More of a nature lover? Head to the Arrábida Nature Park — home to Praia dos Galapinhos, one of the most beautiful beaches near Lisbon. You can book a kayak tour with pickup in Lisbon.
From Lisbon: Kayak tour in Arrábida Park
Do you already know where you want to stay in Lisbon?
If not, check out our guides on budget hotels in Lisbon, cool boutique hotels in Lisbon, and the best neighborhoods to stay in Lisbon. We share lots of personal recommendations in each one.
