8 awesome tours in Lisbon you need to check out

If there’s one thing Lisbon is famed for – besides pasteis de nata and ginjinha – it’s hills. Boy, are there a lot of them! These electric bike tours make the slopes a bit more manageable. They’ll let you explore Alfama, Bairro Alto and Chiado with ease, before riding to landmarks like Lisbon Cathedral and heading up to the highest points of the city at the Church of Santa Engrácia and the São Vicente Monastery.

Time Out tip: Reserve your energy for riding up to the highest points in the city, including the São Vicente Monastery and the National Pantheon.

Join a local guide and experience Lisbon through your taste buds. Venture to a ‘garrafeira’ (wine cellar) to try port in an authentic habitat, before heading to Mouraria to delight in a spot of tapas alongside lovely views across the Tagus. 

Time Out tip: It’s worth noting that these culinary tours run through the day and night.

See the city at your own pace on a hop-on-hop-off bus tour. Once you’ve got your ticket, you’ll have 24 hours to explore Lisbon, utilising the four bus routes that stop at historic sites and attractions. These include Marques do Pombal Square, Tower Vasco da Gama and the Ocenarium. Buses run every 30 minutes.

Time Out tip: You can extend your adventure with an optional boat tour and also secure discounts on museums, monuments, restaurants and shops with a standard ticket. 

Discover the best of Lisbon’s wine, pastries and other delicious delicacies with an expert guide leading you through a selection of the city’s traditional eateries. As well as giving your taste buds a well-earned treat (don’t worry, you can walk it off!), your guide will explain the origins of Portuguese grub and advise on where to eat for the remainder of your trip.

Time Out tip: Use this as a way to make some friends if you're a solo traveller – what better way to bond than over some good food? 

The old trams running up and down the epic hills of Lisbon have been doing so since 1873 – so not only will they take you to historical points, but they’re historical points of interest in themselves! If you want to ride them all day (as well as the open-top tour buses), get a combination hop-on hop-off ticket; it lets you easily get to places like Belem and Rossio Square, and visit the Oceanarium and Estrela Park.

Time Out tip: Access three different tours of Lisbon with a 48-hour ticket. 

Tackle ten great Lisbon bars and restaurants in one tour. Led by an expert, you’ll be taken around, tasting authentic Portuguese food and drink as you go. Your guide will tell you all about the origins of items such as moelas (a chicken gizzard stew: yum!), pastel de bacalhau (cod fritters) and the famous custard tart: pasteis de nata.

Time Out tip: Have no fear veggies – this tour's for you too, with meat-free alternatives at every stop. 

If you want to give your knackered legs a rest, hop on this cruise along the river. The Tagus provides a relaxing way to see the city – hop on and off as you please at prime spots, including the UNESCO World Heritage site Belém Tower, the Cristo Rei Christ monument, and Jerónimos Monastery. There’s also audio commentary on the boats.

Time Out tip: This ticket is well worth the price – it includes access to public trams, funiculars and the Santa Justa Lift. 

Forget the food and historic spots of Lisbon – this tour will take you on a distinctly arty journey through the capital. Journalist and tour guide Vasco T Rodrigues leads his audience through the city via striking street art, explaining the history of Lisbon’s urban art movement and discussing the noted local artists responsible for this thriving scene.

Time Out tip: Try and pick out the newest art works from the bunch, as freshly painted murals are constantly emerging.