Lisbon · Portugal · Updated October 2026

Lisbon audio guidesHear the city where it happened.

30 self-guided audio tours for Lisbon: neighbourhood walks, monuments, museums and the stories behind them. Play them on your phone, walk at your own pace, and ask the guide anything along the way.

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Guides
30
Stops
374
App languages
30+
Offline
Yes

Start here

Three guides for a first visit

Not sure where to begin? These cover the city's best-known places. Press play to hear how the first stop sounds.

15 stops

Lisbon's Highlights

The first-visit route in one guide: Belém Tower, Jerónimos, the riverside, Tram 28, Alfama, São Jorge Castle, Rossio and Avenida da Liberdade.

Open guide
10 stops

Castelo and Alfama

Up the stairs of Alfama to the Santa Luzia viewpoint and São Jorge Castle, past the Sé, the narrow becos and the corners where fado was born.

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10 stops

Jerónimos Monastery

The portals, the royal tombs, the vault and columns, the cloister and the refectory of Lisbon's great Manueline monastery.

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All guides

Every Lisbon guide, by theme

30 guides.

City-wide guides

15 stops

Lisbon's Highlights

The first-visit route in one guide: Belém Tower, Jerónimos, the riverside, Tram 28, Alfama, São Jorge Castle, Rossio and Avenida da Liberdade.

Open guide
12 stops

Tram 28 Annotated Journey

Ride the 28 from Martim Moniz through Graça, Alfama, Baixa, Chiado and Estrela to Prazeres Cemetery, with a story for each stretch of the line.

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Neighbourhood walks

10 stops

Castelo and Alfama

Up the stairs of Alfama to the Santa Luzia viewpoint and São Jorge Castle, past the Sé, the narrow becos and the corners where fado was born.

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10 stops

Baixa & Chiado

From Praça do Comércio and the Rua Augusta arch to Rossio, the Santa Justa lift, Carmo, Bertrand bookstore, A Brasileira and Camões square.

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10 stops

Bairro Alto & Bica

The Santa Catarina viewpoint, the Bica funicular, fado houses, São Roque church, street art and the tascas of the old upper town.

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9 stops

Lapa

The quiet hill of palaces and embassies: Estrela Basilica, the Trinas convent, Rua do Sacramento and a tiled house you will not forget.

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8 stops

Parque das Nações

Expo '98 and after: Oriente station, the Portugal Pavilion, the Oceanário, the water gardens and the view of the Vasco da Gama Bridge.

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Monuments & churches

10 stops

Jerónimos Monastery

The portals, the royal tombs, the vault and columns, the cloister and the refectory of Lisbon's great Manueline monastery.

Open guide
9 stops

Convento do Carmo

The roofless Gothic church left by the 1755 earthquake, its archaeological museum, and the square where the 1974 revolution played out.

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7 stops

Five Churches in Chiado

São Roque, Loreto, Encarnação, Mártires and Sacramento: five churches within a few streets, and what 1755 did to them.

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7 stops

Igreja de São Domingos

A church marked by the Inquisition, the 1506 massacre and a great fire, still standing with its scars beside Rossio.

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9 stops

Igreja de São Roque

A plain Jesuit façade hiding a painted wooden ceiling, the chapel of São João Batista and a collection of sacred art.

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8 stops

Panteão Nacional

Santa Engrácia, the church that took centuries to finish, now Portugal's National Pantheon, beside Campo de Santa Clara.

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Museums & palaces

11 stops

National Coach Museum

From Philip II's 16th-century coach to the triumphal coaches of João V's 1716 embassy to Rome and the mail coach.

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Stories of Lisbon

8 stops

Fado Evening Explained

Where fado comes from, Amália Rodrigues, saudade, the Portuguese guitar, and how to behave in a fado house. Listen before your evening out.

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14 stops

Street Art Tour of Lisbon

Fourteen walls and works: Vhils' Amália portrait in stone, Shepard Fairey's Carnation Revolution mural, Bordalo II and more.

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9 stops

Lisbon Culinary Delights

Tinned fish, the sea on every plate, convent sweets, bifanas, ginjinha, wine beyond port, the tasca and the pastel de nata.

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More guides

34 stops

Lisboa Oriente

From Marquês de Pombal to Parque das Nações, this tour follows the Lisbon that r

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26 stops

Lisbon Traditional

Lisbon’s Castle Line climbs from grand avenues into the city’s oldest hills, mov

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44 stops

Lisbon West Tour

Explore Lisbon, from the Marquês de Pombal roundabout down to Belém and back. Ac

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What to see

Lisbon's must-sees

The places we would put in any first visit. Audio guide marks the ones our guides tell the story of.

Also worth seeing

  • Castle of Saint George Audio guide Audio guideCastelo · about 1.5 h

    Historic hilltop fortress offering panoramic views over Lisbon, archaeological ruins, and shaded courtyard gardens.

  • Belém: maritime history, monuments and the riverBelém · about 45 min

    Scenic riverside walk connecting Belém's monumental maritime landmarks, historic monastery, and famed pastry shops.

  • Miradouro das Portas do Sol Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guideAlfama · about 20 min

    Popular terrace with sweeping views over the red roofs and churches of Alfama to the Tagus.

  • Calouste Gulbenkian MuseumAvenidas Novas · about 2 h

    Renowned museum showcasing an eclectic private art collection surrounded by tranquil landscaped gardens.

All 84 places worth knowing, by area

Ajuda

  • Jardim Botânico da Ajuda

Alcântara

Alfama

Almada

  • Sanctuary of Christ the King

Alvalade

  • Estádio José Alvalade

Avenida da Liberdade

  • Avenida da Liberdade

Avenidas Novas

Bairro Alto

Baixa

Belém

Benfica

  • Estádio da Luz
  • Palace of the Marquises of Fronteira

Bica

Cais do Sodré

Campo de Ourique

Campolide

  • Águas Livres Aqueduct

Cascais

  • Praia de Carcavelos

Castelo

Chiado

Estoril

  • Praia do Tamariz

Estrela

Graça

Monsanto

Mouraria

Parque das Nações

Príncipe Real

Queluz

  • Palace of Queluz

Restelo

  • National Museum of Ethnology

Santa Apolónia

Santos

  • National Museum of Ancient Art

São Sebastião

Where to stay

Lisbon, on the map

For a first visit, the best bases are Baixa, Chiado and Mouraria: the most must-sees within an easy walk.

Map of Lisbon with its neighbourhoods Parque das NaçõesLapa & EstrelaBairro Alto & BicaBaixa & ChiadoAlfama & CasteloAlfamaBaixaChiadoBairro AltoMourariaPríncipe RealBelémAlcântara
Good base to stay Must-see In our audio guides Map © OpenStreetMap contributors

Baixa

★ Good base to stay

A grid of straight streets rebuilt after 1755, opening onto a grand square by the river.

6 of the must-sees within about a 20-minute walk.

Lisbon Baixa Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Praça do Comércio Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Rua Augusta Arch Audio guide Audio guide, Rossio Railway Station, Elevador do Castelo, Teatro Nacional D. Maria II Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Cais das Colunas Audio guide, Ribeira das Naus Audio guide, Igreja da Madalena

Chiado

★ Good base to stay

An elegant area of bookshops, old cafés, theatres and shopping streets between Baixa and Bairro Alto.

6 of the must-sees within about a 20-minute walk.

Rua Garrett Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Teatro Nacional de São Carlos Audio guide, Teatro da Trindade Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Basilica of Our Lady of the Martyrs, Lisboa

Mouraria

★ Good base to stay

A lived-in, multicultural area of steep lanes, small squares and street art, known as a birthplace of fado.

6 of the must-sees within about a 20-minute walk.

Praça Martim Moniz Audio guide Audio guide

Parque das Nações

Built for Expo '98 on former industrial land on the eastern riverfront, with the Oceanário and the long Vasco da Gama Bridge.

Lapa & Estrela

A hillside of palaces, embassies and quiet streets, crowned by the white dome of Estrela Basilica.

Bairro Alto & Bica

Laid out in the 16th century, the upper town is quiet by day and busy at night. The Bica funicular climbs the steep street below it.

Baixa & Chiado

After 1755 the Marquis of Pombal rebuilt the Baixa on a grid of straight streets. Chiado, the old café and bookshop district above it, was rebuilt again after the fire of 1988.

Alfama & Castelo

Lisbon's oldest quarter keeps its medieval street plan and came through the 1755 earthquake better than the flat downtown. São Jorge Castle sits on the hilltop above it.

Alfama

The oldest district, a maze of steep alleys with viewpoints, small fado taverns and a hilltop castle.

Castle of Saint George Audio guide Audio guide, Lisbon Cathedral Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Fado Museum Audio guide, Miradouro das Portas do Sol Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Monastery of São Vicente de Fora Audio guide Audio guide, Igreja de Santo António de Lisboa Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Igreja de Santo Estêvão, Feira da Ladra Audio guide

Bairro Alto

Quiet by day, then a crowded open-air bar scene at night, with a good viewpoint.

Igreja de São Roque Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Ascensor da Glória Audio guide Audio guide, Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara Audio guide

Príncipe Real

A calm area of gardens, boutiques and 19th-century façades, good for slow afternoons.

Principe Real Audio guide, National Museum of Natural History and Science, Lisbon, Cinemateca Portuguesa Audio guide, Hot Club of Portugal

Belém

The riverside district where the ships of the Discoveries set out. The Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower have been UNESCO World Heritage since 1983.

Belém: maritime history, monuments and the river, Belém Tower Audio guide Audio guide, Jerónimos Monastery Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Padrão dos Descobrimentos Audio guide Audio guide Audio guide, Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology Audio guide, Electricity Museum, Praça do Império Audio guide, Afonso de Albuquerque Square Audio guide, Jardim Botânico Tropical

Alcântara

A former industrial waterfront now home to creative spaces, bars and views of the big red bridge.

LX Factory Audio guide, 25 de Abril Bridge, Tapada das Necessidades, Docas de Santo Amaro Audio guide

Plan your visit

Three days in Lisbon with our guides

A simple plan that keeps each day in one part of town, so you walk more and travel less.

Day 1

Baixa, Chiado and Alfama

  1. Baixa & Chiado in the morning
  2. Castelo and Alfama after lunch, uphill to the castle
  3. Fado Evening Explained before a fado evening
Day 2

Belém

  1. Route of the Portuguese Discoveries along the river
  2. Jerónimos Monastery the monastery
  3. National Coach Museum if you still have time
Day 3

Your pick

  1. Tram 28 Annotated Journey across the old city
  2. Bairro Alto & Bica at sunset
  3. Street Art Tour of Lisbon or a day of murals

Wear shoes with grip

Lisbon is built on steep hills, and the stone pavements get slippery, especially when wet.

Download before you go

Download your guides over Wi-Fi. They play outdoors with GPS and no mobile data.

Ride Tram 28 early

The 28 gets crowded in the middle of the day. An early ride is calmer, and the guide works from the street too.

Keep one ear free

Use one earbud in busy streets so you can hear trams and traffic.

When to go

Lisbon, month by month

The most comfortable months for walking are May, June, September and October.

Weather

best months · bar: average high · small: average low · d: days with rain

Source: Open-Meteo historical weather, 2021-2025 averages

Public holidays

Shops, offices and some sights close or keep Sunday hours.

  • All Saints Day
  • Restoration of Independence
  • Immaculate Conception
  • Christmas Day
  • New Year's Day
  • Carnival
  • Good Friday
  • Easter Sunday
  • Freedom Day
  • Labour Day
  • Corpus Christi
  • National Day
  • Assumption Day
  • Republic Day

Dates: date.nager.at · checked October 2026

Getting there & around

From the airport and across town

Our advice first; prices only where we checked them on an official or operator page.

From Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport

  • Lisbon Airport (LIS) is about 7 km north of the centre.
  • The Red Line metro reaches central stations in 20–25 minutes.
  • Santa Apolónia station serves trains from Spain.

Uber / Bolt (rough estimate) from LIS

€8–13

About 35 minutes to the centre. Our estimate from the published rates, not a fixed fare.

Source: slotstvde.pt · checked October 2026

Getting around

  • The metro has four lines. Carris runs buses, trams (including Tram 28) and funiculars.
  • Single tickets cost €1.90.
  • Wear good shoes. The hills are steep and the cobbles are slippery.

Metropolitano de Lisboa / CARRIS

€1.90

A single ticket.

Source: metrolisboa.pt · checked October 2026

Ride apps

Uber, Bolt, FREE NOW work in Lisbon.

Source: slotstvde.pt · checked October 2026

Money, customs & safety

Good to know before Lisbon

Money and customs

  • Waiters often bring bread, olives and cheese you didn't order. They are charged, about €4–7. Say no if you don't want them.
  • For fado, small local taverns, such as those on Rua de São Miguel in Alfama.

Staying safe

  • Pickpockets are active on Tram 28 and in Baixa, Rossio and Martim Moniz. Keep phones in front pockets.
  • Take extra care after dark around Martim Moniz, Intendente and Anjos.
  • Use a taxi or ride-share to get back late at night.

Our tips

  • Visit between mid-May and June, or mid-September and October, for mild weather and smaller crowds.
  • Ride Tram 28 early in the morning, before queues build up by 9am.
  • Load credit on your Navegante card instead of buying single tickets.
  • For a similar view with fewer crowds, go up to Miradouro da Senhora do Monte.
  • Expect long queues at Belém's custard tart bakery. They move fairly fast.

Official travel advice

  • Remain extra vigilant on Lisbon's historic tram network, particularly trams 15, 25, and 28, where pickpockets frequently target crowded passenger compartments. Source: travel.gc.ca
  • Thieves use distraction techniques in teams. Avoid standing right beside public transit doors where thieves grab belongings and run onto platforms as doors open. Source: pt.usembassy.gov
  • Avoid using ATMs in isolated or poorly lit areas. Use indoor bank ATMs whenever possible and never carry all your payment cards together. Source: pt.usembassy.gov
  • Do not engage with street vendors aggressively offering substances downtown; these solicitations often serve as pretexts for distraction theft or fraudulent transactions. Source: pt.usembassy.gov
  • When using taxis, ensure the meter is activated or hail a registered taxi from an official rank rather than unvetted private street solicitations. Source: pt.usembassy.gov

checked October 2026

History

Lisbon in seven moments

The short version. Each moment links to the guide that tells it on the spot.

  1. 1147

    Afonso Henriques takes Lisbon

    The first king of Portugal captures the city with the help of crusaders, and work begins on the cathedral.

    Hear it: Sé de Lisboa: the cathedral →
  2. 1497

    Vasco da Gama sails from Belém

    His fleet leaves the Tagus and reaches India the following year. The spice trade makes Lisbon rich.

    Hear it: Route of the Portuguese Discoveries →
  3. 1500s

    The Jerónimos Monastery rises

    King Manuel I builds the monastery in Belém in the style later named after him, Manueline.

    Hear it: Jerónimos Monastery →
  4. 1755

    The earthquake

    On 1 November an earthquake, a tsunami and days of fire destroy much of the city.

    Hear it: 1755 Lisbon Earthquake →
  5. After 1755

    Pombal's new Baixa

    The Marquis of Pombal rebuilds downtown on a grid, with buildings designed to resist the next quake.

    Hear it: Baixa & Chiado →
  6. 1974

    The Carnation Revolution

    On 25 April a nearly bloodless coup ends the dictatorship. Its last act plays out in Largo do Carmo.

    Hear it: Convento do Carmo →
  7. 1998

    Expo '98

    The world exhibition turns the eastern riverfront into a new district, Parque das Nações.

    Hear it: Parque das Nações →

FAQ

Questions about Lisbon audio guides

How many days do I need in Lisbon?

Four days suits a first visit. Spend two on Alfama, Baixa and Belém, one on Alcântara and Príncipe Real, and one on a Sintra day trip. Under three days feels rushed.

Is Lisbon safe?

Yes, it is generally safe for a European capital. Pickpocketing is the main risk on Tram 28 and in Baixa. Be careful in Martim Moniz, Intendente and Anjos at night.

How do I get from the airport to the centre?

Take the Red Line metro, about 20–25 minutes to central stations. Bus 783 is another option.

When is the best time to visit?

Mid-May to June or mid-September to October. Days are 15–24 °C with fewer crowds. July and August are hot (28–35 °C) and busy.

Is there an audio guide for Lisbon?

Yes. GuideSofia has 30 self-guided audio tours for Lisbon. You play them on your own phone in the GuideSofia app and walk at your own pace.

Do the Lisbon audio guides work offline?

Yes. Download your itinerary and audio guides over Wi-Fi, then use them outdoors with GPS without spending mobile data.

Which languages are the Lisbon guides in?

The guides on this page are in English. In the app, the guide is narrated in 30+ languages.

Is it free?

The GuideSofia app is free to download, and it's free to start your first tour.

Which audio guide should I start with?

If it's your first visit, start with Lisbon's Highlights. If you only have one morning, take Castelo and Alfama: it covers the castle, the cathedral and the oldest streets in the city.

How many days do I need for Lisbon?

Three days is enough to walk the main guides without rushing: Baixa, Chiado and Alfama on day one, Belém on day two, and Tram 28 or Bairro Alto on day three. Add a day if you want to go to Sintra.

Can I ask the guide questions?

Yes. Open the chat in the app and ask about what you are looking at, local history, food or nearby places.

Take Lisbon in your pocket

Download GuideSofia, pick a guide and start walking. It's free to start your first tour.

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