Lisbon Chillout Tours

27/01/2025

If you ever walked along the riverfront from Praça do Comércio towards Alfama, you probably noticed this beautiful building: Sul e Sueste Station.

Originally built in 1929, having started out as the heart of the Portuguese capital's river supply played an important role in the connection to other cities across the river.

More recently it was renovated (reopened in 2021) and started being used for the touristic boat organising tours along the Tejo river.��Inside you can find amazing tile work of cities in the Alentejo and Algarve region, an exhibition telling you more about the station, the rich ecosystem of the river and some information about the cities across the river.

In one of the rooms, a big interactive maps of Lisbon, surrounded by amazing tiles.

In the facilities there is also a tourist point of information, souvenir shop, coffee shop and WC (0.50€).

If you are around, definitely recommend to stop by and take a look!

23/01/2025

Did you know…
That is still possible to find public laundry rooms where people still go there and wash their clothes by hand? This one in particular is in Alfama.

20/01/2025

Public WC in Lisbon

While exploring Lisbon you will probably find your self looking for a public restroom. It’s a reality, the city is not full of options and most of the available WC for the general public are paid (usually something between 0.50€-1€).
Due to the lack of options is very common to use the coffee shops as a resource, but please remember, they are not obliged to let you use their facilities if you are not a customer. A good option is to buy coffee to go, water, small pastry…Most of the times they are nice and don’t even ask for anything but if that’s the case, you can always leave a small tip.

In the (few) free public WC you will find in the city, there’s usually a basket where you can live a tip for the workers that maintain the service running but it’s not mandatory.
When payment is mandatory, you will have a sign or access turnstiles.

Here is a list of some options (free/paid) that you can find the city center of Lisbon:

- Praça Luis de Camões (free)
- Largo do Carmo (free)
- Armazéns do Chiado (inside the shopping center - free)
- Tourist Point of Information Praça do Comércio (paid)
- Sexiest WC on Earth by Renova at Praça do Comércio (paid - the most expensive one)
- Estação Sul-Sueste
- Jardim da Graça (Free)

Additionally, there are some apps like “Flush” (amongst many others) that will give you location for WC in the city. It might be a bit confusing to understand how much you have to pay (when it’s the case), and we believe some of them are inside shops (not a perfect app) but can be helpful.

19/01/2025

17/01/2025

If you are looking for something different to do while exploring Lisbon on Saturday, check out “Feira dos Alfarrabistas” (Antique book fair) in Chiado.

You will find different stalls with old books, special editions (mostly in Portuguese but several options in English, French…) and also paintings, postcards, old photographs…can be a good place to find a different souvenir for a book or antiques lover.

Right next to it, you will find Bertrand - the oldest bookshop in the world and check their very good book selection.

Tip: don’t forget, if you buy a book at Bertrand, don’t forget to ask for the stamp sayin that it was bought in the oldest bookshop in the world!

If you combine the 2 is a great program while strolling around the neighborhood.

The Antique book fair takes place:
📅 every Saturday.
🕚 From 10 AM to 5 PM
📍Rua Anchieta, Chiado neighborhood, right next to Baixa-Chiado metro station.

12/01/2025

One of our favourites things to do is exploring the narrow alleys in the city, specially in neighbourhoods like Alfama, Mouraria… have you been to this one? Would you dare to adventure yourself and get lost in the oldest neighbourhoods of the city?

07/01/2025

Today, another one of those typical Portuguese dishes that may not be everyone’s cup of tea. “Iscas de fígado” which is basically liver (pork or beef) and it comes cooked with an amazing sauce. Sauce usually consists in garlic, olive oil, a bit of butter, bay and a splash of vinegar and paprika. If it’s “iscas de cebolada” add sautéed onions to the mix. May not look the most appealing dish when you look at it, but is full of flavour. And of course, a piece of bread dipped in that sauce. Yum! 🤤 have you tried?

01/01/2025

When planning for a new trip is to a city like Lisbon, is very common to consider a walking tour to explore it. Even though it has a lot of hills, it’s very walkable and easy to navigate.

If you like walking, it can be perfect way to get oriented, get some local insight - a great alternative for sightseeing.

If you are thinking about booking a walking tour here are some things to consider:

- Great way to explore the city with a guide, learning about history, culture, people, food, architecture through your guide’s perspective
- Can cover the main neighborhoods of the city so in around 3 hours you get an overview of the city
- Can take you to places that cars/buses/tuktuks can’t
- Feel the vibe of the city
- Perfect to get information and context on the places you stop by but at the same time good for sightseeing and amazing pictures
- Great way to have local tips and recommendations for your stay

1. Is a walking tour a good fit for everyone? 2. Is age a factor to decide? 3. Can children have an enjoyable experience? 4. Is it possible to tour with babies?

1.The answer to the first question is generally, yes, we welcome everyone on the tours!
However, if you have severe mobility issues or conditions that will affect walking ability. If you have trouble walking, a walking tour may not be the best option as you won’t be able to fully enjoy the experience or even worsen your condition.

2.Regarding age, from our experience more than the age itself what may condition it’s one’s personal fitness level and physical condition. We have people from all age ranges. Toddlers to 90 years old participants that are able to complete the tour without complaints.

3. Very commonly we get the question about children. This is another case where answer is not linear. We have a lot of children on the tours and generally they are able to keep up and older ones truly enjoy the experience, they can be the best participants posing very interesting questions and adding very refreshing perspectives. Some even say they would like their classes to be like the tours. So when deciding, you should consider your kids interests, if they enjoy walking around and their ability/ options to be entertained along the way.

4.In the specific case of babies, the issues may be more related with the city itself than the atmosphere of the tour. Lisbon in particular is not very stroller friendly due to the uneven cobblestones, narrow sidewalks and some unavoidable stairs. However it’s doable (we have a lot of families with strollers on tours, just need to be carried in some portions of the route). A good alternative, can be a baby carrier.

When is recommended to do a walking tour?

There is not a definitive answer to this question, but there are a few advantages of taking a waking tour on your first/first full day in the city. And why?
- Is a great introduction to the city: will give you a historical introduction, context to what you see in the next days and a perspective of the city from a local guide
- Good to get your bearings: understanding the geography of the city and different neighborhoods.
- You can choose your favorite places and return after the tour to explore by yourself
- Perfect to get recommendations from your guide in terms of things to do, practical questions, restaurants, food...

However, important to say that everyone travels different and sometimes jet lag can be a decisive factor so maybe better to take it light when you arrive, rest and start the next day fresh walking around the city!
Needless to say this is not a rule and every day can be good day for a walking tour!

What type of tour should I choose? Group tour Vs Private tour.

A group tour is a good option to meet other people and to have a more diverse atmosphere while walking around. It’s a very popular option for example for solo travelers, even though we have couples, families, friends…In our case, the group tours are Free Walking Tours which give you also set of “freedoms”that regular groups tours don’t have as more flexibility when booking the tour, the freedom to decide how much to pay the guide and leave whenever you need (never forgetting to recognize the value of the guide’s work).

However, if you join a group tour, there will more people that the guides have to cater and attend to, so they cannot be fully customized to each participant.

The private tours are in this sense a perfect option if you want an option that caters only to you and your group whether we are talking about special interests, slower or faster pace, stops along the way, some specific places to you want to include or even customize the starting time, duration and meeting point of your tour.

We hope that the general explanation helps to shed some light on the subject but feel free to ask more information, or specific questions that you might have. We are happy to help!

If you are interested in a walking tour, we run tours 365 days/year, twice a day + private walking tours. For more informations about our tours reach out through messenger or contact us through our website: https://lisbon-chillout-freetour.com

See you soon!

31/12/2024

Metro service during NYE!

If you are planning to use the Metro, keep in mind that the service will be operating in different schedules.

Terreiro do Paço station will be closed at 5 PM due to the NYE celebrations.

Blue and Green lines will extend their service hours until 3 AM in some stations (as in the picture attached).

Enjoy and Happy New Year!

26/12/2024

Countdown for New Years eve is on! If you are in Lisbon, there main event will be at Praça do Comércio. There will be concerts (Portuguese music) and fireworks show at midnight!
The first concert will be held at 9:30 pm and the second one after the fireworks show.
Car access to the city center can be heavily conditioned so if you cannot walk there, we suggest to take public transportation. There might some changes in the metro/bus scheduling but they haven’t updated on their website yet.

Other than this, you will have some private parties and some restaurants and hotels that will have their special activities, but probably at this moment already sold out or almost fully booked.

21/12/2024

The chill out team wishes you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 🎄
We wanted to thank you for supporting a small local company like ours and wish to welcome you to Lisbon in 2025 whether it’s your first time or retiring visitor.

If you happen to be spending the holidays here in Lisbon you can find us everyday at Praça Luís de Camões Square with tours at 10 am and 3 pm. Just look for the guides with the yellow bag 😉

19/12/2024

If you want a great snack to have a quick bite while enjoying the city, Bifana is a perfect option.

A simple but very tasty pork sandwich that is traditionally served simple but adding cheese is a great option too. You should try it with a bit of mustard and some drops of “piri-piri” sauce! Yum!

The ones in the picture are from “O Trevo” . Bifana ther is light but meat is tender and sauce is great! They usually have lines but you can buy at the counter, take away and have an improvised pic-nic somewhere in the city!

Enjoy!!

09/12/2024

Following up on our previous post, here are some suggestions for the Holiday season whe everything else is closed:

- Wonderland Lisboa: A Christmas Market with food an activities that will be open until January 5th.

- Explore the city walking:
- With a Walking Tour - perfect to get an overview of the city with a local guide, get our bearings, information about history, culture, food, portuguese holiday traditions... and great sightseeing along the way. We do run tours all year round including Holidays.

- Do your own Christmas lights tour:
Start from Wonderland Lisboa and go down avenida da Liberdade
Pass by Restauradores & Rossio and cross the streets of Baixa all the way untill Praça do Comércio and if still full of energy, Chiado area & Praça Luis de Camões.

- Stroll around the historical center:
You can stroll around the river Tejo: From Praça do Comércio do Ribeira das Naus and Cais do Sodré area
You can explore neighborhoods like Alfama, Mouraria or any of your favourite places downtown.

- Enjoy the great viewpoints available in the city (always a plus after going up the hills)

- Explore the are of Parque das Nações and visit "Oceanário de Lisboa" was considered on of the best Aquariums in the world and it's a classic visit during the Christmas holydays, especially for families (but not exclusive, of course). It's open on December 24th, 25th, 31st and January 1st one on the main reasons why became a hit during the holyday season.

- Take advantage of transportation:
-Ride on a tram
- Use the funiculars
- YellowBus Tour (tram, bus or boat)

If you need more information about our tours during the holidays, you can use our website https://lisbon-chillout-freetour.com/ or contact us via email or FB direct message.

06/12/2024

It looks like Christmas in Lisbon already. It’s just around the corner.
As usual our team will be working all throughout the Holyday Season!
If you are looking for something to do on December 24th and 25th and January 1st when most of the attractions will be closed, we will be running our group tours everyday at 10 am and 3 pm.
It is a great way to explore the city during the Holydays in the company of a local which can share with you some of the Holiday season Portuguese traditions along with with history, culture, food, people, while walking through the beautiful city of Lisbon!
Particularly in these days, even though booking is not mandatory, we would recommend you to book in advance as we may have limited availability.
If you want to join us, you can book through our website https://lisbon-chillout-freetour.com/ or you can contact us via Facebook Messenger as well.

Lisbon Free Tours by Locals - Discover Lisbon with the original free walking tour of Lisbon - A Proud Local Prespective with local guides Free Tour Lisbon

04/12/2024

If you are planning to visit Portugal during the holiday season, including Christmas and New Year’s, you are probably wondering how attractions/museums will work these days especially (24th, 25th, 31st December and the 1st of January).
Here is a general idea how things usually work in Lisbon and Sintra.

Most of the museums and attractions will be closed on 25th of December and 1st of January, including:
- Jerónimos Monastery
- Belém Tower
- Tile Museum
- Navy Planetarium

Exceptions:
- St. Jorge Castle: closes on 24th, 25th, 31st of December and 1st of January
- Lisbon Story Center: closes on the 25th of December
- National coach museum: closes on 24th, 25th December and the 1st of January

Sintra
Most of the attractions in Sintra will be closed on the 24th, 25th, 31st of December and 1st of January , including:
- Queluz Palace
- Pena Palace
- Castelo dos Mouros
- National Palace
- Monserrate Palace

Exceptions:
- Quinta da Regaleira and Biester Palace close on the 25th of of December and 1st of January

We hope that it helps! Happy planning! 😉

📸 from Câmara Municipal de Lisboa

25/11/2024

Congratulations, Lisbon! 👏👏👏

Lisbon won the World's Leading Heritage City Destination 2024 Award for the 1st time at World Travel Awards ceremony!

21/11/2024

We mentioned before that Lisbon is an open air museum, full of art: tiles, street art, beautiful door and gorgeous views but we don’t often talk about what we can find underground - the Metro stations (subway stations). A lot of them hold beautiful pieces of art. This great video features several of those beautiful station.
So next time you are using the Metro system, give it a little time to explore what is around! You will be surprised!

https://youtu.be/8fUp-hhdRy8?si=CDnS6LjM4wAk8Nsp

19/11/2024

Lisbon has a lot of Miradouros (viewpoints ) where you can watch a nice sunset but we also love a good one near the river, at Ribeira das Naus. Beautiful, isn’t it? 🤩