Lisbon Jewish History Tour
Lisbon, Portugal
From USD 31.04
Office phone number: +351 968 412 612
Lisbon Jewish History Tour
Lisbon, Portugal
Culture shock rating
Worried we’re going to shock your senses? Relax! We believe part of the fun of travel is immersing yourself in the destination and its culture, meeting the people, and learning what makes the place tick. We’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The cultural shock rating ranks how different the experience is from most Western cultures. But no matter the level, don’t worry, you’ll have a local, in-the-know guide with you every step of the way.
Low
Consider these tours your 101 intro to a place. Transportation might be private or a very comfortable public option, and the activities are usually visits to iconic sites and locations that are familiar to most Western cultures – but that will still give you fantastic insight into a destination.
Medium
Expect to rough it for parts of this tour, whether that’s on a packed public bus or in a local market off the tourist trail. There might be a few language barriers or unfamiliar cultural customs, and you’ll get an experience different from what you're used to at home.
High
You're out there in the global community! We’re going to take you down streets you’d rarely explore on your own, introduce you to local customs and languages, and take you for a ride in whatever transport is available. Get ready to take it as it comes, whatever comes. There might be a shock, but oh man, it’s worth it.
Physical rating
Worried our tours are too tough? Relax! From leisurely strolls to muscle-burning treks, we’ve got a wide range of tours with something for everybody. The physical grading gives you an idea of how much huffing and puffing you can expect on the tour.
Low
Slow and steady is all you need here. These tours have very limited physical activity, such as walking relatively flat streets, sites, or markets, and climbing in and out of the transport provided.
Medium
Not too hard, not too soft, these tours are just right! You can expect a bit of physical activity, but nothing overly challenging – perhaps walking up and down hills, riding a bike for up to 30 kilometers along mostly flat terrain, or jumping in a kayak for a gentle paddle on flat water.
High
Get ready for a workout! These tours are our most challenging and involve intense walking, hiking, kayaking, swimming, or bike riding. You could be making steep climbs by foot or pedal, or working your core in the water. We recommend you have a good level of fitness to join this tour.
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Tour snapshot
Lace up your walking shoes and take a step back in time to discover a different side of Lisbon. As you explore the city on foot alongside a local guide, you’ll learn all about Lisbon’s Jewish history – a history so vast it goes back to before Portugal was even a country. And if all that walking makes you hungry, you’ll also get to try one of the city’s best-loved snacks, a pastry brought to Portugal by a World War II-era Jewish refugee family.
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Highlights
- Learn about the Jewish presence in Lisbon and its importance in the foundation and development of Portugal
- Snack on a much-loved, traditional local pastry with Jewish roots
- Explore the neighbourhood of Alfama, the oldest part of the city and home to the remains of Lisbon’s last Jewish quarter
- Discover Lisbon on foot alongside a local guide for an insider’s perspective of the city
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Schedule details
- Duration: 2 hours
- Meeting point:
In front of Hotel Mundial, at Martim Moniz Square
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- Find the exact meeting point with what3words:
- Starting time: 9.00 AM
- Ending point:
Praça do Comércio
Language: English
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, pastry tasting.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
You’ll meet your group and expert local guide at Martim Moniz Square for a guided walking tour of Lisbon that delves into the city’s rich Jewish history. After a brief introduction, you’ll learn about how the Jewish presence in the territory started even before Portugal became a country, when there were four Jewish quarters in Lisbon.
As the country started to grow in the 12th century, so did the Jewish community, eventually becoming the intellectual and economic elite, essential to the Age of Discoveries, a time that changed the world and started right here in Lisbon.
Next you’ll follow your guide to São Domingos Square and learn how the relationship between the Jewish community and the royal family, and what led to the Jewish Massacre in Lisbon of 1506. From there we’ll continue to Rossio Square where the persecution by the Holy Inquisition began.
Our Lisbon city walk will then take us to Baixa Pombalina where we’ll take a break to snack on one of the most beloved pastries in the country, one that was brought to Lisbon by a World War II-era Jewish refugee family.
After that sweet interval, we’ll keep going to see where one of the city’s Jewish quarters and cemetaries were found, and then stroll onward to reach the oldest part of the city: the neighbourhood of Alfama. This is where you can see the remains of the last Jewish quarter and get a better understanding of how the community lived.
From there, we’ll make our way to our last stop, Lisbon's main square. On the way, you’ll learn about the slow return of the Jewish community to Portugal, and how a Portuguese consul became Righteous Among the Nations (a term for non-Jews who took risks to save Jews during the Holocaust), for disobeying official orders during the second World War.
Before you go, make sure to ask your local guide for tips on where to eat, drink and shop during the rest of your time in Lisbon.
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Additional information
Inclusions: Local English-speaking guide, pastry tasting.
Exclusions: Additional food and drinks, souvenirs and personal shopping, tips/gratuities for your guide.
Your Trip: For your Urban Adventure you will be in a small group of a maximum of 12 people.
Confirmation of booking: If you have your voucher, your booking is confirmed. We'll see you at the start point. Get in touch if you have any concerns or require more information via the email address or phone number (business hours only) on your voucher.
Child Policy: This is a child-friendly tour. Children between the ages of 6 and 11 inclusively are permitted on this tour at the rate listed above. Please select ‘child’ above when booking. Children under the age of 6 are permitted to join this tour free of charge. Please inform us at the time of booking if you’ll be bringing a child under the age of 6. You can do so in the special request box on the checkout page.
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Local contact
Office phone number: +351 968 412 612
Email address: info@lisbonurbanadventures.com
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