podtour
Lisbon's Baixa: from Terreiro do Paço to the Rossio
On the morning of All Saints' Day 1755, an Englishman was writing a letter when the table began to shake; not long after, from the riverbank, he saw the Tagus rise like a mountain.
Lisbon audio tours and self-guided walks
Listen to Lisbon, hill by hill.
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Walk through Lisbon, story by story
The hills hold more than a good view. From the earthquake that reshaped the Baixa to the river at Belém, each walk reveals a different Lisbon. Pause at a viewpoint: the story can wait.
Start with “Lisbon's Baixa: from Terreiro do Paço to the Rossio”. On the morning of All Saints' Day 1755, an Englishman was writing a letter when the table began to shake; not long after, from the riverbank, he saw the Tagus rise like a mountain. This walk starts beside that same river and heads up through the city that was built on top: drawn with a ruler, with a wooden cage hidden in its walls and an arch that took more than a century to finish.
Then there’s “Alfama, the Sé and the Castle: the Conquest of 1147 and its Legends”. In 1147 a crusader wrote down what he saw at the siege of Lisbon: hunger, the dead left unburied, and a surrender pact broken by looting. It looks nothing like the heroic assault on the tiles.
For another side of the city, try “Lower Alfama: From the River to Fado”. Lower Alfama lived off the river and its water: quays, fountains, baths and tanneries. This walk starts at a church that carries another church's door and a third one's name, built over a synagogue that stood in a different street.
Keep exploring with “Belém: the Jerónimos, the Padrão and the hidden side of empire”. In 1759 the ground of a Belém palace was salted and a column put up forbidding anyone ever to build there. Today there are houses all around it.
Choose by neighbourhood or by the stories that interest you: each route shows its distance, stops and approximate duration before you set off. The audio is written for walking, with a clear distinction between documented events and local legend. Download it in the app, put on your headphones and pause whenever something catches your eye. English and Spanish are included.
Start for free
Lisbon's Baixa: from Terreiro do Paço to the Rossio
Eleven stops, flat and in the open air, from the river to the Rossio: a quay the Tagus swallowed in 1755 that its witness never actually saw, the square where shots rang out in 1908 and where nobody fired in 1974, Romans under a bank, and two myths that fall apart the moment you look.
Explore the free walkFind your Lisbon walk
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Lisbon, before you go
Light over the Tagus, patterned pavements and streets that change gradient without warning. Lisbon rewards a mixture of walking, shade and a pause to look at the river.
Stories for your next walk
Facts and legends
Adamastor, the stone giant who watches over the Tagus
Who is the Adamastor at Lisbon's Miradouro de Santa Catarina, what The Lusiads says about him, and why his love story is far darker than it looks.
Read the story
Facts and legends
Fernando Pessoa's Lisbon: the poet of many names
Where Fernando Pessoa was born, the cafés he frequented and why the Casa Fernando Pessoa records the birth times of poets who never existed.
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Facts and legends
The 1755 Lisbon earthquake and the city that rose after it
On 1 November 1755 an earthquake, a tsunami and a fire tore through Lisbon. What we know, what's myth, and how the Baixa was redrawn with a ruler.
Read the story
Walk at your own pace
Free self-guided walking tour of Lisbon: Podtour's free audio route
A complete, free audio walk through Lisbon's Baixa: no group, no start time, no tip. The stops, the route and how it compares with a free walking tour.
Read the storyBefore visiting Lisbon
How many days do I need in Lisbon?
Our Lisbon guide has suggestions for one, two and three days. Start with one area rather than trying to fit every walk into a day; leave room for travel between neighbourhoods and any indoor visits.
Can I explore Lisbon on foot?
Gradient. The Baixa is comparatively flat. Alfama, Bica and Príncipe Real bring hills and steps; even a short walk may need pauses. Underfoot. Portuguese calçada, made from little pale and dark stones, can become slippery when wet. Worn soles are a poor match.
Which Lisbon route is free?
“Lisbon's Baixa: from Terreiro do Paço to the Rossio” is the free route: 11 stops over 1.43 km, with an approximate duration of 49 minutes. You can see its map and stops on the route page.
When is a good time to visit Lisbon?
Spring and autumn are comfortable choices for walking without the strongest heat; carry a waterproof layer. In June, the popular saints’ festivals bring music, decorations and outdoor meals to the neighbourhoods. Think about noise when choosing accommodation.
Can I listen without an internet connection?
Download the audio in the app before heading out, then listen offline. Loading the online base map and calculating a new route from your location require a connection.
What languages are included?
Every route includes Spanish and British English. The English version is adapted for English-speaking travellers, rather than translated word for word.
How do I get a whole city for free?
Join the waitlist, choose a city and confirm your email address. When the app launches, we will email you with access details. No card is required. You can also try one free route in every city.
Can I buy for myself or for a group?
Yes. Your own access is included and you can choose 0–5 guests: up to 6 people including you. Each guest saves up to €0.50 on a walk, €1 on a pack or €2 on a whole city compared with buying separately. The counter shows the total before you confirm one payment.
How do I share, and when must guests accept?
After paying, share your purchase’s invitation link. Each guest opens it in Podtour and accepts their place on their own iPhone or Android phone. They must redeem it within 30 days of purchase. Unclaimed places then expire and cannot be recovered or renewed. Access accepted in time is kept. Opening the link does not use a place; one account takes just one place, and no more people can join once all places are taken.
Can I add guests after buying?
No. Choose all your guests before confirming the first purchase. Afterwards you can share the places you paid for, but you cannot increase their number or restart the 30-day deadline.
