Lisbon

Lisbon, Portugal’s capital, spreads over hills on the north bank of the Tagus estuary. Its oldest districts, Alfama and Mouraria, climb the slopes below the castle. The Baixa, rebuilt on a grid after the 1755 earthquake, fills the valley. Chiado and Bairro Alto sit on the hill to the west.

Four operators compared in this guide run food tours there. Eating Europe’s two-hour tour of Bairro Alto, Baixa and Chiado costs from 69 euros per adult. Secret Food Tours walks Mouraria for 74.99 euros per person. Taste of Lisboa’s Lisbon Roots walk costs 99 euros for ages 11 and over. Treasures of Lisboa runs a four-hour Alfama tour whose page shows no price (its home page shows 93 euros, not labelled as the adult rate).

Pastel de nata, the custard tart, and bacalhau, salt cod, are the dishes everyone knows. Ginjinha, a cherry liqueur, is poured by the glass around Largo de São Domingos.

Practical notes

• The airport is on the red metro line.
• Tram 28 climbs through Graça and Alfama. Expect steep, cobbled streets.
• Porto’s port cellars, also in this guide, can be reached by train.