From a former fishing village to the home of Portuguese nobility, Belém has seen the rise and fall of the world's first global empire. This beautiful and ancient settlement sits on the banks of the River Tagus, and tells the story of the beginning of globalization, and of history's greatest explorers. Join us on a stunning 2.5-hour stroll along the riverbanks, taking in iconic views like the Discoveries Monument and UNESCO World Heritage sites like the Belém Tower and the Jeronimos Monastery.
Your Belém Tour starts by the monument at Praça do Comércio. Discover how a country which lost its last colony in 1999 once had territories covering 60 modern sovereign states.
The Portuguese Age of Discovery was a time in world history where explorers ventured out to the ends of the earth. As we explore the waterfront of Belém, you will walk in the very footsteps of many great explorers before you. See the massive Monument of Discoveries, which features great explorers like Henry the Navigator, Luís de Camões and Vasco da Gama.
The Portuguese Empire was one of the largest and longest reigning empires in world history. On this tour you will learn about the great conqueror, Afonso de Albuquerque, who stands prominently on his namesake's square by the waterfront.
The two most prominent monuments that people travel to Belém to see are the Belém Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery. Your guide will recap some of the dramatic battles that this tower has seen and you will also learn about the history of Jerónimos Monastery and the lives of the people who are remembered there.
Sophia's Belem Tour & Free Walking Tour are AMAZING!
I did the Belem Tour with Sophia & absolutely loved it - she was personable, funny, had lots of intetesting stories and information for us and was honestly just the most lovely person. I loved that we got to stop for Pastéis de Belém (the original & amazing custard egg tart), and after the tour our group all sat and enjoyed a beer together. Her tour was so great that I then did her walking tour the next day & loved it just as much too! She's definitely the best guide I've had so far in my travels, so thank you Sophia! Highly recommended.
Wonderful experience walking around the neighborhood with a small 7-person group led by the awesome tour guide Eduardo! We recommend the tour even though it's not "free" like other tours - but it is definitely more detailed and specialized and therefore it broadens the knowledge about Lisbon.
If you want the best experience of visiting Belem, go on a tour with Fred! He is an excellent tour guide and extremely passionate about the history of Portugal! Would go on his tour again if I visit Portugal again. BEST TOUR EVER!
Best tour with the best guide, Jaime!
My friends and I went for a free walking tour, guided by Jaime, a very well English-spoken guide. The tour was so good that we decided to follow him to the next tour, which was the Belem tour. He was like an ultimate history book and explain every single thing that we wish to know during the tour. Strongly recommended!
We went on the free walking tour with Fred, and enjoyed it so much we ended up booking the Belem tour for that afternoon (also with Fred!). Both tours were well set up, and although involved some walking were easy to manage. The information was given with passion and enthusiasm, and Fred was able to answer all the questions from the group. Thank you!