Alfama and the Castle of Saint George Skip the line Tour
Description
On this 3 hour walking tour, participants will explore one of Lisbon’s main attractions, the Castle of Saint George. This ancient stronghold saw many civilizations come and go and is a testament to Lisbon’s origins. Famous for its imposing towers and battlements, the Castle also offers breathtaking views of Lisbon and the Tagus River that are not to be missed. Participants will receive detailed information from their tour guide on the history of the Castle of Saint George with special emphasis on the siege of Lisbon of 1147, plus a wide variety of topics ranging from current events in Portugal to rich culinary traditions and much more. Other attractions in the area are also encompassed in this tour, like Lisbon’s Cathedral and the Portas do Sol Viewpoint, from where travellers can overlook Alfama and admire one of the most stunning views of Lisbon. Skip the ticket line service is also included in the tour, ensuring that travelers make the best use of their time.
Tour Options
Itinerary
Travelers will receive a tour of the Church of Saint Anthony, built on the site where the Saint was born.
Travelers will visit the narthex of the cathedral.
Travelers will view the ruins of Lisbon's Roman Theatre.
From this view point travelers can overlook the Alfama district and learn about the legend of Martin Moniz.
This is one of Lisbon's most panoramic viewpoints, from which almost all of Alfama can be observed. Travelers can also admire the ruins of Lisbon's ancient city walls.
Travelers will receive a detailed tour of the Castle of Saint George from their guide, who can skip the ticket line and purchase the entrance tickets on behalf of the participants of the tour. The tour of the castle includes an explanation on the siege of Lisbon of 1147, as well as a visit to the archaeological museum of the Castle.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
- Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
- Not recommended for travelers with difficulty walking
Reviews(58)
My wife and I took the Alfama & Castle St. George Skip-the-Line Tour on May 22nd, and it was one of the highlights of our trip to Lisbon. The tour was exceptionally well organized, and skipping the long entrance lines at St. George Castle made the experience even more enjoyable and stress-free. What truly made this tour outstanding was our guide, Rui. He was knowledgeable, professional, personable, and clearly passionate about Lisbon’s history and culture. Rui brought the Alfama district to life with fascinating stories, historical insight, and local details we never would have discovered on our own. He balanced history, architecture, culture, and humor perfectly throughout the tour. Walking through the narrow streets of Alfama, exploring hidden viewpoints, and then visiting St. George Castle with the incredible panoramic views over Lisbon was unforgettable. Rui also took the time to answer questions, provide restaurant recommendations, and make everyone feel welcomed and engaged. If you are visiting Lisbon and want a deeper understanding of the city while avoiding the long castle lines, I highly recommend this tour — and especially Rui as your guide. Excellent experience from start to finish.
Rui was an excellent tour guide. He let us set the pace and tailored the tour to our interests.
Rui was an amazing guide, historian and took excellent care of us. Wear comfortable walking shoes. You don’t want to miss this experience.
Rui was very knowledgeable of Alfama. We told him we had tickets to see the Cathedral and he reshaped the tour so that we ended near the Cathedral. He also recommended a great restaurant for lunch. Thanks Rui for a great tour
My tour “guide” Fasil prepared an excellent self guided tour of the grounds and Castle. I entered on a skip the line ticket and really enjoyed the detail of the self guided tour. My only issue was self induced - my iPhone ran out of power so keep your phone charged! This is a very worthwhile site to visit with great views of the river and city
Great tour with a knowledgeable and engaging tour guide. He was so responsive to our questions. He allowed for photos, a break and a snack time. Perfect pace for us. We loved all the historical, educational insights. We definitely recommend this tour.
Our guide was Andriy Voyevoda, who sent a message ahead of the date of our tour with detailed instructions about the meeting location, contact information and a photo so we could recognize him. We were the only two on the tour so we had a personalized experience. The tour started in the square outside the Church of St. Anthony and then we went inside the church. Andriy’s narrative and depth of knowledge about every place we stopped was exceptional. We visited a number of interesting locations in the Alfama neighborhood, including the Se Cathedral, the ruins of the Roman theater, and an overlook of the harbor where we stopped for a break with coffee at a little cafe there. We continued to hear about the history of the location as we made our way up to the castle. We had the Lisboa card so Andriy handled our entrance to the castle and grounds for free. Once inside the castle grounds, we had a fascinating tour of all the locations along with a narrative of the ways that castles were defended and how attackers could succeed in taking back a castle that was held by enemies. The tour was listed as lasting 3 hours, but Andriy stayed with us for an extra 40 minutes as we asked questions and learned about the history of the place. He pointed out the castle museum and explained how to get back to the starting point before taking his leave. This tour far exceeded our expectations in so many ways. Andriy provided a wealth of knowledge, anecdotes, geographical insights, religious and historical references and so much more. He was most considerate, pointing out where we needed to watch our step, asking about whether we needed a break, etc. Simply superb.
Fascinating tour of Alfama & St George’s Castle by one of the most knowledgeable tour guides we’ve encountered in years of travel. If you can request Rui Fernandes who is obviously passionate about his subject. Beautiful views from St Anthony’s Church, as well as Lisbon Cathedral
Andriy was one of the best tour guides we have ever had in Europe. The tour required a lot of walking, especially uphill walking, but Andriy was very patient and helpful. He went at our pace. His knowledge of Lisbon history was excellent.
Great tour! Andriy was an amazing guide. Very knowledgeable, friendly, great english easily understood, kindly pointed out everywhere we might trip, answered questions well. Highly tecommend.
