Belém District and the Salazar Dictatorship Legacy - Private Walking Tour
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Belém District and the Salazar Dictatorship Legacy - Private Walking Tour
By Lisbon Art & Soul
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About
Lowest price guaranteeReserve now & pay laterFree cancellation
Ages 15-80
Duration: 3h
Start time: Check availability
Mobile ticket
Live guide: Portuguese, English, French
More
- Local professional guide
- Professional photographer guide
- Private walking tour
What's not included- Food and drinks
- The listed price does not include a parking fee, payable at the time of tour check-in.
- Hotel pickup
- Hotel drop-off
- Transportation to/from attractions
- Start:
- Belem River Station, Av. Brasília, 1300-598 Lisboa, PortugalOur meeting point is by the entrance of the station, under the big red letters - "Estação Fluvial" (River Station). This is opposite to the Belém Train Station, also near Museu dos Coches.
End:- Jardim da Torre de Belém, Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, PortugalTorre de Belém is not far from Algés train, tram and bus stations
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
If you have questions about accessibility, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 17131P6- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Dress code is smart casual
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Most travelers can participate
- This experience requires good weather. If it’s canceled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund
- This is a private tour/activity. Only your group will participate
- For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours in advance of the start date of the experience.
- If you have questions about this tour or need help making your booking, we’d be happy to help. Just call the number below and reference the product code: 17131P6
From
$26.54
per adult (price varies by group size)
Select date and travelers
Similar experiences
Itinerary
- Av. Brasília, 1300-598 Lisboa, PortugalOur meeting point is by the entrance of the station, under the big red letters - "Estação Fluvial" (River Station). This is opposite to the Belém Train Station, also near Museu dos Coches.
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- Av. Brasília, 1400-038 Lisboa, PortugalTorre de Belém is not far from Algés train, tram and bus stations
About the operator
Don’t take it from us – here’s what people have to say about this operator:
- ronnieshuster0 contributionsCascais thru new eyesThe history, the culture, the views! Luis makes you feel completely immersed. We are so lucky to have had such an amazing guide help us explore and learn!Written January 13, 2025
- Fearless526000637640 contributionsWalking Tour of Cascais on Dec 23rdLuis was great! We had just flown in but we were eager to see our surroundings for the next few days. He met us right outside the train station and walked us around and shared the history of the area. Such a beautiful area, especially since it was the day before Christmas Eve. Our kids were too tired to join us but I was sad that they did not come with us, they would have really enjoyed the walking tour too. We would absolutely go on another tour with Luis!Written January 11, 2025
- TV24510 contributionsNice Residential NeighborhoodA very nice residential neighborhood with some typical services that you would expect, including some good restaurants. You can get here from the lower town via a tram. Nice place to stroll to see how the middle class lives.Written December 23, 2024
- John C0 contributionsGreat walking tour, do not miss outFellow travelers. Are you looking for a knowledgeable, articulate, and accommodating guide? One who lives Portugal, speaks Portuguese, English and French? Someone with knowledge and who cares about his country and people? This is your guide. Luis was exceptional. Great pre tour communication. Easy to locate on the day of the tour. He offered amazing historical information. You will not be disappointed.Written December 16, 2024
- John C0 contributionsExcellent Lisbon walking tourWe communicated with this operator well before we left Canada. The timeliness of his communication was excellent, and very timely. A few days before the tour, he made sure we were aware it might rain, and to be prepared with a coat and umbrella. He also gave us great instructions on where to meet. Luiz was waiting in the planned spot 15 minutes early. Hi tour was extremely informative, with a lot of Lisbon history. He gives you the opportunity to go here or there, very flexible. I highly recommend. ps since the tour he has given us recommendations for numerous places to eat.Written December 14, 2024
- madisond5480 contributionsLuis is an amazing guide!Luis was an amazing tour guide! He is super knowledgeable and we learned so many interesting stories about the history of Cascais and its role in Portugal. We felt very lucky to have a private tour and therefore got to ask lots of questions, Luis was more than happy to answer all of them. We got to see and learn a lot about Cascais in a short period of time, I would highly recommend this tour!Written November 29, 2024
- karendG7798KB0 contributionsA most enjoyable tourAntonio was wonderful. He had fascinating insights into the area,people and history having grown up nearby. If we were staying longer, we would hire him again.aWritten November 25, 2024
- Rusty_Boy_Loves_Life0 contributionsAmazingWe had the most amazing tour learning the history of Fado. Our tour guide Luis was highly professional, extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the topic. I was impressed by the history and story of Fado. I have so much respect for the future of Portugal. Beautiful day. Highly recommend this tour. Thank you Luis for everything. Much appreciatedWritten November 21, 2024
- F2404XNsusanm0 contributionsBeautiful Views , Great FoodAmazing food and views. Lovely weather not too hot or cool. A short drive from Lisbon, good for a day trip. Will keep young and older folks engaged! Already making plans to go back!Written October 28, 2024
- 383gailh0 contributionsLuis wraps centuries of history in a stunning Mouraria bundleLuis gave me a fabulous tour of the stunning district of Mouraria and the roots of Fado. I highly recommend spending some time with him in this area of deep history. Thank you, Luis!Written October 20, 2024
- Louisededi A0 contributionsShort break in CascaisInteresting walking tour and introduction to Cascais. Luis was very informative and had some great tips for the rest of our stay.Written September 27, 2024
- Cosmopolitan6218230 contributionsGreat experience!Luis was a friendly and incredibly knowledgeable host. The tour was a great introduction to the area. Luis also shared great tips on what additional sites to see - beyond the usual tourist stops.Written September 25, 2024
- 6AlanN0 contributionsGood food and service.Very good food, service was great. We had the fajita burrito and the taco salad. My wife loved the taco salad. I like the burrito, but there was something a little off about it, sour or vinegary or something. It was a pleasant experience, hate the parking on the street. Have to find somewhere different to park.Written September 19, 2024
- alisian0 contributionsWalking Tour of CascaisLuis did an excellent job giving our family a tour of Cascais. He was a wealth of information in terms of the history of the area. We would highly recommend this walking tour if you would like to learn more about this fascinating city. Wear a good pair of walking shoes and sun hat.Written August 7, 2024
- PMSF20160 contributionsComfortable and EngagingCascais has a lot of historical significance and Luis was very knowledgeable. Very fortunate to have just the 2 of us for what turned out to be a private tour. Terrific views and an easy walking tour. Luis was easy to engage with. Forthcoming with other options after the tour. Pleased we did this tourWritten July 23, 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinions of Tripadvisor members and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
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17 reviews
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Travel82237
Lynchburg, VA2 contributions
Dec 2023 • Family
We booked this tour because I wanted to learn more about the Salazar dictatorship and the modern history of Lisbon. We got so much more than we bargained for with this tour. It was an absolutely fascinating exploration of an area that I knew nothing about. Sure, I had seen the Monument of Discoveries in all the Lisbon Guides, but I never understood its significance before this tour. Luis did a wonderful job of stitching together a narrative of the Portuguese Exhibition of 1939 and how Salazar's dictatorship started with such vibrancy but fell into stagnation. I absolutely recommend this tour to anyone who wants to do more than just take a picture of another monument. Luis is also completely willing to tailor the tour to your interests. He is incredibly warm, welcoming, and full of passion for his city. I would not hesitate to recommend this company to anyone traveling to Lisbon.
Written January 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Visitors like you are, to me, the best of all. Because you are one of the few who, instead of collecting places and photographs, settle down and seek to understand where you are, the stories and the soul of the places(and you never have enough!). A thousand thank you.
Written January 4, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
idosrobotrip
5 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
Our leader is a well-prepared, thorough teacher with a great knowledge of history. He was patient and provided us with a lot of interesting information about the daily events of the Salazar period. He brought to life the everyday life of the 1940 World's Fair, while at the same time providing us with adequate answers to our questions about previous historical periods. Thank you Luís.
Written July 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you very much for your interest in Lisbon, its history and culture and, by the way, for your warm support of my tours. Next time you come please contact me and I will offer you another tour with great pleasure! Best wishes, Luis
Written July 24, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
i8toys
West Midlands, UK87 contributions
Mar 2024 • Family
This tour is for those who want to understand the history of the region of Belem and the surrounding environment. In challenging weather conditions, beating rain and extremely stormy windy conditions, Lus took us around the Belem District and tailored the tour to make it as comfortable as possible for us - the weather defeated 3 umbrellas that day at Belem! Lus was an extremely professional host who explained so much about the area, the Portuguese Expo of 1940 and the Salazar Dictatorship.
Written March 30, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much for your kind words. The stamina you've shown under such a storm was really stunning. I hope you come back under more pleasant weather conditions and i'll be glad to offer you and your family another tour. Luís
Written April 1, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Alicia B
Islamorada, FL12 contributions
Jul 2024 • Couples
This is an excellent way to learn about the history of Belém and how it has changed over the decades. Luís was wonderful and attentive to the heat and our attention span. It was really interesting for such a value to have our own guide after doing group tours we really appreciate that we were able to book this. We certainly learned things that we did not find in guide books and you should definitely do this trip.
Written July 2, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Thank you so much Alicia, your interest in our culture really impressed me. If you need more information, photos, films, books, etc, on Belém and Portuguese history, please just ask. As a matter of fact I would also have liked to be an archivist...
Best wishes,
Luis
Written July 3, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Lisa P
Bear, DE3 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
This tour was a wonderful way to see Belém. Luis is a knowledgeable and interesting guide. We walked along the waterway (one of the few flat areas of Lisbon!) and learned about the Salazar era through the lens of the 1940 exhibition. Luis explained the design details of the discoverers monument and monastery, details we would have missed on our own. He also showed historical photographs of how the neighborhood changed over time.
We came back to Belém the next day to visit other places Luís recommended.
We came back to Belém the next day to visit other places Luís recommended.
Written December 1, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for your generous and detailed review of our tour in the neighborhood of Belém. I hope you come back soon and, as I've already told you, any documentation you need about Lisbon, please just ask.The book concerning the period of the Maritime Discoveries I recommend in English (because it is recent, original and yet rigorous) is called An History of Water (2021) and the auteur is Edward Wilson.
Written December 2, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stella K
12 contributions
Guide Luis was excellent, punctual, attentive and knows the history of Portugal very well. He is a Philosophy professor, which gave the visit more depth. He gave rich details with great kindness and patience. I recommend!

Written June 8, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Muito obrigado Stella e Daniel pelas vossas amáveis palavras. Foi um prazer e um privilégio ajudar-vos a descobrir Lisboa. Desejo-vos uma maravilhosa estadia e um excelente regresso a São Paulo (entretanto, a cidade turística onde estive que gostei muito, mas de que não me lembrei logo do novo é Pirenópolis). Até breve, Luís Maio
Written June 9, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Ambrie S
3 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
Luis was a great tour guide and shared a lot of great information about Belem and the Salazar dictatorship. I wish I had brought a notebook with me that day so I could take notes!
Luis was very willing to adapt the tour as well and answered any questions I had. He was also a great photographer for me at some of the monuments!
Luis was very willing to adapt the tour as well and answered any questions I had. He was also a great photographer for me at some of the monuments!
Written November 25, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Ambrie,
Thank you so much for your kind words. It was a real pleasure to have your company and interest in the history and the heritage of 20th century Portugal. I also hope you've enjoyed the rest of your vacations in the north of the country. Come back soon! Best regards, Luis
Written November 27, 2023
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
andreasv227
Vienna, Austria5 contributions
Jan 2020
Luis was very good prepared and explained a lot of things, especially historical knowledge. It was quite interesting an good to understand Portuguese history. From the restaurant recommendation at the end we expected more - well, food and prices were quite good, but it was too far away from Belem and we would have loved to have something with view to the river. So better leave that out.
Written January 22, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi Andreas I'm glad you enjoyed the tour and the lunch. I'm sorry about the 'extra' walk to the restaurant, but remember we ended the tour by The Belém Tour, where there are no obvious nearby options to eat and drink. I hope to see you soon in Lisbon. Luís
Written January 24, 2020
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Sarah G
3 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
We spent a very enjoyable morning with Luis, learning about the lesser known history of Belem in the Salazar years. He was a very engaging and entertaining guide and we learnt so much. He also made some excellent recommendations for our remaining time in Lisbon.
Written September 15, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
The morning we spent in Bethlehem was certainly unforgettable. It is not every day that we have foreign visitors so well informed and so interested in the history and culture of Portugal. Thank you and see you next time. Best wishes, Luís
Written September 17, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Jonathan K
2 contributions
May 2024 • Couples
Luis is a friendly, knowledgeable, and respectful guide who customized the tour to our preferences. The history of Belém is so rich and Luis brings it to life - highly recommend biking there from the main area of Lisbon around the coast.
Written May 19, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I got two Cannondale plus a '60s race bike. The next time you come to Lisbon, if you wish, we could use these bikes to explore the 25 miles of Lisbon's riverbank. Best wishes and thank you again, Luis
Written May 20, 2024
This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
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