Free Walking Tour Lisbon I: Downtown

No idea on what to do in Lisbon? How about a Free Walking Tour in the historical part of Lisbon, from Parque Eduardo VII to Praça do Comércio?

Whether it's your first time in Lisbon or if you're just a resident but without plans and not knowing what to do, it's never a bad idea to do this Free Walking Tour through the most historical part of the city, from Parque Eduardo VII to Praça do Comércio. From one end to the other it takes about 30 minutes to walk but, being a tour and wanting to have time to stop, observe and photograph, our suggestion is to schedule an entire morning to stroll around the city!

How to get there?

The most turistic metro stop to get there is the Marquês de Pombal (blue and yellow line) and, from the metro, you only have to climb the whole park until you reach the "Park Eduardo VII Viewpoint". It will take some effort to go up, but believe me, it will be worth it! And you know what? It's the only part you'll have to climb, because the rest of the tour is always going down!

Eduardo VII Park

This park, the largest in central Lisbon, was formerly known as Parque da Liberdade. In 1903 it was renamed Park Eduardo VII, in honour of Edward VII of the United Kingdom, due to the alliance that had been made between the two countries. From this viewpoint you can see the entire extension of the Parque Eduardo VII, the Marquês de Pombal square and Avenida da Liberdade, without ever losing sight of the Tagus River in the background. You can also spot Serra da Arrábida and Castelo de São Jorge.

In the viewpoint there is also a monument which was built in memory of the Revolution of the 25th of April, formed by a set of two obelisks. In the middle of the monument the largest flag of Portugal has been placed. The second tourist spot after the tour is the Marquês de Pombal Square, and to get there you only have to climb down Eduardo VII Park until you reach a big roundabout.

Marquês de Pombal Square

The Marquês de Pombal Square is a central and important square in the city of Lisbon, which also functions as a roundabout. The most emblematic part of this square is the monument in the center of it, in honour of Marquês de Pombal, a nobleman and diplomat who played a fundamental role in the history of Portugal. The sculptured stone monument is approximately 40 meters in height, with the bronze statue above it, where you can see the Marquis with his arm resting on a lion, a symbol of power.

A curiosity about this area is that it is facing Lisbon's Downtown, or Pombaline Downtown, since it was built by order of Marquês de Pombal after the earthquake in 1755, which left the city completely destroyed, followed by a tsunami and numerous fires. It was also Marquês de Pombal who instructed a group of architects and engineers to use a model of earthquake resistant construction. With your back facing the monument, we enter Avenida da Liberdade.

Avenida da Liberdade

It's one of the main avenues in Lisbon, with about 1.1 km, which joins the Marquês de Pombal Square to the Restauradores Square. This avenue is decorated with lots of gardens and of course, with the famous Portuguese sidewalk - a decorative pavement made of black and white stones that create geometric or floral shapes, among others. Still, the Portuguese pavement can be found on sidewalks of Portuguese-speaking countries and former colonies.

Avenida da Liberdade is a very touristic place in Lisbon by the amount of historical buildings, theaters and offices, not to mention that it has been considered the 35th most expensive avenue in the world for having the best restaurants, luxury shops and hotels with many stars!

Restauradores Square

At the end of Avenida da Liberdade you will reach Restauradores Square. Just look at the geometric shapes of the Portuguese pavement on this sidewalk, it's something you really have to photograph! In the centre of this square is a monument formed by a 30-meter high obelisk representing the liberation of Spanish sovereignty in 1640. The monument also has two bronze statues representing Victory and Liberty.

Rossio Train Station

Moving on after Restauradores, you will see a Manueline style building on your right. The Rossio Station, or as it was formerly known as, Gare do Rocio, is one of the main train stations of Lisbon and the oldest one, having been inaugurated in 1890.

Nowadays it includes, in addition to trains and metro, some shops, cafes and even a hostel!

Rossio Square

Best known as Rossio, but having the official name of D. Pedro IV Square, it is a square in downtown Lisbon that, after the 1755 earthquake, was completely rebuilt as a rectangular square formed by the statue of Dom Pedro IV and two monumental fountains, one on each end.

This plaza has seen festivals, fairs, bullfights, military stops and numerous cultural festivals. In the centre of the square is a bronze statue, with a height of 27.5 meters, of D. Pedro IV, 28th king of Portugal and first Emperor of Brazil. At one end of the square was built the Theater D. Maria II, being the first daughter of D. Pedro IV.

When you visit Praça do Rossio, you can't miss going to "Ginjinha Registada" (Largo São Domingos 8, 1100-201 Lisboa) to taste the ginjinha, or as it's also known - ginja, a typical Portuguese liqueur based on sour cherry, a fruit similar to the cherry. This historical bar has become a touristic reference point to taste the famous Portuguese liquor. You can drink it in a shot glass or respect the tradition and drink it in a chocolate cup. Of course you can eat this cup later!

Rua Augusta

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Rua Augusta joins the Rossio Square to the famous triumphal arch that leads to Praça do Comércio. Since the 80's this street has been closed to traffic, becoming just a pedestrian street. It is famous for the restaurants, bakeries and shops, many of them international, which go all along the street. Parallel to this street are "rua do Ouro" (Gold Street) and "rua da Prata" (Silver Street).

And what is the reason for it being called Rua Augusta? After the earthquake of 1755, this area of Lisbon had to be rebuilt from scratch. Thus, Marquis of Pombal, the minister of King José I, had the streets projected with a more rational construction, inspired by the architecture of the Roman Empire. This name comes from Augustus, used as a synonym of great and extraordinary, a compliment to King D. Joseph I.

Comércio Square

Praça do Comércio, also known as Terreiro do Paço, is one of the largest squares in Europe, with around 36,000 m². The Square is formed by a series of yellow buildings; the statue of José I in the centre; the Triumphal Arch of Augusta Street; and Cais das Colunas located on the Tagus River.

The statue of D. José I is a remarkable statue, since it was the first equestrian statue in Portugal and the first statue dedicated to a living person, at the time, of course! The Triumphal Arch has many statues embedded in it, the main ones being located in the centre - Vasco da Gama and Marquês de Pombal; and on top - the figure in the centre represents the Glory, which is rewarded with a laurel wreath, the Bravery, and the Genie. The Cais das Colunas was, for a long time, the noble entrance of Lisbon, where distinguished figures and prominent people landed on the marble stairs at the centre of the columns.

It was in 1511 that King D. Manuel I transferred his residence from the Castle of S. Jorge to the royal palace that existed in this square and which, for many years, was the official residence of the kings of Portugal. With the earthquake in 1755, the Royal Palace was completely destroyed, and the 70,000 books contained within the library were lost, as well as works of art and documents relating to maritime exploration and the discovery of Brazil.

At present, festivals and fairs are held in this square, and the buildings around it are government departments, hotels, restaurants, shops and cafes. It is the location of the famous coffee shop Martinho da Arcada, the oldest coffee shop in Lisbon and one of the personal favourites of Fernando Pessoa. Some historical events of this plaza were: the assassination of the king D. Carlos and his son as they passed through the square in 1908; when Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom disembarked at Cais das Colunas during her visit to Portugal in 1957; and in 2010, when Pope Benedict XVI celebrated a Mass in this same square.

Where to eat?

Now that you've been through so much, you should replenish your energies! It is not advisable to eat in places that are too touristic, such as Praça do Comércio or Rossio, but there are some more options where you can eat a full meal or stop just for a snack.

Of course that one of the best parts when traveling is lodging! In Lisbon you can find a huge variety of hostels with different themes and events. The Hub New Lisbon Hostel is very well located and has a ball pit inside! Lisbon Destination Hostel is located in one of the most famous and historical buildings of Lisbon, Rossio Station. If you are looking for a super budget hostel with a comfortable and friendly atmosphere, then the Lisbon Chillout Hostel is the place for you!