10 Best Food Tours in Lisbon
Lisbon is a city that you can not only visit and see, but also taste. Join me as we take a look at the best gastronomic tours of the Portuguese capital.
Lunch in Lisbon | ©F Delventhal
If you have come to visit Lisbon, I am sure that you have done so not only for its enormous cultural heritage, but also for its excellent gastronomy and its products with designation of origin. If you want to know what to see and do in Lisbon, this time I am going to give you all the details of its gastronomic tours.
From typical tastings to selected wine tastings and experiences aboard tuks. Lisbon is a city that invites you to explore its streets and discover the delicacies around every corner. I hope you come with an appetite because let's get started!
1. Gastronomic tour in small groups
If you want to get a first taste of Portuguese food and don't feel like being on a large guided tour, but find it useful to have an expert guide you through all the typical flavours, I recommend you book a small group gastronomic tour of Lisbon on your visit to Lisbon.
These tours usually have no more than 15 participants and, accompanied by a guide specialised in cuisine, you will be able to visit the most emblematic places in the centre of Lisbon, tasting not only delicious regional delicacies, but also some samples of wine and the famous port liqueur. An experience that will undoubtedly help you understand the basis of this renowned cuisine.
General information
- Where is it located? It is usually a tour of between 5 and 10 locations in the centre of Lisbon.
- How much does it cost? Approximately 70€.
- How long does it take? About 3 hours.
2. Tasting of Belem pastries made by yourself
If this is your first time in Lisbon, you should know that you are in one of the richest cities in European gastronomy, with Mediterranean touches that make it not only tasty but also healthy. And if what you really like is cooking, I recommend you book a cooking class.
Specifically, in this activity you will learn how to cook the famous Belem cakes or cream cakes, the most famous and typical dessert in Portugal, named after the famous Belem neighbourhood.
But not only that, the class also includes the preparation of another typical dish of the country that will not be revealed until you meet the master chef. And, of course, you will taste all your preparations.
General information
- How much does it cost? From £51.
- How long does it last? About 2 hours.
- What does it include? Coffee or tea.
3. Tapas and Port Gastronomic Tour
A good Portuguese stew or a caldeirada may be a real delicacy in the typical food of Lisbon and Portugal. However, if what you want during your holiday is something lighter and more varied, there is nothing better than the authentic Lisbon tapas tour.
Walking through one of the most historic neighbourhoods, Mouraria, accompanied by an expert, you will discover the most popular bars and taverns in the area with a group of no more than 12 tourists.
And not only will you taste tapas with grilled meats, sardines and other typical dishes, but you will also make it better with a glass of local wine or port wine that, even if you don't drink it directly in Oporto, will contain all its essence.
General information
- How much does it cost? Approximately 80€ .
- How long does it take? About 3 hours.
4. Private tour, ideal for tasting new flavours with the family
If you are coming with your family or an intimate group of friends and you don't want to be in the tourist chaos of Lisbon city centre tasting food, one of your best options may be to book a private food tour for your family or intimate group so that you can have a person specialised in Portuguese gastronomy.
This type of tour will take you exclusively to all the most popular eateries, covering transfers for the whole private group, so you won't have to worry about anything but tasting delicious dishes in Lisbon's most charming neighbourhoods.
On the other hand, if you feel like touring part of the city with a guide just for you, but also trying typical flavours and a gastronomic tour is not enough, you can book a private tour of Lisbon where a stop at a restaurant is also included. This way you don't have to miss out on any of the experiences.
General information
- Where does the gastronomic tour take place? You will drive through different neighbourhoods such as Mouraria, Chiama or Alfado.
- How much does it cost? Depending on the number of people, between 80€ and 100€. The private tour costs around 60€.
- How long does it take? Approximately 3 hours and a half.
5. Wine and seafood tasting in the port of Lisbon
Lisbon boasts one of the most important river cities in the whole of the Iberian Peninsula thanks to being the mouth of the Tagus River, which offers numerous cruises on the Tagus. This, and its close proximity to the ocean, means that it has a great variety of fish and seafood that forms an unquestionable part of its gastronomy.
If you are a lover of the sea and want to taste all these star products, there is nothing better than hiring a gastronomic tour with a tasting of local wines to enjoy the best seafood in Lisbon. In this type of tour you have the option to move by ferry through the different locations of the river ports and taste a fresh product accompanied by a delicious glass of wine.
Of course, it is also possible to book a wine tasting tour in Lisbon only and leave the seafood on the side. In these cases it is usually combined with traditional sausages and cheeses.
Information
- In which area is the wine tasting with seafood? Lisbon harbour and different locations by ferry.
- How much does it cost? Around 65€ and 50€ for the wine tasting only.
- How long does it last? Between 3 and 4 hours. The wine tasting only 2.
6. Gastronomic tour by tuk
If you want to live a different and original experience while tasting the best of Lisbon, I recommend a type of tour that is becoming more and more popular. Often, gastronomic tours, unless you hire the VIP or private option, require you to make your way to the different venues on foot or by public transport.
To save you this step, one of the alternatives is to travel by tuk, a fun means of electric transport that will take you and a small group of up to 6 people to all the gastronomic stops to taste the must-try delights of this beautiful city in a comfortable and agile way.
General information
- Where is it located? In the main neighbourhoods.
- How much does it cost? Around 100 euros.
- How long does it take? Approximately 3 hours.
Another fun way to get around the city is to book a Segway tour of Lisbon with food tasting, with which you can get to know the city in an ecological way and at the same time get to know the typical Portuguese gastronomy.
7. Get to know Lisbon's old town while tasting its most traditional food
They say that one of the most beautiful places in Lisbon is its old town, made up of winding streets steeped in history and tradition. If you are looking to soak up the atmosphere and taste the essence of its gastronomy, there is nothing like dedicating the time it deserves and taking a walking tour around the area with a local guide in groups of no more than 10 people.
I know. It is not as comfortable as driving from place to place, but I assure you that it has a much more special charm and, in addition, you will be in contact with the locals. Besides, the guides are usually locals who know their way around and will take you to the most famous places as well as to hidden corners full of flavour.
General information about the city
- Where is it located: In the Old Town; both Cidade Baixa and Barrio Alto.
- How much does it cost: between 100€ and 150€.
- How long does it take: about 4 hours.
8. There is also room for vegans in Lisbon
Portuguese cuisine is as much about meat and smoked meats as it is about seafood and seafood. However, this does not have to be restrictive for all tourists.
If you are vegetarian or vegan, Lisbon also has a place for you, as you can find authentic tours that will guide you to the most reputable places where typical food is prepared without any animal products in groups of up to 10 people.
Veganism has evolved a lot in recent years and the best chefs have managed to adapt all the traditional recipes of Lisbon to make them suitable for all palates. The guide will take you around and explain how they adapt these healthy and original recipes.
General information
- Where is the area: Most tours focus on the Mouraria neighbourhood.
- How much does it cost: around 70€.
- How long does it take: about 3 hours.
9. Support Lisbon's local restaurants
Lisbon is characterised by a unique and intimate atmosphere. Many of its neighbourhoods, such as Alfama, are made up of beautiful streets with tiny eateries that hide real delicacies.
If you want to get off the beaten gastronomic track and support family-run restaurants, you can decide to take a tour of Lisbon's hidden gastronomic corners.
You can wander through the lost alleys of Alfama to discover places that are not usually in the tourist guides but that have been offering the most traditional dishes to all the residents of the area for generations. Without a doubt an incredible experience of conscious tourism.
General information
- What area is it in: Most tours focus on the Alfama neighbourhood.
- How much does it cost: around 70€.
- How long does it take: about 3 hours.
10. Wine and cheese tasting tour and tasting in Sintra or Setúbal
Sintra is a region that is only 30 minutes from the centre of Lisbon and has an incredible variety of products with which typical Portuguese recipes are made.
If you are on holiday in Lisbon, don't miss the opportunity to spend a day in this place and get to know all the raw materials of Sintra, among which are wine and cheese.
Here you will find numerous wineries that produce their own wine with denomination of origin and offer tours of their facilities, ending with a tasting of their best bottles and accompanied by a series of cheeses from the area. You can also book an excursion to Setúbal from Lisbon, another nearby area.
General information about Setúbal
- Which area is it in? There are different tours to the wineries in Sintra or Setubal.
- How much does it cost: between 130€ and 150€.
- How long does it take: about 6-7 hours including travel time.