Half Day Historical Walking Tour about the Slave Trade in Lisbon
Recommended by 100% of travelers
Badge of Excellence
Lisbon, Portugal
- 3 hours (approx.)
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
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Overview
Take a step back in time to Portugal’s dark past and learn about the slave trade on this historical walking tour. Learn about Portugal’s ‘Age of Discovery’ and how the slave trade played a significant role in their success. See key sights in Lisbon as you listen to your guide recount the facts and stories of Portugal ’s slave past.
- Take a historical walking tour of Lisbon and learn about the slave trade
- See a different side to Portugal’s ‘Age of Discovery’ and its impact
- Learn how Portuguese culture and contemporary history was shaped by Africa
- Gain insight into a topic rarely addressed in the tourism industry
What's Included
- Local taxes
- Professional guide
- Food and drinks
- Hotel pick up and drop-off
Meeting and Pickup
Meeting point
- Largo do Chafariz de Dentro 30, 1100-605 Lisboa, Portugal
In front of the medieval fountain located at the following address: Largo do Chafariz de Dentro
End point
- Largo do Carmo, 1200-092 Lisboa, Portugal
Itinerary
1
Largo do Chafariz de Dentro
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
2
Alfama
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
3
Campo das Cebolas
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
4
Praca do Comercio (Terreiro do Paco)
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
5
Baixa, Rossio & Restauradores
30 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
6
Igreja De S Domingos
10 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
7
Largo do Carmo
15 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Service animals allowed
- Near public transportation
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
- Travelers should have a moderate physical fitness level
- Not recommended for travelers with walking difficulties
- This tour/activity will have a maximum of 8 travelers
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Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
Traveler Photos
Reviews
5.0
based on 180 reviews
Kelly_T, Mar 2026
Great, informative walking tour. It helped put everything in perspective for our trip through beautiful Portugal.
Verona_S, Feb 2026
This is a walking tour, please expect to get the best information from a very well knowledgeable tour guide; he was phenomenal.
May_K, Feb 2026
Get ready to learn about another side of Portuguese history. The information was concise and informative.
Rokoshi_F, Feb 2026
Amazing. A must do. Host is very into what he’s talking about. You will learn and hopefully be touched by the historical knowledge you gain.
Jeffrey_E, Nov 2025
Outstanding Lisbon & slave history overview while exploring the old town provided. Our tour guide exceeded expectations and answered all questions without hesitation. Highly recommend Lisbon tour.
Pamela_J, Oct 2025
Wow!!!!
Rui was the best I couldn’t have imagined. His knowledge made the tour fabulous. As he spoke about Slavery, you could see what wasn’t there!
Excellent tour for sure! Thank you.
Carole_C, Aug 2025
A thought provoking tour with a very knowledgeable guide. This was a fantastic way to see a bit of Lisbon while learning about Portugal’s social, economic, and political history. Highly recommend it. We had two teenagers who stayed focused the entire time.
Natalie_D, Jul 2025
What a pleasant surprise! Rui was outstanding in his delivery of all the information and data shared during this tour. I loved the pictures and the many opportunities to ask questions. The walking is moderate but wear comfy shoes. Thank you Rui for an amazing afternoon!
Desiree_M, Jul 2025
This was one of the most thorough and thought-provoking walking tours I’ve ever experienced. The guide masterfully wove together the complex history of the transatlantic and Islamic slave trades, Portuguese colonialism, and the enduring legacy of racial hierarchy in Lisbon. With scholarly depth and cultural sensitivity, he explored everything from medieval theological justifications for slavery to the economic and political forces behind human commodification.
What made this experience exceptional was how grounded it was in place—you’re not just hearing about history, you’re standing in the very neighborhoods where enslaved people lived, worked, and were sold. The guide’s delivery is clear, compelling, and never performative — presenting centuries of history with scholarly precision and humanity, weaving together religion, colonization, global economics, and cultural memory. You’ll walk away with a deeper, more honest understanding of Portugal’s legacy—and why it matters today. This tour is sobering, enlightening, and absolutely essential.
If you’re ready to see Lisbon beyond the surface and honor the voices often left out of the narrative, this tour belongs at the top of your list.
Elaine_B, Jun 2025
Rui provided in-depth information on the history of Portugal's role in the transatlantic slave trade. An extremely valuable experience.
Ira_D, Apr 2025
I learned more in 10 mins than I did in Kindergarten through college. During the tour, we even learned about the various influences of slavery; from feudal, religious institutions, monarchies, cultural, amd even personal/familial aspects. This walk through history is definitely recommended. Thank you for such a wonderful and intriguing tour.
Aya_R, Dec 2024
I thought I knew what to expect on this tour but was completely blown away by Rui’s research he did to put this tour together. The tour focuses on the globalization of slavery which predates what we typically think of as the beginning of slavery. I cannot speak highly enough about the experience.
Fernando_C, Dec 2024
Amazing guide!!!!! very knowledgeable and friendly!!! Made the tour a great experience!! with images to complement!!
Heather_W, Nov 2024
Very informed, factual and balanced tour outlining the role Portugal played in the global scene of slavery. A must do for a historical perspective on the impacts that still resonate today.
Cedric_K, Jul 2024
Rui was great! We learned a lot about the role Portugal played in the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade. I think EVERY tour should include information about slavery. Really enjoyed it!
Jeanne_J, Jul 2024
Very very informative and at a great pace. We got to explore the beautiful area while learning its history. I learned so much in top of what I already knew. This was the best tours I have had in Lisbon!
Nicole_S, Jun 2024
The Historical Walking Tour about the slave trade in Lisbon with Rui was incredibly informative. Rui is passionate and well educated about history and answered any and all questions we had about this part of Portuguese history, as well as how this part of history impacted other people and cultures. Well done! I recommend to anyone visiting Lisbon, to get a unique perspective on Portuguese and African history rarely acknowledged or discussed. Thanks, Rui!
NS
Carlotta_H, Jun 2024
As an American, on tour with other Americans of different polical opinions, he did amazing correcting misinformation without pacifying opinions regarding slavery. Straight facts followed by receipts! Tour guide was Highly educated on the topic, and showed us a real world connection as well...his grandfather. Very knowledgeable and straightforwad, regardless if the truth hurts. How can one move forward if one refuses to acknowledge the past.
Barbara_T, Mar 2024
Our tour guide, Rui Fernandes, was amazing! Prior to the tour, he reached out to introduce himself and give us instructions on where to meet him. On the day of the tour he contacted us when he arrived at the meeting spot. It was a rainy day, and he took special care to ensure that he kept us out of the rain as much as possible. He was extremely knowledgeable and explained things throughly. He kept things interesting. He also took the time to answer all of our questions - and we had lots of them. This was our best Portugal tour, and we took several. Since coming home, I have recommended this tour to friends who will be traveling to Lisbon in the near future. I also highly recommend it to anyone reading this review.
Jeanette_M, Mar 2024
This tour exceeded our expectations! We learned so much. Although it is not an easy discussion for many, this one was filled with great learning. Many historical facts and evidence to support. Book it!
Laurie_K, Mar 2024
Our guide was extremely well prepared - and totally willing to answer our many questions. Understanding the slave trade through time —and Portugal’s slave trade in that context —was eye opening and added a much deeper dimension to all I saw in Lisbon. I can’t recommend this tour highly enough!!
Ndidi_I, Nov 2023
I am absolutely loved this tour! Yes the subject matter maybe heavy but it was actually quite empowering for me as a black traveler to have the subject matter acknowledged opposed to masked as just the Age of Discovery. I appreciated the opportunity to learn about the impact of the slave trade on Porotgual's development and how Lisbon was marked by slavery.
Rui was a very knowledgeable, accommodating and friendly tour guide. The tour was engaging and I liked the way pictures and historical documents were weaved into the tour. I also thought Rui's connection to the tour's subject matter revealed at the end was quite interesting and touching.
I would highly recommend Rui's tour for anyone visiting Lisbon. It was well worth it!
Carla_S, Oct 2023
Rui was extremely knowledgeable and professional. He answered every question and provided exceptional insight. An excellent tour! Thank you!
Jay_B, Oct 2023
Phenomenal history of the space trade through Portugal. Very informative tour and Rui, our guide was extremely knowledgeable and passionate about the history of Portugal.
Leslee_A, Sep 2023
The knowledge of our tour guide was enjoyable and very educational. He has a vast knowledge of the global slave trade.
Nicola_T, Sep 2023
This tour makes an excellent complement to the regular historical Lisbon tour of neighborhoods like Alfama and the waterfront.
As for our tour guide, Rui, he was exceptional- patient, diplomatic on sensitive subject as slavery, respectful and knowledgeable.
Tim_M, Aug 2023
I had an amazing and informative tour with Rui, who had the depth of knowledge of the history of Portugal in the slave trade that would rival any Portuguese history professor. In this intimate tour of 6, we walked thru the streets of what is now Alfama and learned of the many remaining markers of slave trading that took place in Lisbon, as well as the history of Portugal's involvement in the early beginning of human trafficking's in Africa and across Africa and to North and South Americas. In a time of reflecting on the past injustices, this was such an enlightening education.
Dominique_C, Aug 2023
Our guide Rui was phenomenal. It was well crafted and informative with a good pace and breaks. Good visuals throughout the tour and best for small groups.
heba_E, Aug 2023
The guide was highly knowledgeable and passionate about the subject. He was also open to answering our many questions and we engaged in very interesting conversations and learnt a lot.
ruth_s, Aug 2023
Knowing the impact of colonialism and the enslavement of groups of people and its connection to the differences in attitudes towards slavery in Europe and the United States. Rui was super knowledgeable and a great tour guide!!!
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Half Day Historical Walking Tour about the Slave Trade in Lisbon
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