Lisbon Food & Wine Walking Tour: 15 Tastings in Baixa

Summary

Lisbon’s Baixa streets come alive with codfish bites, vinho verde, and stories behind every glass

You’ll taste more than 15 Portuguese specialties on this Lisbon food & wine tour—think fried cod cakes at Rossio Square, bifana sandwiches with cold beer, and Ginjinha liqueur in lively Baixa bars. With a local guide leading your small group through hidden corners and busy markets, you’ll leave full—and probably craving just one more bite.

What’s the experience like?

Someone handed me a tiny fried codfish cake before I’d even figured out who was in our group. The smell—warm, salty—hit first, then the fizz of vinho verde in my plastic cup. Our guide, Ana, grinned as she explained why locals love starting here at Rossio Square. She pointed out the mosaic stones under our feet, said they’re slippery when it rains (she was right). I tried to repeat “bacalhau” back to her and she laughed—apparently I made it sound French.

We wandered through the Baixa district, stopping wherever Ana waved us into a doorway. Each place felt different: one had blue tiles and an old man reading the paper; another was all chatter and clinking glasses. There was this moment with a bifana sandwich—greasy pork on soft bread—that I still think about. The beer tasted colder than usual, maybe because my hands were sticky from the sauce. Someone in our group asked about the earthquake that changed Lisbon forever, and suddenly we were standing on a street rebuilt after 1755, Ana tracing invisible cracks in the air as she talked.

I lost track of how many things we tried—cheese that smelled like grass, olives so briny they made my eyes water, Ginjinha poured into tiny cups while Ana told us you have to choose “with or without” cherries. A local woman at Campo de Ourique Market showed us how to order something I couldn’t pronounce (she smiled anyway). At some point I looked up and saw São Jorge Castle glowing above the city roofs, caught in that golden Lisbon light everyone talks about but you never really get until you see it for yourself. We finished somewhere loud and bright; honestly I could’ve kept going.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Lisbon food and wine walking tour

• Meet guide at Rossio Square
• Taste fried Cod Fish with Vinho Verde
• Explore Baixa District culinary stops
• Pass by gothic ruins
• Pass by triumphal arch
• Walk along main historical street
• Pass by popular gastronomy street
• Enjoy Bifana with draft beer
• Taste Ginjinha liqueur in square
• Admire São Jorge Castle from hilltop

Top questions

How many tastings are included on this Lisbon food tour?

The tour includes more than 15 food and wine tastings across six stops.

Is this a small-group tour or private?

This is a small-group walking tour limited to 14 people for a more personal experience.

Where does the Lisbon food & wine tour start?

The tour begins at Rossio Square (Praça Dom Pedro IV) in central Lisbon.

Are vegetarian or gluten-free options available?

Vegetarian and gluten-free options may be available but can’t be guaranteed at every stop; not suitable for celiacs or vegans.

Which neighborhoods are visited during the tour?

The tour explores Lisbon’s Baixa district (Lower Town) and includes stops at Campo de Ourique Market and views of Castelo de São Jorge.

Does the tour include drinks as well as food?

Yes, regional wines such as vinho verde and local drinks like Ginjinha are included along with food tastings.

What’s included

Your day includes a guided walking tour through Lisbon’s Baixa district with six tasting stops featuring more than 15 samples of Portuguese food and wine—including fried cod cakes, bifana sandwiches with draft beer, cheese, olives, and Ginjinha liqueur—plus insider tips from your local guide on where else to eat during your stay. Vegetarian or gluten-free options are sometimes available but not always guaranteed at each venue.