Slave Trade history walking tour Lisbon: 3 hours

Trace slavery's roots through Lisbon's streets and into Portugal's present

This 3-hour walking tour through Lisbon's historical center examines how Portugal pioneered the Atlantic Slave Trade starting in the 15th century and how that history connects to the country's colonial empire and its collapse in the mid-1970s. A professional English-speaking guide leads a small group through Alfama, Commerce Square, the Church of St. Dominic, and Largo do Carmo, covering both the lived experience of enslaved people in the city and Portugal's broader historical arc. The tour involves moderate walking on city streets and requires a reasonable level of fitness.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time at each

1. Alfama30m
2. Commerce Square15m
3. Church of St. Dominic10m
4. Largo do Carmo15m

Historical walking tour in Lisbon

• Meet guide and introduction
• Visit Lisbon's oldest neighborhood Alfama
• See future Slave Trade victims monument site
• Explore Commerce Square and colonial trade
• Learn about enslaved captives' daily lives
• Discover enslaved captives' religious interactions
• Visit Largo do Carmo and learn about 1970s colonial empire fall

The experience

How did Portugal, celebrated for its age of exploration, become the architect of the Atlantic Slave Trade? This tour answers that question by walking you through the neighborhoods and landmarks where that history unfolded. You'll start in Alfama, Lisbon's oldest quarter, where your guide traces how slavery existed long before the Portuguese (Romans and Moors both practiced it), and then shows how the Portuguese transformed it into a transatlantic system starting around the mid-15th century. The route moves through the layers of that history without skipping over it.

At Commerce Square, the commercial heart of Lisbon, you'll see where the slave trade operated as part of Portugal's larger colonial economy. The tour then takes you to the Church of St. Dominic to learn how enslaved people from Africa and around the world lived in Lisbon itself: their daily lives, their interactions with religious institutions, the city they inhabited. You'll also visit the site where a monument to victims of the slave trade will be erected, a physical marker of how this history is being reckoned with now. The final stop is Largo do Carmo, where the 1974 revolution that toppled Portugal's dictatorship took place and where the colonial empire began to unravel in the mid-1970s, connecting the slave trade's long shadow to Portugal's recent past.

The guide is a professional who speaks English and leads groups small enough that questions get answered. The walk covers Lisbon's historical center on foot, so you'll need a moderate level of fitness and comfortable shoes. The route is not recommended for people with walking difficulties or poor cardiovascular health. Public transportation stops are nearby if you need them, and the tour works whether you're staying in the city center or elsewhere.

What’s included

• Professional guide leading a small group through Lisbon's historical center.
• local taxes.
• 3 hours of walking through Alfama, Commerce Square, the Church of St. Dominic, and Largo do Carmo.

Before you book

Days and timesTuesday to SaturdayDepartures at 10:00 and 15:00

Book up to8h before

AgesAdult (18 and older) · Child (6 to 17 years) · Infant (under 6): free

GroupUp to 8 · max 6 per booking

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Moderate physical levelStroller friendlyPets welcomePublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditions

Operated by My Lisbon Tours

Is this one for you?The tour starts in Lisbon's historical center and relies on walking, so it works best if you're staying nearby or comfortable reaching the meeting point by public transportation or taxi: no car or hotel pickup needed, and the small group size means you're not waiting for a bus to fill.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (6 to 17 years); Infant (under 6): free.

How does this tour connect the slave trade to modern Portugal?

The tour traces slavery from its 15th-century origins through Portugal's Atlantic trade system, then moves to Largo do Carmo and the 1974 revolution that ended the dictatorship and colonial empire in the mid-1970s, showing how that history shaped the country's recent past.

What neighborhoods and landmarks do you actually visit on this walk?

You walk through Alfama, Lisbon's oldest neighborhood; Commerce Square, the city's commercial center; the Church of St. Dominic; and Largo do Carmo, visiting sites connected to the slave trade, enslaved people's lives in Lisbon, and Portugal's colonial collapse.

Is this tour physically demanding?

The 3-hour walk requires moderate fitness and comfortable shoes. It covers Lisbon's historical center on foot and is not recommended for travelers with walking difficulties or poor cardiovascular health.

Does the guide speak English?

Yes, the tour is led by a professional guide who speaks English and leads small groups.

What's included in the price?

The tour includes the professional guide and local taxes. Food, drinks, and hotel pickup are not included.