We Hate Tourism Tours: Walk in the Real City — Tour Review | Condé Nast Traveler

"Zoom out. What’s the big picture here? This three-and-a-half hour walking tour begins at Nossa Senhora do Monte and gives travelers an off-the-beaten glimpse of the city. It’s a public walking tour (of no more than six people) that you should definitely reserve in advance. Tell us about your fellow tourees. It’s a pretty broad group. And it’s Lisbon, so someone with mobility issues will definitely struggle with these hills. How are the guides? The guide was great. His delivery was very casual; he made us feel like we were being shown around by a friend rather than guide. His approach was easy-breezy and anecdotal so we were getting a good mix of historical, cultural, and, even political info that was peppered with personal storytelling. Anything you’ll be remembering weeks or months or years from now? It was a fun tour that was almost accidentally educational. Unlike other tours that might feel heavy-handed with facts, this one had a mellow vibe that made it feel like you were learning about Lisbon through a local’s experience of living there. So: money, time—how can we make the most of both? I think it’s best for people who would rather learn about Lisbon’s modern-day narrative rather than its history or past. You get some of that history, of course, but this tour is meant to show you parts of the city that don’t often land on the mainstream tourist routes, even if you’re only a couple of blocks away. The stories on this tour focus on a different side of Lisbon so that you can still learn about it while always alleviating some of the tourist pressure from the heavily trafficked parts of it." - Chadner Navarro