• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Uncover the fascinating cultural bond between Lisbon and Africa on a private tour. Explore the city’s hidden African influences, from historic churches to vibrant markets and stunning viewpoints, while hearing captivating stories that transport you through time!

Destination

Lisbon, Portugal

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Português

Included

• Private guide

What you can expect

This is the plan

Check out the plan below to see what you'll get up to with your local host. Feel free to personalize this offer with António .

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Estátua de São Vicente - Lisbon to start your journey

   View on Maps

2. Itinerary

   This is what our experience could look like, but it’s not set in stone! Once you book, you can chat directly with your host to make small tweaks to suit your preferences.

3. Meeting Point

   We'll meet at Miradouro das Portas do Sol

4. Moorish Introduction

   Discover the starting point to what was the the moorish hill in the city, Mouraria, and the importance of the moorish city of Lixbuna

5. Commercial Trades

   Go to Largo do Martim Moniz and learn how commercial trades are still an important connection between Africa and the city

6. Igreja de S. Domingos

   Find out how this church is relevant to the connection between Lisbon & Africa

7. African Revolution

   Check out the local square where the end of the Portuguese colonization took place

8. Cais do Sodré

   Learn more about how the African culture spread in the city while exploring this local district

9. Historical Statue

   Explore Praça D. Luís I and see the statue that represents the end of the slavery and learn about the king that declared it

10. End of Tour

    Finish you tour at Travessa do Poço dos Negros

11. Make it yours

    Want to tweak the itinerary? Book directly & chat afterwards with your host to adjust highlights, skip stops, or make small changes to fit your preferences.

    Book risk-free: Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund.

    Need something special? Personalize your experience for more time, alternative locations or a completely tailored plan.

I can personalize this tour for you

• Tell me your preferred date and group size
• Tell me your preferences and wishes so I can customize the tour for you
• Wait for my personal offer in your inbox!

Contact me

Flexible cancellation policy

• Feel confident booking

  Cancel within 24 hours for a full refund. Even up to 7 days before your experience, you’ll receive a refund, minus the service fee.

• Change of plans?

  Reschedule your experience to a date and time that works best for you.

• Loved by travelers worldwide

  Simple and flexible – your plans, your way.

Reviews from guests

Shawn🇺🇸 United States

6 September 2025

António was just full of information. We had a very easy meet up and started walking. He shared lots of information about the African influences on Portugal and tied them to relevant fixtures in the city. He brought everything into full perspective. I'm suggesting his tour to all of my friends who visit Portugal. Very informative and delightful! So informative

Tammy

25 August 2025

Antonio was the perfect guide for our tour. The walking tour was informative and engaging for our group of 14. Antonio was very knowledgeable and answered any and all questions regarding the history of Lisbon. He surpassed our groups' expectations! I can highly recommend him. Lisbon Tour African contributions

Clare🇺🇸 United States

7 August 2025

Our family of three took the Roots and Rhythms tour with António. We found him to be broadly knowledgeable and able to answer our many questions at depth. Having lived for some time in Angola, he offers a unique perspective on Lisbon. This experience was a high point of our trip to Portugal. Thank you, António!Terrific Tour

Elizabeth🇺🇸 United States

17 June 2025

Antonio leads a very informative tour. His focus is the impact of the Moorish development of the city from roughly the 8th century to the 12th century. He explains why the streets in the old sections are narrow (shade!). He notes the placements of fortifications and how the markets worked. In short, he reveals the Moorish contribution to the uniqueness of Lisbon as a city.Moorish Lisbon

Unknown

11 June 2025

Antonio was an absolutely fantastic tour guide! He was incredibly knowledgeable and made the experience so fun. I really appreciated his honesty and genuine approach. Overall, a truly great guy who made our tour memorable!Genuine Guide

Susan

11 June 2025

Antonio has a deep and passionate engagement with the history of Lisbon and Portugal. We did the African influence tour which took us to some back streets and sites we would have missed on our own. We learned so much!Tour through history

Lina

4 June 2025

Really enjoyed our tour. It was super informative, the information was well-balanced in terms of facts and various points of view. The tour guide was great, not rushed and encouraged questions and discussion. We had a great time! This tour is not only for those who are specifically interested in the topic, it is a great tour of core history that lead to the Portugal and Lisbon that we see today. Awesome! Perfect for history geeks!

JD🇺🇸 United States

21 May 2025

From the very first moment, Antonio brought the Roots to Rhythm tour to life with his deep knowledge, magnetic storytelling, and warm presence. This wasn’t just a sightseeing tour — it was an immersive experience that connected the threads of history, identity, and culture in ways I’ll never forget. Antonio’s ability to illuminate Lisbon’s African influences — from sacred spaces to bustling markets — was nothing short of masterful. He guided us through hidden corners of the city that most tourists would miss, weaving together stories of resilience, migration, and cultural fusion with heart and humility. Every stop was thoughtfully chosen, every viewpoint rich with meaning, and every moment anchored in truth and reverence. I walked away not just more informed, but more connected — to the city, its history, and to my own story as part of a larger global tapestry. If you’re looking for a tour that will move you, challenge you, and stay with you long after it’s over, Roots to Rhythm with Antonio is it. Truly one of the most meaningful travel experiences I’ve ever had. Roots, Rhythm, and Real Connection!

Linda🇺🇸 United States

14 May 2025

Great tour with Antonio. His knowledge was amazing and his explanations revealed great sensitivity to the challenges of Africans who were invaded and enslaved by the Portuguese. I learned a lot and would highly recommend any tour with Antonio! I only wish he walked a bit faster. Fantastic tour with a brilliant historian

Calenthia

11 March 2025

My friend and I did the private tour with Antonio, called Roots & Rhythms, the African presence in Portugal. The weather was rainy, rainy, rainy during our entire time in Lisbon but Antonio's walking tour was a ray of sunshine. He was very kind, sensitive and knowledgable, finding ways to make the tour fun and relatable. I learned alot, and both my friend and I commented that Antonio's tour was a highlight of our trip. Antonio is the greatest

Unknown

9 March 2025

António was an excellent tour guide. We took a walking tour. Even though it rained he found places of covering for us. His knowledge of Portugal's history was extensive and he included the history and stories of its diverse culture. I highly recommend him!Excellent tour.

ann

3 January 2025

Antonio is extremely knowledgeable and has worked in television and media previously. He is able to talk about the history of Portugal in an easy to understand way that sticks and is deeply compassionate. His tour allowed us to see the streets of Lisbon in a completely different way, to "see" things we didn't see value in previously. I learnt so so much and would highly recommend this to everyone and anyone.Highlight of my trip to Lisbon

Michele🇵🇹 Portugal

31 July 2024

Antonio was an amazing tour guide. He was flexible, knowledgeable and attentive to our interests. Although Antonio was not African Heritage his compassion and dedication to sharing the African influence in Portugese culture were exceptional. I highly recommend this tour to anyone who is interested in exploring Africans influence in Lisbon.Knowledgeable & Compassionate Tour Guide

Philip🇺🇸 United States

18 July 2024

This was such a great historical tour. António is knowledgeable and thorough. We enjoyed this truly unique tour immensely. Highly recommend. Unique and Informative

Alexis🇺🇸 United States

31 May 2024

Antonio was very knowledgeable. We learned so much. Also great for my young teen. He also catered to my request for walking breaks. Highly recommend. Highly recommend

Marcus🇺🇸 United States

28 October 2023

Antonio, was absolutely amazing. He was thorough, informative and funny. He did not hold back on the facts, which we really appreciated! We ended our tour with a dessert from Time-out market place. Thanks Antonio, we greatly appreciate you sharing the knowledge! Best, Marcus Top Notch 👌🏾👌🏾

Keesh

21 October 2023

Antonio is very knowledgeable and interesting. I would definitely recommend. I do wish we continued to walk while learning about the history, we stopped for long amounts of time during some parts. Very kind

Darlene🇺🇸 United States

9 June 2023

We were in Lisbon for a few days after our Jazz cruise, we had done the Food tour & Obidos, Nazare, Fatima tour the previous days ( all Withlocals) and this was our last one before we leave for home. We are Black Americans ( 4 ladies) & try to always sign up for Black history tours ( those slave ships stopped many places) Antonio ( Angolan) was a Perfect guide. Yes this history may be uncomfortable, however, it must be shared. Antonio did a wonderful & thorough job. I must say ( and I told him I was going to put this in my review lol) YOU WILL BE WALKING..ALOT! Comfortable shoes are a must! Because Lisbon is a city of cobblestones & Hills. Antonio does make the tour very interesting! We all enjoyed ourselves. And our last stop was a yummy treat! Enjoy Lisbon History!Love this Historical Tour

Andree🇺🇸 United States

28 April 2023

One of best walking tours I have taken. Very knowledgeable guide with a good sense of humor.Andree S

Maz 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

7 March 2023

I found Antonio to be very well informed about the history of Lisbon. He was very easy to get on with and I enjoyed the tour very much. I would highly recommend!Excellent experience

Ouafae🇳🇱 Netherlands

21 October 2022

Antonio is an enthusiastic teller who digged deep in the history of Portugal. The tour was very intersting, we got to see different parts of Lisbon while Tonio told us about the history of the city and its ties with North and Southern Africa. Thank you Antonio for the nice tour and your answering our questions. Very recommended.Interesting side of Lisbon

Stefany 🇺🇸 United States

7 September 2022

Antonio was a knowledgeable and gracious guide. He tailored the tour to meet our small group's (3) additional interest in street art. We truly saw the city through the lens of a local as he took us up elevators and side streets that we would never have seen, allowing us the the privilege of seeing life lived by locals authentically. He was able to explain and demonstrate how the fabric of Lisbon today is woven together by the intersection of many cultures of which the African presence ,pre- and post-colonialism, has made a significant and appreciated contribution. I recommend the tour to anyone who wishes to understand the growth of Lisbon over the centuries into the beautiful city it is today. Amazing Cultural Experience

Mel🇳🇱 Netherlands

3 August 2022

António was great. He is a friendly and well informed guide. I really enjoyed his company and wealth of information. Antonio also shared his personal experience with living in a former Portugese colony and there was more than enough room for all my questions. This tour is highly recommended!A great experience

Zeta🇺🇸 United States

12 July 2022

Thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Antonio is so knowledgeable and open. The apologies about the horrors of the past was not necessary but we completely understood. All we can hope for is to do better going forward. Love that we were all of African descent doing this tour together. Also, he was very flexible since we only got in that day and jet lagged. Thanks again!Knowledgeable Antonio, great experience

Michael🇵🇹 Portugal

20 May 2022

Antonio was very knowledgeable about Lisbon history and interesting places around the city. The tour was not too strenuous, just right, even for an oldie like me:-) Antonio also knows about modern culture in Lisbon.Good company, good info

Mark🇵🇹 Portugal

20 May 2022

interesting and enlightening tour about how the ancient moorish influence inspired much of today's lisbon. António is a great host and very knowledgeable.

trevor 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

25 August 2019

This tour is a bit like a trip through time, finding out about how the city itself was born and the key influences that helped mould it to what you see today in many different ways. Some you can see and others you can only feel. But all will come to light with a very knowledgeable host like António! Keep in mind the main parts of the tour focuss on the Moorish and North Africa influences but you can ask António if there is something you really want to focus on, giving the tour more of a customisable feel, which is lovely! You will also find out about his own very interesting roots as well as other cultures that had a big impact on the city. So, lots to find out about in a way that is both fun and informative! We learned lots, saw lots and had more great conversations with the very knowledgeable António! A true gem of a guide for Lisbon!Great for anyone with a taste for history!

john🇺🇸 United States

9 June 2019

Antonio was great! He’s super flexible , and makes you feel comfortable from the very start. This tour works well because it gets you off the main tourist drag and you see get a feel for both the Moorish and Angolan influences. We were a family of four and we all agreed it was time well spent. Thanks Antonio - we’ll see you at ACL in Texas when you make it ! John and family. African influences tour

Milton

7 February 2019

My wife and I enjoyed an informative walk with António through several neigborhoods of Lisbon. His personal experience with a former Portuguese colony gives him a unique insight into the country's post colonial mindset. We found it very interesting to learn about the Moorish and African influences that go back centuries, and the very scarce physical remnants today of that past. We highly recommend this unique walk!Revealing walk through ethnic Lisbon

Fayçal🇨🇾 Cyprus

8 September 2025

We had a great afternoon exploring Lisbons local culinary delights with Antonio. Antonio is a genuinely wonderful person and he took us to places we would have never discovered otherwise. 👍👍A true local experience.

shabnam🇺🇸 United States

27 August 2025

Anthony is amazing. He's such a great tour guide and a great person to hang out with. He's knowledgeable but gives you space to explore without bombarding you with information. Very accommodating and very friendly and pleasant. We enjoyed our tour with him so much. 100% recommend Would have given 20 stars if I could

Hank🇺🇸 United States

4 August 2025

My wife, daughter, and I took a three hour stroll through Lisbon with Antonio and it was everything we were looking for and more! He was thoughtful, knowledgeable, accommodating, and a great champion of the city. Highly, highly recommend Antonio!!!Three great hours with Antonio!

Dil

1 August 2025

We absolutely loved our dining experience with Antonio! Antonio was extremely warm, thoughtful, caring and gracious. We have three children with vey different personalities and he was easily able to connect with all of them! The evening was full of stories and we were amazed at how easy he made it for us to capture the feel of Lisbon. He even gave us tips on where to buy authentic souvenirs and even Wattsapped us later to guide us for our trip the next day to Porto. The pace was easy going and we truly felt like we were dining with an old friend or family. Thank you for a wonderful evening, Antonio.An amazing host!

andriusdir

28 July 2025

Highly recommended.Perfect guide!

Gary

3 July 2025

Antonio was incredibly knowledgeable, patient, kind and entertaining. If I could give him 100 hearts I would. You would be very lucky to have him guide you through Lisbon.FANTASTIC!

Fergus🇨🇿 Czech Republic

14 June 2025

One of the first questions I ask myself when I come to a new city is - what types of writers has this place generated? So I was delighted when I saw that this tour exists, and it lived up exactly to what I hoped it'd be! A personal and well-paced exploration, which Antonio tailors to your questions and interests. Pessoa and Saramago offer natural counterpoints to each other; at times reflecting, at other times contrasting one another. I was inspired to read more and delve into Portuguese writers after this experience.What we needed to get under Lisbon's skin.

Pia-Lena🇮🇪 Ireland

11 June 2025

We had a fabulous evening with António tasting local Portuguese food & drinks. He was very friendly & also extremely knowledgeable, not only telling us about the food we were tasting but also about Lisbon/Portugal and its history and other facts. He was able to answer all our questions. He also gave us some great recommendations for the following day. I would highly recommend doing the food tasting tour with António.

Laura🇺🇸 United States

20 May 2025

Antonio is a lovely person! We felt as if we were being guided by a friend. He was very knowledgeable about Lisbon history, and gave us confidence in understanding the layout of the city. I highly recommend touring with Antonio!A memorable experience

Wan Yee🇦🇺 Australia

20 May 2025

We kicked off our Portugal adventure with a fantastic food tour led by Antonio. Exploring the historic streets of Lisbon, he introduced us to incredible local flavors while sharing captivating stories of the city's past. His knowledge and passion made the experience unforgettable. Best introduction to Lisbon

Kristina🇱🇹 Lithuania

14 May 2025

We had an excellent tour with Antonio as our guide. He took us to both popular and hidden places in Lisbon, his tips and recommendations were very helpful to explore on our own later. We learned about the different neighbourhoods and history of Lisbon. Antonio was friendly, sincere and knowledgeable.Interesting tour

Unknown

29 April 2025

We had an amazing day with Antonio. The unique pairings of authentic Portuguese cuisine with wine and history was an incredible experience. Coincidentally a nationwide power outage occurred during our tour, however, Antonio was able to use his connections and expertise to still make our day wonderful and memorable. He stayed with us as Lisbon closed down and made sure we were both well fed and oriented to the city. Thank you Antonio!Above and Beyond

Pamela

12 April 2025

Antonio shared his very good taste in Lisbon’s yummiest foods and spirits all while touring about the city. I learned so much more than just food. He shared Lisbon history, architecture, fun local customs and wines, and was genuinely interested in our ways and thoughts. I’d highly recommend António for a most enjoyable adventure.

Unknown

11 April 2025

Traveling from restaurant to restaurant was an informative and entertaining experience and our food was interesting, different and delicious. Delightful & tasty

Christiane

31 March 2025

Antonio führte uns kompetent und einfühlsam auf Pessoas und Saramagos Spuren durch Lissabon. Auf alle unsere Fragen ging er ein und passte die Tour genauunseren Interessen an. Wir haben es genossen und können die Tour wirklich weiterempfehlen. Auf neuen Wegen durch Lissabon

kelly

28 March 2025

We had a fabulous time with Antonio. He was very knowledgeable about Lisbon. We went to multiple stops all unique and different. It was a great way to start our trip. Highly recommend him.Wonderful Tour and guide

Lynn

19 March 2025

Our group of six had the best day ever with Antonio! He is incredibly knowledgeable about anything and everything, and we asked a lot of questions. His good spirits and thoughtful presence made for the best tour of the city we could have asked for. We all wanted to stay and be friends with Antonio. We couldn’t recommend him highly enough. Antonio is the best!

Katherine Stig🇺🇸 United States

26 February 2025

My boyfriend and I are literary nerds and a Pessoa tour was on our “must-do” list for Lisbon. I come to Lisbon relatively often, and this was his first intro (and I didn’t want to f it up!). I wanted to do a deeper dive into both Portuguese literature and to see Lisbon from a different perspective, as well as to give le boyfriend a chance to walk the city with someone who knows it better than I do. His tour is an incredible value. Being medical students (big dreams, itty-bitty budgets), we considered less expensive options. We are SO glad that we forewent the cheaper competition and booked with António! This tour is an absolute STEAL - you have access to your own professor for 3 hours! He brings his wealth of knowledge and experience from multiple sources and areas of expertise and it is a true banquet for anyone who loves to learn. He is approachable, inviting but not aggressively so (some guides are over-eager, bless them, or worse, tive tours to feed their egos. You know the types. That is not the case here!). He never made us feel like we were asking “dumb” questions, which as students we do a lot of! Lots of walking, yes - he does engineer the path so you mostly go downhill, a miracle in Lisbon. However, if you have limited mobility, keep in mind that you’ll be on your feet for about 3 hours (ours was 3 on the dot, and we went off on a lot of tangents, so could be less time for other folks). If you’re concerned, definitely get in contact with him beforehand. Already recommended him to friends and family when they visit Portugal. Frankly, I’d recommend it to Portuguese folks as well! An excellent opportunity to access hidden stories and nooks of Lisbon, and to imagine how Pessoa and Saramago themselves perceived it, how it shaped them, how they shaped it, and how when we walk the streets or read a book, they are with us still. Note - I am familiar with Pessoa (read a tad) and have not read Saramago at all. This is a great tour for those who have zero background, or conversely, people who know a ton already. António will meet you at your level. I normally don’t leave reviews (who has time?!?), so when I do, it’s because the experience was so excellent that it gnaws on me until I give it proper credit and help people access the same experience. Will book other tours with António on subsequent visits! Just the best!

David

18 February 2025

Antonio was a wonderful tour guide for our food tour! He was pleasant and easy to chat with, while providing a nice selection of foods at 4 different locations. Being with him in the restaurants was like being with a friend — he answered our questions, provided information about each dish, and even went out of his way to order an extra small taste of an item that we were curious about. It was nice to be treated like a local at the restaurants because we were with him, especially at one of the restaurants where the staff came over and welcomed us as if we were old friends. We learned a lot about Portuguese food, and we ate lots! Definitely come hungry! You will not be disappointed!Great tour!

Edward

11 February 2025

We thoroughly enjoyed our literary tour with Antonio. We learned a great deal about the writers, and the times they lived in Portugal. The pacing was perfect too as Antonio would keen to our interests.Fun and Informative

Sally

6 February 2025

We had an exciting and fun food tour with Antonio! He possessed a wealth of information not only about the delicious food and drinks we savoured but he was also passionate in sharing the history and culture of Lisbon. Walking from one location to another, he actively engaged us with captivating facts about the buildings and the areas we passed making it really enjoyable and insightful for us. Thank you Antonio for being so patient and accommodating when we requested to make a last minute unexpected change to the schedule. We truly appreciate your understanding and care towards us. It was such a pleasure spending the time with you and making our stay in Lisbon so memorable.A remarkable and wonderful experience!