• Private Tour
• Family Friendly
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

The Jewish community has been part of Portugal's history even before its foundation in the 12th century. Want to know more? Join me on this private tour! I can take you on a historical journey to key places that showcase you the importance of the Jewish community in Lisbon.

Destination

Lisbon, Portugal

Category

City Highlight Tours

Duration

3 hours

Transport mode

Walking tour

Available languages

English, Español

Included

• Private guide
• Typical Portuguese sweet
• Coffee

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 Silvia.

1. Meeting point

   Meet at Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara - 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. Saint Anthony Church

   Understanding the limits of the Jewish Ghetto

4. Lisbon Cathedral

   Learn about the main Cathedral in Lisbon

5. Alfama Street

   Check out and learn about the small Ghetto of Alfama

6. About José Saramago

   Visit the house of the famous writer and hear about the Book Memorial of the Convent

7. Church of old Conception

   Learn about the position of the big synagogue

8. Past Trades

   Hear all about the trades and business from the past

9. More Jewish Ghettos

   Discover another Jewish Ghetto related to the boat construction

10. Inquisition Insights

    Check out Estaus Palace - the headquarter of the Inquisition

11. Church of St. Dominic

    Learn about the importance of this church and the monuments from the Massacre in 1506

12. 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

Ilana

7 December 2024

Silvia was the absolute best. She was extremely friendly, knowledgeable and an excellent story teller. She went above and beyond, and we all ate delicious pastries at the end. 10/10 recommend! :)Incredible tour!!!

EDUARDO🇨🇦 Canada

28 October 2024

My wife, a cousin, and I enjoyed the Jewish Heritage Lisbon Tour with Silvia. It was an excellent experience. Silvia is very knowledgeable and friendly, and we highly recommend taking any tour with her!A Great Experience

Rachel🇺🇸 United States

23 July 2024

We (four of us) took a walking tour of “Jewish” Lisbon with Silvia. There isn’t much left to actually see of the history of Jews in Lisbon, what with forced conversions, the inquisition, wars and emigration, but that didn’t matter. Silvia made the history come alive. She was so knowledgeable and interesting. We ended the tour with the BEST pasteis de nata. I would definitely recommend any type of tour with Silvia. Wonderful tour with Silvia

Jonathan🇺🇸 United States

22 June 2024

I’ll start by saying that we thoroughly enjoyed our time with Silvia. She was so friendly, and made arrangements with us despite some personal issues that came up. Our issue with the tour is that there really isn’t much to see regarding Jewish history in Lisbon. Silvia was very knowledgeable about the history and we loved getting to know her, it was just difficult as a walking tour because the actual sites were either destroyed or expunged. We would highly recommend Silvia for a tour, but would just caution the above to set expectations.Silvia is great, just not much to see

Charles🇺🇸 United States

21 April 2024

Sylvia was a treasure. We booked her for a half day walking tour of Lisbon talking about the city’s Jewish history. Because of traffic , she was a couple of minutes late but kept us informed. My wife has difficulty walking and she took this into consideration. We started at the highest point in the tour, so the rest of the walk was downhill. She is very knowledgeable and her English was excellent. We all felt that we had learned new facts about the history of Lisbon and their Jewish citizens. Thank youLovely morning with Sylvia

Susan

1 December 2023

We took a Jewish Heritage Lisbon Tour with a Local. Silvia was our guide. She was excellent and very insightful. We would recommend her as a tour guide. Wonderful tour with Silvia

Unknown

29 November 2023

Silvia was amazing with the amount of information she gave us with our tour. She stopped at many significant places in the Lisbon Chiado, Baixa and Alfama areas. She answered all of our questions and then some. She has an obvious love of the city and its history. We even enjoyed her favorite Pastel de Nata at a lovely coffee shop. Great educational experience

Mark🇺🇸 United States

29 November 2023

Loved walking the streets and parks of the Jewish neighborhoods with Silvia. She knows all the history and the nooks and crannies of the neighborhoods. She’s invested time and her enormous curiosity in digging detail out and getting the facts strait. And she’s invested in ensuring that the neighborhoods remember. Nancy and I arent Jewish but are deeply curious particularly given the vibe of the times which is to overlook the Jews and Moors (read Muslims). Its important for us to raise those histories and stories up. They are important parts of the fabric of today and their challenges must not be forgotten. An afternoon with Silvia is priceless. An Afternoon with Silvia

Nick🇺🇸 United States

18 October 2023

Silvia’s meticulous research was the beacon that illuminated the labyrinth of Lisbon’s Jewish history, making the tour an enlightening journey through time. The deftness with which she navigated the not so good times in the country’s history was both admirable and humbling. Her unflinching honesty in recounting the darker chapters spoke volumes of her integrity and respect for historical truth, which in turn fostered a deeper, more authentic connection between us, the past, and the city under our feet. Her narrative was a tapestry of joy, sorrow, triumph, and tribulation, woven with threads of undeniable facts. It was her truth-telling, especially about the not so pleasant times, that provided a well-rounded understanding of the complex dynamics that shaped the Jewish community and their interaction with the broader Portuguese society. The additional guides she provided further embellished our knowledge, adding layers to our comprehension of Lisbon's architectural, cultural, and societal evolution. Every fact she shared, every story she told, was a brushstroke on the intricate canvas of Lisbon’s past and present. The tour wasn't just an eye-opener; it was a heart-opener too, eliciting a cascade of emotions as we traversed through the annals of time, witnessing the bittersweet symphony of human endeavor, resilience, and the undying hope of a community in the face of adversity. Silvia’s approach to recounting history was like peeling layers of an onion, each layer revealing a different era, a different emotion, a different truth. Her truthful narrative was a mirror reflecting the resilience and the indomitable spirit of the Jewish community that once thrived, struggled, yet left an indelible mark on the Portuguese soil. The resonance of Silvia’s well-researched, honest narrative has left a lasting imprint on our hearts, giving us not just a tour but a profound experience that has enriched our perception of Lisbon, its history, and its people. Through Silvia’s eyes, we saw Lisbon not just as a city of picturesque vistas, but as a living, breathing narrative of human history, with all its shades, ready to be explored, learned from, and cherished.Heart and mind opening exloration!

aaronolson

21 June 2023

Silvia knows so much about the history of Jews in Lisbon, and also is quite honest about what is not known. Her passion for the subject is apparent, and we would especially recommend her for groups that include children, as she was equally engaging for the kids as she was for the adults.A delightful walk with a friend

Richard🇺🇸 United States

17 May 2023

A great introduction to the history of Jewish communities in Lisbon. Silvia combines an infectious love of Lisbon with a scholar's reverence for accuracy.Excellent Jewish History tour

David🇺🇸 United States

4 May 2023

Sylvia provided excellent and extensive information on our tours in Porto. She was also attentive to our needs as 2 of the 6 of us walked a little slower and required breaks. She is very knowledgeable about Portugal’s history and conveys it in a very good way. We will definitely use her again when we return to Lisbon.Great tour guide!

Michael🇺🇸 United States

28 February 2023

It was a pleasure to spend the afternoon on a tour with Sylvia, who has an encyclopedic knowledge of the history of Lisbon and its Jewish community. Sylvia is a dynamic and engaging storyteller. She made the city come alive for us. Incredible afternoon on a tour with Sylvia

eric🇺🇸 United States

21 January 2023

An excellent experience, Syvia is very knowledgable in the history of Jews in Portugal and and was a delightful guide. We booked 3 hours and were happy that she gave us over 4. We highly recommend her.A top notch Jewish Tour of Lisbon

kc77r2x5zk🇵🇹 Portugal

1 January 2023

Gayle🇺🇸 United States

10 October 2022

Silvia was a true delight! She was our very first tour in Portugal and she set a very high standard for other tour guides. She was so knowledgeable and was able to incorporate general Portuguese history and wove in the Jewish history. It was a terrific morning and we couldn’t have asked for a better introduction to Lisbon and Portugal. We would highly recommend Silvia for a Jewish walking tour or any type of tour she is leading!!Jewish walking tour - Lisbon

Alyssa🇺🇸 United States

13 September 2022

Our tour with Silvia was very informative. She helped us navigate the rain, gave us lots of history and introduced us to some traditional local treats. Jewish Heritage Tour

Tracy🇺🇸 United States

9 July 2022

We enjoyed our Jewish walking tour with Silvia. She provided a great history of Jewish people in Lisbon and showed us numerous important areas for the Jews in the city. It is important to note, as she clearly states in her tour description, that tour guides are not able to take tourists into any synagogues - even so, this was a great tour. Silvia has great energy and wonderful sense of humor, which made the tour that much more enjoyable. She also gave us a fabulous recommendation for lunch that we would never have found on our own. And she also treated us to a pasteis de nata, that proved to be our favorite in Portugal. We highly recommend touring with Silvia.Wonderful tour with Silvia

sara🇺🇸 United States

7 July 2022

Silvia is an extraordinary tour guide. She is so knowledgeable and provided us with a comprehensive tour and an extraordinary amount of information! I highly recommend a tour with Silvia!Brilliant and interesting tour guide

Stephanie🇺🇸 United States

3 July 2022

Silvia is a walking encyclopedia! Her knowledge of the history of Lisbon is absolutely incredible- we felt like we learned a semester's worth of information from her. My husband and I felt grateful for the time we spent with Silvia and really got an incredible outline of the Jewish history in Lisbon. I highly recommend spending time with her, whether you're seeking Jewish history, or just an overall history of the city.Amazing and Educational!

Gerri🇺🇸 United States

30 June 2022

An absolute find. Sylvia is a highly knowledgeable, captivating tour guide who seamlessly weaves the many facets of the history of the Jews in Portugal. She was prompt, engaging, kind, thoughtful, and gracious. Every tour guide should be like her. Thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon with her. My husband kept exclaiming about her encyclopedic knowledge. Don’t hesitate. Book now! She even gave us restaurant recommendations for Porto. Muito abrigada.Best tour guide ever!!

Gilly🇬🇧 United Kingdom

28 June 2022

Sylvia was very informative & we enjoyed our tour 😊

Rosie🇨🇦 Canada

13 June 2022

Silvia was excellent! Very knowledgeable about Jewish history and also knows all the best areas to eat! Thank you Silvia!!Excellent and very knowledgeable

Jeremy🇺🇸 United States

27 May 2022

Silvia was a great guide! We did a Jewish heritage tour of Lisbon with her, and she was wonderful at navigating the needs & interests of me and my wife, my mother in law who is very into Jewish history, and our two kids (8 & 6). We had another Lisbon overview tour planned for the previous day and I also really appreciated that she connected with our other WithLocals guide to make sure we didn't overlap too much. She also sent us a wonderful list of restaurants for after our tour. A wonderful guide!

Steven🇺🇸 United States

11 April 2022

I spent a really wonderful three hours on the Jewish History Tour with Silvia. Not only was the history fascinating, but Silvia was so nice and personable. Her own personal insights regarding the history of Lisbon and the religions there and her wide range of knowledge were, in my view, what made the tour so special. She was interested in what my focus was and made a genuine effort to reflect that in what she covered with me. My tour with her was the high point of my time in Lisbon!Fantastic Tour

Zlil🇮🇱 Israel

10 March 2022

Silvia is wonderful - so funny and friendly! Of course she has a lot of knowledge and you can ask her anything you are curious about. I highly recommend you take a tour with Silvia, I’m sure you will be happy you did :)Silvia is the best! I had so much fun!

Howard🇵🇹 Portugal

1 December 2021

The four of us met Sylvia yesterday on a beautiful warm sunny late autumn day for a walking tour through the historic center of Lisbon, focusing on the impact the Jewish people had made on this ancient city. It’s clear that Sylvia knows her stuff and has done her homework. She’s also a lovely person and we left feeling like we were old friends. Although much of the physical traces of ancient Jewish history in Lisbon are no longer present, Sylvia does a great job in painting a picture of what life must have been like in those times. She also knows EVERYTHING about where to eat and drink the best EVERYTHING in town. Silvia is delightful

Gail🇺🇸 United States

5 October 2021

Sylvia’s warmth radiated from the moment we met. Her enthusiasm and thirst for knowledge are contagious. Not only did she provide us with a deep understanding of Jewish history in Lisbon, but with personal insights and recommendations as well. What a lovely lasting memory.Jewish History with a Friend

Joanne🇬🇧 United Kingdom

30 June 2021

What a fantastic few hours with Silvia walking around Lisbon and hearing about the history and much more. Siliva loves her city and this shows through her knowledge and stories she tells during the walking tour. She also adapted her tour to suit what we wanted to see. Thank you for a wonderful day Silvia. Highly recommended.Wonderful tour with Silvia

Shlom🇦🇺 Australia

24 December 2020

We went on a jewish tour with Silvia and we had a wonderful time with her. She was a lovely, kind and patient person and managed to go with the flow of my family! We learnt a lot and enjoyed our time with Silvia.Great cultural experience with Silvia

Hope🇺🇸 United States

27 February 2020

We had such a great day with Silvia! It was very informative and interesting and we had great conversation! Silvia is very smart and had great insight about what she showed us!A beautiful tour!

Alexis🇺🇸 United States

20 February 2020

We went on the Lisbon Jewish History tour with Sylvia and found her to be knowledgeable, friendly and great with our 3 kids. She knew when to teak breaks for gelato and pasteis de nata and when to push on with the tour. She even gave us some great restaurant tips for the rest of our stay. Highly, highly recommended.Knowledgeable, friendly, great with kids

Lisa🇺🇸 United States

17 July 2019

My family took a wonderful tour with Silvia. She was great with my kids, and so knowledgeable! She loves what she does and she has clearly done so much research on her topics. What a pleasure! Thank you, Silvia!We love Silvia!

chris🇺🇸 United States

26 February 2025

Silvia was great and everyone in the family enjoyed! Thank you for such an amazing experience!Amazing experience

Gordon🇨🇦 Canada

21 February 2025

Sylvia hosted my family and me for a food tour in Lisbon. The words that we used to describe her at breakfast the next day were delightful, knowledgeable, enthusiastic, captivating, lovely and many more superlative adjectives. The places she took us to are the types of places we love to go to but would never find them on our own in a million years. The food served was truly amazing with lots of variety. At each restaurant we visited Sylvia told the story of why she chose this one and with each dish she told it's story. I would unhesitantly recommend you engage Sylvia for your food tour of Lisbon. Do it now before she gets too busy to accommodate you!

mss🇺🇸 United States

30 January 2025

We took a food tour with Silvia in January 2025. She did a fantastic tour of showing us the highlights of Portuegese and Lisbon food. It also included a tour of some of the key neighborhoods. Lisbon is hilly and Silvia knew all the tricks about getting around by elevators throughout the city! The food tastings were spot on and delicious. She was very patient with us and took her time explaining the foods and how they were made. Silvia has a delightful personality...my wife and I felt like family. This was a private tour using WithLocals and highly recommend the site and Silvia!Oitstanding Food Tour

Sara

18 January 2025

Our guide Lucia was absolutely lovely and gave us a lot of useful information about Lisbon/history etc. We paid €250 and thought that this was too much for what we had. We enjoyed trying some local chorizo, clams, a custard tart and the local cherry liquor but the price point was way off. Thank you Lucia for a lovely time with you xxFood tour with Lucia

Emma

12 January 2025

We had a wonderful time with Silvia. Covering the gastronomy and history of Lisbon and Portugal, Silvia was a fountain of knowledge, extremely welcoming, kind and helpful and a pleasure to spend time with. This is the way to see what Lisbon is really like!An experience to make memories

Tsang

15 December 2024

It is always amazing to have a local bringing you around their city as you can feel the passion and love they have. Silvia is that and more! Her ability to share information about Lisbon that is both interesting and relatable is amazing. Then she adds her understanding of the food she introduces to you and you will definitely be blown away! I would definitely recommend Silvia to anyone coming to Lisbon without any hesitation. Best tour in Lisbon for sure!Best guide ever!

TERESA🇺🇸 United States

26 November 2024

We thank Silvia for a fantastic day of learning and exploring! The trip was run very well and Silvia was entertaining and informative. We recommend her very highly for any Portugal tour! A wonderful day!

Kathi🇺🇸 United States

25 November 2024

Silvia was an amazing tour guide. She accommodated our older party, and limited the walking and added other areas instead. She helped us with our luggage and was just incredibly kind. Additionally, she was so knowledgeable about her country and shared so much information. We absolutely can't say enough good about our tour with Silvia.Tour with Silvia

Mary🇺🇸 United States

24 November 2024

We would totally recommend Silvia as she has a wealth of knowledge about the area. She was very accommodating when we became tired and made sure we enjoyed our day. She went out of her way to help us whenever needed. Silvia is Sensational!

Pete🇺🇸 United States

2 November 2024

Silvia was fantastic. She was very knowledgeable and also very fun to be with. Both are important when you are on an 8-hour tour. She takes her job seriously and knew a lot about every place we visited. We did not ask a question that she did not answer quickly and completely. We would love to tour with her again!Excellenr Tour and Guide

Douglas🇺🇸 United States

30 October 2024

Silvia is an expert guide - knowledgeable, humorous and kind. We strongly recommend her servicesA Terrific Adventure

bealefj🇺🇸 United States

30 October 2024

This is our second time in Lisbon and we did this tour with Sylvia in 2023. It was so good that we wanted to do it again with our new friends that traveled with us this year. Sylvia is passionate about her city and it shows in her restaurant selections and her history telling. She is just a delight in every way. This is a must do activity in Lisbon! Abrigada!Fantastic tasting tour

Anna🇺🇸 United States

25 October 2024

Silvia provided us with an unforgettable day tour of Sintra. She picked us up from our hotel and took us to various amazing spots in and around Sintra. Her love and passion for Portugal, its culture, and traditions are undeniable. She shared captivating stories about the royal family. Silvia's extensive knowledge and warm personality made our experience even better. It felt like every place in Portugal holds a special significance for her, and she was able to convey that to us. We thoroughly enjoyed our day with Silvia and highly recommend her.Magical tour of Sintra with Silvia

Douglas🇺🇸 United States

24 October 2024

Silvia is a trustworthy, kind-hearted guide that you should not hesitate to hire. She is very knowledgeable and dedicated to sharing Portugues history and culture to her clients and is a great ambassador for her country Silvia is a fantastic guide

Elynn🇺🇸 United States

11 October 2024

A party of 4 did a food tour and then on a different day a trip to Sintra with Silvia. Can not express how knowledgeable and fun she was. Totally tailored both days to our wishes and was just fun to be with. She made sure we were happy at all times. Food tour was so interesting and so much food. A real experience plus we learned all about the city of Lisbon as we walked. Trip to Sintra was long but again Silvia made accommodations on the fly if we saw something else we wished to see. Silvia can answer any questions! She was phenomenal and would highly recommend her.Phenomenal tour

Warren🇺🇸 United States

9 October 2024

We have used Silvia on both our visits to Lisbon. She is the most friendly, knowledgeable and professional guide we have ever met in many years of traveling to Europe! With Silvia you feel like you're walking with an old friend. She is sensitive to your individual needs and preferences while providing you with a wealth of information. Her many years of experience ensures a very pleasant and positive experience. Silvia is the best!Best Guide Ever!

Wynne🇬🇧 United Kingdom

23 September 2024

Silvia is a knowledgeable friendly and engaging guide. She went out of her way to make our visit to Sintra and Cascais memorable. Highly recommended