• Private Tour
• Instantly Confirmed
• Carbon Neutral

Step into the literary world of Lisbon as you follow the footsteps of two iconic Portuguese writers: Fernando Pessoa and José Saramago. This private tour offers an inspiring experience that brings their words to life!

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 Praça Luís de Camões - 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

   Praça Luís de Camões , in the center of the square close to the statue

4. Stunning View

   View of Rua do Alecrim, the street where Ricardo Reis stayed on his return to Lisbon - "The year of the death of Ricardoo Reis" by José Saramago

5. Largo de S. Carlos

   Check the birth place of Fernando Pessoa

6. Pessoa's Favorites

   Visit the famous coffee shop where Pessoa was a regular and one of the oldest cigars shops

7. Saramago's Inspo

   Check out a local square where relevant events in Saramago's books "Baltazar and Blimunda" and "Raised from the ground" took place

8. Cinema Salão

   Follow Saramago's journey and find out where he watched many movies as a young boy

9. Rua dos Douradores

   Visit the iconic place from one of the most important works of Fernando Pessoa - "The Book of Disquiet"

10. Love Story

    Go to where Pessoa used to work and hear the story of how he met the only love of his life - Ofélia Queiroz

11. Pessoa's Table

    Discover the restaurant where Pessoa spent most of his afterwork hours and still has "his table" in the corner

12. More Saramago

    Near the water of river Tagus, Saramago gave this place a strong importance in his book: "The year of the death of Ricardo Reis"

13. Saramago's Legacy

    See one of the most charismatic Lisbon buildings, that is now the house of the José Saramago Foundation

14. Optional

    Want to eat Pessoa's favorite starter? Let me know and I can add it to your personalized tour

15. 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

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!

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

Codruta

11 January 2025

Omri🇮🇱 Israel

30 October 2024

Antonio gave us a three-hour tour of Lisbon, following Pessoa & Saramago. For us it was the first introduction to Pessoa, and it was a revelation to learn about him and his literature. Saramago is one of our most favorite authors, and this tour gave us a new perspective on his personality and achivements outside of writing books. Antonio managed to do it together, threaded with Lisbon and Portugal's history and legacy.Insightful and fascinating tour

Douglas🇺🇸 United States

24 October 2024

Antonio took us on a well-designed tour of the Lisbon residences and haunts of Portugal’s famous authors Fernando Passoa and Jose Saramago. He is very knowledgeable and personable and we felt like we had just missed bumping into one of these writers each time we turned a corner. We strongly recommend António and his tour.Antonio’s Literary Tour is Excellent

Anusha 🇬🇧 United Kingdom

1 August 2024

I really enjoyed this tour which provided an insightful and alternative literary based perspective of Lisbon. António made the tour not only interesting but also interactive and I was very pleased that he customised parts to suit my interests. I would thoroughly recommend this to anyone with an interest in Portuguese literature! Pessoa and Saramago literary tour

M

17 May 2024

I so thoroughly enjoyed Antonio's tour. He is kind, knowledgeable, open, and easy to talk to. It is a very well-planned route with pre-planned stops; at each stop, there would be a story about the two writers. Antonio also showed me source texts written by Pessoa and Saramago about each location/story, which I really appreciated. Lisbon is at the heart of these two writers' work, shaping their minds and words, and I felt fortunate to have someone like Antonio, who truly loved and knew their work, to take me through those streets. He also put their work into context, not only within the Portuguese history and literary lineage but also in our times, when views on many things are constantly changing. We also talked about other books we are reading, contemporary and classic films that we love watching, which was fun! He also so kindly answered my questions about Lisbon in general and gave me travel tips both in and out of Lisbon. I highly recommend anyone who loves literature and history to go on tour with Antonio :) the best literary tour and local guide!

Aarti 🇮🇳 India

28 February 2024

I had the pleasure of joining Antònio on a captivating walking tour of Lisbon, and it was an experience I won't soon forget. From the moment we met, his passion for the city's literary heritage was evident, and it truly brought the streets of Lisbon to life.

Anne Elise🇧🇷 Brazil

26 April 2023

Antonio foi impecável. Além de todo o conhecimento sobre a história e literatura de Portugal, ele personalizou o tour de acordo com a necessidade minha e de minha mãe, fez tudo em ritmo que conseguimos acompanhar e nos fez nos apaixonar por Portugal!Incrível

Joyce🇺🇸 United States

30 January 2023

Antonio was incredible! He had incredible knowledge. He was fun funny and engaging! Incedible Preparation and Delivery

James🇺🇸 United States

26 October 2022

António provided a nicely-paced, comfortable walking tour through the neighborhoods of Lisbon. I'll now look at these familiar sites in Lisbon with a new understanding of two authors who have shaped the city's literary culture.Great literary tour

r5qk8g4y6t🇺🇸 United States

4 August 2022

Great tour great convo

Yul🇬🇧 United Kingdom

16 July 2022

The tour was well organised and went through places of special meaning to the writers and the literary history at a perfect pace. António told us not only about Pessoa and Saramago, but also about other relevant cultural figures when we asked him about the context. He was open to further questions after the tour, and when we asked the meaning of the inscription in Pessoa's tomb at Jerónimos Monastery, he kindly translated it for us. Overall, the similarity and the contrast between the two writers was intriguing, and the tour was not only informative but also touching.informative, touching, and personal

olitoxo🇺🇸 United States

29 April 2022

Antonio was wonderful. He started by telling us about the connection between Pessoa and Saramago as he saw it and then guided us through different sites of interest. He very thoughtfully explained the lives of both authors and always integrated quotes from their works. Pointing out characteristics of the writers personalities, activities and thoughts he made us understand their lives and connections to Lisbon. Antonio nicely pointed out differences in their personalities as well. The tour ended with a coffee at a restaurant that Pessoa frequently visited (the table he was sitting at is still there). There we chatted about the tour and other insights Antonio had. This tour is an eyeopening experience, very personal and perfectly timed for 3 hours. I highly recommend the tour for all interested in the Portuguese writers Pessoa and Saramago! Thanks Antonio!!! A wonderful tour to learn about Pessoa and Saramago

Unknown

10 March 2022

Walking around with Antonio was an amazing way to enter into Lisbon for the first time through favorite writers and history. Antonio is knowledgeable and so wonderful to spend time walking with. Three hours went by in minutes! We are hoping to book another tour right away.Extraordinary tour with engaging and knowledgeable Antonio!

Celia🇺🇸 United States

22 September 2021

Antonio tailored our tour to meet our needs and physical limitations. He is a a font of knowledge about his beloved city and its literary giants. His good humor and patience made the tour a delight and showed us facets of Lisbon we never would have discovered on our own. Highly recommend!An exceptional experience

Maria🇮🇹 Italy

18 August 2021

Antonio guide us at the exploration of Lisbon through the two important writers of the city Pessoa and Saramago. It was fantastic to discover narrow places that are relented to the writers. Antonio give me back his enthusiasm and now the pleasure for reading come back to me. When I come back to Italy the first stop was... the bookshop! To buy something of Pessoa and Saramago. Now I will read it with more consciousness. Thank you Antonio 💫Great experience!

michelle🇬🇧 United Kingdom

17 February 2020

Antonio is charming and quietly passionate about Lisbon. He took us on an interesting walk into the past and into the life of Fernando Pessoa and the narrow streets and cafes he lived on, walked on and wrote about. Antonio has extensive knowledge about Lisbon's history and is flexible and always willing to allow the tour to take its own direction. We visited Pessoa's stomping ground and learnt about the life of Jose Saramago. A visit to the oldest existing bookshop in the world is another must see. I would definitely recommend Antonio and his tours to any visitors to Lisbon. A walk into the past

Kent🇺🇸 United States

14 November 2019

I did the Writer’s Tour about Fernando Pessoa and Jose Saramago with Antonio. It really gave me a deeper understanding of both writers. We had a fascinating three hour conversation and it ended up being one of the highlights of my trip. A Great Way To Deepen Your Reading Experience

Jack🇺🇸 United States

3 August 2019

Antonio was wonderfully conversant with the the subect and conveyed that excellent information in a relaxed and personal way. By the end of the tour I had not only learned a great desl but had also acquired a friend. Highly recommended.Beyond Totally Satisfied

Olivier🇺🇸 United States

26 March 2019

We really enjoyed our tour with Antonio. He is very knowledgeable about all things Lisbon and created a great tour focusing on Pessoa and Saramago. Great tour with Antonio

Jón 🇮🇸 Iceland

5 October 2018

Our tour with António under the two writers theme Pessoa and Saramago was very informative in the light and easy way, not only by connecting places and spots to their books and lives but also helped us grasp pieces of the interesting history of the city and the layout of streets and "bairros". For newcomers, Lisbon seems a little confusing at first but much less so after this tour. Fantastic guide, enthusiastic, funny, nice presence and good pace. Thank you António. A very enjoyable tour. Highly recommended. Jon and Johanna, Iceland Lisbon´s Writers private Tour

Jacques🇫🇷 France

22 September 2018

Interesting and pleasant tour down town Lisbon. Recommended 👏👏👏Feornando Passoa

Ryoko🇬🇧 United Kingdom

18 September 2018

António was a fantastic guide and The tour was the best thing for my first 5days trip in Lisbon! I highly recommend this tour to culture, history and coffee lovers. I had no idea about these authors before but António has explained about them mixing with the local story and history in a very approachable way. The length and amount of places António took us were perfect and stopped a few interesting coffee shops and restaurants related to the authors as well as historical spots. This tour gave us a local and interesting experience and recommend to take on the first or second day of your stay so that you can enjoy Lisbon more! Must for a cultural lovers!

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.

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!

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!

mss🇺🇸 United States

30 January 2025

Antonio took my wife and I on a walking tour of Lisbon. He personalized it perfectly so there was no overlap with what we had already seen. Although the weather was rainy, Antonio took us to see both highlights and hidden sites (make sure he takes you to the church that is plain outside and irnate inside...a true hidden gem!) and never wavered. He made sure we went inside different places as well as seeing key sites and statutes while explaining the history. We had a great time and learned a lot. Antonio did a great job!Fun walking tour

Cortney🇺🇸 United States

19 January 2025

We loved our evening with Antonio! We met in a great location with a beautiful view and then explored a few neighborhoods while he explained a bit of the history and culture. Each stop was completely unique from each other and all of the food options were amazing! We were full at the end! There isn’t anything we would have changed and being with Antonio made it feel as if we were out with a friend! A definite highlight of our trip to Lisbon. Wonderful Foodie Tour Experience

Charles🇺🇸 United States

4 January 2025

I cannot express strongly enough how much we enjoyed our tour with Antonio. Beyond just introducing us to Lisbon, he gave us an insightful and introspective lesson on the culture, history and politics of Portugal and its people. He was intellectual and informed kept the five of us engaged for our entire tour. I would do it again all over again. Don't miss the opportunity to spend the day in Lisbon with Antonio. Spectacular

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

Liz🇺🇸 United States

20 December 2024

1

António made our visit to Lisbon unforgettable! From the moment we met, he made us feel completely at home, sharing his deep knowledge and passion for the city. He helped us quickly learn how to navigate Lisbon, making the rest of our trip so much easier. The tour was perfectly tailored, blending iconic sights with hidden gems and offering fantastic local recommendations. If you want a guide who’s warm, knowledgeable, and truly cares about making your experience special, António is the one. I will be recommending him to friends and family and reach out to him when I’m back. Thank you, 😊 António!Book Now❤️

Angela🇺🇸 United States

15 December 2024

My daughter and I had an absolutely fantastic tour with Antonio! From the moment we met him, his energy and enthusiasm were infectious. He was not only a delight to chat with but also a treasure trove of fascinating stories about Lisbon's rich history. Along the way, he introduced us to some hidden culinary gems, and the food was nothing short of spectacular—delicious, abundant, and diverse. Each dish told a story of its own, and Antonio’s insights made everything even more memorable. If you're looking for a perfect blend of history, culture, and mouthwatering food, I can't recommend this tour enough. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss!Amazing Food Tour with Antonio

Julia🇺🇸 United States

29 November 2024

Before I visited Lisbon a friend told me to be sure to make time for the Gulbenkian and I am glad that I listened. It is an exceptional collection and visiting it with Antonio made it even better! He was so knowledgeable and his explanation of the history of the collection and the museum made the experience so much richer. I highly recommend Antonio!A hidden gem in Lisbon

Arlene

23 November 2024

My husband and I so enjoyed our tour with Antonio! He is so knowledgeable and he made the Gulbenkian Museum come alive! We highly recommend him for this tour and we would have loved to take other tours with him.FANTASTIC TOUR!

Kelly🇺🇸 United States

22 October 2024

Antonio was a wealth of knowledge and wanted to get our Lisbon trip kicked off successfully. He provided great insider information about how to get around in Lisbon easily, night life, history, etc. He has a very sincere, laid back approach that helps to get you into relaxed vacation mode. We highly recommend a tour with him especially at the beginning of your trip.So informative!

isawieber

13 October 2024

wir hatten eine gute Zeit mit António, der besonders die Jugendlichen auch ansprechen konnte. Viele mega gute Tipps hat Bruns gegeben. Wir waren an besonders schönen Orten ab vom Mainstream entspannt, informativ und fröhlich

Jennifer🇩🇪 Germany

13 October 2024

we had so much fun with our host. He made such a big effort to accommodate our group of eight who all had special needs like "no fish" or "vegetarian " If you get the chance book it with Antonio!Antonio was the Best!

Lukas

11 October 2024

chriskennyhome🇬🇧 United Kingdom

10 October 2024

Margie🇺🇸 United States

6 October 2024

The four of us loved our tour of Lisbon with António. He gave us a very helpful orientation to the city while explaining Lisbon’s history. He had an engaging, personable manner and made it clear that he was very open to questions. He obviously loves his job. It’s easy to fall in love with the city as a result of his tour. We followed up the tour with lunch in one of his recommended restaurant which was wonderful. Wonderful tour

Beth🇨🇦 Canada

29 September 2024

Ken🇨🇦 Canada

29 September 2024

It was great to taste authentic Portuguese food, as the locals eat it. Antonio also shared lots of interesting history about Lisboa - we have a much better sense of the city now!We had a great tour with Antonio

Debby🇦🇺 Australia

26 September 2024

We had the best day. It was so much more than just food tasting. António was a wealth of knowledge of the history of Portugal. The food we had was great and really enjoyed the local drinks. He also gave us extra tips on what to do for the rest of our time here. Highly recommend Our tasting tour with Antonio

Vera🇩🇪 Germany

22 September 2024

Very good guiding, specially in history of Portugal. Antonio is very friendly and answered all our questions perfectly.excellent guide

Patrick🇺🇸 United States

22 September 2024

Mixed local historical knowledge with history of Portugal. As we walked he pointed out parts of Lisbon, now and in the past. Took time to answer all our questions. 10 10

Laura🇺🇸 United States

17 September 2024

We had a wonderful day with Antonio, discovering delicious local foods in several parts of town. We had plenty of time to eat and drink at each spot, and learned quite a bit about the Portuguese culture and cuisine. Everything was delicious! Definitely arrive hungry!Delightful day

Dudley🇺🇸 United States

14 September 2024

My tour of this incredible museum was greatly enhanced by Antonio’s knowledge of Gulbenkian the man and his art collection. There is no substitute to having someone who lives near and grew up with the museum as your guide. Pleasant, personable and knowledgeable.Gulbenkian Tour

Yvonne🇬🇧 United Kingdom

6 September 2024

We spent a lovely relaxed informative few hours wandering the old town in the company of Antonio. Having just arrived that morning we discovered the lay of the land and the history behind the origins of Lisbon. Antonio’s perfect English and knowledge of the city informed us for the rest of our stay as how best to spend our time . Thank you too Antônio for the wonderful treat of amazing pastel de nata at his names sake “Santo Antonio. We can highly recommend Antonio guidance for a great way to start your Lisbon experience .Discovering Lisbon with Antonio

Patrick🇨🇭 Switzerland

5 September 2024

As usual, on the first evening in a new city, we kick things off with a food tour. It’s the perfect way to discover the local restaurants right away. With António, entertainment was certainly on the menu. He shared so much about Lisbon that any need for a guidebook was completely unnecessary. The carefully selected dishes were absolutely amazing, and of course, the Bifana was not to be missed. We can highly recommend the tour, especially with António as your guide. Culinary Journey Lisbon with António