Alfama

Alfama is the oldest neighbourhood in Lisbon, and the one that survived the 1755 earthquake best. It is a tangle of whitewashed houses, blue-and-white tiles, washing hung across the lanes and staircases that no car could ever manage. It is also the place where a tuktuk makes the most sense of all: small, light and happy to follow streets that bigger vehicles simply skip.

Your driver takes you up from the river through the middle of the district, past the Sé Cathedral and the yellow trams grinding up the hill, and on to the viewpoints at Portas do Sol and Santa Luzia, where the terracotta rooftops fall away towards the Tagus. We stop wherever the view or the story is worth it, and there is time for photos. Ask as many questions as you like; our drivers grew up on these stories and enjoy telling them.

Three ways to ride it

The Express (1h30) is the shortest way to see the highlights: the cathedral, the viewpoints and the best of the narrow streets, without rushing. The Complete (2h) gives you the same route with more time at each stop and a few extra lanes that only fit a tuktuk. The Tasting is built around local flavours, with stops to try something typical along the way. Tell us which one you want when you book, and we will confirm the details with you.

Alfama is steep and the cobblestones are uneven, so it can be a bumpy ride. That is part of the charm, but it is also why guests with back problems or mobility issues cannot join this tour.