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Lisbon Queer History: Explore Bairro Alto
5.0
61 Ratings
Lisboa
Embark on a team adventure through Lisbon’s queer history in Bairro Alto and Principe Real. Discover scandalous stories, visit historic sights, and enjoy a pub quiz at Lisbon’s biggest gay hotel.
Embark on a team adventure through Lisbon’s queer history in Bairro Alto and Principe Real. Discover scandalous stories, visit historic sights, and enjoy a pub quiz at Lisbon’s biggest gay hotel.
Duration:
3 hours, 30 minutes
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Jardim do Principe Real - Begin with introductions in the beautiful Jardim Principe Real gardens, then explore the fascinating and unique queer history of Lisbon’s historic sites!
- Jardim do Principe Real - Visit the Monument to the victims of homophobia. This poignant stop on the tour honors the past while celebrating the vibrant queer…
- Jardim do Principe Real - Begin with introductions in the beautiful Jardim Principe Real gardens, then explore the fascinating and unique queer history of Lisbon’s historic sites!
- Jardim do Principe Real - Visit the Monument to the victims of homophobia. This poignant stop on the tour honors the past while celebrating the vibrant queer community in Lisbon today.
- Praca do Principe Real - Discover Lisbon Pride and ‘EuroPride’. This square is the starting point for Lisbon Pride and will host ‘EuroPride’ in 2025! Learn what makes Lisbon Pride special and why it is significant, as well as how EuroPride is coming to Lisbon.
- GAT - Checkpoint LX - Learn about Lisbon’s achievements in managing the HIV/AIDS pandemic and receive vital health service information for queer men and women.
- Construction Lisbon Club - Discover this iconic dance venue for a queer night out in Lisbon. This club, along with nearby lesbian venues, has many stories about queer nightlife in Lisbon.
- Botanical Garden of Lisbon - Hear tales of cruising in the 1950s parks, the infamous happenings in the Botanical Gardens, “offending morals,” and how men cleverly evaded the (ineffective! :-) ) police!
- Trumps - Discover Lisbon’s largest queer nightclub, featuring two floors with distinct atmospheres. Since 1980, this venue has been a staple of the queer scene in Lisbon.
- R. de Gustavo de Matos Sequeira 42 - Explore the history of Lisbon’s first lesbian bar, ‘O Gato Verde’ (The Green Cat), a beloved institution with a rich past.
- Praça das Flores 7 - Visit Lisbon’s first drag bar! Learn about the enthusiasm for drag following the 1974 revolution and the subsequent challenges faced by Lisbon’s first drag queen.
- Bar 106 - Leave a message for friends at Bar 106, a fantastic place to connect.
- Shelter Bar Lisboa - Discover where the Bears gather (part 1)!
- Finalmente Club - Experience the best (and oldest) drag shows in town at ‘Finally!’ It’s essential to know the different shows and their timings.
- Bar TR3S Lisboa - Discover where the Bears gather (part 2). Enjoy Bear Pride, beach clubs, party nights, a sauna, and sports sponsorship.
- Constitutional Court - Learn about the legal challenges at the Constitutional Courts and Portugal’s journey from dictatorship values to Constitutional Protection for LGBTQ rights.
- R. Luz Soriano 44 - Explore the first ‘homosexual manifesto’ and the early steps that were suppressed, leading to eventual success.
- R. do Trombeta 10 - Discover the transformation from love-nests to luxury apartments and modern saunas. Uncover the steamy story of the ‘Two Fernandes’ - a 19th-century scandal and saunas!
- Purex - Enjoy a dance floor for everyone, run by women, featuring unique vagina jewelry!
- Maria Caxuxa - Learn about the remarkable woman who defied conventions and dismissed intrusive journalists in the 1940s.
- Tv. da Espera 50 - Delve into a 19th-century scandal involving the Marquis of Valada, a common soldier, disgraced politicians, political blackmail, and ultimate survival.
- Teatro da Trindade - Discover the secrets inside my bra! Follow the story of bisexual jazz legend Josephine Baker as she evades the secret police and spies in wartime Lisbon.
- R. da Misericórdia 125 - Explore ‘Women in love - but not with men’! Delve into queer fiction, censorship, and compromised censors.
- Igreja de Sao Roque - The Portuguese Inquisition offers a glimpse into queer history with stories of sex in church, lesbian nuns, a ‘demonic penis,’ and a trans love story from the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
- Hospital St. Louis - “I love you because I love you” - Discover Fernand Pessoa, a great writer now recognized for his gay writing and reclaimed for his contributions.
- Tv. André Valente 21 - Conclude the tour at the Late Birds Hotel, Lisbon’s largest gay hotel, with a lounge, bar, garden, and pool. (Did you bring your swimming costume!?) Enjoy a pub quiz and prizes.
What's Included
- Discover the modern gay scene as you stroll from one stop to the next
- Meet new friends in the group and finish in a gay hotel lounge
- Hear fun stories, scandals and anecdotes of Lisbon’s fascinating queer history
- Get your PDF copy of ‘Alex’s LONG LIST’ updated guide to LGBTQ Lisbon (Normally 15 Euros)
- Discover the modern gay scene as you stroll from one stop to the next
- Meet new friends in the group and finish in a gay hotel lounge
- Hear fun stories, scandals and anecdotes of Lisbon’s fascinating queer history
- Get your PDF copy of ‘Alex’s LONG LIST’ updated guide to LGBTQ Lisbon (Normally 15 Euros)
What's Not Included
- Private transportation
- Private transportation
Additional Information
Every Tuesday and Saturday (contact the operator for other days/dates), this engaging tour brings Lisbon’s queer history to life through an adventure (in English) around the main gay-scene neighborhoods of Bairro Alto and Principe Real. Discover captivating stories of love and drama that animate queer history as participants explore the sights of…
Every Tuesday and Saturday (contact the operator for other days/dates), this engaging tour brings Lisbon’s queer history to life through an adventure (in English) around the main gay-scene neighborhoods of Bairro Alto and Principe Real. Discover captivating stories of love and drama that animate queer history as participants explore the sights of Lisbon’s intriguing, sometimes scandalous (and occasionally bizarre!) queer history and the contemporary gay scene. The tour concludes with a drink at a gay hotel.
Additionally, participants receive a copy of ‘Alex’s LONG LIST - guide to LGBTQ Lisbon & Portugal’ - a comprehensive guide with over 120 pages of essential information, written by locals and updated monthly. ‘Alex’s LONG LIST’ includes venues, maps, queer events, a gay beach guide (and directions), nightclubs, bars, saunas, women’s venues and events, relaxed bars, vibrant cabaret venues, budget-friendly Lisbon tips, trans/non-binary spaces, community/sports/social groups, health services, and more.
- Age who can book this experience: 16+
- Legal drinking age: 18+
Location
Principe Real Playground
Praça do Príncipe Real
Meeting point: On the corner of the garden square of Principe Real; outside number 18, Praça do Príncipe Real; by the children's play corner.
We are easy to find – just look for the Rainbow Umbrella.
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
5.0
(61 Ratings)
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Jessebz3872rz
Aug 2, 2025
Don't miss this tour! - I highly recommend Alex's tour! It is not only thorough and thoughtful, but it's full of interesting facts and fun stories. It is a fantastic way to experience the city, learning about the amazing queer history of Lisbon. It's also a great way to meet other people. It's a for sure don't-miss!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
151yaniras
Jul 26, 2025
Phenomenal Queer History Tour - We had an absolutely phenomenal time on this tour! As soon as we returned home we 110% recommended it to all our friends and anyone with plans to visit Lisbon in the future.
We learned so much about queer history and culture, popular queer bars and clubs, and a bit about general Portuguese history as well!
Alex was a wealth of knowledge and a delight! Take this tour, you will not regret it!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sean
Jul 24, 2025
A Delightful Tour of Queer History and Life in Some Lisbon Neighborhoods - Alex Pollard was knowledgeable, personable, and entertaining as he guided myself, my husband, and the small group we were a part of through some interesting neighborhoods of Lisbon. I learned a lot while looking at beautiful architecture, especially inside an old 17th century church, including about queer lives over the ages in Lisbon. This was a delightful tour that I highly recommend people take who are new to Lisbon, whether you happen to identify as part of the LGBTQI+ community or not.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Cameron
Jul 24, 2025
Great, informative walking tour of Lisbon! - The Lisbon Gay History walking tour was great. Small group and very informative by Alex. We went at a good pace for everyone in the group and short breaks if needed. Also, gave us other interesting information about Lisbon.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Tyler_m
Jul 23, 2025
Loved it! - Loved every second of it! We had just gotten off of a 9 day gay cruise so we were feeling it by the end of the tour since it is pretty extensive and you will be WALKING! The stories, the magic, the connection make it all work it.
Review provided by Viator
Scarlettgeorgia
Jul 10, 2025
Best tour ever ! - Alex was the most charming, knowledgeable and passionate tour guide i’ve ever met. He shows you places and stories that you would never find orherwise, and for anyone at all interested in queer life or history, this is an absolute must!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jamess843
Jul 8, 2025
Don't hesitate - TAKE THIS TOUR! - Hands down, one of the best walking tours I've ever been on, and I've been on a lot. Alex was very knowledgeable about absolutely everything our group asked him about. He led the tour in a relaxed and easy manner and got emotional at a number of points when telling us about certain awful moments in history. I highly recommend Alex and his tour! I even did the tour when it was 107°F (42°C) and I didn't notice. The tour was that captivating!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Redmedgirl
Jul 2, 2025
Fun and informative - It was just my fiancée and I on this tour and we had an amazing time. It was a super hot day and he was very considerate with water stops and finding shade. The tour felt like it was tailored to us, we got lots of recommendations for the rest of our trip. I would highly recommend this tour. It was a great mix of learning about the queer history of the city and pointing out modern spots.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
J4064stdanielac
Jun 26, 2025
A top tour! - Alex is very knowledgeable, and his positive attitude is infectious. I happened to know quite a bit on the subject, but even so I ended up learning a lot more. It was actually quite touching to stand before spots I had heard of, but never had the chance to see before - or if I had, I didn't know the significance at the time! Would highly recommend this tour, and would happily go on a future one
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Jennyly1089er
Jun 22, 2025
REQUIRED for anybody who has questions about the Queer Scene in Lisbon! - ✨✨Hi! MAJOR recommendation for any LGBTQ folk who are curious about the queer scene/culture/resources here in Portugal, whether they are thinking of moving here or have already been living here!! If you're in any Portugal queer FB groups, then no doubt you've seen Alex's Queer Lisbon History Tour - and 'Alex's LONG LIST' PDF guide. This is a hugely comprehensive guide/resource for LGBTQ and SO helpful! But MORE than that, I took Alex's tour of Lisbon and it was SO AMAZING. We learned so much about everyday neighborhoods that you wouldn't necessarily explore on a normal walking tour, some really quirky cool obscure history and facts, tips for clubs, performances, and social hotspots, about Pride, and really REALLY delved into how the queer scene in Lisbon has developed and what it looks like here AND HOW IT'S DIFFERENT or SIMILAR to the scene in the UK/states. So many questions I see asked from LGBTQ who are wanting to move to Portugal were answered through this tour. I HIGHLY recommend it. My visiting friend actually said it was her favorite part of our Lisbon trip, and we made several souvenir choices based off of what we learned on this tour. Plus Alex is so nice, so knowledgable, and gave so many recommendations, background, and suggestions to our trip in general that were much appreciated - he may be based in Lisbon, but he has extensive knowledge and know how of the country at large. I was very impressed by him and the amount of work he has put into this tour and his PDF List, and also so impressed by Portugal and how it's developed its queer community supports and culture. You can book tours with him via his website on his profile, or DM him directly. If you have ANY questions or thoughts about what it's like to be queer in Lisbon/Portugal, YOU SHOULD REACH OUT TO HIM AND TAKE HIS TOUR. It really will help concerned and curious minds out there, and be an awesome experience.
I rarely leave reviews for anything, but I wanted to take the time to do this because it seriously is SO well done, thought out, well researched, and supportive of the queer community, both local and immigrants. I now consider it vital to understanding and adding a foundational layer of becoming a part of the queer community here in Portugal. Queer folk from the US (as it's my only experience) tend to come over with so much baggage and expectations (good or bad), and it can be hard to assimilate to a place where those things are not only different but not necessarily applicable in the ways you're used to anymore. Meet Alex, take his tour, learn how things are both different or the same here, and have a wonderful time!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor