Alfama, Lisbon - Walking tour through the oldest district with castle, cathedral and great views

We're taking a walking tour through Alfama, Lisbon's oldest district. This picturesque neighborhood is a medieval labyrinth of narrow streets and staircases, stretching from São Jorge Castle, past Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa), down to the banks of the Tagus River. And from viewpoints like the Miradouro Santa Luzia, we're having wonderful views of the Portuguese capital! Alfama is Lisbon's oldest and arguably most distinctive district. We start our tour at the Portas do Sol viewpoint, where we can enjoy a sweeping view of the Tagus River and the cruise ships anchored in the harbor. Then we begin our ascent to the highest of Lisbon's seven hills. We climb Castle Hill until we stand before the imposing walls of the citadel. We enter the castle district through the Arco do Castelo, an impressive Moorish-era archway that acquired its current form after the devastating earthquake of 1755. The history of São Jorge Castle dates back to Roman times, although the structure visible today is primarily from the Moorish period and was extensively restored in the 1940s. In the central Praça de Armas (Arms Square), we admire the monument to Dom Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal. But the real highlight is the fantastic view over Lisbon! From the Praça do Comércio in the Baixa district, the view stretches far across the sea of ​​houses and the Tagus River to the Cristo Rei statue and the Ponte 25 de Abril bridge. We climb the castle's imposing ramparts and can explore eleven towers. And time and again, we encounter the colorful peacocks that inhabit the grounds, once brought back from India by sailors. We also take a look at the ruins of the old royal palace from the 13th century. This is where Vasco da Gama's famous audience with King Manuel I took place, shortly before he discovered the sea route to India. We leave the castle and fortify ourselves with a typical "Pastel de Bacalhau," deep-fried pastries of salted and dried cod with potatoes, before beginning our way down through the Alfama district. The name of the neighborhood comes from Arabic and means "hot springs," referring to the mineral springs that were once used there. Picturesque alleyways and charming decay attract many tourists—too many, according to some locals! Finally, we reach the "Miradouro de Santa Luzia," a viewpoint known for its artistic azulejos. These ceramic tiles depict, among other things, the Praça do Comércio as it appeared before the great earthquake of 1755. The path leads us onward to the Sé Cathedral, the oldest church in the city, dating back to the 13th century. While the facade is Romanesque in style, inside we also discover Gothic and Baroque elements, such as the famous Baroque Nativity scene by Joaquim Machado de Castro. We continue downhill through the maze of narrow streets. Shortly before reaching the banks of the Tagus River, we arrive at the 16th-century Casa dos Bicos, now home to the José Saramago Foundation. After a short coffee break with traditional pastéis de nata, delicious custard tarts, we pass the Museu do Fado, dedicated to Portugal's melancholic singing style. The final, strenuous way back takes us steeply uphill past the statue of the city's patron saint, São Vicente, until we finally reach our starting point at the Portas do Sol. But there's a more comfortable way to explore Alfama! Since 1873, the historic tram has been rattling through Lisbon, and a ride on lines 28 or 12 is practically a must for every tourist. The tram is quite crowded, so if you want a good seat, you should board at the first stop. It's truly impressive how the tram climbs the hills and squeezes through the narrow streets. And the view of the heart of Lisbon is an added bonus! For more information, please turn on the video's subtitles! If you enjoyed it, please like and subscribe to the channel so you don't miss anything. You can find the GPX track for the Alfama tour here: https://www.komoot.com/de-de/tour/281... The complete channel playlist about our stay in Lisbon can be found here:    • Lissabon   Visit in May 2025 Chapters: 00:00 Intro 00:49 Portas do Sol and climb to the castle 01:55 Castelo de São Jorge 09:11 Pastel de Bacalhau 09:49 Alfama streets and Miradouro de Santa Luzia 11:36 Sé Catedral (Lisbon Cathedral) 13:29 End of the walking tour 14:40 Tram ride through Alfama 16:43 Outro