Yulia Saf 
Tuk-tuks have become insanely popular over the last few years in Portugal, especially in the main cities of Lisbon city and Porto. Since the city is very hilly, it is hard to walk around plus, it gets super hot in summer so you might want to take a break from the sun! Tuk tuk tours are a fun way to discover Lisbon without having to put in any effort.
I am currency living in Lisbon and took a couple of rides myself when showing around to my family and friends. So in this post I will explain what are the prices you can expect to pay for the tour, where to book one, what are the types of tours etc.
NOTE: I don’t suggest taking a tuk-tuk offered to you on the street. You’ll find many people trying to sell you a tour of Lisbon. Why? First of all, there is a big chance you will overpay or need to negotiate hard for a fair price. But also, your guide will probably not be certified meaning they might not have enough knowledge to tell you about the history of the city. To learn more about this, check out the useful information section at the end of the post!
Are you ready? Let’s start!
Contents
If you are in a hurry
If you don’t need all the details and just want to book the best tuk-tuk tours in Lisbon right now, check out the following list:
Here are the top 3 tuk-tuk guided tours in Lisbon, to book in advance:
1. What to expect from Tuk-tuk tours
There are 3 main types of tuk-tuk tours in Lisbon, Portugal:
- 1-2 hour tours focusing on a specific area of the city, usually the historic center
- Half-day tours when you can see more of the city and get in depth knowledge about the main attractions
- Full-day tours that will cover all the attractions, will most probably take you to Belem (a bit outside) and will give you some time to go inside museums, churches etc.
There are also some themed tuk-tuk tours, during which you’ll visit the main landmarks of the city with a special focus. It can be anything from food to art and much more (see the specific section about it below).
One thing to note is that all tuk-tuk tours are private – I personally never heard about tours when they merge random people in one tuk-tuk. It usually hosts a group of 1 to 6 people, and the prices per person depend on group size and tour length.
The prices for tours mentioned in this post start from €60 for an hour visit (120 for 2) to ~€350 for a full-day guided tour for groups of up to 6 people. If you buy a guided tour on the street you may pay a bit less in some cases, but it’s also possible your guide will be only a driver pretty much. There is no way to check the reviews in this case, so I don’t recommend this option!
2. Types of tuk-tuk tours available in Lisbon
Now that you have a bit of an overview of some things to consider when booking your tuk-tuk tour, let’s go through all the different tour options you have.
2.1 Two Hour tuk-tuk tours of Lisbon city center
If you just want to visit the main highlights of Lisbon City center without stopping too much, you can join this guided tuk-tuk tour through Old Lisbon which lasts about 1.5 – 2 hours.
Your guide will pick you up at your accommodation in Lisbon (BTW, check out our post on hotels in Lisbon city center) and bring you to discover its most important tourist attractions like the Lisbon Cathedral, the Church of Saint Anthony, the Castle district, and even a flea market on Tuesdays and Saturdays!
The guide is very knowledgeable, so they give you a great overview of the city, and also take you to some panoramic spots to have the best views and take some souvenir pictures before returning you to your hotel!
The tour is for groups of up to 6 people and has a total cost of €120, which can be split between your group (€60 per person if you are only 2 or just €20 for 6 people).
Guide’s languages available: Spanish, English, French, Portuguese
PRICE: €120 per group of up to 6 people
Book a 2hr Lisbon City Center Tour
2.2 Half day tuk-tuk tour of Lisbon (4h)
That is the tour I took and I think it was the best value-for-money ratio and enough time to visit all the hills that I would have to climb to otherwise! 🙂
The best tuk-tuk tour I can recommend to you is this private 3-4 h tour from East to West Lisbon by Tukxi, which is a mix between a tuk-tuk and a 3-wheeled scooter, including hotel pickup and drop-off.
Starting from Lisbon Old Town, the tour combines a visit to 3 historical neighborhoods – Alfama, Mouraria, and Graça – and gives you the option to explore Belem for an extra €50.
If you decide to visit also Belem (they will ask you that at the beginning of the tour) it will take you around 1h extra, counting 20 minutes each way plus the time you’ll spend admiring the Belem Tower, the Jeronimos Monastery, and the Monument to the Discoveries: 3 of the most incredible buildings in Portugal.
We skipped that option because it felt like it would be rushed – instead, we went there ourselves the next day and spent almost the whole day there discovering it with no rush! (check out our Things to do in Lisbon post to know more).
Please keep in mind that the time you spend exploring a church/admiring the view etc. also includes in your tour time.
The guide will tell you about each attraction and let you out to explore on your own while they wait for you in the parking lot. So while you’re free to take your time, remember that if you take too long at one attraction you may miss out on the rest of the itinerary or extend the time.
Here is an approximate route you can have just to give you an idea (that’s the one we chose, I think it is a pretty classy one):
- Cathedral in Alfama
- Museo Lisboa Teatro romano
- Miradouro das Portas do Sol + Mirador de Santa Luzia
- Senhora do Monte
- Church of Sao Roque
- Taverna del Rey – the first Fado in the world!
The guide also pointed out some secret spots in Lisbon on the way – local restaurants and gardens that we would never have known if we had explored the city by ourselves, so I definitely recommend it!
Guide’s languages available: Spanish, English, French, Portuguese, German
PRICE: from €180 for groups of up to 6 people, €230 with Belem visit
Book Your Half Day Tuk-Tuk Tour!
2.3 Full-day tour of Lisbon (6h)
Another option you have to discover Lisbon’s top attractions is this full-day sightseeing tour of 6 hours, with a private guide that will tell you everything you could possibly want to know about the history and culture of all the interesting spots you’ll visit.
Among the landmarks you will see are the Lisbon Cathedral, Belem Tower, the Bairro Alto neighborhood, and Commerce Square from the comfort of your electric tuk-tuk.
As with the other tours, the guide will pick you up and drop you off at your hotel, and bring you to try the delicious Pasteis de Nata at the famous Pasteis de Belem, the best bakery in the city… Is there a better way to end your tour?
This tour is for groups of up to 6 people and has a total cost €350. While it can seem a little pricey, the guide will share some “off the beaten path” secrets that you’ll miss if you go by yourself, so it’s worth every penny!
Guide’s languages available: Spanish, English, French, Portuguese
PRICE: €350 per group of up to 6 people
Book Your Full Day Tuk-Tuk Tour
2.4 Themed tuk-tuk tours in Lisbon
If you want to discover the Portuguese capital in an original way, tuk-tuks offer many cool themed tours that will bring you to visit the main landmarks of the city with a special focus: food, street art, views, etc… you’ll have a lot of fun!
I gathered here the best ones in Lisbon, Portugal, check them out:
- Street art tuk-tuk tour – On this tuk-tuk tour, you will discover the most beautiful street art of Lisbon, including graffiti of international artists celebrating Ibero-American culture, while learning about the history of the art deco industrial warehouses. The 1.5 hour tour is for 2 people maximum and costs €90
- Food tasting tour – Experience Lisbon’s delicious traditional cuisine on this 3 hour electric tuk-tuk food tour. You will stop at 4 restaurants through Alfama, Graça, São Vicente, and Baixa quarters to taste the top specialties of Portugal! The group tour costs €136 per person
- Tram 28 private tour by Tukxi – Follow the famous 28 Tram route on board a Tukxi, with live comments from your own private guide. You’ll see the city from the highest viewpoints and explore the old neighborhoods of Lisbon for 1hr 45 mins, all this for €120 per group of up to 6 people
- Belvederes tuk-tuk tour – Hop on this romantic tour that will bring you to see the best panoramic views in Lisbon, Portugal! Your driver will take you on an eco tuk-tuk up and down the hills to visit 3 or 4 of the TOP viewpoints in the city, like Senhora do Monte Belvedere in Graça. The tour lasts 2 hours and costs €119 per group for up to 3 people.
2.5 A la carte tours
Since all the tuk-tuk tours are private, you will generally always have the possibility to talk with your driver and agree with them on some deviations you might be interested in, but if you want to have a fully customized experience, you should go for this a la carte tour!
Custom tours are pretty cool too and should not cost you much extra – the tuk-tuk driver will design a unique tour according to your specific preferences!
The tour can last from 1h to 4h, depending on how many locations and attractions you want to visit.
Prices change based on the tour length and group size: the minimum price is €69 for a 1-hour tour for groups of 1 to 3 people, but check out the other options on the eco tuk-tuk website!
If you’re short on time, they suggest you choose a tour through Lisbon’s 7 hills, during which you’ll explore either the modern or old part of the city and visit some amazing viewpoints!
A la carte tours are available daily, every half an hour from 2 pm to 6 pm, but I suggest you book them some days in advance if you want to find availability at your preferred time!
Guide languages available: English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, German
PRICE: from €69 (per group 1-3 people)
Have a Customized Tour of Lisbon!
3. Types of tuk-tuks in Lisbon
There are several different types of Lisbon tuk-tuks and depending on your preferences, it’s important to take this into consideration when choosing your tour.
We went for an “antique” looking version and while the pictures we took in it were quite epic, I would say that the more contemporary ones are more comfortable. I sat in the middle (3 people in the back+1 with the driver) and it felt pretty crumpled tbh.
I recommend you think about how many people you are taking the tour with, how much space you want (the ones for 2-3 people are very tiny… and tall people will probably have a problem), and if the direction you will face while driving matters for you.
Here are all the different configurations of tuk-tuks in Lisbon. Each bench can fit 2-3 people depending on the width of the tuk tuk:
- Two inward facing-benches – These tuk-tuks have 2 benches facing each other: one facing the same direction as the driver, the other one in the opposite direction, so if it is uncomfortable for you and you get motion sickness, check out the next one.
- Two benches facing the same way – On these tuk-tuks, the 2 benches are both facing the same way as the driver but usually can host maximum 3 people in the back and one with the driver. This type of tuk-tuk is quite small, so if you want to have more space check out the following option.
- 3 benches tuk-tuks – These tuk-tuks are for big groups of up to 6 people and usually have 2 benches facing each other and one on the back facing backwards
- Tukxi – This is a mix between a tuk-tuk and a 3-wheeled scooter and can host up to 6 people
Aside from the number and direction of seats, you also have the choice between electric or diesel tuk tuks. While the engines vary greatly between the different designs, as a general rule, the electric tuk tuks are going to be way quieter meaning you will have a much easier time hearing the driver’s fun facts.
NOTE 1: If you are concerned about safety, ask the tuk-tuk companies about the seat belts in advance. Most of them are not equipped with any (especially if you take a tuk-tuk on the street), but some do have waist belts.
NOTE 2: If you’re traveling with a small baby, bI recommend bringing your own baby car seat, tuk-tuk companies do not usually provide them!
4. Useful information about tuk-tuks in Lisbon
Here are some useful tips about tuk-tuks you should definitely know before deciding which is the best tuk-tuk tour in Lisbon, Portugal for you:
- Book your tuk-tuk tour online: you’ll find many people trying to sell you a Lisbon tour on the street, but it’s likely that they’re not certified, meaning they won’t tell you much about the history of the city. For the same price or a little more, you can book it online and make sure you are getting a good tuk-tuk guide/tour by reading the reviews of past visitors. Also, you won’t lose time negotiating the price with people that may be trying to fool you!
- Book your tuk-tuk tour at least a day in advance: Tuk-tuk companies need to assign you to a specific guide, so if you reserve the tour in advance, you give them time to look for a good one, plus you will find more availability for your preferred time.
- Prices: Since tuk-tuk tours are private, they have a fixed price that changes per person depending on how many people you book the tour with. Tours mentioned in this post start from €120 for a 2 hour tour for a maximum of 6 people. If you buy a tour in the street, you may even pay as low as €90 for 2 hours, but it probably won’t be as informative as the ones you book online. No offense to immigrants, I am one myself, but most of the drivers on the street are pretty pushy and know very little about the history of the country. I am all for certified guides, immigrants or not! 🙂
- Tour time: The time you spend exploring during your stops is included in the total tour length. So while your guide will wait for you in the parking lot while you visit the attraction/viewpoint, remember that you don’t want to take too long otherwise you might miss out on other ones.
- Check that the tuk-tuk is spacious enough: If you are tall or you are traveling with a group, take into consideration that generally tuk-tuks are very small, usually hosting a maximum of 3 people. Luckily, there are also other types of tuk-tuks (check out the specific section about it above), which are more spacious and have more seats!
- Seat belts and baby seats: Most tuk-tuks (except for the ones you find in the street) provide normal waist seat belts, but I honestly haven’t found any company providing baby seats. If you are traveling with your family and you need baby seats, I suggest you to either contact the tuk-tuk company in advance to ask if they provide this service, or to bring your own baby car seat with you!
- Tuk-tuks in the winter/rain: If you want to take a tuk-tuk tour in winter, you should check out if they have plastic wraps/curtains in order to be protected from rain and the cold wind!
- All the tuk-tuk tours are private: If you want to save money, organize your own group in advance to split the cost, otherwise any tour you choose will be all private for a specific number of people, they will not match you with another group.
BONUS: Other wheeled group tours
If you are not really into tuk-tuks or prefer to join a group tour, no worries: there are many other tours to discover Lisbon, Portugal on wheels, and they are as entertaining and interesting! I gathered here some cool Lisbon tours to see the city from a different perspective… check them out:
- Alfama and Old Lisbon Segway Tour: Embark on a cool segway tour of Lisbon’s main landmarks and delicious Portuguese food, like pastel de nata, with a local guide that gives you interesting facts live. This 2.5 hours tour is limited to groups of 8 people, and prices change based on the number of persons and desired language!
- Lisbon Electric Bike Tour: Hop on an electric bike and follow a local guide through Lisbon’s seven hills for a 2.5h tour for groups of a maximum of 15 people. You will enjoy panoramic views of the Tagus River from Santa Catarina’s viewpoint and check out the best monuments in the city for €39 per person (but prices change based on group size and desired language!).
- Bike Tour Downtown to Belem: If you love biking, join this tour through downtown Lisbon until Belém along the Tagus River, where you’ll get amazing views of the famous April Bridge. This 4 hours tour includes helmet rental, bottled water and a pastry for €34 per person.
- Amphibious Sightseeing: Explore the city of Lisbon both from the land and from the river on a laughter-filled amphibious adventure while you’ll learn about the history and culture of Portugal from lively local guides! This entertaining tour lasts 1.5 hours and costs €30 per person.
| 🛺 Best tuk-tuk tour: | Half Day tuk-tuk Tour |
| 🍽️ Best foodie tour: | Food Tasting Tour |
| 🕒 Full-day tuk-tuk trip: | Full-Day tuk-tuk Tour |
| 🤩 Best customized tour: | Eco tuk-tuks |
| 👧 Best Lisbon tour for kids: | Amphibious Sightseeing Tour |
| 💸 Average cost: | €100 for 2 hours |
| 🎢 Top attraction: | Alfama Neighborhood |
FAQs about tuk-tuk tours in Lisbon
🛺 Which are the best tuk-tuk tours in Lisbon, Portugal?
The best tuk-tuk tours when visiting Lisbon are this 2 hours tuk-tuk tour of Lisbon city center, this half-day tuk-tuk tour with an optional visit to Belem or a full-day tuk-tuk tour.
💸 How much do tuk-tuk tours cost in Lisbon, Portugal?
❓Why are there tuk-tuks in Lisbon, Portugal?
After returning from a holiday in Thailand where tuk tuks are common, businessman Renato Ladeiro created the first tuk-tuk tours in Portugal in 2011. Today they are used either as a way of transport to get some specific attractions/spots, or to have guided tours of the city.
🖥️ How do I get a tuk-tuk in Lisbon, Portugal?
To get a tuk-tuk in Lisbon, Portugal, you can either find them in the street/outside of many attractions of the city or book them online, so you can make sure you get a good service at your preferred time!
Conclusion
Well, here we are at the end of this informative guide about the best tuk-tuk tours in Lisbon, Portugal, including some useful information about prices, tuk-tuk types, and other types of entertaining tours to discover the city!
Depending on your time and interests, you can book a 1-2 hour guided tour, focusing on a specific area, a half-day tour with an optional visit to the Belem district, or a full-day tour to have an even more in-depth guide of Lisbon.
I always recommend you book your tour online and not on the street, so you make sure you have a reliable guide, and you don’t have to negotiate the price. But still make sure to do it in advance so you can find availability at your preferred time!
If you still have any questions about tuk-tuks for me, please don’t hesitate to share them in the comments below, I will answer them as soon as possible.
In the meantime, have an amazing trip!
Yulia
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