Overview
Available languages
4 hours
Mobile ticket
This tour delves into the history of Portugal, offering an in-depth exploration of the nation's past through the lenses of colonialism, lusotropicalism, and their lasting effects on our views of sexuality and gender. We'll also share good laughs along the way!
We trace the footsteps of Portuguese imperial enterprise, the transformative 25th April Revolution, and the impactful LGBTQ+ figures of that era, leading us to today's queer movements. The tour brings us to the heart of today’s queer movements, concluding at one of the city's best queer venues, where we celebrate our shared journey over the most amazing Portuguese tapas.
We also provide a beautifully curated Queer Map of Lisbon, featuring detailed information about venues, artists, and services, all handpicked by locals.
Additional Info
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
What To Expect
Principe Real
At our first stop, we will gather at the monument honoring the victims of homophobia for a brief introduction and overview of the tour. Here, we will explore the beginnings of the LGBTQ+ movement in Portugal, highlighting the first Pride March and public demonstrations. This symbolic site provides an opportunity to reflect on the history of LGBTQ+ rights in Lisbon, setting the stage for the rest of our journey.
Bairro Alto, Bica & Cais do Sodre
As we walk through the streets of Bairro Alto, we’ll pause at a viewpoint to take in the stunning hills and landscape. Along the way, we’ll discuss how the LGBTQ+ neighborhood transforms from day to night, offering different experiences based on one’s level of access/privilege. We’ll delve into the patriarchal and colonial mindsets still present in society's behavior. Together, we’ll reflect on the questions: is inclusion in Portugal truly for everyone? Is there a way to make it better?
Options
Queer Lisbon Historical Tour
What‘s Included
Portuguese and English-Speaking Local Guide
Updated Queer Map of Lisbon (PDF)
You pay for your own meal and drinks in the restaurant
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
32 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Excellent, informative and friendly
DanFlyingSolo,May 19, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I can't recommend this tour enough, both for first-time visitors to Portugal and also for anyone who has been here a while. It was a really excellent, but not too intense, walk through not just Lisbon's Queer history, but also how the country's historic periods, through colonisation, the church, and the dictatorship, intersect – all delivered in a friendly, relaxed way, with plenty of opportunity for questions. I really enjoyed the social aspect at the end, too. 10/10!
An absolute gem of a tour
A3545WPianl,Apr 6, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We've done many AirBNB experiences, and this is absolutely among the very best of those. Leonor's tour of Lisbon's queer history was incredibly well-organized & well-paced, and she was very attentive to our needs while leading us from neighborhood to neighborhood, stopping for stories & coffee & group conversations. She offered tremendous warmth, not only welcoming us but going out of her way to make us all feel connected to Lisbon, building rapport among tour participants who had just met. We loved getting to see how queer people lived throughout different eras of Portugal's history, weaving together elites & working class people, cis & trans people, and immigrants -- connecting today's Lisbon to five centuries of church, colonial, fascist, & post-fascist history to the lives of real people. The one-half of our group who is a history professor can also confirm that Leonor did a phenomenal job of making historical complexities super-accessible. We recommend this tour whole-heartedly!
Probably best guided tour in lisboa!
lenmT3293KL,Apr 4, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We were taking part at a tour with leonor and we really enjoyed the tour a lot. It was very informative, interesting and enriching. It was connecting history and present in an accessible and profound way. The content was nuanced and critically presented!# i loved especially the very relaxed atmosphere in which i felt invited to listen and reflect. The tour brought up queer realities from different times, also focusing on less-told stories. I appreciate that topics like racism and colonialism were not excluded but actively woven into the narrative. This made clear how closely these aspects are intertwined with queer history and the present. Overall, the tour opened up new perspectives on the city and i would definitely recommend it!! <3 Thanks a lot!
the best <3
Q936GLjoshuac,Mar 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00One of the absolute highlights of our trip to Portugal. Leonor was the best -- kind, thoughtful, attuned and responsive to group needs/interests, and extremely well informed. The curriculum celebrates local/specific QT history with an eye to trans-national liberation struggles. I also learned a lot about modern Portuguese history more broadly. The 40+ page Queer Map of Lisbon is so thoughtfully curated and provided us with exciting information and destinations to explore after the tour was over. One of Leo's gifts is to approach teaching in a deeply relational way. By the end of the tour, we felt a real connection not only to our group, but to the movement building and activism all of us are a part of in our respective homes. It was certainly one of the best parts of our trip, but it was also a really heartening experience for such troubled times <3
Go and book it now, you will not regret it!
TrailBlazer604818,Mar 15, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00I highly recommend this tour!! There is a lot to learn about the influence of colonialism in our society, our innate/educated persceptions and our lifes. Leonor guided us throughout Lisbon in a storytelling fashion, giving us an other vision of the city and portugal history. I live in Lisbon since 2011 and yet I learnt so much and really loved the tour.
Queer Lisbon Historical Tour is fantastic and fun
391perip,Mar 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Taking this tour after living in Lisbon for the last 6 months was fantastic! We learned about so many things I've walked by many times, but had no idea about the history. Lots of super interesting crossover between queer history, colonialism, the dictatorship years and more. Excellent, informative and most of all fun! Highly recommend.
Best Tour We've Been On!
F8569THtheresab,Sep 21, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had an amazing time at the Queer Lisbon Historical Tour! Leo was a very knowledgeable and personable guide. We really appreciated that Leo took the time to speak about historical queer figures who may not be as well known. It was an eye-opening learning experience. This tour exceeded our expectations and this was one of our favorite activities during our time in Lisbon. This was one of our honeymoon activities and we were so glad we chose this experience!
Great city tour!
mkW4253IU,Sep 14, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00It was great to listen to Leonor, not only to benefit from her knowledge but also to feel her enthusiasm and commitment and to get personal insights! The tour ends with a really tasty lunch together and tips for further stay. Overall absolutely recommended, thank you!
Do not miss out on this tour!!
V8665FTlorenar,Aug 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Leo is a local guide that took us through a gorgeous, low incline walk highlighting the hidden queer history with a critical lens towards colonialism. She had a binder showing all the names and faces of figures and had an outstanding overview of old and contemporary queer happenings. The walk was shady and the meal we shared at the end was so sweet. Highly recommend and I plan on going on the nightlife tour as well!!!
An Antidote to Mainstream Tourism
TRZEE,Aug 28, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This was an extraordinary experience. Leonor provided us with a grassroots history of the city that centered queer resistance and survival, and allowed the voices of marginalized people to counter mainstream narratives that glorify colonialism through monuments, propaganda, and nationalist rhetoric. We learned about queer spaces held in local memory, and about the ongoing fight for racial and gender justice in the face of erasure. The tour also invited us to support local establishments and came with a guide that included businesses that were owned by and/or employed people from queer, trans, BIPOC, and immigrant communities. This was a beautiful antidote to a tourist industry that makes money off monuments that celebrate a colonial past; instead, the tour invited us to celebrate the thread of resistance that has always run alongside this past, and the importance of following this thread in a present that continues to be shaped by colonialism.
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Operated by Queer Lisbon Tour