Lisbon City of Spies
A walking tour that shows how neutral Portugal became the perfect setting for conspiracy during the Second World War.
WhenTuesdays at 10am, Fridays at 2:30pm
Duration2½ hours
LevelEasy · all ages
GroupUp to about 16 people
Price25€ per person
Portugal remained neutral during the Second World War, and Lisbon became a meeting point for spies, who took advantage of the city’s strategic Atlantic connections. Both the Allies and the Axis kept impressive diplomatic services in the city: it was probably the only place in war-torn Europe where all sides could meet on equal terms.
Lisbon suddenly became a true “nest of spies”, as several chronicles of the time describe it, and the “plane to Lisbon” in the film Casablanca remains its best-known image.
What you’ll see
- The most famous spy hotels in Lisbon
- The refugees and the new European fashions
- The lonely fight of the Portuguese consul in Bordeaux, Aristides de Sousa Mendes
- The most important WWII double agent: Garbo/Arabel
- The story of the real James Bond
- Jewish gold and the tungsten trade
Join the group
Tuesdays at 10am, Fridays at 2:30pm. 25€ per person.
Make it private
Any day, at your own pace, just for your group or family.
Discounts, cancellation and other questions? See our FAQ.
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Open in Google Maps →Where we meet
Regular tours: Praça do Comércio, at the door of the Ask Me Lisboa tourist office under the arcades (not inside), in the north-west corner of the square, next to the Squisito Italian restaurant and Cervejaria Antártida Lisboa. Look for the guide with an orange Lisbon Walker backpack or a tote bag with the big logo.
Private tours: we meet at Praça do Comércio, under the Rua Augusta Arch, unless stated otherwise. We can also meet you at your hotel on foot if it is in the city centre (up to Marquês de Pombal).
Questions? Email us at info@lisbonwalker.com.