The Other Side of Lisbon: Almada’s Tale
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About the Tour
About the Tour
While Lisbon basks in the spotlight, just across the river Almada offers a quiet glimpse of authentic Portuguese life. On this walking tour, you’ll find out how the city has been shaped by a combination of maritime heritage, industrial prowess, and artistic character.
The tour starts at the iconic red Farol de Cacilhas, a restored 19th-century lighthouse. From there, you’ll walk through the historic Ginjal district, with its weathered warehouses that once housed bustling shipyards and canning factories. You’ll ascend in the glass Boca do Vento Panoramic Elevator to experience breathtaking panoramic views of the Tagus River and Lisbon’s skyline.
As you navigate the narrow streets of the old town, I’ll tell you how this working-class district evolved from industrial powerhouse to cultural hotspot. You’ll also see examples of Moorish settlements, earthquake devastation, street art and riverside restaurants, all of which speak to Almada’s strength of character. The tour ends at the graffiti-covered ruins of Quinta da Arealva, a 17th-century fort turned winery which, today, is an open-air street art gallery.
On this Almada tour, you’ll have a chance to:
- See the decommissioned Barracuda Submarine and Portugal’s last wooden warship (Frigate Dom Fernando II e Glória) in the Naval Museum area
- Find out why locals proudly call this city “the other side of the coin“ to Lisbon
- Discover the Casa da Cerca - Contemporary Art Center, and its café that offers magnificent views of Lisbon’s skyline
- Learn how the 1755 earthquake devastated the region, with tsunami waves up to 15 meters high claiming thousands of lives
- Hear stories about the Napoleonic invasions and how Portugal’s resistance shaped its future
- Examine ancient Roman fish processing facilities that operated in Cacilhas two thousand years ago
- Learn how the changing of Salazar Bridge’s name to 25 de Abril Bridge reflects Portugal’s journey from dictatorship to democracy
By the end of this fascinating 90-minute walk, you’ll have discovered why Almada deserves your attention just as much as its famous neighbour across the river.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Mark Whiteley
I trained as an actor at London's prestigious Arts Educational School where I learnt about the voice and the art of telling stories. I went on to work in theatre, television and film for 10 years eventually running my own theatre company for 20 years. As a company we tried to make the work as imaginative and unique as possible, in one show we walked across the UK with no money, food or accommodation to see if humanity was kind. In another play we emigrated to Poland and used the experience for an award winning UK tour about immigration. I turned shops into theatre spaces, I performed in barns, houses, fields and many of the UK's best theatres.
In 2014 I won a prestigious Manchester theatre award for my play Thick as Thieves. I've taken three shows to the Edinburgh festival winning rave reviews along the way.
In 2020 our world changed forever as COVID hit. My theatre company "went dark" and I lost my passion for it. On a whim my wife and I bought a motorhome unseen in an auction and in blink of an eye a new obsession began... travel.
To date I have been to most countries in the European union, I have parked up in woods, on cliffs in car parks. I have travelled far and wide until I picked Portugal to put down new roots. But even that wasn't easy, where do you live in a foreign land? The answer is you go out in the motorhome and look, so that's what we did. From the mountains in the north through the midlands and into Algarve we travelled for two years until we discovered Tomar.
We bought our home in 2025 and because I needed to find work I started studying Tomar's rich history and researching the stories about Templar Knights, Portuguese kings and how Portugal once discovered the world. With my background in performance and storytelling I began take travellers around Tomar sharing not only the history, but Portugal's culture too. This is what brought me to Voicemap and their excellent team and production values.
On my audio tours I take the role of your friend in whatever city we are in, I like to make you smile and see a place as a real city, not a museum piece. Seeing a place warts and all is what makes the difference between an okay tour and a great tour.
Awards include: Manchester theatre award, TAPPS comedy award, Albert Wainwright award.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 25
Fonte da Pipa and Earthquakes
In 1922, a motor was installed to pump water to the town above, operating until 1931. However, following the introduction of domestic water systems in the 1950s, the spring dried up.
"What style is the fountain in Mark?", I... Read More
View locations and route
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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Farol de Cacilhas
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Nautical Club of officers and cadets of the Navy
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Barracuda Submarine
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River Garden
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Boca do Vento Panoramic Elevator
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Casa da Cerca - Contemporary Art Center
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Pipa Fountain
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Quinta da Arealva
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Start locationLG Alfredo Dinis, 2800-252 Almada, Portugal
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Total distance3km
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Final locationArialva, 2800-058 Almada, Portugal
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Distance back to start location2km
Directions to Starting Point
The tour begins right next to the ferry terminal and the tram station at the big red lighthouse.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
There are two restaurants along the river Restaurante Ponto Final and Atira-te ao Rio with very memorable views but booking is advisable. You could take a picnic to the river garden at the bottom of the glass elevator might also be a great halve way stop. At the top of the elevator is the arts centre with a café with amazing views.
Best time of day
In summer 10am misses the heat of the day and has you finished for lunch in the many fish restaurants Almada is famous for. Equally later is good to watch the sunset in the riverside park.
Precautions
The ferry crossing can be rough, but it's short. The path along the river sometimes has chunks missing, or the river has waves spraying water. At the graffiti at the end the ex-farm is derelict with tumbling ceilings and collapsed walls. Stick to the paths and you'll be fine.
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