Lisbon was our second port on our Celebrity Apex cruise to Spain, Portugal, and France, and we only had one day there. We decided to see the city on the Lisbon tuk tuk tour through Celebrity. None of us had ever been in a tuk tuk, and it turned out to be the highlight of the day for our girls, who are 8 and 11.
Our Lisbon Port Day at a Glance
- Date: July 26
- Ship hours: 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Excursion: Small Group Lisbon by Tuk Tuk, booked through Celebrity
- Tour time: 1:00 p.m., about 3 hours
- Cost: about $129 per person
- Who: the four of us, with our girls, ages 8 and 11
A Slow Morning on the Ship
The ship arrived at 8:00 a.m., but we didn’t rush off. We slept in, had a nice breakfast, and grabbed some pizza at the ship’s pizzeria before our tour. Celebrity offered the tuk tuk tour twice that day: once early in the morning, right when the ship docked, and once at 1:00 p.m. We picked the afternoon time so we wouldn’t be in a rush.
How Close Is the Lisbon Cruise Port to the City?
Very close. Lisbon’s cruise terminal sits right on the river next to the Alfama neighborhood, one of the oldest parts of the city. That means you’re basically in Lisbon the moment you step off the ship, and you could walk into Alfama on your own if you aren’t doing a tour.
Why We Booked Our Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour Through Celebrity (vs. Booking on Your Own)
We booked this excursion through Celebrity instead of on our own. For us, it was about peace of mind. When you book through the cruise line, you’re not on your own if something goes wrong, and you don’t have to worry about the ship leaving without you. I would only recommend booking your tours through the cruise line.
To be fair, you can find tuk tuk tours in Lisbon for less if you book on your own. Lots of independent companies run them, and some even pick you up at the cruise terminal. Many cost less than the $129 per person we paid through Celebrity. So if saving money is your priority, booking independently will usually be cheaper. For us, though, the extra cost was worth it for the peace of mind.
You can see the details for this tour on Celebrity’s Small Group Lisbon by Tuk Tuk page. Celebrity rates it as a moderate activity. You need to step up into the tuk tuk and walk on uneven cobblestones at the stops, so it’s not a good fit for anyone with limited mobility. There’s also a minimum age, so check that before you book.
Meeting Up for the Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour
Since we were in The Retreat, our excursion meeting spot was in Eden, separate from everyone else. It didn’t feel very special. From there, we walked out of the cruise terminal and were told to wait at a certain spot. Then we were moved to an area with lines of tuk tuks. Each group had a number, and we were told to go to our numbered tuk tuk.
There actually wasn’t one for us. I think it was a mistake. It was fine, though. Another tuk tuk came to the rescue and took us. We had our own private tuk tuk for the four of us.
What the Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour Is Really Like
The tour was three hours, and it’s a full three hours. It’s not a luxury ride, but it’s fun. The kids really liked it. We don’t have tuk tuks here in LA, so this was something different. It’s extremely bumpy and loud, smelly at times, and very hot. There’s no air conditioning, and late July in Lisbon was very, very hot.
Bring a neck fan if you have one, or any portable handheld fan.
We really liked our tour guide. He spoke very good English, and he lives in Porto, which was our next port. Because he knew Porto so well, he told us where to go, where to eat, and the best way to get around in Porto. He even gave us his phone number in case we had questions when we got there.
Our Three Stops on the Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour
Stop 1: Parque Eduardo VII and the Giant LISBOA Sign
Our first stop was Parque Eduardo VII (Edward VII Park), a pretty park with a fountain. At the top of the park, near the viewpoint, there’s a huge LISBOA sign you can stand on to take pictures. It was a very Instagrammable spot.
Stop 2: Miradouro da Senhora do Monte
Next, we stopped at the Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, the highest panoramic viewpoint in central Lisbon. You can see the entire city from up there, all the way to the 25 de Abril Bridge. It was nice, but we didn’t need to stay as long as they had us there.
Stop 3: Pastéis de Nata and Espresso
Our last stop was a tiny little restaurant where they served us espresso and pastéis de nata, the famous Portuguese custard tarts. They were super delicious.
They also had us try a pastel de bacalhau, the codfish cake Portugal is famous for. None of us liked it, but I’m glad we tried it.
What Else We Saw on the Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour
Besides our three stops, we also saw a lot of Lisbon from our seats. We only saw São Jorge Castle in the distance, and we drove past the São Vicente de Fora monastery without going inside. We also did a little walking, and Lisbon is super hilly, so wear comfortable shoes. It was also pretty crowded and busy, which is normal for a big city, but we felt safe.
A Bumpy Ending Back at the Port
Our tuk tuk driver actually drove through a security crossing arm and damaged it. So he dropped us off at the security checkpoint, and we walked the rest of the way to the cruise terminal to get back on the ship.
By then we were exhausted. I would have liked to walk around Lisbon more and eat more of the local food, but we were so tired and hot that we went straight back to the ship to shower and relax before dinner.
Sailing Under the 25 de Abril Bridge
We saw the 25 de Abril Bridge from the ship, and we actually sailed right under it on our way out of Lisbon. The girls watched it pass right over us.
Our Verdict: Is the Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour Worth It?
Yes. My one-sentence summary of Lisbon as a cruise port: fun times on a tuk tuk! If I were in Lisbon again, I would take a tuk tuk again. I’d go to different spots or do something different, but I would still get around by tuk tuk.
Next time, I’d add Belém. It’s home to the Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, and Pastéis de Belém, the bakery famous for the original pastéis de nata. We only saw Belém from the ship as we sailed out, and I’d love to go back and try those pastries where they started.
I would go back to Lisbon. I don’t think I’d stay more than a day, but if our cruise stopped there again, I’d definitely get off the ship and explore the city some more. And I’d tell everyone the same thing: don’t miss the tuk tuk.
More From Our Europe Trip
This post is part of our series on our summer trip to London and our Celebrity Apex cruise to Spain, Portugal, and France.
London With Kids
- Virgin Atlantic Review: Flying LAX to London With Kids
- London Marriott County Hall Review: A Family Stay by Big Ben
- London With Kids: One Big Thing a Day (Our Easy Itinerary)
- Getting Around London With Kids: The Best Ways, Honestly
- Dining in London With Kids: Our Honest Reviews of 4 Spots
Our Celebrity Apex Cruise
- The Retreat on Celebrity Apex With Kids: Was It Worth It?
- Lisbon Tuk Tuk Tour From a Cruise Ship: Fun, Hot, and Worth It With Kids
- Porto Cruise Port Without an Excursion: Hot Dogs, Vinho Verde, and Shopping With Kids
- Vigo and La Coruña Cruise Ports With Kids: A Walking Tour, Galician Food, and Gelato
- Bilbao Shore Excursion With Kids: The Guggenheim, the Market, and the Pintxos We Missed
- Southampton to Heathrow via Stonehenge: Our Cruise Excursion With Kids
- Le Havre to Paris on a Cruise With Kids: Is the Long Day Worth It?
Planning a cruise? These are already on the blog:
