Lisbon · LISBON TILE AND AZULEJO TOURS
Every trip has a spare morning and a shortage of good answers. These 11 lisbon tile and azulejo tours are priced and timed so you can decide over coffee and get on with the day.
Visit Lisbon’s National Tile Museum in the former Madre Deus Convent. Follow Portuguese tile-making from the 15th century to today, then see ceramics, porcelain, a decorated church, cloisters, chapels, gardens, and a café. Allow about 90 minutes to two hours.
“Highly recommend going! Excellent value for money experience! You will become obsessed with tiles by the end 😂”
Meet artist Agathe in her welcoming Lisbon studio for a 2.5-hour azulejo workshop. You will sketch with the Formettes method, add ink and watercolor, then see your design heat-pressed onto a 10cm tile to take home that day.
“So fun and turned out great despite our limited creative talents!”
Travel in a group of up to eight from Lisbon to Azeitão, Arrabida, Sesimbra, and two family wineries. Expect seven wine tastings, local cheese and pastry, coastal viewpoints, a tile workshop, and guides such as Lilly, Carolina, Kat, and Tania.
“Lilly was a lovely guide for our day trip to Sesimbra. We were the only ones on this tour but she didn't cut corners at all. She was attentive, informative and an excellent guide. This trip is well worth the money - this is some of the most beautiful land and water we've ever seen!”
Visit Lisbon’s National Tile Museum at your own pace with an adult e-ticket and English audio guide on your smartphone. See the Dona Leonor Chapel, Mudéjar tiles, the Mickey Mouse panel, and centuries of Portuguese tilemaking. Bring headphones and allow 1 to 2 hours.
“The audio guide is full of information. I think I could have spent at least 3 hours in the museum. You can skip some parts if you wish. The app is easy to use.”
In Sintra, instructor Aldina leads a two-hour English workshop on Hispano-Moresque tiles. You will press fresh clay into a mold, paint a second tile with colored glazes, then collect it after firing or arrange delivery. The small class runs from 3 to 5pm and welcomes wheelchair users.
“I had a very relaxed afternoon in a well run studio. They run a number of different workshops and if I'd had time I would have booked a more. Good clear instruction and I was very happy with the results.”
Spend 8 to 9 hours with a private guide such as Diogo, Nídia, Helena or João, visiting Setúbal, Sesimbra and a regional winery. Paint your own azulejo tiles, taste five wines with Azeitão cheese, see Cristo Rei and return with your artwork shipped home.
“Of all the activities we booked in Lisbon, this was the one I was most excited about. It had all the makings of an incredible experience—until I got sick at our very first stop. Thankfully, our amazing tour guide João came to the rescue.”
Travel with António of Window to Lisboa Van Tours on a private 8 to 10 hour outing from Lisbon. See Portuguese tiles made by hand, Portinho da Arrábida, Setúbal’s Livramento Market, and Évora’s Roman temple, cathedral, and Chapel of Bones. Hotel transport, water, and an air-conditioned vehicle are included.
“This was such a fun day trip. Seeing how the famous Portuguese tiles are made was such a cool experience. We had a delicious lunch followed by some site seeing and a delicious wine tasting.”
Leave Lisbon for Palmela Castle, Azeitão wine country, a traditional tile factory, Arrábida Natural Park, and Christ the King. Your private guide handles transport, admissions, and timing, with wine tasting included. Pickup is flexible between 9:00 and 9:30 AM, and guides speak English, Spanish, French, and Portuguese.
“Our guide was very knowledgeable and took time to explain the history and cultures of Lisbon.”
Spend eight hours with an English-speaking guide, often Nuno, tracing Lisbon’s tile traditions from an Azeitão workshop to the Azulejo Museum. You’ll see tiles made by hand, paint your own for later shipping, visit Sesimbra for lunch, and spot major tilework around Lisbon.
“This trip was the highlight of our trip to Lisbon. Nuno is a great guide and a wonderful human being.”
Visit Lisbon’s National Tile Museum with licensed guide Ana Martins for a private English tour of Portuguese tile art. In about 1 to 1.5 hours, you’ll learn how tiles were made, how techniques changed, and how they connect to Portugal’s past. The tour suits couples, families, and small groups.
“The tour and our guide, Ana, was excellent. Ana was incredibly knowledgeable and flexible given our arrival.”
Spend about eight hours with a private guide touring the Setúbal Peninsula from Lisbon. Paint an azulejo, see Sesimbra Castle, stop at Christ Rei, eat seafood in Setúbal, taste Portuguese wine, and try Azeitão pie.
“Trip seemed a bit unorganized; even though the tour package included the wine tour and tasting, we were asked to pay extra for that.”
Pick a hill, a palace, a deck or a table.
