Please note: I was welcomed as a guest on We Hate Tourism Tours King of the Hills Tour in exchange for my honest review. As always, all opinions are my own.
Imagine cruising through the streets of Lisbon in an open top Jeep, wind whipping through your hair as you explore the best viewpoints in Lisbon and are guided through the history of the city. Sounds amazing, right? Well, this dream can be your reality if you want. For one of the best tours in Lisbon, Portugal all you have to do is hit up We Hate Tourism Tours for their King of the Hills tour. I promise you won’t regret it.
Still not convinced? Let me spoil the end: the BEST pastel de natas in Lisbon. And no, they’re not at one of the places you’ll find online.
We Hate Tourism Tours King of the Hills Tour
I rocked up to the meeting point for the King of the Hills Tour a few minutes early, which is a miracle for the perpetually late me. I think that should speak to just how excited I was for this tour.
Sadly, when our guide, Miguel, came to greet us, he told us that we were going to have to take the van since it was going to rain. The sense of disappointment among the group was palpable. The vintage open-top jeep is definitely one of the biggest selling points of the tour, so we were worried that not getting to ride in it would detract from the experience.
Fortunately, I’m glad to report that, although the ambiance was definitely different, the King of the Hills tour definitely still lived up to the hype as being one of the best tours in Lisbon, Portugal. Here’s why:
The Lisbon Viewpoints
In an Instagram post a while back, I described Lisbon as the city of viewpoints. Why? Because literally every time you turn a corner, you’re greeted by a new viewpoint that is even more amazing than the last one.
(P.S. Check out my post of photos that will make you want to go to Prague, even though a Starbucks hogs the best viewpoint there.)
Of course, like all things in life, some viewpoints are the absolute cream of the crop, and those are the ones that the King of the Hills tour will take you to—The best viewpoints in Lisbon. Here are some pictures that will give you just a little taste of what you’ll see:
The Commentary
Of course, the whole reason you take a guided tour isn’t just to see the sights. It’s to learn more about them—and in a really unique and special way. You can see the sights without a guide. You can read the Wikipedia page about them. But it’s only with a guide that you can really understand the impact of these places—not just on tourists, but on the locals themselves. That’s one of the reasons I love guided tours so much.
This is especially true for We Hate Tourism Tours, and I definitely found that, throughout the tour, we weren’t just told the boring facts about history but about what this sort of stuff meant to the little people.
Miguel was literally always pointing out the window at something new—Madonna’s house, his old school, a guy he knew… you never really knew what was going to come next. At times, it felt like you were being totally bombarded with information—but in a good way!
Miguel’s Life
Miguel is probably one of the funniest tour guides I’ve ever had the pleasure of meeting. I think that one of the reasons I enjoyed the King of the Hills tour so much was because he really infused himself and his life into it.
He told us all about how he spent part of his life living in France, about how he was always skipping class as a kid, and about his vintage car which everyone in Lisbon knows him by. Oh, and his serious love of Ronaldo.
It felt like such a special and personalized experience because it was clear that Miguel not only wanted to share his city with us but his own life.
The History of Lisbon
Of course, it wouldn’t be a guided tour without the history, and we learned loads. As someone who had pretty much no knowledge of Portugal before deciding to go there, it was a super informative experience!
Miguel took us through all of the big events in Lisbon’s history, from the devastating Lisbon earthquake in 1755 to the dictatorship which lasted from the late twenties/early thirties to 1974 and the peaceful coup that overthrew it to the current obsession with Christiano Ronaldo, who plays for the Portuguese national football team.
The Best Pastel de Nata in Lisbon
After three strenuous hours of being driven around to the best Lisbon viewpoints, we clearly needed some sustenance. And what’s the best sustenance in Lisbon? Pastel de Natas, obviously.
Miguel drove us to a tiny corner bakery, popped his head inside, and came back out with a plate full of Pastel de Natas in one hand and cinnamon and powdered sugar shakers in the other. It was the first Pastel de Nata I tried, and no others lived up to that one afterward. And yeah, I still have dreams about it.
I did not look at what the name of the place was. I have no idea what part of the city it was in. So basically, if you want the best Pastel de Nata in Lisbon, you’re going to have to go on this tour.
If You Go
We Hate Tourism Tours is 100% THE BEST of all the Lisbon tour companies, and their King of the Hills tour could easily take the crown as one of the best tours in Lisbon, Portugal.
FAQ
When does the King of the Hills Tour run?
The King of the Hills tour only runs on weekends, which means there are only a few chances to catch it. If you can, I’d definitely suggest planning your trip around it!
Tours leave at 8:30 am and 4:30 pm from June 1 to September 30. October 1 to May 31 the tour leaves 9 am and 2 pm from. The tour lasts for approximately three hours.
How much does the King of the Hills Tour cost?
The King of the Hills Tour costs 45€/person.
What does the King of the Hills Tour include?
The King of the Hills Tour includes a guided tour in an open-top vintage Jeep (as long as it isn’t raining) and the best pastel de nata in Lisbon and liquer tasting at the end. You also get an awesome We Hate Tourism Tours map with loads of recommendations of non-touristy places to eat and things to do in Lisbon.
Where does the tour meet?
The tour meets at the Avenida da Liberdade 9 (close to “Restauradores” square), in front of Armani Exchange shop and next to Ginjinha Rubi Cafe.
What about if it rains?
The tour still takes place if it rains, just in a covered van instead of an open-top jeep.
For more information on the King of the Hills Tour click here.
Don’t forget to tell them I sent you!
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