Tuk Tuks in Lisbon

A tuk tuk or autorickshaw is a motorized three-wheeled vehicle. It is not one of the traditional means of transport in Lisbon. I saw for the first time in 2011 such a vehicle in Lisbon, which I actually knew from Bangkok or as Piaggio Ape from Italy.

Here you can find out whether a Tuk Tuk tour is the right way for you to discover Lisbon. Here you will find current prices (2019) and our tips for such an autorickshaw tour.

Tuk Tuks are part of the Lisbon cityscape (Photo: A. Suresh, CC 2.0 License)

Sightseeing tours by Tuk Tuk are becoming increasingly popular with Lisbon tourists. The open construction fits perfectly to the warm climate and the city can be experienced more intensively than through a car window.

The driver is also a city guide and offers interesting information and stories about the trip. Since most Tuk Tuk tours are exclusively for one person or a group, the driver can respond much better to your wishes and interests than a guide of a sightseeing tour in a larger group.

Due to their compact construction, Tuk Tuks can also traverse the steep and narrow alleys of the worth seeing old town quarters Alfama(l!) or Bairro Alto(l!). When exploring on foot you can feel the slopes quickly. It is a relaxed and individual way to discover the city. This makes the Tuk Tuk a popular means of transport, especially for travelers.

Tuk Tuks Tours – there is a huge offer in Lisbon – an online booking before the trip saves time & stress (picture: M: Eklind, CC 2.0 licence)

Tuk Tuk tours – the offer

Currently (2019) there are over 400 Tuk Tuks in Lisbon.  For many, even well educated Lisboners, the Tuk Tuk is a welcome source of income during the economic crisis. There are tours between 1 and 4 hours, either in the small four-seater or in the larger seven-seater.
Most drivers offer fixed tours with the highlights of the city. However, there are also tours on specific topics, e.g. a gourmet tour.

Tuk Tuk Tours – current prices (2019)

The fare per vehicle is approx. 50 Euro per hour for a 4-seater Tuk Tuk and approx. 65 Euro per hour for a seven-seater vehicle. If you convert this to the fare per participant, the Tuk Tuk is not only a relaxed, but also a cheap way to discover Lisbon individually.

Tuk Tuk Tours – our tips

1 Online booking saves time and avoids stress later

This website provides a good overview of the various providers and tours. The online booking has several advantages:

-> You save holiday time: Informing abroad and negotiating dircetly with the drivers can consume a lot of holiday time

-> The right tour for you: Whether tour destinations, duration, start time and language skills of the driver – you can choose everything online exactly according to your wishes and you do not have to take what is currently available

-> The providers have already been rated by other travellers on the page linked above. So you get a realistic picture.

-> The website is in English. So there are less misunderstandings with price and contents of the tour.

2Book an Electro Tuk Tuk

Residents are not enthusiastic about the Tuk Tuk traffic in formerly quieter old town alleys. Most Tuk Tuks have therefore switched from noisy gasoline engines to quiet electric drives. Even as a passenger you can enjoy and experience the city much better without loud engine noises. On the above linked overview page of the different tour providers, Elektro Tuk Tuks are shown in the detailed description.

A video’s worth a thousand pictures

This video shows the atmosphere of a Tuk Tuk tour through Lisbon.

More about Lisbon and Portugal in this travel guide