We Hate Tourism Tours

We Hate Tourism Tours has been running for around sixteen years, and its name sums up its approach: tours that avoid the standard scripts and crowds in favour of local stories, humour and places that ordinary sightseeing misses. Despite the provocative name, it is a tourism company based in Lisbon, aiming to show visitors a different side of the city and its surroundings.

The defining feature is size. Every experience is capped at six people, with no exceptions other than families travelling together, which keeps tours personal and allows guides to adapt the route to the group's interests. The small groups also mean you travel in a van rather than a coach on the driving tours, which lets the guide use narrow roads and stop in places a bus could not reach.

The current programme includes six experiences. The X-Day: Sintra and Cascais is a day trip of about seven hours covering the hills of Sintra and the Atlantic coast. The Responsible Walking Tour, about three and a half hours, explores Lisbon on foot, with a responsible-tourism approach suggested by its name. We Hate Landmarks: Van Tour and The B-Side: Suburbs and Local Life each last about three and a half hours, the latter heading beyond the centre to show how Lisboetas live. Dinner with us and Belém at night is offered to private groups only, and Pirates of the Cruise Ships is designed for cruise passengers with a tailored schedule.

Book directly through the website, where availability is shown, or contact the team by email or WhatsApp with questions. Because the groups are so small, popular dates fill quickly in high season, so reserve early. The tours suit independent travellers, couples and small families who dislike large groups, and the informal, humorous tone appeals to visitors who have already done the major sights or want a different perspective.

Meeting points and pick-up arrangements are confirmed when you book, so check your confirmation for details. Wear comfortable clothes and shoes, and bring a layer for the day trip, as Sintra is often cooler and mistier than Lisbon, and the coast can be windy. Ask in advance if you have mobility needs, as the walking tour involves Lisbon's hills.