Dive deep into Porto's Jewish Heritage with our exclusive Porto Jewish Walking Tour, a private journey that feels like a treasure hunt across the enigmatic Medieval Streets of Porto.

It showcases the first Jewish neighborhood of the city, the lost medieval synagogue in Porto and all the forgotten places where Jewish influence left its mark in town. It's not easy to give a tour on a topic that has very few visible or physical items, but we assure you that our amazing guide will fill in the blanks quite well and uncover all the mysteries of the Jewish Heritage in Porto for you.

This private tour was crafted by Ricardo Brochado, an archaeologist with 17 years of professional experience in the North of Portugal and over 10 years of research on Porto and Jewish Heritage.

How did Jews end up in Portugal? Where was the Jewish cemetery in Porto? Is it true that the Jewish community in this city is one of the oldest communities of Jews in the world? Where did the Portuguese Jews settle after being forced to convert to Christianity by King Manuel I of Portugal? Take this Porto Jewish Heritage Tour and get all the answers!

While tangible relics may be scarce - a mezuzah on a doorway or coded Hebrew inscriptions adorning walls - vestiges of Jewish influence still linger in the city's forgotten corners... if only you pay attention.

Jewish Heritage in Porto

Highly educated, wealthy Jewish men held important positions at the Portuguese court. For instance, D. Afonso Henriques, the first king of Portugal, nominated Rabbi Yahia Ben Yahia as the Finance Minister of the Portuguese Kingdom. This is one of the reasons why the history of Jewish people in Porto is so important to understand the culture of the city and the evolution of the country over the centuries.

Porto's Jewish population took an active role in the local community and contributed to the economic performance of the city from the very beginning - until the Inquisition arrived and dramatically impacted social interactions. While in other parts of the country Jews were being tireless persecuted, in Porto the merchants offered them protection - to the point that the Inquisition claimed that the city of Porto was sabotaging their "efforts" to eradicate heresy.

In this Porto Jewish Heritage Walking experience, our guide will show you how the Sephardim and Crypto-Jews influenced the city's destiny in various aspects, including economics, politics and even gastronomy - does "Fidalguinhos Bracarenses" and "Línguas de Veado" ring a bell, anyone?

Their influence was so powerful that, at the end of the tour, you'll be able to feel the Jewish presence in the city. Take this Jewish Heritage Walking Tour and explore the old Jewish quarters of Porto while learning more about the history of the Jews in Portugal.

7 Reasons Why People Love this Porto Jewish Heritage Tour

• An expertly curated itinerary by our in-house Jewish Heritage specialist, Ricardo Brochado, an archaeologist with 17 years of experience in Northern Portugal and over a decade dedicated to researching Porto's Jewish Heritage

• Explore the heart of Porto for 4-5 hours, delving into the neighborhoods where Jews once lived and uncovering their profound influence on the city's history

• Gain a deep understanding of Portugal's and Porto's history, with a focus on the significant contributions made by Jews and Conversos

• Take a snack break to recharge your energy (snacks not kosher) while discovering major landmarks and hidden gems without falling into tourist traps

• Embark on a quest to find the first Jewish neighborhood of the city and the lost medieval synagogue in Porto

• Enjoy peace of mind with insurance coverage and a charitable donation to a local NGO that works with the homeless population in Porto

• Conclude your tour with a delightful lunch featuring local delicacies and beverages (not kosher). We can accommodate dietary restrictions on this tour

FAQs about our Porto Jewish Walking Tour

• Is this a private tour? Yes, this is a private walking tour

• Who will lead the tour? If Ricardo Brochado is unavailable, the tour is led by one of his highly trained and trusted tour guides

• Will we visit the Sinagoga Kadoorie Mekor Haim? No, this tour does not include a visit to the Sinagoga Kadoorie Mekor Haim

• What language is the tour in? All our tours are run in English but we can provide Portuguese or Spanish-speaking guides upon request, for closed groups. Just ask us at [email protected]

• Do you accommodate dietary restrictions? Yes! Please let us know when booking so we can provide suitable alternatives

• Is this tour suitable for all ages and fitness levels? Absolutely

• What if it rains? No worries, our experiences run rain or shine

• Are restrooms available during the tour? Yes, you’ll have restroom breaks along the way

• What should I bring? Comfortable walking shoes and, of course, an appetite!

• Can I just show up, or do I need to book in advance? Tickets must be purchased in advance; we don’t accept walk-ins

Peace of mind policy

Let's imagine that you are unable to make the tour. Can you have a refund? The answer is yes.

• Cancellation requests submitted until 72h before the tour start will be fully refunded (minus the processing fees);

• Cancellation requests submitted between 72h and 24h before the tour start will be refunded in 80% of the total purchase value (minus the processing fees);

• Cancellation requests submitted 24h or less before the tour start are not eligible for any refund.

Refunds can only be processed back to the original credit or debit card used in the purchase. Processing fees: 1.5% + 0.25€ for European Union cards and 3.25% + 0.25€ for non-European Union cards.

As part of our "Peace Of Mind Policy", the first two cases listed above are eligible to be converted into Gift Cards. These are issued with the same purchase value, free of processing fees penalty, and two-year validity. They can be used and topped up for any Taste Porto product. They can be redeemed by the customer or regifted.

Taste Porto: Our Promise to You

At Taste Porto, we don’t settle for the postcard version of the city. Sure, Clérigos Tower is stunning and the Lello Bookshop is beautiful, but Porto is more than its greatest hits. Our tour guides invite you to go deeper - because our mission is that, by the end of your journey, Porto won’t feel like a place you’ve visited; it’ll feel like a place you’ve come home to. Tens of thousands have experienced it. Anthony Bourdain approved. Rick Steves agrees. Now it’s your turn. Come taste the real Porto with us!