As a travel blogger, I am regularly asked: “What’s the first thing I should do/see when I get to Lisbon?”. I always answer, annoyingly, with, “Well, what interests you?”. But now, when asked, I have an answer: Lisboa Story Centre. Why? Keep reading.
Lisboa Story Centre is located right on the Praça do Comercio (a.k.a. Terreiro do Paço), which is already an absolute must-see location in Lisbon, so it’s a great place to start. The large, yellow building lined square is steeped in centuries-old history, and is an impressive and picture-perfect location to start exploring the city.
I’d previously written about the Lisboa Story Centre’s interactive history exhibit, which, if you love history is worthwhile visiting as it shows you the centuries and millennia of history of the city you are walking around in. However, since January of this year, VR Tours has been hosting virtual reality tours of Lisbon… all from the sky! This experience is a terrific place to start exploring Lisbon, especially if you haven’t meticulously planned your itinerary for your trip. But first, a little about the experience itself…
The concept of the tour is that you fly over Lisbon (and nearby Cascais and Sintra) on a passarola, a flying machine designed in the 18th century by a Jesuit priest, Bartolomeu de Gusmão. Bartolomeu de Gusmão did in fact create a hot air balloon that, in 1709, flew 4 meters into the air in front of the then-King of Portugal, D. João V, and the future Pope Innocent XIII. It is unknown whether his passarola ever took off from the ground. But today, at Lisbon Story Centre, it most definitely flies – and with accurate precision too!
Without giving too much away, you will fly over the city, observing some of its most popular attractions: at times zooming across the sky, at others, hovering extremely closely to certain monuments. The best video of the experience I’ve found is this one, courtesy of NIT tv (if you don’t understand Portuguese, skip to 1m10s).
The entire experience takes 20 minutes and the tour can be enjoyed in Portuguese, English, French, or Spanish. You’re strapped in with a seat belt, and the VR glasses and headphones are placed on your head (if they need adjusting, please ask for help!). The price of tickets is €10 for an adult, but you can combine the ticket with the museum as well for €15 (saving you €1.50). A family ticket is €8 per person for a family of two adults and two kids up to 16. If you’re wondering whether this is a kid-friendly activity, anyone over 1m20 is able to participate (there’s a maximum weight restriction of 120 kg).
A few tips:
- Don’t have a big meal just before going on your VR tour (I’m speaking from personal experience), as it’s not uncommon to feel a little motion sick during the experience.
- Don’t go if you suffer from vertigo or epilepsy.
- You’re advised not go if you have a fear of heights, but I’m scared of heights and I absolutely loved it! (If you’ve ever had a dream where you’re flying and you enjoyed it, you’ll probably be love this experience as well.)
- Do book tickets in advance here if you want to guarantee your spot.
- While on the ride, look left and right, and definitely look straight down at your feet. It’s such a unique opportunity to enjoy the beautiful sights, such as the calçada portuguesa from a height.
- Go during the hottest hours of the day if you’re uncomfortable being outside in the heat.
I highly recommend this VR tour as a first stop in Lisbon because it introduces you to various monuments and attractions that you might not have considered visiting. After this 20-minute tour, you may change your itinerary and decide, for example, “I’m very intrigued by the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos” or “We must see visit Quinta da Regaleira“. It’s a small (time) investment considering the potential return you may get from your visit. Even if it doesn’t inspire a change in plans, it’s a highly enjoyable and unique experience.
Plus, if you liked the sights of the Praça do Comercio from up high and want to experience it in real life, as opposed to virtual reality, head up to the Rua Augusta arch. You should also go out and discover the many belvederes Lisbon has to offer, and even visit some of the many rooftop bars and restaurants. Lisbon could always be enjoyed from great heights in real life, the VR Tours adds a whole other level of entertainment.
Thank you for the tip, Catarina. As always, great information!
Thank you! It was so much fun and such a memorable experience!
Was the author José Saramago influenced by Gusmão’s pasarola in his 1982 novel Memorial do Convento” / “Balthazar & Blimunda”, I wonder ? A fascinating book !
Absolutely, Mandy! I believe that in his book, the passarola does fly but it was never proved to have flown in real life.