Walk 1 · Chiado to the river
The Missing Azulejo
Lisbon, this morning. Amélia Rocha was restoring a small eighteenth-century tile panel when it vanished from her studio. All she left was a note: "The city will keep it safe. Follow what never moves." Follow her clues, find all eight tiles, and bring the panel home.
- About 2 h2.5 km, mostly downhill
- 8 stops1 final puzzle
- €24per team, up to 5
At a glance
- Start
- Largo do Chiado (metro Baixa-Chiado)
- Finish
- Cais das Colunas, Praça do Comércio
- Distance
- About 2.5 km, mostly downhill
- Time
- About 2 hours, with stops
- Stops
- 8 stops and a final puzzle
- Team
- Up to 5 people on 1 phone
- When
- Any time on your day and the next
- App
- None: it plays in your browser
- Levels
- Family (ages 7 and up) or Challenge
- Language
- English
The route
Eight stops, all on foot
The walk starts at Largo do Chiado and runs down through the city rebuilt after the great earthquake of 1755, ending where kings once stepped ashore. At every stop you answer something you can see from the pavement, and win a tile with a letter on it.
- Largo do Chiado
- Largo do Carmo
- Santa Justa lift
- Rossio
- Rua Augusta
- The arch of Rua Augusta
- Praça do Comércio
- Cais das Colunas, by the river
Start: Largo do Chiado, by the statue at the café tables. Finish: Cais das Colunas, Praça do Comércio, by the river.
Two ways to play
Pick your level at the start
Family
Directions to every stop are shown and hints are free. Made to be finished, with kids from about 7.
Challenge
Find your own way between stops. Hints and directions cost points, so every team ends with a score to beat.
Tips from the route
Make the most of it
- Go in daylight. Mornings and late afternoons are best: softer light, fewer crowds on Rua Augusta, and you can end at the river for sunset.
- Wear proper shoes. Lisbon's calçada is beautiful and slippery, especially after rain.
- One short climb. From Chiado to Largo do Carmo goes up for a few minutes. After that it's downhill to the river.
- Charge your phone. The walk uses little data and keeps working on a weak signal, but bring some battery.
- Mind your bags. Rossio and the Baixa are busy. Keep phones and wallets close, as anywhere crowded.
- Take a break. Around Rossio is a good halfway point for a coffee and a pastel de nata. Your progress waits for you.
Book The Missing Azulejo
€24 per team of up to 5, booking fee included: under €5 each when you're five. Plays any time on the day you book and the day after. Free cancellation up to 24 hours before.
Booking opens soon. We're playtesting the route with our first players.
Try the free playtestAbout this walk
Good to know
Where does it start and finish?
It starts at Largo do Chiado, by the statue at the café tables (metro Baixa-Chiado), and finishes at Cais das Colunas on the river, in Praça do Comércio.
Is it step-free?
Not entirely. The route has slopes, cobbles and some steps. A pushchair can manage most of it with a little lifting; a wheelchair route isn't available yet.
Can we stop for a coffee?
Yes. Your progress stays on your phone, so pause wherever you like and carry on later the same day or the next.
Can more than one phone play on the same ticket?
A ticket is made for one team sharing one phone, which keeps everyone looking around together. A second phone can open the same booking to follow along; for two competing teams, book two tickets.
We're running late. Is there a start time?
No. Start whenever you like on the day you booked, or the day after.
How much battery and data does it use?
Very little data: the walk loads once and then mostly works offline. A normal phone charge is plenty; a half-full battery is fine.
Can we book for a big group?
Yes. Book one ticket per team of up to 5 and race each other to the river. For 10 people or more, write to groups@localsapiens.com for a group price.
Is it safe for children?
Every answer can be read from the pavement or a public square, and no clue asks you to cross against traffic or stand on tram tracks. Children must stay with an adult.