Key Locations
Hotel Palacio Estoril, Rua Particular, Estoril
This is the grande dame hotel of spying on the Lisbon coast. Espionage artefacts line the wall and a visit to its spy-infused bar is a must. Sample a 007 martini at the table where Ian Fleming and legendary agent Tricycle ( Dusko Popov)  allegedly plotted. The poolside garden might also be familiar from the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service which was shot here.
The Boca do Inferno, near Cascais
Portuguese for 'Jaws of Hell', this dramatic coastal inlet is well worth a visit. In 1930, the notorious British occultist and alleged British agent, Aleister Crowley, staged his death here. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor stayed nearby in 1940, pursued by a German kidnapper and defying an increasingly exasperated Winston Churchill.Â
Alcântara Maritime Station, Doca Alcântara 1350, Lisbon
Well worth a visit to soak up the atmosphere of Lisbon in the 1940s, the splendid murals of the preserved ocean terminal are stunning. Refugees and spies alike passed through here during the war, and the Duke of Duchess of Windsor passed through here in 1940 under watchful British, Portuguese and German eyes.
A Primavera do Jeronimo, Tv. Da Espera 34, Lisbon
This tiny family-owned tasca preserves the memory of Josephine Baker, dancer, singer, movie star and…secret agent. You can dine on Portuguese classics under a photograph of La Baker, and consider her critical role as an Allied spy, a celebrity hiding her covert activities in plain sight.
Some suggested spots to duck into to check plans or lose a tail...
SOME SUGGESTED SPOTS TO DUCK INTO TO CHECK PLANS OR LOSE A TAIL
Pre-Mission Briefing
Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the city of Light - Neil Lochery
This is the seminal work on wartime Lisbon espionage, and should be your primer for a visit to the city.
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Traitor King: The Scandalous Exile of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor -Â Andrew Lownie
A controversial but convincing exposé of the royal couple’s relationship with the Nazis. It covers their chaotic stay in Portugal in 1940, attempts by a German agent to persuade them to stay in Europe against MI6’s desire to get them to exile in the Bahamas at all costs.
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Queen of the Sea: A History of Lisbon - Barry Hatton
A compelling and entertaining background introduction to Lisbon. The chapters on wartime espionage are well worth studying..
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Agent Zigzag & Double Cross: The True Story of the D-Day Spies - Ben Macintyre
These two books are essential reading for your mission. Brilliantly written, you will follow the exploits of a cast of eccentric characters as they use Lisbon as their base for an elaborate web of deception against Nazi Germany.
A selection of recommended reading to prepare you for your mission...
Safe House Suggestions
Could be worth packing one or two of these to help while away the long hours on a stakeout, or when lying low...
A Small Death in Lisbon - Robert Wilson
A great read, alternating between wartime Portugal and modern Lisbon. Very evocative of the city in both eras.
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Two Nights in Lisbon -Â Chris Pavone
A contemporary spy thriller, fast paced through the city’s best locations.
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Shock Therapy -Â Angus Blair
Chosen as a Times 'Thriller of the Month', this contemporary spy romp involves a murderous Russian intelligence officer stalking a hapless British businessman around Lisbon until the tables are turned…
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For those seeking further inspiration, we recommend checking out Spybrary