Portugal · GUIDED
Good guided tours fill up weeks ahead and the great ones go first. Below: the 15 to book early, what each includes and how they differ.
See Porto’s historic center by electric tuk-tuk, then cruise beneath six Douro bridges with local guides and flexible timing.
“I would've liked to go further with the tuk tuk like to the beaches or along the river after going over the bridge. I lived the boat ride”
Walk Lisbon from Rossio to Alfama with a local guide, pastel de nata, wine and tapas, historic squares, viewpoints, and Commerce Square.
“Our tour guide knew her city inside out. Highly recommend this tour and guide. We had a great time , and also got to sample pastel de nata.”
See Lisbon’s hills, old quarters, viewpoints, and Belém by private tuk-tuk, with hotel pickup and a guide who can tailor the route.
“One of the BEST tours of our two country trip. Our guide was fantastic. The entire tour was perfect and we were fortunate to have great weather. 100% recommend this company.”
Kayak from Benagil Beach into sea caves near Marinha, Carvalho, and Benagil with friendly guides, safety training, and flexible tour lengths.
“Overall a beautiful experience and an absolute must if you are staying in the Algarves. Be sure to bring water with you while you are out!”
Ride Porto’s steep streets with ease on a three-hour e-bike tour covering Ribeira, the cathedral, Gaia, bridges, and top viewpoints.
“Jonas was just the best guide we could have got in porto ! Absolutely recommend to try this out”
See Fátima, Batalha, Nazaré, and Óbidos from Lisbon in one full day, with historic sights, ocean views, free time, and local ginjinha.
“Great trip. The distance to Fatima allows for some napping on the coach, which is useful on a busy vacation. Our guide was very good, extremely knowledgeable.”
Review of a 10-hour Sintra tour from Lisbon covering Pena Palace, Regaleira, Cabo da Roca, Guincho Beach, lunch, and Cascais.
“We had an incredible day on this tour. The timing was very well balanced, the sights were beautiful, and the best part was our tour guide João. He was so knowledgeable, kind, and thorough with our tour. We could not recommend enough!”
Hike Madeira’s high peaks at sunrise with a $37 Funchal transfer, clear trail instructions, and pickup after the challenging 10 km route.
“Really enjoyed the whole day. We didn’t have the best weather but could still appreciate how magical the place was. Pedro our guide was just brilliant, so pleasant and informative. Really enjoyed the little museum at the end which gave us more information on the area.”
Review of Porto’s 3-hour walking tour, with historic sights, local stories, Dom Luís I Bridge views, small groups, and practical tips.
“Maria was very knowledgeable about the history of Portugal. She provided specific details of Porto and how Portuguese and Porto culture evolved. The 3 hours provided enough time to see much of the city and hit the hot spots. The weather was pouring rain and she was a sport to show us the underground short cuts.”
Explore Ponta da Piedade from Lagos on a small-group boat tour through sea caves, past famous beaches and striking Algarve rock formations.
“Activity was nice, good explanations on the excursion. We were with a very small group. Only 4. The guides made the excursion pleasant and easy to understand”
Ride Madeira’s west coast by jeep, from Cabo Girão and Trompica to Fanal Forest, Seixal, and Porto Moniz’s volcanic pools.
“it was fantastic tour, lots of fabulous places, great experience and more than 150 photos are made))) the weather was perfect that allowed us to explore the island)”
Review of Madeira’s guided Rabaçal Valley levada walk, with waterfalls, the 25 Fontes lagoon, hotel pickup, tunnel tips, and practical advice.
“Our guide, Sara, was friendly and knowledge. When our plans had to change, due to closed roads she was calm and kept us informed. The walk along with her confidence and knowledge of the flora and fauna gave us an amazing day in nature. The coffee and poncho stops were very good too.. Great day out”
Visit Lisbon’s São Jorge Castle with a mobile ticket and optional audio guide, enjoying panoramic views, medieval walls, and flexible timing.
“It was a really great tour, we got the full English tour of Pena Palace, and Quinta de Regaleira. Our group was split into two as well but we had both Gonzalo and Bruno - Bruno was our specific tour guide and he was knowledgeable on everything and was able to answer questions. The free mason estate was very interesting to learn about and you do get to walk down the initiation well, it’s not super deep or challenging. You go through the caves and it’s nice for some photos but even in Novemeber there were SO MANY tour groups it was a bit annoying. Someone yelling at the top…”
Explore Porto on a three-hour small-group walk covering cathedral, tiled São Bento, Aliados Avenue, Clérigos, Bolhão, and local streets.
“Ricardo was fantastic! He was so personable and thorough.”
Paddle into Benagil Caves and quiet coastal grottoes on a two-hour guided kayak tour with expert instruction and beach stops.
“The activity was fun. We saw a lot of caves and the guides were helpful to take the pictures.”
Pick a coastline, a cellar or a cave.
