Heart of Portugal in 12 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a fantastic time on this tour. Every part of the trip was a pleasure, even the bus trips. Fatima was an outstanding tour leader! She made all parts of the trip interesting and educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pinpoint just one moment but if I have to pick I'd say the cork farm tour was my favorite part."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

One paragraph: the company knows the tourists’ needs very well. Many thanks to Mr. Rick Steves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1. Wonderful tour guide with a big heart and professionalism. Please pass our big five to Ms. Fátima. She is just great - one of best we ever have had on our many tours. 2. Unexpected many lunch and dinners with good wines. 3. No optional tour with additional fee. 4. No cost to local guide, even driver and the tour guide. 5. Friendly and nice 28 travel companions. Another pleasure."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I really liked and appreciated Fatima our tour guide as well as the local tour guides. The Portuguese people as a whole are warm, friendly and family oriented. Too much of the trip focused on Cathedrals, churches and monasteries for my taste and the accommodations were generally so so. The food was also so so generally speaking. The highlights were our visits to the winery, the ceramics factory, the local markets - I.e., interactions with the ‘everyday people’.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Surprisingly Fatima. There were relatively few people there when we visited but I experienced powerful and peaceful energy at the site and lighting memorial candles was a very positive experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

As always it was a great time and well planned overall, our only wish would have been to spend more time in the Duro valley area and less in Lisbon The private tours to Cork farm and Port vineyard were outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Duro valley"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

We were surprised by the slower pace of this tour (it was our third), which did not jive with what we were looking for. Previous tours had more of a mix of ages, with more younger and middle aged folks, while this particular tour skewed quite a bit older. While everyone was lovely, and I hope I am in as good shape when I'm 80, I do wish we were able to cover ground a bit more quickly. I am not sure if this was to accommodate everyone's pace, or if this particular tour was just a bit slower.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was very pleasantly surprised by the Douro Valley (and this is coming from someone with very little interest in wine; I just never acquired a taste for it) - this was definitely the "vacation within the vacation" part of the trip. The hotel pool alone, overlooking the vineyards, was glorious. The town of Lamego was lovely - and it wasn't event in the guidebook!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was excellent! It was the most educational and fun week! Our guide, Raphael, was amazing. I loved every minute.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the cork farm. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Raphael was so good at presenting the history, culture, & everything in between in an articulate, down-to-earth way everywhere we went.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about the Inquisitions & standing where it all happened. So very sad!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first tour and we loved our tour guide and learned so much and saw so many things we wouldn’t have on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour guide added in a few extra trips due to a schedule change that were awesome. We loved the add ons but also his ability to find experiences that were so interesting and special."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding overview of all that is Portugal with deep dive into Portuguese history and Portugal’s role in the age of discovery. Comfortable accommodations, delicious meals, and a fantastic tour guide, Rafael.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many wow moments. Especially enjoyed the tour of the cork farm- their “lead by example” lessons in sustainability were timely and refreshing. Also enjoyed the Douro Valley and Quinta visit. The add-on visit to a ceramics factory and Roman ruins outside Coimbro were especially interesting and should be added for every group traveling this itinary. Rafael really brought history to life for us at each stop along the way and his philosophical discussions on the bus made our travel time go fast."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first Rick Steves tour. We enjoyed the culinary delights and historical exploration. Raphael was the BEST tour guide! His history knowledge was impressive, and he gave us snacks on the bus. We are already planning our next RS trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Quinta De Sta. Eufémia! We were also treated to a home cooked lunch on the winery which included tasting their own vineyards wines."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Raphael, was amazing. We came away knowing much of the history and culture of Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting to know about how Portuguese culture developed."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved the whole thing from the food and wine to the countryside. I can’t think of a better tour guide than Rafael.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the cork farm tour. Truly outstanding. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour experience! Terrific guide, interesting destinations, beautiful scenery, delicious food and wine.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro River valley was stunning. It didn't hurt that we had beautiful weather to take in all scenery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really liked the ease of visiting so many towns and the knowledge and humor of the tour guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say the Duoro Valley and the quinta tour. The valley was absolutely breath taking. The luncheon was wonderful and the view from our tables even better. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved our Portugal experience. Our tour leader was excellent, providing historical and cultural background throughout the trip (and cookies). The balance between group activities and free time allowed us to quickly get comfortable in each new stop, then explore more deeply what we were interested in. The food and accommodations were more than we expected. The size of the group made traveling comfortable and allowed for everyone to get to know each other easily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the cork farm stood out because it not only provided an outstanding opportunity to learn about the methods of growing and harvesting the cork, but we learned so much about how real people were impacted by the political decisions within Portugal. We had the privilege of sitting with Goncalo at our lunch, and his political and business insights were fascinating. Getting the opportunity to meet people at that level is an amazing opportunity not provided by most tours."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Todd was a fantastic tour guide: knew so much about Portugal, prepared such wonderfully detailed city/town maps of our tour, wrote up such wonderful info sheets, was so interesting, and was so thoughtful and helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "Fado Four" performance in Coimbra."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well planned with an excellent Tour Guide who prepared us with maps, history, and restaurant recommendations for every village/city we visited. There were several special tours that only Rick Steves guests are allowed. Fellow travelers were delightful and many were on their 4th or 5th RS tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the cork farm and estate was so interesting. We were also treated to a home cooked lunch on the estate which included tasting their own vineyards wines."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour. It far exceeded my expectations. It was well organized and provided a good balance between group touring and free time, providing us with confidence to explore on our own.. Highlights included tours of a cork farm, winery, and ceramics factory - all places that we couldn't have experienced on our own, and a Fado performance. Todd's preparation and education materials gave us a deep understanding of many cultural and historical aspects of Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everything we did on the tour was done very well and allowed us to get close to the Portuguese people and culture. One favorite was the ceramics factory tour where we were able to talk to the owner and his employees and be amazed by their devotion to their art and their talents. Beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our overall experience was very positive. The people on the tour were very friendly and our tour guide was outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour of the Coach Museum in Lisbon was excellent due to the availability of a volunteer guide. I also particularly enjoyed walking the ramparts in Evora."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Todd was great and well organized. Portugal exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I did not realize how much history occurred in Portugal and the amazing contributions Portugal provided in Navigation and Exploration."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great combination of planned activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour of the pottery factory"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Claudia, was fabulous. Every evening we knew what the schedule for the next day would be, had all arrangements made for us in advance so things when as smoothly as possible, and made sure we were all safe and having a good time. There were a few people on our tour with tricky food allergies and she made sure each and every group meal and food related activity accommodated their needs with out fuss. She turned a group of strangers into a merry band of travel companions!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley was stunningly gorgeous. The delightful family run winery we stopped at for a grand tour was followed by wine and port tasting including a delicious luncheon. The hotel we stayed at was fabulous!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous! The tour was everything we expect from a Rick Steve's adventure, and more. The itinerary was an excellent mix of walking tours, sites visits, and free time. The tour guide was outstanding, and the tour participants were enthusiastic and knowledgeable participants.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The winery and estate visit on the day we traveled to the Douro Valley. Outstanding views and excellent lunch. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had never been on a tour this long, or with so many people, and had reservations about that. We shouldn't have worried, the time flew by, and we enjoyed the others on the tour. Portugal was new to us. We wanted to be challenged by a new country and culture. We speak enough German to get by easily in Germany, but having no Portuguese was not a problem. The people are friendly and helpful, so the 2 times someone didn't speak English it was a pleasant experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley and the Hotel on the river. The winery was a good tour and a fine lunch. The hotel was super."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Delightful experience for my first group travel adventure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The group experience, everyone on the tour was a delight to meet and hang out with the entire time. Especially “wow” was Claudia our leader and guide. She is amazing in her empathy in guiding diverse groups and her passion for sharing her knowledge of Portugal and it’s history and culture and just all the fun of contemporary life she shared with us."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great tour. Portugal had a lot to offer and as always (this was our 6th Rick Steves tour) our guide was outstanding and we got to know Portugal and its people and customs through her excitement and enthusiasm for her native country. We have so many memories across all parts of the tour including the Fado singing, the Douro Valley winery, Fatima , Lisbon and Porto and the great meals we had and the wonderful group of people who we were with on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Picking out one “wow” m moment is always hard as there are so many to choose from on this tour! I’d say the Douro Valley as pictures don’t begin to show how beautiful and scenic it is in person!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is our 3rd Rick Steve’s tour and we did not think it could get better…but it did! Fátima was our guide and we learned sooo much about the country, traditions, love of family and traditions. She was fun and open and passionate about her heritage and family and beliefs. I love her and what she shared with all of us!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fátima pre-arranged many wow moments. We never knew what to expect which made the experience amazing. The opera singer that was ‘just there’ at the right moment was breathtaking! We all cried. 🥲 it was awesome. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As a friend of mine said, if you don't learn something on a RS trip, you're not paying attention. I would add to that comment that if you don't have an incredible adventure that includes the land, the food, the people, the history, amazing guides and the sense that you can go anywhere, then you're probably not on a Rick Steves Trip. Fatima was warm, funny, smart, engaging and so caring. What a great tour guide!.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many WOWs - the Douro Valley (yes, it's prettier than Napa), the cork farm, delicious farm lunches at the vineyard and the cork farm, eating grilled sardines in Nazare for the first time, following the festival days from town to town, celebrating each patron saint....the beautiful town of PORTO!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Expertise and passion for Portugal of tour guides

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Opera moment"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour provided a richer experience than I would have had traveling on my own. My tour leader was compassionate, warm, funny and added to the group cohesion, but there were a few issues which I will share in another answer. The highlights of the tour were Lisbon, Douro Valley and Porto. I particularly enjoyed the visit to the cork farm. I went to Sintra on my own which was wonderful. I would have skipped Evora and Obidos was beautiful, but there wasn't much to do there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the Douro Valley was breathtakingly unexpected. I have traveled to wine areas in California, France and Italy, but this was most beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 5th RS tour and they keep getting better. The tour was a great combination of history, food, wine, and culture. The tour was fast paced but we still had time to explore on our own. We had a great group of tour participants and we really enjoyed each other’s company. Finally, our guide, Fátima, was excellent. She was passionate, knowledgeable, and was a great representative for the people of Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a few. The Douro valley was beautiful and the visit to the winery was fascinating, ending with a great meal. The cork farm was also enlightening. We were in Lisbon for the feast of St. Anthony and in Porto for the feast of St. John. The Portuguese people really know how to celebrate their saints and being in their midst was very exciting. "

We were looking forward with excitement about the Heart of Portugal Tour and it proved to be even better than expected. Much of the credit goes to Fatima our guide whose infectious love of the country made it feel like we were experiencing the country more as natives rather than tourists.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the Doro Valley and our wonderful lunch there. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fatima loves her country and its history. She presented Portugal through four generations in her family from her grandmother to her daughters. I learned so much about the transitions that have taken place in Portugal during the last 50 years. The tour was busy but there was some part of every day that you could do at your own pace. The travelers were kind and worked together as a team daily. Every meal and experience was wonderful. Fatima is a real gem. We loved meeting Rick Steves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the whole tour but found the Cork Farm delightful. The grandaughter guide demonstrated the many stages of harvesting Cork. The lunch they served was so yummy. Their wine-making demonstration was fun and the wine was excelle. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was exactly as advertised. We had a good group of "no-whiners" and Christina rallied us each morning for the day's events.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Fado concerts are a hidden treasure of Portugal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

12 days in Portugal were wonderful, filled with history, art, and socioeconomic issues. I thoroughly lenjoyed the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My highest 'wow' factor was the tour and lunch at the cork farm. I enjoyed learning about cork. The lunch was fantastic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The opportunity to learn about the Portugal people and culture from our knowledgeable, intelligent, gregarious, and personable guide, Christina. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very informative, wonderful guide, delicious food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Santa Clara church in Porto"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had the best tour guide - Cristina. She has years of experience, loves her country and covered every detail from "passport checks" to keeping everyone on time. She was very knowledgeable, but of importance was her sense of humor too. She's very funny and energetic :)) I loved the people of Portugal ! A few favorite tour stops were Lisbon, Gulbenkian Museum and Porto. Although I enjoyed some of the churches /monestaries, but I felt that seeing four in total would have been enough.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed our stop at the Lisbon's Gulbenkian Museum. Also, I enjoyed Cristina's introductory talk in Lisbon about Portugal being under a dictatorship until 1974 - now that's a wow moment. She gave a very emotional talk about the revolution and what she remembered about it as a child. Another "wow" was Porto's Stock Exchange Palace. It was gorgeous! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Todd was organized, cheerful, and informative. I loved just showing up each day at the appointed time and all the details were handled. We had no waits at monasteries, museums, and other sites which other tourists had to deal with. I was able to fully concentrate on learning and enjoying myself without the hassles of having to execute the logistics of the trip myself.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The library at the University of Coimbra. It was so historical and beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Of all the ETB tours I’ve taken, this was my least favorite.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the cork farm and having a meal there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We fell in love with Portugal-- its people, its beauty, its history and its culture! We had a terrific group of fellow travelers, and Todd was an outstanding tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but what stands out to me most is driving through the Douro Valley with its jaw-dropping scenery, and the tour and lunch of the winery overlooking the vineyards."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

great guides and locations to visit.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the winery in the duro valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall… outstanding trip/tour! From Lisbon with our first night orientation/meet & greet to Porto highlighted by a visit from Rick himself at our fair well dinner, we had many highlights including Evora with a(? substitute) very energetic entertaining guide, a great wine and snack meeting at the nice hotel, the amazing cork farm safari, the awe inspiring architecture and beauty of monasteries and cathedrals to the great food tour with Andre’ in Porto… we had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had several favorites, it’s hard to choose just one but the cork farm “safari” and awesome lunch was probably our WOW followed by the visit to the ceramic factory with the artisans hand painting the elaborate designs."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I love RS tours, they are so informative and our guide, Todd was fantastic. I made true friends with the fantastic group of people on this trip. I always amazed how old Europe is and the history it holds. We were privileged to have Rick Steves surprise us on our last day. Wow.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley. I live in Sonoma county and the beauty the DV holds is awesome and my wow. It puts our vineyards to shame. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again a fantastic trip. This being my fifth tour the experiences continue to be wonderful

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the cork farm experience "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I had a marvelous time in Portugal, with cast and crew. We loved our entire tour group, they were so warm and welcoming. And our primary tour guide plus the many other walking tour guides were all exemplary. With some pre-trip preparation and then the trip itself, we feel like we gained a reasonable sense of perspective on Portugal’s amazing history, rich culture, beautiful landscape, delicious gastronomy, etc.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, being a lover of history, the ever present symbols of the amazing seemingly outsized impact this small country had on the historical landscape. So my wow moment was just seeing all of the tombs, monuments, churches, edifices, ruins, etc"

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

The overall experience was pleasant enough. Our guide Todd was positive and informative. For me the group was too large and not active enough.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was overall nice, but there wasn’t a wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Another (we've done 3) great tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley. Having Rick show up at our final dinner!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Claudia took us to historic sights, photo ops and group adventures with great expertise. Very knowledgeable. The mix of country and urban experience was just about right.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The city markets, monuments, blue tiles, Fado music were great, but for me the two highlights were going on the cork tree safari and to the Douro Valley port Quinta."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was very informative. We felt a bit like tourists and couldn't hear the guide much of the time through the single earpiece. The ambient noise was being picked up by her microphone and broadcast along with her voice. We bought a headphone blue tooth converter that we can plug into the whisper devices and then use our air pods for next time (and also the flights).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We thought the hotel on the Duro and the Duro river valley with all of the terraced vineyards were beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful experience! Beautiful country, amazing historical sites, great guide, informative tours, and excellent food and drink.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were "wow" moments every day. The sidewalks/plazas of Lisboa, the monasteries of Belem, Alcoabaca, and Bathala, the beach at Nazare, the oak cork forest, views of Douro valley, the massive spirituality of Fatima, the streets of Coimbra, and the picture-perfect, postcard loveliness of Obidos. The two sites that were the most unexpected were the Roman ruins at Conimbriga and the sheer scale of Fatima."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

wow, it was my first trip with Rick Steves 'tour and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro valley"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm experience and meal"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well organized tour with outstanding guide, Fatima. We learned so much about the history and culture of Portugal, and thoroughly enjoyed the country as it is today.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Both Fado performances, one in Lisbon and one in Coimbra, were mesmerizing. Our tours of the cork farm and winery, both family owned, and the wonderful lunches following, were a highlight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent experience, shared with wonderful people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting the owner of a small Portugal restaurant, who shared his background about his families escape from Nazi Europe during and after WWII."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was great, some accommodations were not adequate

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Experiencing university graduations celebrations in Coimbra. Cork farm, Quinta visit. Gulbenkian Museum,Óbidos, the Douro Valley (wishing it would had been a longer visit there), the Exchange Palace, the train Station, the tiles everywhere. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Totally great time. Informative, good destination towns/cities and sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The library at the university in Coimbra."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our guide was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The soup at the cork ranch"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I had a great time!!!! Portugal is such a neat place to explore. Our guide made the trip the best we have gone on so far.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to the cork farm and learning how cork is used for so many products."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Our guide, Fatima, exuded the spirit of Portugal! She was knowledgeable and fun loving. Too much time was spent at churches and monasteries, especially standingi in long lines in 90 degree heat. Meeting Portuguese people going about their daily lives was wonderful. I loved that our bus driver shared some meals with us. With the current itinerary, I would not recommend this tour. Perhaps schedule a day or two in a small coastal town. More people to people time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro valley was amazing and we were all impressed by our bus driver’s ability to navigate very narrow, hillside roads."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoyed the tour of the ceramics factory in Coimbra!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Lovely, engaging experience. Portugal was beautiful and easy to navigate. Loved the variety of the places we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our day in Evora, which started with a fantastic local guide (who kept us cool on a very hot day), continued with a guided tour of nearby megaliths (a small group of us booked this on our own), was sweetened by Maria's wine and snacks happy hour at our gorgeous hotel, and concluded with an unforgettable meal of Alentejo classics at a nearby recommended eatery."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour for discovering most of Portugal! Our tour guide, Maria, was fabulous--so knowledgeable, experienced, patient, and good humored. The itinerary was well structured, the logistics very well organized, and I liked the mix of activities we did. For me, personally, however, I would have liked this tour to be one or two days shorter and with fewer dinners on one's own. I also wish we could have covered the Algarve as well to get a complete feel of Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wonderful moments: the Gulbenkian, visit to the cork farm, the winery lunch with the beautiful view, the charm of Evora and Obidos, the market in Alcobaca, and the food tour in Porto. In addition to our great guide, Maria, the local guides and other Portuguese were fabulous in bringing the past and present of Portugal alive. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We really enjoyed Portgual, particularly Lisbon and Porto. They are beautiful! The variety of experiences throughout the country made the tour interesting from start to finish.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoying barnacles in Nazare. The cork farm tour was amazing as well!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great tour guide and a great group of tour members. We learned alot about Portugal and have many stories to tell.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley. What a beautiful setting to spend time at. It was the most beautiful place we visited in Portugal. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I would recommend this tour to everyone, especially if they can get Rafael as their trip guide. Rafael made history come alive and with each stop explained how each location and era made Portugal what it is.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The day at the cork farm was one of my greatest memories from this trip. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized and excellent communication from when we book throughout the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Like asking who’s your favorite child! Port wine farm, cork farm or ceramic factory. But wait, the churches all had the Wow factor upon entering."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fantastic guide, full of stories and history and a love for his country. Great group. Good hotels (generally better than our Amsterdam to Rome trip). Good balance of activities and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were lots; there isn’t one in particular that stands out."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well-designed and very interesting. Portugal is a beautiful country with a complex and rich history of many groups that overtook its rule and strong influence from the Catholic Church. The Portuguese are understandably proud of their history exploring the seas and discovering India as well as Brazil. The sights selected and the guide's instructive talks gave excellent background on this aspect of the country. It was also fascinating and instructive to visit the farm.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the farm and learning about cork as an agricultural crop. Wow, what dedication it takes to wait for the tree to mature enough to be able to harvest the cork. Learning about port was also very interesting, and it was very enjoyable tasting the product."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour met all my expectations and more! It was a good mix of big cities to small towns to ancient ruins. Rafael kept us informed and on pace with humor and charm.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our visit to the ceramics factory near Coimbra was amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were so fortunate have Rafael as our guide. He has a unique ability to connect philosophy, history, art, religion and culture in a way that allowed us to share in his passion for his country. Each day was a new adventure with plenty of time to explore on our own after an action-packed morning with an excellent local guide. It was fun to have a variety of hotels including the medieval themed inn to the luxurious Grande Hotel da Porto. Our fellow travelers were curious and kind!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too hard to choose just one!!! The cork and pine plantation- a whole new world./The family owned port wine vineyard nestled in the Duora Valley./ The ceramics factory and the owner who was so proud of his pottery. Then, add in the Fado concerts, the exuberant seniors celebrating graduation at the University of Coimbra, the medieval walled cities and the distinctive monasteries. Who can forget Rafael’s goal that we would gain 3 pounds with his offerings of delicious pastries? Did you? Abrigada…"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Everything was wonderful! Christina, our tour guide, was knowledgeable and personable, and she made sure we all got as much out of our tour as possible. The restaurants selected for group dinners were all quite good. Enjoyed the two weeks very much with all our tourmates.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Entering the Douro Valley and experiencing Fatima on a Sunday morning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour and I enjoyed all of it. The guide, the fellow travelers, the itinerary, the food, the wine, everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery was amazing. Loved visiting the two family owned wineries. The outdoor mass in Fatima was very moving."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Cristina was excellent, but it became clear she didn't like to be interrupted while sharing information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley was stunningly beautiful, lunch was excellent and I also enjoyed the cork/olive/wine farm and lunch served there. Both were excellent!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 9th Rick Steves tour, and as always I enjoyed every moment of the tour (best of Portugal). I loved hour the itinerary for this tour was organized and the activities we did. I also enjoyed the several surprises that our guide Todd had for us throughout the tour. The food and wine were wonderful in Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think my wow moment was when we visited the cork farm. Until I took this trip, I didn't Portugal produced so much cork and used to make several products (e.g., purses, shoes, hat, etc). I also enjoyed having lunch at the cork farm and speaking with the family who owned the farm. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This being our 2nd RS tour, we enjoyed the country, the cities, the people, the scenery, the history and of course, the food. Our leader, Todd did a heck of a job. His information on the history, the architect, olive oil, wine/port and other tidbits was very helpful along with all the special guides for tours scheduled on our trip. Our guides, Isabel, Ju, Maria, Christina and Ronaldo were excellent. Accommodations overall were good. Loved the Cork farm and Vineyard's families.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many. Rovisco's cork farm and awesome lunch along with Quinta Santa Eufemia winery was personal, beautiful and welcoming. I enjoyed these events more than what Lisbon/ Porto offered. The historic buildings were enlightening along with their culinary opportunities but give me the country landscape and uncrowded tourists. Our free time was used to the Max. Really appreciated Todd's suggestions for exploring Sintra as well as journeys via bus to the mouth of the Douro River. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour was very good. Todd was a realty good guide. He was quite knowledgeable of Portugal. We learned much about the culture, architecture, and gastronomy of the various regions of Portugal. Todd was quite organized and his handouts were very helpful. Overall, we found this tour to be very enjoyable.Yet, I have a few recommendations. First, any tour of Portugal should include Sintra. We had to leave the group to see it. Also, some the restaurants made us want to sing a sad Fado song.Chris.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We enjoyed seeing the iconic Moment to the Discoveries in Lisbon. We had seen it in various forms of media for our whole lives, and it was thrilling to realize that we were standing in the land where many explorers ventured out to discover the new world. The museums were great. All the places that we saw were great. The timeless stories of some of the place were poignant even today after centuries had passed.We'll never forget sad story of Inez De Castro and Prince Pedro's forbidden love."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another wonderful Rick Steves tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The city of Porto was beautiful"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Compatible group, excellent tour guide and loved the itinerary

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several but the cork farm and family winery visit were special"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a very good tour that was so well managed by our guide, Todd. He gave us handouts of information about the country and culture that was very interesting and where really good authentic restaurants were in each place we stayed. However, at least 7-8 people got sick, 4 with COVID. A family of 4 did not fully participate in the tour and relate to others. Those were unfortunate things. Todd did handle the sickness well, having them wear masks and eating at a separate table from others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow was the visit to the cork farm with a delicious lunch prepared by the family and wine from their vineyard. So interesting to see how cork is farmed and its importance to the economy. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our Portugal trip. Our guide,Todd, was very well organized and provided detailed handouts summarizing history, gastronomy, key points of interest, as well as activities to do with free time. These handouts will be useful as we look back on the trip and absorb what we have learned along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I can't say I/we had a jaw-dropping "wow" moment. Every place we visited had its own impression on us. We found the cork farm tour very interesting as well as the impromptu stop at a church near Castelo de Arraiolos."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Greate knowledgable time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Porto"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guides were very informative, caring, and personable.. We enjoyed all the places we visited. We were also very pleased that all the tour members were so friendly and outgoing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We enjoyed seeing so many places in Portugal, trying the food, and meeting the Portuguese people. But our “wow” moment was the visit to the Cork farm. We learned so much, enjoyed meeting some of the owners, and enjoyed the delicious meal they served us. I really liked learning the different ways the farm is a sustainable farm!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a great tour that had a variety of what Portugal has to offer. I learned about the history, culture, foods, and people. The guide, Fatima, was amazing. She had so many insights into the life of the Portuguese people and the country. She also pointed out great places to eat and a few special extras too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" moment was going to both Fatima Shrine and Nazare. I chose this tour as they were the only one I could find that went to Fatima. My grandmother talked about this a lot as she was a young girl in the north of Portugal when Our Lady of Fatima presented to the shepherd children. I also love the beach and enjoyed seeing the massive beach of Nazare and dipping my toes in the Atlantic Ocean, which I've not done before living on the west coast. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wide variety of exposure to the history and culture of Portugal

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many, but to pick 2 it was seeing cork trees and understanding how cork is harvested, and the mountains of vineyards in the Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour. Our 2nd, and like the 1st, we had high expectations of a RS tour, and it exceeded our expectations. Fatima B was an excellent tour guide who I now count as a friend.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the size of the huge crowd at Sunday mass at the shrine of Fatima, Portugal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour and Fatima was an outstanding tour guide. Our Guide is the the "heart of Portugal" as she shares fascinating details on the history and culture of Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the visit to the cork farm/winery. The people on the farm were so welcoming and enjoyed the wines of the Douro valley. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour all around. Could have been made better by making the coach museum in Belem more accessible. Also, the Obidos, Nazare, Fatima, Batalha group could maybe be organized differently. Maybe Obidos is not the best place for 2 nights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"As a wine industry professional, the tour of the cork farm was a standout visit, as was the visit to the port winery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide, Fatima, made our trip over the top great. She is knowledgeable, carrying, and goes the extra mile to make everyone feel comfortable and accepted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our Lady of Fatima, the Douro Valley and the opera singer. There is no way you can list just one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fatima was an excellent guide. She made the culture and sites of Portugal come alive with her knowledge and passion for her country. The hotels were wonderful. Our local guides were very informative and did an excellent job.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many wow moments. The Duoro Valley wine tasting and lunch was one of my favorite experiences. I also enjoyed meeting the many friendly people we came in contact with while on tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Terrific tour that included major cities and rural communities. Our guide, Claudia, was terrific as well. So upbeat and enthusiastic about sharing the history and culture of her country. Great group of people who were a pleasure to travel with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can´t narrow it down to just one: Evorra; the cork oak farm; and the Santa Eufemia vineyard were stand-outs for me. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful trip highlighting Portugal's beauty and history. The Portuguese people were welcoming and helpful making the trip relaxing and rewarding. Our tour guide, Claudia, was a delight. We loved hearing her stories and learning about her experiences growing up in Lisbon. It added a personal perspective. The unique stops at family owned farms,vineyard and factory really were highlights of the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved seeing the Monument of the Discoveries in Lisbon. It was much more impressive in person than in photos and really highlighted the vast history of Portugal explorers. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful! Our guide, Claudia, was outstanding. We loved joining our two travel couple buddies (4th trip together) and making new friends.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the cork farm and the wine and food tasting. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 7th RS tour and, as always, the guide was excellent, we experienced the culture of the country, saw the beautiful and historic architecture and got an understanding of the country and the people. Our tour companions were delightful - I miss htem all already and hope our pahts will cross again someday.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The experiences that stand out are the visits to the cork farm, winery and tile factory. It was so interesting to get a peak into the workings of the factory and farms and learn about their processes (I had no idea that grapes were still processed by workers stamping on them!) The cork farm was fascinating and touring the tile factory made me appreciate the craftmanship that goes into making the beautiful Portuguese pottery and tiles "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, a great experience and introduction to the people, culture and history of Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say cork farm, followed by the Port winery. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a great group of people and a great guide, which always helps to make the tour fun. I felt it was well-paced with a plenty to see and do, combined with sufficient down time to explore on our own. Bus time was appropriate and often informative and entertaining thanks to the insight and knowledge of our guide, Claudia.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm. Fascinating. And we were treated so well by the staff. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our Portugal tour with Claudia was wonderful- she was informative, friendly, and fun and we really enjoyed her mannerisms joie de vivre! We had a great time!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many- the visit to the cork farm, the olive mill (I learned SO much about olive oil!), and the tour of the family quinta. The Douro region was the most beautiful I have ever seen. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very positive. Well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably viewing the Douro valley and the incredible landscape"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A well organized, fun and wide ranging experience

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Duoro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was everything and more than we imagined. The locations were great and our tour guide was terrific.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting both a cork farm and a winery estate in the Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Informative, varied experiences, fun group of people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal was my second trip with Rick Steves. I can say that it was incredible. I really enjoyed the country and the people in the group. I think Todd, the guide is excellent, very professional, well educated, it made the difference.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm visit and the library in Cumbria."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The itinerary, our leader Todd, and our very lovely and congenial fellow travelers created a wonderful tour experience. All of our accommodations were very staffed with welcoming and patient employees and our rooms very clean and comfortable. Our tour director provided us with a number of very detailed information sheets that provided excellent background for our tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"One "wow" moment for us was the beautiful dinner/Fado music performance in Lisbon. The day at the Cork farm and the winery accompanied by fabulous local cuisine meals were outstanding. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I like the pace of the tour and diversity of sites in the country including cork farm and winery. Excellent guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fado in Lisbon"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good experience and travel group

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Duoro Valley scenery, vineyards and wine tasting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed Portugal more than I thought I would (I.e, I was surprised, in a good way, by a number of things). The people are warm and welcoming, the food unique and delicious, the architecture gorgeous (I discovered Manueline), and the Douro Valley jaw dropping. I had thought Portugal might be very similar to Spain but it was a totally different experience (both good).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The dramatic landscape of the Douro Valley followed closely by the revelation of Manueline architecture in Alcobaça and Batalha. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Todd, did an outstanding job of leading the group and helping us to learn about and experience the culture of Portugal. Our fellow travelers were friendly, energetic and fun and we really enjoyed each other's company. All in all, this was another memorable Rick Steves adventure and we're planning a fifth tour next year.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour included a terrific variety of unique cultural and historic sites, but my favorite "wow" moment was touring the Douro Valley wine country and the visit to the old family estate and winery and learning about their generational transitions and sustainable growing of the vineyard and wine making. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic, informative tour with an excellent and experienced guide as well as local guides who gave us more in-depth information. Also, the people I traveled with were interesting and caring. I love the camaraderie of Rick Steves tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can I have more than one wow moment? Nazare was amazing and beautiful, the cork farm/winery we visited was so informative, and the towns of Evora and Obidos were beautiful, historic and fascinating. The trip was a wow experience from the first day in Lisbon through the Douro Valley and on to Porto at the end."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Culture, food, music, agribusiness, architecture, history, so much goodness - loved it all, not run of the mill.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nazare - it was stunning."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was the perfect blend of cities and countryside towns, and each place had unique, charming characteristics. We had a great guide and a terrific group of fellow travelers. Take this tour even if you're concerned about the language barrier (Portuguese is tough to learn). Most people we encountered spoke English and everyone was helpful and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the cork farm to learn about how cork and pine nuts are harvested was my favorite experience among a couple of great experiences. We learned so much and then got to enjoy a fantastic lunch. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our lead guide John and the local guides added much appreciated context and background about Portuguese history, royalty and wine! Our bus driver was a pro and negotiated some tricky roads. The sites we visited, our guides, and our group were the highlights of the tour. One bit of feedback: I would encourage tour organizers revisit the hotels in the rotation, especially for Lisbon, Coimbra and Porto. Improving the accommodations would make the tour outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I'm going to give you a few: Pastel de Belem with cinnamon; the Manueline architecture especially at the Jeronimos Monastery & the Imperfect Chapel; our tractor-pulled 'Rick Steves Special'buggy tour of a cork forest and pine tree farm followed by the most amazing lunch; the Quinta tour around the family-run vineyards and the hearty lunch and port wine; the expressive Fado in Lisbon and Coimbra; the imposing and Harry Potter-esque Coimbra University library; witnessing the vintage port uncorking"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very nice pace, well executed and very good guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm, winery tour. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very pleasant. Excellent group of fellow tour members. Learned a great deal about Portuguese history and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Library of Joao III at Univ d Coimbra. My wife disagrees- she votes for the cork farm visit. "

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Poor hotels on general. A few were terrible especially Porto when my room overlooked an alley and night club. Windows had to be open because the air conditioning didn’t work.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Adequate exposure to the country, but not much variety in cities or food compared to other countries I have visited with your tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm and port country winery"

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was outstanding in every way from the sites seen, accommodations and meals provided, and free time allotted. Fatima, our guide, is a true professional bringing to life the Portuguese history from ancient times to the present day. Most of the sites included in the itinerary were unique to Portugal and not readily found in other countries. As in Rick Steves tour fashion, our tour group bonded such that we drove around Portugal as one big happy family.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The 25th of April celebration commemorating the 50th anniversary of the overthrow of Portugal's dictatorship, Port winery in the Douro Valley, and the cork farm. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 11th RS tour and all have been great. Portugal is certainly among our favorites. The itinerary seemed just right, the guides, as always, are great. The hotels were good, the provided meals were good and the special stops at the cork oak farm and winery were real highlights. We can't think of anything we would change.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Unusually, Our favorite wow moment occurred in Lisbon during the 50th anniversary of freedom parade on April 25th. Our RS guide, Fatima, was walking us through the city and explaining the significance of the day as the planes flew overhead and the veteran's in military vehicles made their way up to the past dictator, Salazar, office/residence where he was peacefully removed to create a democracy. Seeing the joy and pride on Fatima's face and thousands of Portuguese people was spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Heart of Portugal is its people. We were warmly welcomed everywhere we went, with an eagerness on the part of the Portuguese to be discovered or rediscovered. Fatima, our wonderful guide, was the epitome of grace, pride, and dignity. Her flexibility and ability to think on her feet are top-notch. There were two holidays “thrown in” during our tour, and she handled the needed adjustments without seemingly breaking a sweat. We thank Fatima for these small miracles.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beautiful and creative use of azulejo tiles across the places we visited was a string of “wow” moments for me. However, nothing beats experiencing the exuberance of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Carnation Revolution. Fatima’s and the group’s adaptability and flexibility allowed us to experience key moments of the reenactment of the peaceful revolution. It’s as if it was planned for us to be at the exact place at the exact moment to see the proud Portuguese in joyous celebration."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour is called Heart of Portugal, but our Tour Guide Fátima is indeed the Heart of Portugal. Her knowledgeable, witty and passionate personality allowed tour members to become a cohesive group that learned so much about this beautiful country while having a fantastic and fun experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being out on the streets of Lisbon on the 50th Anniversary of the Carnation Revolution and watching the citizens of Portugal celebrate the reenactment of the surrender of Antonio Salazar (with military tanks, flyovers and bands was a truly emotional experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal is such a vibrant, scenic country with friendly people that make you feel quite welcome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The May 25th 50 year celebration, which our tour guide got us right into the middle of."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fátima, our tour guide made this a very enjoyable trip! Really enjoyed all of the locations we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Especially enjoyed Douro Valley and the visit to the cork forest. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A fabulous tour of Portugal. Learned a lot about the history and culture of the people and it gave me a better understanding. The tour was well managed and balanced with scheduled activities along with free time. Our guide, local guides, and bus driver were all great - they really added to the positive experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm tour and lunch was fantastic. Margarita the family member who gave us the tour was funny and passionate about her family's many generations of work. The visited finished with a great meal including their wine, port and olive oil. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour, but it won’t be our last! Everything was top notch - the leader, the group members, the hotels and meals, and the daily activities.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the library at the University of Coimbra was amazing - so much baroque decoration and gold leaf on every surface!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was terrific! From the genuinely friendly hotel experiences to the delicious food to our knowledgeable guide, each day promised and delivered memories to savor. Our tour group was especially friendly and inclusive, making this trip one of my best Rick Steves excursions. Thank you for a wonderful tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was especially enchanted by the tour of the cork/oak farm. Munching on pine nuts right off the trail, the river of purple and yellow flowers that accompanied us as we travelled through the cork forest, and the unforgettable fish soup at lunch! One of many unforgettable experiences on our Portugal tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again, another fabulous RS experience! This was our tenth tour and it always impresses me how well done the activities, hotels, food, the guides, the free time and the size of the group are just right.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I agree with some of the other reviewers, the unique experiences were the highlight of the trip. For me it was a three way tie between the cork farm, the fado performances and the ceramic factory."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Claudia, was exceptional. The food was fantastic, particularly at the Cork Farm and winery. The group we were with made the tour even better. A great balance between tour activities and free time. Enjoyed the chance to learn more about Portugal and their culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say but really enjoyed the tour and lunch at the Cork Farm. The time at Fátima was also special. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch at the winery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very interesting country and great itinerary. Loved the cork farm and the Douro Valley

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Roman temple ruins in Évora"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall it was an excellent experience and introduction to the history, culture, politics and geography of Portugal. Claudia, our guide, made the difference. Is there anyone she doesn't know in Portugal? We felt as if we were being invited into her home for 12 days. We thought the food, accommodation, transportation, and the local guides were at a high level.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s a challenge to decide on one Wow moment. There were many highlights that made the tour special: 1. Fatima on a Sunday morning while the outdoor services were going on. Not having any connections to any religion, we found the whole place so different from anything we've experienced. 2. Nazare with its long beach and gorgeous waves. 3. The Gulbenkian museum. 4. Views in the Douro Valley. 5. Hotel in Pinhão (WOW). 6 The walled town of Obidos and its castle. 7. Cork farm. 8. Port Quinta."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 6th Rick Steves tour did not disappoint. I enjoyed the leadership and organization of our guide, Claudia, who taught us so much about her home country. It was a very active tour, but well planned with a great mix of activity and relaxation. The included meals were excellent, especially the Fado dinner, cork farm lunch and Douro Valley winery meal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each day truly brought a new WOW moment! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I love the balance between structured time and free time. Claudia was able to navigate our visits between times when there was a mass or something else and make sure we still were able to see everything.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm was so interesting and it was great to get to eat lunch with family members. The food was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour is well managed and balanced with scheduled activities along with free time. We saw so many amazing things and yet it felt relaxed. The tour includes so many special visits such as the cork farm, wine tasting, fado performance. In addition, our tour guide, Maria , always offered suggestions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm tour and lunch was outstanding. The family representative was so knowledgeable and passionate about her family's life work. We visited the farm on a perfect day when the air smelled so fresh, we learned the history of the farm, how the family takes on sustainability of the farm, and then finished the tour off with an incredible meal. It was just so special."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed our immersion in Portugal -- the people, places and culture. Plenty of great experiences while learning more about Portuguese history and society.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley and wineries was a scenic WOW experience. Other Wow moments included the Gulbenkian Museum and the city of Porto."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour, and it had been over 30 years since I had been to Europe. Our Tour Guide Maria was outstanding. The convenience, education and experiences through Rick Steves Is well worth the investment. With the logistics, tickets, travel etc. taken care of, it allowed more time to focus and enjoy our locations in Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There really were a too many Wows to pick one."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good variety of activities, balanced with time to do our own exploring. Amiable travel companions - cheerful compliance with "no grumps" rule! Tour guide Maria capable, competent++; driver Fernando skillfully navigated many tight spots

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Three way tie: Fado dinner in Lisbon; cork farm and our tour of/lunch at Quinta de S. Eufemia in the Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I knew nothing about Portugal and our guide,Maria, shared her country in an interesting and fun way. So much amazing history and architecture, all the beautiful tiles, the treats along the way, custard tarts-yum!, and the beautiful countryside. A good mixture of big cities and rural areas. Mild weather with only a little rain in Porto. Lisbon was my favorite big city with so many neighborhoods and the wonderful Gulbenkian museum. Belem with the Jeronimos Monastery and Monument to the Discoveries

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two "wow" moments for me were the cork farm and the wonderful meal there and the quinta in the Douro with a walk in the vineyards and a lovely lunch with delicious wines. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My days in Portugal were well balanced between organized activities and free time. The tour hit my expectations for a first look at the countries’ people, history and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Must call it a tie between the visit to the Cork Farm, Rovisco Garcia and the Quinta-Féria Winery in the Douro Valley. Each of these families were warm, welcoming, talented and knowledgable hosts "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was everything I have come to love about Rick Steves; history; art; music' beauty' food and fun!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Cork Forests and farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful country, lovely group and excellent tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had a perfect day at the cork working farm and estate. The tour guide was fantastic. We learned so much about the daily workings of a Portuguese estate. The group lunch was the best meal of the entire trip. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful dive into Portugal; creativity designed and well managed tour. Excellent guide and friendly, seasoned RS travel companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I’ll remember beer and barnacles on the Nazare beach, pastel de nata fresh out of the oven for 1.3 €, the cork oak tree, the stunning Douro valley, learning/enjoying port wine, old world ambience of Lisbon, Porto and Óbidos. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide John was funny, helpful and very informative

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the country. The river hotel in Douro Vally was the nicest Rick Steves Hotel we have stayed in on our eight tours"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

as usual quality content and excellent guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the cork farm with Christina and crew- awesome story of their heritage and up to date concerns with their products. the best lunch and wine was served to us there. Also I loved the Taste Porto Food Tour with Andre,again a local connection for us to get to know someone who lives there and has history of their family food business"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Portugal, warm and lovely, provided a great setting for our tour. We had a very competent guide, a brand new bus and congenial group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had a delightful day visiting the cork farm. It was pleasant touring the farm and hearing about cork. We were served a wonderful meal in their dining room."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Portugal Tour was excellent. It felt like a tour of Italy with a price break! It had the right blend of big city touring, open countryside with vineyards and cork oak farms, and wonderful small villages. The Portuguese people were very friendly and welcoming of their foreign guests.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For us, it had to be visiting the Rovisco Garcia Cork Oak Ranch. One of the owners (a family-owned ranch since the 1700's), Sophia, met us with a custom-made touring rig pulled by a tractor. Her passion for the cork oaks, her vineyard, the livestock, and her staff was very real and genuine. The everything "fresh and local" luncheon she hosted at the hacienda for the Rick Steves group was truly wonderful and something my wife and I will remember forever."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was well organized. Hotels were great. Guide was very knowledgeable and worked very hard to make it a fun experience for everyone. Our tour group was very friendly and we enjoyed getting to know them.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm tour and the winery tour were excellent. What a unique experience. The scenery in the Douro Valley was another "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This is my 11th RS tour and it didn't disappoint. Everything was organized well and our tour guide Cristina was excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had seen the Monument of the Discoveries on travel shows but to see it in person was a "wow" moment. I've never seen a monument that illustrated actual movement as shown by the individual people. It was impressive. The embedded map in front of the monument was also a work of art. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had a great time, well organized with a good group of fellow travelers and the weather was great. When we arrived at the Lisbon airport we were almost fooled by an unlicensed cab ( no meter)the guy tried to direct us to his car while we were still in the terminal. Real cabs don’t do that.Other than that no other problems during my stay.our guide Cristina and the local guides did a great job in pointing out pickpocket tactics and even pointing out some local personalities in Lisbon and Porto.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro valley and also the stock exchange in porto"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exceptionally coordinated. Our guide, Christina, was outstanding. While we did not go south of Lisbon we did a variety of locations and have a good feel for the northern portion of portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The miradours overlooking Lisbon were breathtaking, but probably the "wow" moment has to be the tile work in the São Bento train station. When were at the station, approximately 9:30, it was literally standing room only. When my wife and I went around 2:00 PM there were about a dozen people there making the tiles much easier to see and enjoy."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We really enjoyed the tour. Cristina was an excellent guide, very experienced, knowledgeable and patient. We saw a lot and received a good overview of the country. Some days were too hectic, in my opinion, and I would have preferred more free time. Overall, we had a fabulous time and enjoyed our other travelers, too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Both the cork farm and the Duoro valley vineyard were highlights — just amazing. I was also very moved by visiting the site of Our Lady of Fatima."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well orchestrated, outstanding knowledgeable guide, and interesting sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visitation of the family cork oak farm was a wow experience for me. Learning about the lifecycle of growing cork was really interesting, but their emphasis on sustainability and their love of the land was most impressive. The Caravlho Rovisco Garcia family hosted us in a day of learning, feasting, and wine tasting….a truly memorable day."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great. Very informative and fun

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The meals with fellow tourists"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall great tour. Wonderful tour guide, Christina. Good mix of cities/small towns. Lots of fun experiences and good travel companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite part of any RS tour is always the unique experiences. Tours of the cork farm, Douro Valley winery, ceramic factory and Fado performances were highlights for this tour!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just fabulous! Fatima was perfect as our host/guide while in Portugal! Her knowledge and enthusiasm was unparalleled in my experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to list but if I must I would say our visit to the cork farm and Douro Valley winery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Fatima was wonderful and despite being challenged in a couple of unavoidable situations, she kept us all on track and the tour group progressing along.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were more than one WOW moments but visiting the Douro Valley and Eufemia Winery is at the top"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group! Wonderful facilitation by Fátima!

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful tour in Portugal. Our guide Fatima was outstanding! I learned so much. Loved learning about the Portuguese history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can I pick two? I loved our visit to both farms/vineyards. Visiting the cork farm and visiting the vineyard in Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves tour and I really didn't know what to expect. However, I didn't expect each day to be filled to the brim with excellent experiences, conversations and treasured memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many. I'd have to say the visit to the Cork Farm....I loved every second of the history, meeting the family and having an outstanding lunch. Seconded by the visit to the Duoro Valley winery. Another historical perspective from family and extended family that welcomed us beyond expectations ....definitely ones to remember."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again, a well, organized, educational, and fun Rick Steves tour! Fatima is a gem..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I wasn't all that excited to see the Roman ruins, which was a voluntary excursion. However, seeing the mosaic floors and the Roman garden blew me away. Also, the Douro Valley was spectacular, as was the family winery and the cork farm. All excellent experiences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely wonderful!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fatima with Fatima! She whirled us around sharing all her knowledge & love of Portugal's holy shrine, tips & tricks so we could absorb & experience it all in 2 hours: the 3 churches, Berlin wall, mass, Communion, front row viewing the final procession, saint's tombs, candle lighting, how to a acqire"real" holy water, AND the emotion she said we'd experience. I doubted I would experience that emotion...I was wrong...I had tears. All impossible if we would have been there without Fatima!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was excellent Our guide, Fatima was awesome as well as our local guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"At several points on our tour I thought, today is the most amazing day of this tour. The next day I would again think the same thing The tour and dinner servers at the winery in the Douro Valley along with Cork Farm tour were among my favorite days "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well informed and dynamic guide, group dynamics always pleasant, reasonable bus travel times( as outlined in itinerary), great sites to visit and explore , good weather, great food. My 10th RS tour and it did not disappoint. As good as I knew it would be.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fatima. I am not a Catholic or a Christian but I can appreciate what this site means to believers. I’m glad to have visited."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 7th tour with Rick Steves and, as usual, it did not disappoint. The itinerary, accommodations, transportation, group dining and local guides were all top notch. We were fortunate to have beautiful spring weather and a companionable group of fellow travelers. The icing on the cake was our wonderful guide, Claudia, who brought Portugal to life for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick one moment as each day seemed to unveil something wow-worthy. From the mosaic sidewalks of Lisbon, the medieval walled town of Obidos, the beautiful beach of Nazare, the pilgrimage site at Fatima, the university at Coimbra, the stunning Douro Valley and the lively port city of Porto -- every day was truly special. The visits to the cork farm and Douro Valley family estate were particularly memorable. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Claudia is one of the best. Has depth of knowledge. Always even tempered and professional. Traveling as a group was easy. 100 percent of the fellow travelers were polite and engaging. Tour provided great education of the country. The cork farm guide, son, was very knowledgeable but should have quit talking and taken questions. There were many unanswered. Local woman from quinta said little, could have been much shorter. Brief trips to Nazare and Fatima are especially important.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Saturday evening in Evora in April. Very few tourists just locals into football. Alentejo is charming area of history, culture and gastronomy."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Portugal was new to us and a great discovery. The guide (Claudia) was excellent; only qualify that her narration over the Whispers sometimes became a bit rote and repititious -- but still interesting. As to the itinerary, we would only qualify that the tour devotes most time to visiting old castles, old shrines, and old monasteries. Our only contact with young Portuguese was a chance conversation with a female student at Coimbra; would like to know more re immigrants from former colonies.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Either the walking tour of vineyards at Sta Eufemia, or the day at RoviscoGarcia cork plantation."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great! It was the perfect itinerary that gave me insight into Portugal's history, culture, food and people. The hotels, food, bus and organized events were very nice. My 27 other travel mates were wonderful people who I would travel with anywhere. Our guide, Claudia da Costa was outstanding! She treated us like treasured family members and deeply cared about our experience in her native Portugal. Thank you Claudia for bringing Portugal to life for me!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Chapel of the Bones in Evora moved me. Before entering I thought it would be a macabre experience, but actually I was at peace in the chapel. It made me realize how finite life is and how you need to enjoy and be thankful for every moment you live. In Obidus a group of us walked the top of the walled city. It was thrilling, exhilarating and beautiful! Everyday I had a "Wow" moment. This tour was full of them."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our (my husband and I) second Rick Steves tour and both trips were amazing. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and so personable. The agenda each day provided enough planned activities/free time where you didn’t feel rushed or overwhelmed. The selection of hotels and restaurants were unique and ones we probably would not have found on our own. We really enjoyed the people on our tour as well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to the Cork farm. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Portugal Tour was great. Great guide and great people. Portugal is a very friendly and beautiful country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cork Farm and Lunch, as well as the Doro Valley Vineyard tour and lunch. Also the Chapel of Bones"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I feel like we were able to see all the highlights that Portugal has to offer. Our guide, Claudia, was fantastic!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the cork farm with Gonsalvo and his family. They were so generous with their time and shared their knowledge and experience with us. They also prepared us a wonderful lunch and shared the meal with all of us."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful experience - great guide, amazing agenda, lovely people traveling with us on the tour, very nice hotels, comfortable bus and excellent drivers, blessed with good weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour and lunch at the cork farm. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Heart of Portugal Tour was a feast for our mind, body and spirit. We explored the history, culture and economy of this diverse and complex country, Each day was emerged us in past and present. Big cities, quaint villages and breathtaking countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We started in Lisboa and the city was a bit overwhelming at first. When the actual tour started, our guide, Fatima, took us on a walking tour. The city came to life. There was a moment when she took us to a viewpoint and we look out and said, “Wow, we love alibis!” One more; The Douro Valley was just stunning. We will remember it all our lives. The visit to a family owned and operated farm was so moving."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing experience thanks to our tour guide Fatima.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Duro valley It's amazing that they can dig & plant grapes on the hillsides. The wines & ports are so yummy "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded our expectations. We have traveled to all 7 continents and all but a handful of countries in Europe. Guide Fatima was outstanding for adding so many spontaneous moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon. Okay, there were “cool” experiences every single day. But I wish I had spent lots more time beyond our 1 1/2 hour guided tour in this amazing place. WOW!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal is a beautiful country & I enjoyed getting to experience so much of it! Our tour guide, Fatima was outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was one of the best group tours I've experienced with Rick Steves!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All the important "extras" & unique experiences that our guide Fatima helped make happen; our trip to the famers market, rescuing a stranded dog in the canal & the impromptu Opera performance, which brought tears to my eyes. The extra "day off" visit to the ceramics factory was a highlight for me as well!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall, this was a great tour for the cost. We got to see and do so many things in just 12 days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The architectural marvels we got to visit were awe inspiring- I can’t possibly pick just one. They were all simply amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I had been on other Rick Steves tours and expected well planned, extremely knowledgable guides and that is what I had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In Obidos, we walked out for our orientation tour just as the Palm Sunday procession past our hotel. Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We learned a lot about the history of Portugal and its culture. Our guide Claudia was fantastic, enthusiastic and caring, with a wealth of knowledge about her country, and very organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably touring the Chamber of Commerce building in Porto, where every room we entered was better than the one before it. A true feast for fans of the Decorative Arts!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was wonderful. Great guides, easy schedule and comfortable accommodations and transportation . Especially loved the visit to the cork farm and tile factory and the museum in Lisbon.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many, all of the beautiful tiled buildings in Portugal. The tile museum and the museum in Lisbon. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Except for poor March weather, everything was great

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork forest."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

To simply, overall, everything about the tour was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Actually, I wasn't expecting the food to be consistently as good/great as it was. The meals at the cork farm and winery are stand outs. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed our group, our tour guide. We learned so much about Portugal! But, the rain put a damper on exploring. We braved the wind, rain,and cold, just wish it could have been better weather.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the hotel in Evora, loved the cork farm, and the family- run winery in the Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall, the tour was a great blend of cultural education, exploration, and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick just one but the port winery and cork farm tours were my top two."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was perfect for an in depth introduction to Portugal. Our only true disappointment was the rainy weather, which was beyond our control.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm experience was incredible and so very interesting to learn more about the process. The meal at the farm was incredible and was a favorite moment for many of us, enjoying the wines and olive oils of the Roscovio Garcia family."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a truly fabulous trip! Cristina Duarte was our guide, and she was wonderful. She has such a great sense of humor, a ton of knowledge, and is a dynamo. I think she has spoiled me for any other Rick Steves' guides! My tourmates were also incredible--we all bonded and looked out for each other. The tour was very well prepared and managed. This was my second RS tour, and I'm already perusing the other tours being offered. Just outstanding!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was the tour and meal at the cork farm. This was such a unique experience. The tour of the farm was fascinating, and the meal at the end was delicious. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal was beautiful, interesting and had good food, not to mention our great tour group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Duro River Valley was the highlight. From the winery visit and lunch to the Vintage House Hotel and dinner it was all fantastic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A great experience all around . Great group of people, tour was well planned showing us the many sides of Portugal, led by our excellent, knowledgeable guide Cristina.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick a favorite, I think our visits to the cork farm and Port and wine vineyards were very meaningful. Each of these families have such a wonderful love and connection to the land. Also amazing lunches at both places!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Absolutely loved the tour. Our guide was amazing -very organized and helpful throughout and a wealth of knowledge about history and the culture. The tour felt vey balanced with free time, touring and learning!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! I was just amazed at the overall beauty of Portugal and the history as well as the architecture. I think driving into the Douro valley was absolutely stunning and the location of our hotel there! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour. Very well planned, as always!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Driving through wine country the Douro Valley and visiting a winery. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal history

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Village of Nazare, the water of Atlantic "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A rainy week but that didn’t matter. We had a great time being immersed in Portuguese history & culture. Fatima was outstanding!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Porto & Douro Valley was fabulous, Cork Farm tour with Sophia was excellent "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was excellent. Fatima is a great guide and a very nice person. I really liked seeing a lot of one country as Portugal is small and we saw a lot in a short time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked the cork farm and the winery in the Douro valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Besides more rain than I'd like (when will you learn to control that, Rick Steves!?!?), I really felt like I got a great feel for the people and the country of Portugal. Fatima is beyond wonderful. We had a great group and just had a memorable experience overall.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Really hard to pick one. Even though there wasn't much time - Fatima took us to the light house side of Nazare because it seemed like maybe there would be large waves based on the crowds - walking up to the view point there was gorgeous and memorable. I also really loved the food tour in Porto and learning about Cork Farming and the Duoro Valley views were stunning."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was an eyeopening and pleasant trip to Portugal. Maria Jose Aleixo was a fantastic tour guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A "Fado" performance on the evening of my Birthday in the City of Lisbon. Beautiful!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was so awesome! The only downside was it rained everyday so that was a bit of a downer. That is Mother Nature though and not the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm!!! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Although we had so many rainy days, our guide was outstanding and gave us a superbly memorable experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour, lunch, and wine tasting at Quinta de Santa Eufemia was just delightful. Teresa was delightful and so gracious. I loved every minute."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides, attention to detail, very knowledgeable and helpful. Nice people on the tour. Visited places I might not have picked out for myself. Good size of group,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Cork Farm"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had many days of rain, but put on our raincoats and carried umbrellas to make the most of it. Our guide, Maria, was amazing!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork tree farm and lunch!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I like Portugal very much. Unfortunately the weather was terrible during our trip. The first hard-coughing people didn't wear mask in the bus or at the dinner table. Then more and more people became sick. Many of them never wore masks even when our guide provided it. This made me realize that an immunocompromised person like me should not take a group trip during the fall season.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gulbenkian Museum, Obidos. Cork tree farm and its dining place. Coimbra Univ. library. Fado music."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Portugal is a lovely country--and Maria, the tour guide, was amazing. The downsides were beyond my control--it rained every single day of the 12 day trip, often quite hard; can't control the weather! That definitely put a "damper" on the experience! Also, despite wearing an N95 for all travels by air, train, and bus, and being careful, I got a very bad cold that lasted the whole tour. I entered the tour knowing that I am not a group tour person, but wanted to try it on for size.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm tour was outstanding! Loved every minute--despite the rain and wind. Also loved the Santa Eufemia port tour in the Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed learning about Portuguese history and culture with a team of curious tourists. The variety of accommodations and experiences made for a pretty good broad-based view of the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the walls of Obidos at sunset revealed not only spectacular views, but also an appreciation for how difficult it was to build and defend hilltop towns."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful tour leader Maria made the best of every day. We had adequate time on our own with recommendations from Maria about places to visit and restaurants. Very good sampling of Portugal’s cities and villages .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro valley was gorgeous!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Cristina was a superb tour guide. She was very well informed about her home country of Portugal and it was clear she loves it and wanted to share her knowledge. I especially enjoyed her information on the financial aspects of the country since that is my background.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was the truck ride through the cork, pine nut, olive and grape orchard, Very jolly with all of us slowly rding along in the sunshine. Then later, a superb lunch and of course, wine. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our sixth RS tour. The food, wine and the group were wonderful, the accommodations good but the weather was terrible. It rained nearly every day yet we continued to do activities outside as best we could. Christina did her best to improvise due to the weather but we still had to buy clothes and another suitcase to carry our wet clothing. This was also the only RS tour that didn’t have a place to leave laundry during the tour. Portugal is a beautiful country but not with the rain.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved a rainy lunch at Taverna de Baixa near hotel in Lisbon, te cork farm and lunch near Evora and the vineyard Eugenia and lunch In Duoro valley "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal is a beautiful country! We learned so much about the country on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the cork farm was exceptional from beginning to end!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

lots of information and fun facts. great leader. she was very enthusiastic..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Library at University in Coimbra"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fascinating, educational and very, very enjoyable. We did so much, yet also had enough free time to catch our breath. Claudia, our guide, was brilliant - clever, calm, with a wicked sense of humour. One of the best guides I've ever had. There were unexpected extra delights - apéros, an extra meal, little treats. The quality of the hotels and restaurant meals was way higher than expected. The bus was comfortable, and the driver, Victor, a magician at tight, seemingly impossible maneuvers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had been dreading the fado: the clips I'd seen online were so depressing. But it was so surprisingly enjoyable, fun even, that we voluntarily went to an extra show on our own! We got a front-row table at the fabled Café Santa Cruz in Coimbra, where the avuncular waiter persuaded me to try a porto-tonico cocktail. Another revelation. Then there was the food: everywhere it was delicious - fresh, well-prepared and good value. The private cork farm visit and lovely lunch was another highlight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a thoroughly delightful trip. We are Americans now living in France but had never been to Portugal. Our guide was world-class, the hotels -- with one exception -- we would gladly go back to and we would recommend this tour to everyone. Rick's Monday Night Travels helped us get through Covid -- we had curfews in France -- and we wanted to show our gratitude by signing up for some tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The gold-leaf beauty of the University of Coimbra library."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Claudia da Costa, provided an outstanding tour that showed us important historical sites, taught us about Portuguese culture, and introduced us to locals who broadened our experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Interacting with locals at the cork farm and at the ceramics factory were my wow moments. The evening Fado dinner in Lisbon was also an unforgettable experience. I came away from each with a better understanding of Portuguese life that you can't get from reading a book, visiting a church, or seeing another monument."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 10th RS Tour and although all of them have been excellent, this tour was exceptional primarily due to the leadership of our guide, Claudia Da Costa. Her historical and cultural knowledge of Portugal was wonderful and her passion for her native country was evident. She was very clear in her directions prior to each segment of the journey, very aware of the needs of each group member, fun to be around, and made adjustments to the agenda as needed due to weather concerns.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I found both the visits to the Cork Farm and the Ceramic Factory to be very memorable. Both visits gave me opportunity to meet local businessmen who took great pride in their efforts. The Prado performance in Lisbon was exceptional as well. One other "wow" moment was the library of Coimbra. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our fourth Rick Steves Tour. Our guide, Fatima Bugarin, was outstanding. Her infectious personality, her love of her country, her energy, and her desire to make sure her "tour friends" learned about Portugal's history, food and wine, and "special surprises", made this the best tour we have taken to date. I highly recommend visiting Portugal and hopefully you will be lucky enough to have Fatima as your tour guide. Fatima is a 10 out of 10.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's a toss-up between a private group tour of a cork farm and a private group meal with wine tasting in the Douro Valley and visit to a family run vineyard."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was amazing. Fatima's knowledge of the History and Culture of Portugal was deep and intense. My learning experience was more than satisfied. The Tour achieved its goal of displaying the Heart of Portugal. Each stop provided a new insight and understanding of this nations varied ethnicity cultural trends, past inluences, current problems and future goals. The everday people that we encountered could not have been more accomodating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "WOW" moment was the Douro Valley and the Quinta de Santa Eufemia Port Wine vineyard. The valley itself was a beautiful terroir with a climate and location that supports the grapes which produce Port Wine. More important was our interaction with the family. The history of the founding of the winery, the growth and continued family involvement in the production of their Port imparted a sense of pride and closeness to the land. It was a beautiful moment. I felt at home. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A wonderful tour. This was our sixth one and they keep getting better

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lunch we had at the cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I felt like I really experienced Portugal, the past, present, the people, the culture, and the food. Fatima made the trip wonderful with her energy, enthusiasm, and experience and her special surprises and food/drink treats.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved it all and especially the cork farm and lunch there, the ceramic factory tour, and the food tour in Porto."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first guided tour experience. We loved the ease of not having to make major planning decisions, we loved the many guides and their breadth of knowledge, we loved meeting new friends from our group and we loved the perfect ratio of group vs free time. And, of course, Portugal was a magical place to discover!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Porto food tour"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Enjoyed this tour in Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the town of Óbidos. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The weather was fantastic, our guide John was very knowledgeable, all the tours were interesting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food was my Wow moment. I have to admit I was not looking forward to the food, I am not a seafood/shellfish eater, but found every meal fantastic."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good guide. Nice fellow travellers

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the orientation meeting to our first get to know the city walk, I could tell we were going to have a great tour. Our guide was friendly, informative and enthusiastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"visiting Nazarene was so beautiful, the panoramic view was spectacular"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my fourth Rick Steves tour and it was an exceptional experience as much as the first three. I love the beautiful hotels with friendly and helpful staff, amazing meals together, special events—like a visit to a family-run cork farm, and fantastic local guides and experts. Everything is well-coordinated and our transportation throughout the country was seamless. An amazing experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved our afternoon at the cork farm and the fantastic “wow” meal prepared by the estate’s team of cooks and staff. It was a beautiful meal of delicious fish soup, melt-in-your mouth chicken pie, and over-the-top dessert. Also the monasteries we visited were some of the best in Europe—just took my breath away. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour and guide. I learned about Portugal's history, geography, architecture, food and the people who live there. Having only heard about Lisbon, exploring the other areas of the country was fascinating. Lisbon highlights were National Tile Museum, Gulbenkian Museum, Fado concert and Museum, Belem, exploring the neighborhoods on foot, pastel de nata tasting. Tour favorites were cork farm tour, Batalha, Combria University tour, castles, quinta tour Duoro Valley, food tour Porto.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The people of Portugal were so friendly. The tiles everywhere were "wow". The carved details in stone at Monastery of Santa Maria in Batalha were "wow". The lunches at the cork farm and the quinta were " wow." Discovering Portugal was "wow"."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very impressed with the quality tour and all that it offered. The people of Portugal are very friendly and treat tourists with the upmost respect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick one. The opulence of the cathedrals was over the top; enjoyed the wine tour and the cork farm tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides, well planned itineraries, nice lodging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel in Lisbon delivered champagne to our room for my birthday and we brought it down to bar / lounge area and shared it with some of our Fellow travelers. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I thought some of the Local Tour people gave much too much information when in museums. My back got very sore from standing too long. One museum tour was over 2 hours. Otherwise, it was very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The palatial university library and the Fado concert in Coimbra."

The tour was well-organized, as I'd expect, and the pace was fine. Hotels were generally OK, although not outstanding, as were the group meals.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to say! The cork farm and meal there were great, as was the visit to the port winery and the foodie tour in Porto."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first experience on a group tour so it took some getting used to being with a group of 28. The people we were with were delightful and we enjoyed the interactions with them. The local city guides were all outstanding giving us much information about the cities, the people and the histories of each locality. They did so with personality and appropriate humor that enhanced the tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the cork oak estate - learning about the cork industry and having a fabulous lunch."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I absolutely loved Portugal. It was so beautiful but wow was it hot in October!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed Lisbon, but Porto was amazing also. Every place we visited had such charm and I absolutely have too many wow moments…and the group was just amazing! I was the only single and felt very comfortable."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved Portugal. Unseasonably hot which of course is not controllable. In all the years we have been traveling to Europe, we have never experienced so many travelers. It was a bit overwhelming. Was not crazy about Portuguese food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Had several. Museum ,which I can’t remember the name of, in Lisbon of 1 man. Believe his name started with a “G.” Loved the Duro Valley the cork farm. While Sinatra was not on the scheduled RS tour, we spent 2 full days there and loved it."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We were a bit hesitant about a tour with so many different cities (lots of bus time and hotel changes) but it was glorious to see so much of Portugal. But what really made it all sing was our tour guide, Claudia. She was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the cork farm was a truly unique experience. But the “wow” moment was being in the Duoro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Fatima, was passionate about her country and that came through in everything she said and showed us. She was a great guide and made our trip memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many, Fado performances, opera on the street by Joao Paulo Ferreira (he is singing at Carnegie Hall this month), surprise medieval dinner with music and dance, Chapel of Bones, beautiful Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

So many things to do and see, it was a mind blowing experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the shrine at Fatima was truly an inspiring experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It remains impossible for me to separate the beauty & soul of Portugal's geography, culture, and loving people from the indominable spirit, vitality, and generosity of our extraordinary guide Fatima. Her going 110% beyond all expectations echoed all I experienced in Portugal. Heart of Portugal is sculpted by diverse family-run accommodations, quintas, landmarks & museums, with a wide scope of geography enriched by personal & welcoming family insights into culture & history. Truly unforgettable

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enthralled in kindness, humility, and hard-nosed brilliance by Teresa of Douro's Carvalho Family revealing what it takes to operate Quinta Santa Eufemia all those generations before the Douro Valley bridges connected those splendid hills; Bathed in Joao Paulo Ferreira's sublime voice in Alcobaca alcove; tour's timing best light to photograph my 'capstone' in 16th century architecture -Manueline gemstone - Jeronimos Monastery - but BEST WOW is our guide Fatima's " going beyonds" EXTRAORDINARY !"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great cities and hotels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Didn’t really have one"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Javier was an excellent guide, and we had a great group of experienced travellers who were fun and interesting. I have many wonderful memories of visiting Portugal and learning about the amazing history of this beautiful country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour/lunch at the cork farm was a highlight. It was fascinating to hear from one of owners of the estate, and the meal was the best of the trip. A day I'll always remember."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Javier was an excellent tour guide, as were the local experts. The Heart of Portugal captures the very essence that is Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The University library was my favorite wow moment. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic tour. Loved all the small towns we visited. Plenty of free time to explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Valley winery and Cork Farm visits. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This is my 3rd Rick Steve's tour and per usual, the tour was well planned and orchestrated and our guide, Javier was personable, knowledgeable and fun. I think some activities should be eliminated such as the number of churches and monasteries, add in Sintra, which I did tour on my own, more time in Nazare, travel further south to Algarve.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm was interesting and the meal was great. The views of the douro valley vineyards was beautiful. The bridges of Porto and Ponte 25 in Lisbon."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my first Rick Steves Tour and also the first time my husband and I had not planned the trip ourselves. I really enjoyed having everything planned ahead of time and meeting the wonderful people on the tour. The guides were very informative and helpful, The hotels were fun, funky and in some cases luxurious. The Bus transportation was comfortable and the drivers we had were awesome the way they traversed the streets and countryside roads.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The best moment was at the Cork Tree Farm and the meal that followed the tour. I was so impressed with Maria and all her family does to maintain the farm that was in their family for over 400 years. Learning how the methods they use agriculturally were fascinating and the meal was absolutely delicious. You felt like you were just a member of the family at a gathering. The wine was also delicious! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another fabulous Rick Steve’s tour completed… This was Best of Portugal and it truly was the BEST. The reason we select Rick Steve’s tours is because you see, do and learn so much, without the hassle of dealing with coordinating it. Our Guide Javier worked so had to ensure that everything was perfect. His knowledge and attention to detail was perfect. We loved this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many WOW moments it’s hard to decide which was a favorite. I would say seeing the Roman ruins in Evora was one of my favorites. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good mix of city , town and countryside

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro valley was beautiful as well as the hotel we stayed in"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

first hotel room was very bad. covid infected 10 of 28 tour members. tour group seemed a little clique-ish.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"douro valley winery and lunch. such wonderful hosts! cork farm and lunch were also exceptional. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour but COVID outbreak took out eight tour members, so that lowered my rating. Guide Maria was outstanding dealing with the outbreak and keeping others informed and in good spirits. Experiential visits were the highlights. As others have noted, there are too many churches on this tour. Why don't your listen to your tour members about this? Also, certain days can be exhausting, such as marching all over Coimbra on a boring walking tour because the restaurants don't open until 7.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Top moment was stomping grapes in Duoro Valley. Other highlights were the cork farm and ceramics factory tour. Least favorite moment was visiting all the churches--talk about overload. You could easily cut one or two of them and give tour members more free time."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Maria is an excellent tour guide! She's informative, warm and calm, which helped given that our tour had 10 people come down with Covid over 7 days. The people are wonderful and the cities and coastal areas are beautiful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing how cork is harvested and stomping grapes in the Douro Valley. The coastal area of Nazare and the library in Coimbra"