Heart of Portugal in 12 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

it was very enjoyable. our tour guides were very good. the sites we visited were interesting. we like the idea of having some free time. The dinners were great, and the wine good, and the tour flowed very smoothly. All in all a very good time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"visiting Fatima, and the people walking on the road to Fatima from different parts of Portugal. We understand they want to arrive on the 12th"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Parts of it were very good. Too many church/monasteries. The hotel in Cuimbra(sp) was terrible. It should not be a two night stay. The first meal at the train station was not a good intro to the tour. The restaurant behind the hotel was awesome {on our own} The happy hour we had at Book and Cook (the library restaurant) was awesome. You should look at it as a group stop.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The two fado appearances were awesome. The meal with the accordian player was also very good."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Portugal is so different that other European countries. I am glad I got to experience it again. My first trip there was part of an early Spain-Portugal tour with limited days in Portugal. I felt I got to know Portugal so much better on this tour. There is a different mindset in Portugal that I appreciate: friendly, helpful, grateful I was there. The history is unique and was shared with us in a beautiful and personal way. I loved this trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were a few. Recreating an experience of eating a huge bowl of snails with toothpicks in Evora as we had 20 years ago was a WOW moment for us. The Tile Museum in Lisbon was another. The University of Coimbra's old Library brought me a sense of serenity and peace."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The whole tour was wonderful and I feel excited to plan another one for next year. Every detail was well thought out and the experiences were well balanced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many, the library at Coimbra University, Douro Valley, Fado concert were some highlights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

In addition to the usual high quality guides and fantastic itinerary, the group of tour members made this tour special. It was just the right amount of tour and personal time. Christina was an exceptional source of information, and very well organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The trip to the ceramic "factory", though not part of the original tour (optional activity, let by Christina), was a chance to see a family business with local workers. It gave us a taste of "real" life in Portugal. The Douro Valley was beyond beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Cristina, was beyond outstanding and the local guides were all excellent. The hotels ranged from fair to wonderful. Our tour group bonded quickly, and that really enhanced the overall experience. Wonderful tour with a good balance of cities and countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was visiting the port winery. I loved our winery guide; she clearly explained the wine/port growing/making process , really fascinating. Also loved the farm lunch that was served."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

great tour leader

Favorite "WOW" moment

"cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It exceeded my expectations and delivered most of what I was expecting.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The spectacular scenery of the Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal is a beatiful country populated by friendly people. Add one outstanding, friendly, knowledgable, personable guide and you have a winning combination.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our visit to the cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our tenth Rick Steves tour and it did not disappoint. We covered so many parts of Portugal and experienced beautiful scenery, friendly people, great seafood, special surprises and an exceptional guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Douro Valley and Fatima's surprise evening in Obidos."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour leader, Fatima Bugarin made exploring Portugal to be a fantastic time. Her knowledge and love of Portugal carried over to all aspects of our journey. The food, wine, history,and religion of Portugal were discussed with such enthusiam.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to the cork farm was an amazing experience. I learned so much about the process of cork production as well as the farm's sustainable practices harvesting pine nuts, grapes, wild game, olive oil, and cattle.To top of the visit we were served a tasty lunch that included some of the wine that the farm produces."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved our guide Fatima - she gave 110%. Enjoyed every stop.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm - a very unique and special experience. Lunch meal was among the best of the trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a great experience. Saw and learned about Portugal that I would not have had, had I traveled on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many - cork farm, Nasarene (sp), duoro wines and vineyard, food day in Porto. Just to name a few"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Another wonderful tour with Rick Steves (our 12th!)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The surprise lunch in Nazare was amazing, the men and women fado group in Lisbon were wonderful, and a professional Opera singer singing in an outdoor alcove in Alcobaca was an unexpected delight."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very good although a couple of days were perhaps overly full of activities and tiring. This was especially true of April 30 when the Coimbra city tour scheduled for the next day was added to the day's activities probably because May 1 was a holiday.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views from the Douro winery we visited."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our first RS tour was wonderful. Roberta was a fantastic tour director and the local guides were an interesting bunch. My greatest uncertainty turned out to be the greatest positive - traveling with 20+ other people for 10 days. We had a great group and made many new friends. The site selection was excellent and the accommodations were clean and well located, if a bit austere. COVID is still an issue and impacted our group unfortunately.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the Rovisco Garcia family farm, with the tour from Goncalo and lunch prepared by Sophia and team was very special. Understanding the history of the area, the products of the farm, the journey families like theirs have been on to put back together what was taken from them, and sharing a meal - perfect!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well paced tour from Lisbon to Porto. The exclusive tours of the cork farm, porcelain factory and vineyard were great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the cork farm was outstanding - learned so much about the cork ecosystem, production process, etc. Followed by an outstanding lunch served by Sophie and her staff."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was the usual great quality RS tour and our tenth. We had a good group of fellow travelers and a conscientious tour guide. We found the number of monetary visits to be a bit too much, however.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Definitely the cork farm visit. It was the highlight of the tour for me."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first tour, and we were surprised at how easily we fell into the group tour family. The majority of others in the group had done many tours, so we learned a lot from them. The majority of the outings were fantastic! As many of the days were described as 'strenuous', I had hoped for a little more mileage and exercise. I wouldn't call anything we did even moderately taxing. I was the lone plant-based eater in the group and was very happy with the efforts to make sure I was well fed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The two 'Wow' moments that stand out are the Cork excursion, and the port wine event. Both families opened their doors to us and we learned so much about those two products that sustain the country. The food was delicious and the hosts incredibly generous with their time and energy."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I loved what I saw but it was a little too fast paced for me. I am not a morning person and having breakfast so early and starting my day before I felt awake was difficult for me. We did have free time but for me, there was too much planned in some of the days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing all the little villages, their architecture, and learning about Portugal in general."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the Douro Valley—the way the vineyards seemed to flow over the hilly terrain"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The RS Portugal tour was great. Our guide Maria was outstanding. Our Driver Alex was professional and safely navigated the Portugal roadways. The hotel accomodations met our needs. We had only taken a RS My Way Tour prior to Portugal and our take away is that we're probably more "My Way" tour types or maybe somewhere in between. We enjoyed most aspects of the tour, but felt a couple of days had too much packed into them.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's a toss up between visiting the Calhalvo Rovisco Garcia property and learning about their sustainable farming business model (The chicken pie was outstanding) & the breathtaking views of the Douro Valley as we drove through."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Portugal was more scenic than I expected. The cities and towns were clean and safe. I was impressed with number of people that spoke English. I was surprised by the steep terrain of Lisbon and Porto. I gained less weight on this trip due to the amount of hiking. When the tour was over, I felt that I had a good understanding of the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tours of the cork farm and the winery. Both were extraordinary in their own way. This is my fourth tour and farm tours are always the highlight as you have an opportunity to visit, interact and understand the people who live there. Each of these farm tours was extraordinary in their own way and was a break from the cathedrals, castles and monasteries. If there was a side tour during the first week, that might be a consideration--maybe an apple or tree farm????"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed this tour--our guide was great and all the events and activities were well-organized. The weather cooperated, too, which is always a plus. It was my first trip to Portugal and I feel like I learned a great deal about the country and got a good look at the major cities. The tour included a lot of monasteries and churches--maybe a few too many. Our guide was very helpful in suggesting activities for our free time, and really seemed to care about our experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The two "wow" moments were visits to the cork farm and the vineyard/winery. I loved hearing the proprietors talking about the challenges they face in their businesses, and the meals at these places were really good."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous. Our tour guide, Maria, was outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The 2 Fado shows. The Douro Valley. Fatima."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Too many churches and monasteries; select one of each and stop. Too much time spent at individual sights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm tour and the Vintage Hotel in Pinhao."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Maria was a tremendous guide, she has a great personality and a fund of knowledge to match. Even though we had been to Portugal 15 months previously we enjoyed experiencing the country again.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our visit to Rovisco Garcia to learn about cork, olive oil, and wine production. In previous RSE tours I did not feel like I really got to understand and converse with Portuguese folks."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First RS tour since pandemic, 8th overall. This was another excellent tour. The tour guide was very well organized, and everything went smoothly. The various tour experiences were both educational and fascinating. Food was pretty good, and different somewhat from previous tours. Because of covid concerns, we wore a mask most of the time, particularly on the bus and enclosed spaces. Worked out ok..

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to the cork farm and seeing both the cork producing process, how hard farming is, and what happened in the past when the family farm was taken from them by the government and how the resources were misused by people who did not know what they were ding with cork production. Interesting how farms need to innovate to maintain profitability since cork and other agricultural goods are a commodity, not something that has intellectual property rights. Second was the vast complex that Fatima is."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the depth of planned activities on the tour. Our guide, Maria, was exceptional and made an extra effort to add her touch to the tour with local treats and suggestions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro valley scenery was truly spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent trip through an interesting country, with a superb guide in Maria. Perfect weather, several nice surprises, one great day after another.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Valley winery and the evening by the river, the tour of the ceramic factory, and the day at the cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We joined a very companionable group with our excellent guide who was caring, energetic, and a fountain of fascinating current and historic information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's difficult to choose between the spectacular natural views of the Duoro Valley and the incredible artistry of the cathedrals and tileworks."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is second tour, really enjoyed the tour. no surprises, everyday well scheduled, well planned, thoroughly packed with exposure to Portuguese culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fatima. Stunning. Well timed to appreciate the magnificence of the shrine. Arrived during mass, toured the original cathedral during the mass, circled the pavilion as the mass completed, was able to send time at the shrine . Wonderful. Second place was the Cork farm, but also loved the winery visit - very personal experiences shared by local families - priceless."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very good guide, very nice group of people, lots of great things to see, good food, and the weather was perfect! You have to be in pretty good shape for this tour, lots of walking on coublestones.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the cork farm, learning how cork is made. You've got to have lots of patience. Also, the Gulbenkian museum was spectacular!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guide (Claudia), interesting places to visit, good food for tour meals (except at the Fado restaurant where the cod was leathery). Being a non consumer of alcohol, there seemed to be too large a focus on wine and sharing the cost for other's alcohol doesn't seem fair. However, an effort was made to provide alternatives for my wife and me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "moments" were each time we started down some hill! On other Rick Steves tours we were told that there would be days with a lot of walking. None of those warnings seemed to have much substance. In Portugal, however, there isn's a flat spot in the entire country. On Rick's video, we saw use of the cable cars, etc. On our tour we never used public transportation and my wife and I (both in our mid 70's) were very tired some nights. However, that didn't take away from our enjoyment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Strenuous with all the hill walking but worth it. I knew nothing about Portugal really before this trip but feel much more connected now.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Definitely the Douro Valley! The visit to the wine vineyard was wonderful! Such nice people! Incredibly beautiful scenery!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyable. Weather cooperative. Great guide. Wonderful travel companions. Strenuous. Have been on several R/S tours over twenty years, and as get older tours seem to become more demanding, but quality and fun still present. Portugal is a must see country for R/S travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro valley. Cork farm. Gulbenkian museum in Lisbon."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our eighth RSE tour. It was perhaps our best tour yet. Portugal is a beautiful country with a rich culture and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The scenery of the Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Claudia was an exceptional guide. She works very hard to provide a fun, organized trip with many "extra special" moments.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"WOW moment was the idyllic setting and experience we encountered at the cork farm--entering the garden to the family home, pool and "hunting" lodge where we enjoyed a delicious lunch complete with wine and olive oil tasting. The hospitality and generosity of the family was evident and greatly appreciated."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was great. The tour buddies were great. Our tour guide was fabulous.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were two of them. The dinner and Fado show in Lisbon and the working cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Cristina was fabulous! She made sure we were well informed about the areas we visited and was very prompt posting daily schedules so we could easily plan our days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Valley was amazing and the group lunch at the winery was outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour was good, hotels were almost all very good, better than expected, meals were adequate but not impressive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The lunch at the cork farm was most enjoyable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded our expectations in every regard.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Wine Country"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our knowledgeable and very fun guide Cristina did an excellent job showing us the highlights of Portugal from Lisbon to Porto. As is typical of a Rick Steves tour, all of our tour mates were friendly, interesting, and fun people. Except for one day of rain, we couldn't have asked for more perfect weather. It was a great tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Several "wow" moments for me. Seeing the Douro valley and touring the vineyard there. Pictures can't do the area justice -- it must be seen in person. The impressive rooms of the Palácio da Bolsa in Porto were completely unexpected. Also seeing Porto from across the river in Gaia from a rooftop bar suggested by Cristina was a memorable experience -- incredible blue skies, puffy white clouds, people out enjoying life on the riverbanks all enjoyed with some wonderful tour mates."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first RS tour, and we could not have asked for a better tour guide than Cristina Duarte. She was fantastic!! She was fun and engaging, and we always felt everything would run smoothly, and it did! We also had a great group of fellow travelers. Great combination of city tours (Lisbon and Porto) along with smaller towns and villages. Loved the tours of the cork farm and the winery with an excellent lunch provided by both.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Valley (we stayed in Pinhao)--pictures of this area can't do it justice."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting a cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was so wonderful having the planning done for us and being able to experience things we couldn't have found on our own. Our guide, Fatima, had such a fun spirit and was so knowledgeable. We enjoyed making connections with our group too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It was an 'am I dreaming' moment when we were entertained for an amazing lunch after a tour of the cork farm plus again when we enjoyed another fabulous lunch visiting the vineyards in the Douro Valley on a family estate. It felt so unique to meet the family members and hear their stories. Wine, food, people!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Fatima Bugarin was amazing. She is a wonderful ambassador for Portugal and made the trip fun, interesting and filled with wonderful surprises.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but the surprise Fado singer in Alcobaca gave me chills."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fatima is the best ambassador for Portugal. We loved the tour and loved meeting her and sharing in her pride and enthusiasm for her country!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This is my 5th tour, and by now I know there may be dancing and I loved her surprise dinner and dancing in Obisdos. I also loved her telling of the story of Pedro and Inez at Royal Monastery of Alcobaca, and the Douro Valley winery is surroundings is like nothing I have every seen. Move over Tuscany."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great! Fatima is an outstanding guide and all of the little extra surprises she planned for us were a delight. Her love of Portugal is contagious and it brought the country and people alive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour and lunch at the cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour provided me not only with the beautiful sights you can see in Portugal, but a very good understanding of the history and understanding of the culture and the current way of life of the Portuguese people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fatima had many many "surprises" for us one of the best was we were in a small town Alcobaca and we were walking through the town to a monastery and going through an alcove and out of the blue a gentleman starts singing opera. His voice was beautiful and his range was amazing. He sang the "Ave Maria" and I was in tears. It was magic!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the moment of meeting our fellow travelers, along with Fatima, it was a delight. It exceeded my expectations on every level - sights, food, culture. Fatima was key to creating this experience with her warmth, humor, knowledge and networking skills in each destination. We are ready to sign up for next year!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visits to the family cork farm and vineyard were wonderful - to experience a taste of their daily live and then the food served was so delicious."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is my third RS tour, so I had high expectations. The tour still eclipsed all of them. The pace of the tour, this amazing country, all the people we met along the way, the meals we shared, and of course, Fatima - our lovely, engaging guide - everything was outstanding. If you are considering traveling to Portugal, I HIGHLY recommend this tour

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! The vineyard tour in the Duoro Valley was a big wow moment, but I enjoyed all the small wow moments along the way - walking on the beach in Nazare, enjoying a warm pastry in Belem, the food tour in Porto."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful guides (we had three--Margaret, Cristina and Javier); varied itinerary; gave a great picture of all the aspects of Portugal--cities, rural, beaches.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tour of the Cork farm. Didn't know much about farming cork and found the process very interesting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was very enjoyable from start to finish. We had 3 different guides due to understandable and all were excellent.We enjoyed all the different churches and historical sites and the easy going pace of the culture.We liked the cork farm and winery tours and the scrumptious food.The hotels on this tour were very nice and convenient which we appreciated.All of our tour members were interesting and fun!This was our 6th Rick Steves tour and another two thumbs up!

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had 3 different guides on our tour, the first had a family emergency and left after 3 days. The void was filled in a most capable manner by two experienced guides, they never missed a beat. Unfortunately I and several other guests contracted COVID. I believe RS needs to encourage/require the guides to get tests from guests with symptoms - several guests exhibited symptoms during the trip. My symptoms did not appear until the trip was complete, but I missed my 14 days in Spain tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tours of the cork farm and the winery were the highlights for me. These were sights a solo traveler would miss."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was fabulous as usual for a Rick Steve's tour, but was somewhat disjointed because of having 3 guides. No one's fault, but we just didn't have a chance to bond with our guide like usual.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Standing on the cliff above Nazare looking out over the beach and the gorgeous ocean. It was a beautiful scene!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had three guides in total fr our tour due to various circumstances. They were all great in their own ways. Our group was a merry band of travelers as well adding to the experience. Portugal is a fascinating and welcoming country making me want to include it in future travels.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fado shows in Lisbon were pretty special. We had a private performance from Filipa who was a great singer."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved Portugal and its rich history. Hotels were above average (except for Coimbra). We appreciate the ability of the company to find us replacement Tour Guides after Margaret had a family emergency - 3 guides with 5 days showed quite the diversity of the Rick Steves staff. Christina was a fountain of energy and information. Javier did a good job taking us through the last week. Fellow travelers were great. Food was below average. The local guides were all fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved both the Cork/Wine Farm and the Wine/Port visits were special. Something we would not have planned on our own and very special as we were the only group at each location. Hearing the family dynamics as each family struggles to remain relevant and profitable was just as interesting as the info about the farm itself."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my seventh Rick Steves' Tour, and I it is one of my favorites. The variety of experiences was lovely, and I truly felt like I got to know the people and culture of Portugal very well. The country seems steeped in tradition while quietly accommodating 21st century realities. I felt privileged to be immersed in Portuguese culture for 12 days and never once felt like a tourist staring in from the outside. I instead felt like a guest who'd been invited into Portugal's private home.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several wow moments for me on this trip, from the wonderfully busy, winding streets of Lisbon to the tiled buildings of Porto. The late afternoon walk along the ramparts of Obidos with its breathtaking 360 degree views will remain in my memory for a lifetime. The Fado performances, both in Lisbon and in Coimbra were marvelous. Everything they tell you about Portuguese pastries in true."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Until I contracted COVID I was enjoying the broad exposure to Portugal. We had three very good tour guides that helped very much. I would go back someday to see what I missed. There were 28 very enjoyable fellow tourists on the bus.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cromeleque dos Almendres! I nearly missed it and it was not part of the Rick Steves agenda. While in Evora I had planned to take the half day and visit cromlech and the dolmen the burial tomb. A rare chance nearly missed."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was classic Rick Steves. Amazing tour guides, wonderful cultural experiences, connection with people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The amazing lunch at the cork farm and at the winery in the Duoro valley"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

All of the places we visited in Portugal were outstanding. Accommodations were good. The 3 guides were pleasant and knowledgeable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Each of the churches visited were unique and awesome!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fun to be part of the group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tile at the RR station in Porto."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I was very impressed with the city guides who did a wonderful job of explaining the history and culture. I also was impressed with the timing of the city tours; we always started early and ahead of the other tour groups which made for a very special experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Cork Farm Tour, the winery/port tour, and the food tour. All of these were WOW experiences because it give me a great feel for what current life is like in Portugal. The climate change influences were important to hear too and its influence on wine and cork. The food tour was very delicious and informative, giving me a wonderful sense of Porto and Portugal culture currently."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were able to visit the Fado Museum, which made our private Fado show in Lisbon very memorable and inspiring."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Friendly country, with a rich history and beautiful cities and countryside. The tour was fast paced and full of wonderful sights, sounds and tastes, as always!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"In the walled City of Obidos, walking the top of the entire castle wall and watching a Holy Week procession."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Just loved this tour. Javier was a fabulous guide. There was lots to see but enough down time to be able to relax and just soak in the country.

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a particularly great group! Great attitudes and energy. :) Our tour guide, Javier was wonderful. The weather was great, scenery and stops just lovely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lisbon enchanted me. I fell in love with Coimbra."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well planned tour overall. Good mix of interesting places to get a good feel of Portugal. Our guide was knowledgeable and made the info fun and engaging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed our visit to the Alentejo and the working cork farm. Also the Duoro wine country was beautful."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour was successful. We got a very good look at Portugal and their citizens. Food service is absolutely top notch. All staff that we were in contact with were congenial, friendly and helpful. Hotels were very good and sometimes outstanding. Tour was not without it's bumps. Bus broke down. And some reservations didn't work out. That put stress on the next day. All in all a good experience. l

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel in the Douro Valley was exceptional. Andre and his food tour in Porto also outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good tour, with a few hiccups (bus problems on the way to Porto, whoops)

Favorite "WOW" moment

"University Library at Coimbra"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Wine Country"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

great guide, pulled group together, well informed

Favorite "WOW" moment

"visit to cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Really flawless execution, glitches were handled easily by Fatima and the bus driver. As a member of the group it was easy to be fully confident in just doing what we were told. Fatima’s energy and enthusiasm made every moment a pleasure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked everything I saw but if I have to pick it was the cork farm and the port wine estate, lunches with the owners especially."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic guide, great tour group, learned a lot about Portugal. Our guide, Fatima, was fun, shared great information, was proud of her country, and she ran a "tight ship" with lots of humor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every day had "wow" moments -- some from what we were seeing, some from learning history new to me, some from a different cultural experience. If I had to choose one, I would choose our visit to the cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous! Fatima was a wonderful guide and our group really bonded under her leadership.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Christ of the Trenches cross."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour of Portugal was wonderful. We enjoyed each city, town and all they had to offer. We learned so much about the history, country, people and culture from our guide Fatima as well as each local guide we met. The food was delicious and we ate in a number of local establishments. Loved the pastel de natas. Our guide Fatima was warm, knowledgeable, fun, and Portuguese through and through. She shared her Portugal with us and we loved it! This was our 5th group tour and Fatima was the best ever

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I find that I don't really have one wow moment there are just too many sights, foods, experiences to narrow it to one single item."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From our wonderful guide Fatima, to the local guides, and unplanned adventures - this trip was by far one of my favorites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was deeply moved by our visit to Fatima - especially since we were there on Palm Sunday."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first Rick Steve's tour and I was extremely impressed by the overall experience, from the initial meet up to the end of tour "good-bye's (or until we meet again's). The coordination, planning and execution of the daily events were seamless. Doubt I would ever go with the "no-guided" tours in the future.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "WOW moment" ?? A very difficult question as there were many.... Of course both the Cork Farm and the Porte winery visits were amazing, not only for the process or the products they produce, but for the families who have carried forward the family traditions through the years. And then there were the amazing artist who hand paint the tiles and various ceramic art pieces... To wrap it up, I guess my favorite wow moment would have to be just "Portugal" !!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall I was satisfied with the tour. I enjoyed the guide, who was not only knowledgeable but also sensitive to individual people and had a sense of humor. I believe some things could have been left out and others added. The hotels and the food were all excellent.The sights varied from neighborhood walks to visiting monasteries, walled towns, vineyards, a cork farm, churches and castles. The cork farm and walking the wall of the medieval village were my favorite as was the activity of Porto.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was in awe of the large map of the world that designated The seafaring of the Portuguese sailors and the Portuguese colonies. Learning about the harvest of cork and pine nuts was special. The tropical nature of Douro valley surprised me. The quality of the art in the Gulbenkian Museum was amazing. I was enchanted by the student groups in their black attire and robes musically performing. I loved the cobblestone roads and sidewalks and all the tiled building s. The food walking tour was great,"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall a great trip with a few specific recommendations outlined below. Our overall challenge was the degree of "uphill" and "downhill" on cobblestones, steps, etc. In fairness, some of that challenge was related to some physical (knee) limitations that we didn't realize were quite as bad as they were until we got there.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably a toss-up between the Cork Farm outside Obidos and the Ceramics factory outside of Coimbra. Both provided great insights into key aspects of Portuguese life and culture."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I tested positive for Covid on the second day of the tour. Before that I had a great time meeting the group, enjoying the first group dinner, and a nice Lisbon walk on the second day of the tour. Maria was very helpful after I tested positive. She helped my parents out after the tour ended.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Unfortunately I didn’t experience enough to have a Wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour guide was exceptional, areas covered were extraordinary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the Cork Farm. Gorgeous grounds, very intriguing info, Amazing meal and welcome feeling. Exceptional day."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Our tour guide (Maria) was excellent. She knew her stuff, and explained everything clearly. We saw a good variety of what Portugal has to offer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really liked Belen. The monuments and the monastery/church were great. The weather was not good, but that could not be helped."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall a very good tour. The tour guide, Maria, was outstanding. There were more steep hills and steps than we had anticipated. As the tour was advertised as "Heart of Portugal" I am at a loss to understand why we spent the time at the Gulbenkian museum in Lisbon. Still trying to figure out the connection. Would have preferred the Maritime Museum and the Tile museum which have more of Portugal's history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tied for the visit to the cork farm and the vineyard in the Douro valley."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was my 9th Rick Steves tour, and it seems I have finally found a tour/country that doesn't align with my interests. I don't regret going to Portugal and certainly enjoyed many parts of the tour, but I don't feel a desire to see more, which is unusual. Perhaps I should have expected the religious and royal content of many of the sites we visited, but I was surprised that food was so often mediocre. Local food is high on my list, and I have been quite satisfied with that aspect on other RS t

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was good and our guide, Maria was great. I learned a lot about Portugal that I never knew. I felt that the tour could have been a little shorter - cut out a day in Lisbon and possibly Douro Valley overnight (although the hotel was stunning). It seemed that some stops were made to shorten the bus rides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gulbenkian museum in Lisbon and the visit to the cork farm - lunch was spectacular."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good. One or two too many churches. Not particularly interested in the Gulbenkian museum.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The grape plantation."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour! Well-paced balance between guided sights and free time, and not too much time on the bus. Guide Fatima is a treasure . . . knowledgeable, funny, responsive; all the local guides were very good also. Saw charming small towns, cork farm and vineyards. Massive meals provided, local cuisines well-represented. Recommend this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The walls of Obidos at night . . . Magical!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great group of people on the tour. The guides and experiences were wonderful and the ease of seeing the sites and traveling was wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to the cork farm and having lunch with the wife of the owner. Sharing how they make the business and family life work, and how similar issues are with children was delightful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Porto"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very enjoyable tour. A few less visits to Churches and Monasteries would be ok.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro valley - spectacular"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rafael was an amazing tour guide with a wealth of knowledge about Portuguese history and culture. He has an extraordinary ability to share his passion for his country and its people in a way that is engaging, informative and enjoyable. The tour provided a broad range of experiences from the urban architectural and foodie delights of Lisbon to the amazing scenery and home cooked meals in the in the Douro Valley. Kudos to our bus driver, Vitor, who amazed us with his skill and good nature.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the family run cork farm and the spectacular home cooked meal that followed. A very close second was the visit to the family owned vineyard in the Douro Valley -- lots to see and appreciate about how port wine grapes are are grown, the wine is produced produced followed by another excellent home cooked meal. Great restaurants in Evora and a stay in a former convent that is now a slick, minimalist, modern hotel!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Except for a few days of rain (which did not stop us...we just used our raincoats and umbrellas ) it was a wonderful tour with beautiful weather, a very knowledgeable and personable tour guide who guided us on the best of Portugal tastes, sights, sounds.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two experiences stand out - The tour and explanation of the cork farm and production and the Quinta estate of the winery. There were so many more! So very hard to just state one."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I've been on a few tours but the collection of people and Rafael as our leader made this an exceptional trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Most may say the tile factory, cork farm, or winery in the Duoro Valley as wow moments. These moments did stand out due to the passion and pride of the owners, but the true wow was Rafael. To any future travelers who have him as their guide, you are lucky. He was not only knowledgeable but you can feel the passion for his art thru his stories. He tied all pieces of porrugal together and I learned much thru him.. A true gem"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 8th Rick Steves tour but our first since the pandemic. I was expecting there to be glitches in this tour given your inability to tour in 2020 and 2021. But I found my Portugal experience to be simply amazing. Thank you for maintaining your very high standards and fully delivering on your promises. You have not missed a beat in resuming this wonderful travel opportunity.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is not possible to pick just one “wow” moment in a trip packed with them. In no particular order, they are as follows: 1. The guided tour through the Gulbankian Museum. Great local guide! 2. The Fado Dinner in Lisbon. Pure Portuguese. 3. The trip to the cork farm outside of Evore. 4. The ceramic factory visit. 5. The visit to Quinta Santa Eufemia in the Douro Valley. After nearly every stop, I found myself going up to Rafael, our guide, and saying, “This is a “WOW!” moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the sites.......food...........it was all there

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The vineyards and the lunch which followed"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, I thoroughly enjoyed the Portugal tour. Rick Steves' does such a good job of combining tours of the expected sites and personal experiences with local people. Having free time to explore on my own is important to me too. The lodging was perfect, the meals outstanding, and the wine ample. Maria, our tour guide, was knowledgeable, personable, and helpful in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting an active cork farm and learning about the process of growing cork oak trees from start to finish was the highlight of the tour for me. The meal provided by the owners, after the walk through the cork oak trees, was outstanding as well. was"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful from start to end. Our guide, Maria, was beyond helpful. She made sure everyone had special treats, arranged get togethers for the group and shared historical insights. Our travel group was very friendly and thoughtful. The hotels were perfect in location and amenities. The bus and driver were excellent, too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the cork farm and delightful luncheon. Also the beautiful hotel in Evora. And easily walkable Lisbon including the Gulbankian museum. Too many “wows” to include. Every day was perfect."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Trip was great but we had to leave 6 days early with COVID. Our leaving was handled well and we got refunded for days missed by Steve's and for expenses by Allianz Insurance. We will go back to Portugal some day. Great organization and nice people on the trip. Guide Maria was exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked the tour of the farm of Cork Oak trees and lunch there."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The cities, people and arranged activities were all special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me, the first FADO show was a highlight, but there were many, many "wow" moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very outstanding of Portugal, tour guide Claudia fully shared the customs, culture, traditions, food and drink of the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking up and down all the hills of the country, be it Lisbon, Porto, Coimbra."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great days of discovering this amazing country with a great tour guide and interesting fellow travelers. We ate well, stayed in interesting comfortable hotels, and laughed often as we enjoyed our fellow travelers and the wonderfully warm, kind, and helpful people of Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm was an unexpected high point for me."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour with a nice, compatible group. Overall the tour was great- only a couple of days I felt like there was too much in the day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many but the Cork Farm stands out for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything about the trip was excellent! Claudia is an outstanding guide. She is knowledgeable about the history of Portugal and of all the towns, and places of interest that we visited. She has a great sense of humour. She was very attentive the needs and wishes of everyone on the tour. The tour program included a nice variety of history, architecture, culture and livelihood.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two WOW moments: the visit to the cork farm and to Quinta Santa Eufemia!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As it was our first RS tour live we approached it with excitement, as we had previously done a RS tour "by the book" and both of those trips (1) Italy and (2) Italy, Cinque Terre, Paris, Prague and Budapest had gone perfectly! The book was amazing. This tour to Portugal far exceeded our expectations of the previous trips.Our guide, Claudia, was top of the class in tour guides, keeping us on time daily and going above and beyond what was described in the proposed trip. The hotels were great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two WOW moments were the Cork tour and the Santa Eufemia Winery and lunch. Both were better than anticipated. Our host at the Cork Tour was obviously very knowledgeable. The lunch provided was very good, as were his wines. The Santa Eufemia Winery was extremely interesting, both learning about the work of the family members, seeing their personal chapel and the wonderful lunch with the tasting of their ports and wines. I was pleasantly surprised by the evening dinner for my birthday!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved everything about our tour. Claudia was amazing. Knowledgeable, kind and very organized.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour of the cork farm exceeded all my expectations. KEEP this portion of the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide, Cláudia, was very informative and helpful during our entire tour. We are so lucky to have such a wonderful resource for the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The entire trip was delightful."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Too many cathedrals

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro valley and cork oak farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

fun, educational, well paced, a luxurious treat

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I enjoyed the beautiful churches and palaces and the lovely hotels and good food"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was everything I have come to expect from a Rick Steves tour - fantastic and extremely enthusiastic & passionate guide (Fatima), comfortable bus with an excellent driver, interesting walking tours and lots of free time to explore on our own. As usual, we end up being a well bonded group by the end, thanks to our “fearless leader”.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say the ceramic factory - I have a new appreciation for the Hand Painted goods we see in the shops."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful variety of activities and places on this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Getting to tour and visit with the owners of the cork farm and learning about their farming methods. It was clear that Fatima has a wonderful and long relationship with this inspiring family."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We enjoyed every city, museum, hotel and sitevisit on this tour. The people of Portugal are very friendly. Christina our guide is excelent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting our guide Christina and her enthusiasm about her home country."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

very beautiful and full special moments

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our visit to Fatima on the last Sunday of the pilgrimage was overwhelming"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Portugal was lovely. This was a very full tour with alot of tour time and not quite as much free time to explore on your own as other RS tours. Very educational and enriching tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley and the Vintage hotel were spectacular. Also loved the family run cork farm tour and the incredible lunch."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I regret not being able to complete the tour due to Covid, but I enjoyed very much my first four days. My husband and I especially miss not experiencing the Douro Valley and Nazaré because we missed the last seven days of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fado performance in Lisbon was marvelous. The Monastery of Jeronimos was very impressive and unforgettable.)"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Well organized, very good location guides, and a passionate tour guide (Cristina).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Charming town of Obidos and the beautiful Douro Valley (Port wine farm visit & Pinhao hotel)"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An excellent tour highlighting the major cities and rural settings. Our guide provided plenty of insight to the culture and mindset of Portugal, past and present. We were lucky to arrive in Fatima during an outdoor church service. After several tastings, Port wine is a must-have in my tiny liquor cabinet. The food tour in Porto was phenomenal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cork farm visit, which included a delicious lunch afterwards served with local wine. Follow-up was the Fado in Coimbra, the singing was magical, the 12 string guitar playing outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The experience matched the words Rick Steve Tour (RST) advertised in his book and other media.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The hotel in Douro Valley, Vintage House hotel. All guests of RST stayed in the rooms facing the lake view. The one night stay was very special, 2 thumbs up for this designed treat. My friend who went on this trip in 2018 always remembered this view. I second that memory."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

excellent guides, wonderful sites, and a great time with fellow travellers

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The 2 Fado shows were wonderful and the library at the Coimbra University was awe-striking"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great trip with like minded adventurous people. Enjoyed the different areas and convenient transportation. Hotels were great too.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visit to cork farm and dinner with the family. Winery visit was a close second. Love those small family run excursions"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed our first guided tour! Great people and enjoyed the activities and food - especially the trip to the cork farm! Amazing demonstration of farming with social, economic and environmental responsibility! Go for that experience alone!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We’ll, the cork farm (above), and the food tour with Miguel. He made it fun and shared lots of local places, stories, food, wine and culture.. excellent! Prefer those experiences with locals and doing something to participate…"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

After 15 months of waiting for this tour to begin from the day we signed up, anticipation was high. We were not disappointed. Portugal is truly its own country. I am not able to compare it to another European country in terms of vibe, food, and language. I had to sit back, wait for the next day, take in that day, and not anticipate what I thought "would be."

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the ramparts in Obidos made my day. It competes with our day on the cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved the entire trip; including the other travelers, the tour guides, the hotels (for the most part), the food and sight seeing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would say the trip to the cork estate, winery and lunch at his family's home. Not only did I enjoy the beautiful scenery, but the owner was an excellent teacher. He explained very clearly how cork was harvested from the trees. We walked around some of the area and then had lunch in a lovely home his family had built. The wine his company made was served along with the delicious meal. It was a lot of fun."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I'm sure my answer would be outstanding except that I was sick the last few days and even missed the last day in Porto.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Every place we stopped offered something different and interesting, but probably the best aspect of the tour was this particular group of people. The group meshed even better than on my other Rick Steves tours."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyed the group, the Guide and the places we visited. As per other Rick Steves' tours there was pleanty of free time to explore the visited areas on our own

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fatima, as we visited on a Sunday"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Good tours but too many churches kings queens and clergy. Loved cork ranch tour, Wine and food tours were great. There was only one group dinner outside in open air. Disappointed that most dinners in small restaurants even when weather was perfection.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Winery tour, cork ranch tour and food tour in Porto."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our fourth RST and as usual we had a great experience. Our guide Claudia was fantastic she brought lots of energy and enthusiasm to our tour. She is passionate and informative about her Country and Portugal was beautiful from the architecture, landscape and people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me the Douro Valley was the highlight. I could of spent a week there alone as the hills with wine grapes cut into each hillside at different angles looks like a patchwork quilt. I really enjoyed their Portuguese wines and the views along the Douro River ."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

My husband and I did our first 12 day Rick Steve tour to Portugal and saw Lisbon, Evora, Fatima, Douro River and Porto. We really enjoyed the special tours just for our group to a cork farm and a winery, The tours of monasteries and cathedrals got somewhat repetitive after seeing so many in each town. The crowds of tourists in September did not help being part of a 27 person tour group, as we navigated the very crowded narrow streets and historic sights. Our tour guide, Claudia was great!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment was seeing the Roman ruins in one town and really appreciating the opportunity to experience this!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good - Our Guide was awesome.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite “Wow” was the visit to the Cork Oak farm. The tour by the owner was extremely interesting and informative!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well organized and planned.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking the streets in Lisbon and seeing all the beautiful and varied tiles."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Beautiful country, warm people, good tour group and great tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking around a port vineyard in the Douro Valley with one of the owners. Generations in this family have poured their heart, soul and hard work into this place."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We met a lot of great people and saw so much that we'd never have seen if we would have been traveling on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the cork farm and the vineyard tours."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As before, I had an outstanding tour experience. This was my 7th RS tour and I am alway amazed at the quality of tour guides, hotels, bus driver, bus and other amenities that I’ve come to expect (and appreciate) with Rick Steves tours. I was especially happy with the COVID precautions and very happy that Javier gently but firmly enforced them during the entire tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"This one was tough, but I would say the Douro Valley was the “wow” moment for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The overall experience was excellent. Our guide Maria was so personable and knowledgeable of her home country. The logistics and accommodations worked out very well which means no issues! Two of the hotels and very nice pools which were very inviting during some of our free time. Good mix of planned sightseeing and free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I particularly like the town of Nazare. Enjoyed the visit to the fort/lighthouse to see where the 100 ft waves break during the winter. Enjoyed the beach town lunch with fresh seafood! My second WOW would be the visit to Fatimah."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour was well paced, with excellent guide Maria and a pleasant variety of nice hotels. However, we spent too much time visiting churches, monasteries and cloisters. While these were beautiful, after awhile they all blended together. Tour members started joking around yet another “cloister cluster”. Visits to a vineyard/ winery, cork farm and ceramics factory were much needed variety.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Both the Cork Farm and Douro Valley Vineyard were great, with a chance to enjoy nature, interact with locals and enjoy excellent home style cooking and tasty wines."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Another outstanding tour seeing many wonders in Portugal. Our tour guide was from Portugal and was very knowledgeable of the history which helped the travel story flow. It was a very busy tour as well with long walks through neighborhoods and tours of significant buildings/churches and monasteries. The food and wine on this trip was incredible!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It had to be the Douro valley hands down. The very first few from the bus upon arrival was breathtaking. Rows and rows of terraced vineyards in the mountainous land was beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visit to la Quinta de Santa Eufemia Vineyard."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was a great tour. I was a bit worried that 28 people were too many for one guide, but Cristina knows how to handle large groups.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the food tour in Porto, the visit to the cork farm, and the quinta. If I had to pick one, I would say the farm because the family members were seated throughout the room. I had the opportunity to sit next to our guide's wife and young daughter. Later their teenage son sat with us. I loved talking with them because i could really get a feel for life in Portugal. We talked about education, Covid, and politics. We discovered our experiences had more similarities than differences."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Christina had a vast knowledge of the history and rituals of her country. Not only was she extremely enthusiastic about sharing it with us, she was able to add interesting tidbits that seemed to make it come alive for us. alive to us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our visit to Fatima was moving, not only for the majesty of area, but also for the feeling of awe that premeditated from the pilgrims that had traveled so far to be a part of the experience."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Christina is a fantastic tour guide, and your co. is REALLY fortunate to have her on your team!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Many, many extraordinary vistas of Portugal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As always, it was a comprehensive tour! We are always so impressed with the tour guides. They have so much knowledge that questions don't stump them; they just give you answers!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork! who knew cork is the bark of a tree? And it is farmed? Wow!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Christina, our tour guide was enthusiastic, very well informed, added to our enjoyment and understanding of our Portugal experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring Roman ruins."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall the tour was fantastic with a dynamic and knowledgeable tour guide. The country is rich with history amd culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm was a special treat."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Second of two back to back tours. Both excellent. Action packed!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the winery tour in the Duoro Valley. We got lucky in that it was harvest time and got to see that process."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour truly represented the culture and beauty of Portugal in so many ways starting with our Guide Rafae, he brought a lot of that home in so many ways. The places we went (not the Algarve thank you) especially the smaller centres made the tour enjoyable and pace easier to take on. Having time on our own was always enjoyable as you had so many choices of things to do with your time. The meals were outstanding the Lunches were such an amazing surprise and the dinners first class.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To me walled towns are magical, with Obidos being the first castle town it truly was a moment for me to see the ramparts and experience the beautiful sunset. Cobble stone streets and imagining the past were exciting and the view from our room of the castle at night was a beautiful aha site and the mist in the morning was epic!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

LOVED Rafael! So attentive, interesting and kind. Not to nention knowledgeable! Loved the whole thing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tours to Porto makers vineyard and the cork oak tours were my favorites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great guide and great tour mates.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm and port wine stops were fascinating."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The overall experience was very positive. Rafael was an engaged and engaging tour guide who obviously loves sharing his country’s history, culture and customs with others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Oh wow hard to pick. I’m going with the winery in Douro Valley. The hosts are gracious and the tour was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The whole experience was topnotch. I learned so much about Portugal’s history and culture through excellent presentations by the guides.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My “wow” moments were the fascinating experience at the cork farm and the visit to the beautiful Duoro valley winery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed learning about Portugal in so many ways!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Coimbra University Library was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed our trip very much. It was just about the right length of time although we would give up a night in Lisbon and would rather have spent another night in Évora! Great trip overall.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was the Douro wine country. For my wife it was the library in Coimbra."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Roberta and Gabriella were excellent guides. They managed the group effectively with fun and enthusiasm. Portugal is a charming country with beautiful sights and delicious food. We especially enjoyed the visit to the cork farm and the winery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite was our wonderful tour mates. We so enjoyed everyone and had many interesting, insightful conversations while sharing the sights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm and winery tour"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was AMAZING to tour my country put historic monuments in their right locations, eat the local foods, speak my language and here it being spoken back... meet great people and relax with great coffee ?? and a pastel de natas!!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had several Wow moments but I really enjoy the Fado night and Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Every aspect of the tour was well-planned and it showed. The guides were knowledgeable, thoughtful, and caring throughout the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm tour and home cooked lunch at the farm was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Could have been outstanding with less people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Gulbenkian Museum and 5-star hotels in Evora and Lamego, plus the extras guide provided (boat harbor tour in Porto and buying dinner in Obidos)."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We got a lot done in a short period of time. Our leader and guides were OUTSTANDING. We went to places and saw things that we never would have found or known about on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Monastery of Jeronimos and city of Obidos"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an exceptional trip from start to finish. Our guide, Fatima, clearly loves Portugal and her enthusiasm for her country was contagious and informative. I looked forward to every day's new adventure and was never disappointed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour was one "wow" moment after another, some was Portugal and some was the guide. I loved the tiles more than I was expecting to. So many, in so many places, and all beautiful and many spectacular, from the tile museum to the Lisbon subway stations each with different tile art to the fronts of churches covered in blue tiles. And the ceramics factory that showed us how the tiles were hand painted. And the cork farm!! Wow. So interesting to see cork farmed. And stomping grapes. And the port!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was all we hoped for and so very much more. Fatima was great and eager to share her knowledge and her love of Portugal. The pace, cities, hotels and guides were perfect.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the Douro valley accompanied by the wonderful lunch at the vineyard."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fabulous tour of Portugal. Our guide Fatima, was outstanding in every way. Her knowledge and love of her country is hard to beat and she made sure we would have many special memories. She loved to surprise us and to be honest, each surprise got better! From an impromptu concert while in Alcobaca to the amazing lunch in Coimbra, these little moments made the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many to consider, but the male Fado performances in Coimbra and the Batalha Monestary were at the forefront."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was an incredibly informative, fun-filled and memorable adventure that exceeded all my expectations…no small feat considering this was my fifth Rick Steve’s’ Tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping grapes at a lovely family-owned winery in the Douro Valley…a once in a lifetime experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing tour. Fatima was an outstanding tour guide. Her energy, knowledge and love of her country were contagious. She made the tour come to life. The additional tour guides were also fantastic. The buildings, churches, tile, tiled streets were unbelievable. Great group. Food was excellent. The only complaint I had was the Coinbra Riversuites. Too small, bed and pillows were terrible, no chair to sit on in the room, bathroom too small. Awful. Please remove this hotel from this tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many WOW moments. Family owned cork farm with a focus on sustainability. Family owned winery. Family owned pottery company. Lunches were excellent at both places. Stomping on grapes was great fun. We ate at The Hole in the Wall restaurant. Another family owned business. The energy and enthusiasm of the Portuguese people was everywhere."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was a well-rounded and very physical tour with an experienced enthusiastic guide who really made the trip! I had a great time and enjoyed all of our tour group members.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite WOW moment of the tour was grape stomping at the winery. It was an amazing experience and one that I never thought I would ever have."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We learned so much. We are exposed to so many Portugese traditions, meals etc mostly because our guide, a native portugese woman showed us her country and the love of her country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The portugese meals, some in the proverbial “ hole in the wall” restaurants and the restaurant owners welcome to Fatima and us. The grape stomping ."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Maria, our guide, was fantastic. She brought Portugal to life. The tour itself was fast-paced with plenty of free time for lingering over coffee and pasteis de nata. Metros, ocean, drinking port: we did it all. I liked the contrast of bigger city Lisbon with the whitewashed houses of Evora. From drinking the sour cherry liquor ginjinha in walled Obidos to visiting a cork farm, the variety made for a fascinating experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping grapes at a vineyard. What a bonding time with my fellow travelers. Stained legs and laughter."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

28 people is a lot! Guide (Maria) was fantastic. Probably saw more churches than necessary!! Love learning the history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Reading Jose Saramago while in country Visiting the cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We really enjoyed the Heart of Portugal. Our guide, Maria, was outstanding. She was kind, knowledgeable, and had many fun surprises for us that we never expected. There was probably more monasteries and cathedrals than I expected, but at the same time we did have other opportunities to explore both as a group and on our own. We added a trip to Sintra with a private driver before, and a trip to the Algarve after which were both outstanding and I would highly recommend both.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had an unexpected opportunity to stomp grapes at a winery in Quinta Santa Eufemia in the Douro Valley and it was an incredible experience. I also enjoyed the cork farm with an amazing lunch afterwards, visiting the ceramics factory and gaining a whole new appreciation for all of the labor involved in making and painting the pottery, the fish markets, and the coastal villages."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved Portugal. Our tour with Maria was a great introduction for our first visit to this wonderful country. The tour was very well organized, for example getting to sites early to avoid crowds. Maria handled details very well, for example providing metro tickets and helping us explore public transit; also offering little treats unexpectedly during timely moments. The R.S. philosophy and sign-up process effectively encourages a compatible grouping of tour members. A busy but enjoyable tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While it's difficult to pick only one, certainly the first Fado event in Lisbon (facility/decor, food and performance) was a big wow. The entire city of Lisbon was a big hit with us. The location of our central hotel with so much to see and do just outside the entrance, including the wonderful trolleys was a great choice. We loved the history, the architecture, the food & wine, and the people. We also loved the Douro Valley and the town of Evora."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We really enjoyed the tour, the pace was very active, the food was just okay, really enjoyed the lunches at the farms the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the ancient ruins in Coimbra and stomping grapes at the winery in the Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Enjoyable and very educational. In such a short time, I learned about the historical contribution of Portugal, their navigational expertise and travels and conquest of other countries. Our main tour guide, Cristina, was outstanding. She provided so much information about the places we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to Fatima was my Wow moment. The “simple faith” shown by the visitors made me teary eyed. The looks in their faces as they saw the Lady of Fatima is beyond descriptions. I was so touched."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley countryside - stunning!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal is an interesting, varied country with lots of art, historic spots and friendly people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Landscape in the Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized....wonderful trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many.....one that stands out is visiting the library at Coimbra University....hundreds of years old with century old texts. So cool"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal is a wonderful country with friendly people, great history, delicious foods and wines, and very clean - cities, subways, beaches, towns, EVERYWHERE!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We visited the Time-Out Market in Lisbon, twice. Great atmosphere with huge variety of food and drinks. Waking up in our hotel in Obidos, looking up to castle walls and towers, and the view overlooking the valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was wonderful. Portugal is a beautiful country with friendly people and a great history. The tour explored the history and culture of Portugal in detail.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Duro River wine country was spectacular. The winery visit was great and inspiring."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very enjoyable and a great learning experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fatima experience. I did not expect it at all."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent tour guide!!!!! We loved Portugal!!! Just so European! The other travelers were fun My husband got COVID in the middle of the tour and we left the group. Great support . Cash refund for the days we missed was generous. This is our 4th trip with Rick Steves We will travel with Rick Steves again

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm. Very interesting. We missed the wine country tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very well done. Fantastic guide. Nice diversity of experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being pulled behind a tractor across the landscape of a cork farm and talking to the people there was a one-of-a-kind experience that provided real insight into an important part of Portugal's agricultural economy."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour exceeded my expectations thanks to our enthusiastic, personable, well organized, knowledgeable guide - Fatima. Her passion for her country, her people, history, her family roots & Portuguese traditions were palpable. Her willingness and ability to tell personal stories, formative experiences, viewpoints helped make this a special cross cultural learning adventure.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"(Only one??!)Kissing the cook of a family run restaurant; sitting at lunch table with wife of cork & wine farm -chatting about her life, family, challenges, future hopes and dreams; Fado dinner concert in Lisbon with young and talented musicians."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful Portugal trip. Our guide was excellent, the group was great, the destinations were outstanding and there were just the right number of experiences. All the food and wine contributed to our enjoyment!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping grapes was definitely a highlight as well as the meal that followed. Another WOW moment was the bus ride through the Douro Valley...breathtaking!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How can one even describe seeing portual with fatima? Her enthusiasm for everything and loving care for all if us is so incredible. Liked cork farm, stomping grapes and porto with the local guide. Loved everything but those were highlights."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fatima was our tour guide. She was awesome. I knew from the welcome meeting that she was going to make this tour enjoyable because she has the right personality. Her knowledge of the history and culture of Portugal was impressive. We had a great time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping grapes in the Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really enjoyed the entire tour. I learned a lot about Portugal including its culture, history and government. I would have liked the option of a My Way tour with options for some group activities since the country is relatively easy to navigate and many people speak English. My preference is to spend more time with ordinary people from the country that I am visiting and less time with other Americans. The people in our tour group were all nice as I would expect in a Rick Steves group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think the Douro Valley was my favorite wow moment. It was inspiring to see the carefully crafted terraces and stone work on the steep hillside vineyards created over hundreds of years. I have been in wineries in several countries and my experience a the Douro Valley winery surpassed them all. This was an experience that would have been difficult to achieve without the tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a great educational experience that introduced the culture and long history of Portugal. The people,food and fellow travelers were lots of fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro valley and the winery. Stomping grapes."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Appreciated all of our tour guides. Fatima was so personable and worked very hard tp ensure that everyone had a great time. Especially enjoyed Maria's dry wit and presentations. We loved our time in Evos with her. Enjoyed each of our destinations. The pace was good. We had a very compatible group. It was interesting to interact with each of them. We traveled with good friends that we don't get to see often. This is a great way to just relax and enjoy our time together. Great weather to

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping the grapes, visiting the cork farm, dancing and singing at dinner with the group Our hosts at the vineyard were so gracious and they enjoyed our having such a great time. Food and drink were memorable. Similar experience at the cork farm. Fatima arranged many little surprises that we all enjoyed. In Obidos we all had so much fun dancing and having a party together."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a blessing! The insights our guide brought to us about the history, culture and people of Portugal brought the country to life! You get to see the real Portugal while also visiting so many wonderful sites. Portugal is it’s people; what an opportunity to connect with so many on so many levels!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cork farm tour near Evora was amazing! The sustainability farming practices, the visit throughout the farm being towed by a tractor and then the opportunity to have lunch with one of the family members who helps run the farm made for a remarkable and insightful day!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal far exceeded expectations, in no small part due to the energy, enthusiasm, and extra effort by our guide Fatima. She shared so much knowledge about her country and provided many glimpses into Portuguese family life and culture. She was amazing! The Portuguese history and architecture were tremendously interesting, the landscapes were incredible, the medieval walkways were so fun and enchanting. The people were very friendly and accommodating, and the food and lodging were excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many WOW moments! Vistas in Lisbon, Obidos, Nazare, and Porto, among others. The historical architecture and churches. The alter in the Church of the Holy Trinity at Fatima. The cork farm and winery families and their hospitality. The library in Coimbra. One of the most memorable was the Douro Valley and its terraced mountainsides, hand laid stone walls, and the overall immensity of the landscape and vineyards. We would have liked to stay in Portugal for another month!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Claudia was an amazing tour guide. This was a great group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Grape crushing in the douro valley!!!!!!!!!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour guide and enjoyable tour-mates.

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

The tour was great. The weather was way too hot for the amount of walking.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The itinerary was a great overview and introduction to Portugal, made especially wonderful by our guide, Claudia, whose abilities were/are beyond measure. It was a busy tour, but well-paced so we had “down time” to explore on our own and also to take a relaxing moment at a pool, cafe, or to just soak in the ambience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My “wow” moment was the visit to Fatima. The reverence that Claudia showed while explaining the events happening was emotional, and created a sense of awe for me. I have never experienced anything like this."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again, an outstanding trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"After thinking the cork farm would be the wow, I then thought the Sunday Mass at Fatima being the wow, but the WOW was stomping grapes at Quinta de Santa Eufemia. Just like the skit in I Love Lucy!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was very well organized and a nice pace. Claudia our guide had an amazing wealth of knowledge of her country she loves and shared many memories she had of growing up in Portugal which made the trip even more meaningful. Nuno our bus driver always had a smile to share and navigated narrow roads with ease. There was a nice variety of places that we visited and our group was also a nice variety of people that we enjoyed getting to know.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think my wow moment would be our visit to Fatima on a Sunday during mass. Claudia explain to us what was going on during the mass and it was quite a spiritual moment. Also the Douro valley is up there as well."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour members and a guide were very pleasant and excellent tour team

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Grape stomping together with members and Claudia"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My favorite part of this tour was our guide Claudia and the very special group of people on this tour with us. Claudia was kind, thoughtful, knowledgeable and always made sure to give each member of the group the best experience she could provide. The whole group looked out for each other, showing great courtesy, respect and kindness towards each other. This made seeing a beautiful, culture rich and vibrant country thoroughly enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wonderful moments. Visiting Fatima during Sunday mass, learning about cork farming and the special care the family put into environmental balance on their land and the warmth they showed our group, the history, exploring Lisbon and Porto, the beauty of the Douro valley were all very memorable. But my favorite experience on this trip was dining at Momentos (Claudia's recommendation) in Evora. The meal was one of the best I have ever had. George, the chef/owner, was amazing!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Claudia made this trip amazing. She was everything we wanted in a Rick Steves tour guide. Smart, savvy, friendly and very very knowledgable of the Cities and Towns we visited. Your driver "Nono" was amazing also. Her reccomendations were spot on. Our Dinner at "Momentous" was one of the best dinners we've ever had. George got a hug when we left.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Claudia and the people on the tour they made it unforgetable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great overall especially our guide Claudia. I could do with fewer churches, but then that's an integral part of Portugal's history and culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Grape stomping in the Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned so much about Portugal's history and culture from our amazing guide, Fatima, and the wonderful local guides she provided for us. The variety of sights to see and experiences was outstanding. Fatima also offered advice and assistance multiple times for finding great Portuguese dining experiences. This tour was physically demanding (up stairs, down stairs, up ramps, down ramps & repeat), but well worth it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I love RS tours because of the opportunities for experiences that are difficult to do on your own. Tours of a cork farm, pottery factory, and vineyard were so special. The owners/workers of those places were so welcoming to us because they have an established and trusting relationship with our guide. The many monasteries were each unique and beautiful. Two really different Fado performances were fascinating."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 11th RS tour. As with previous tours, a very good itinerary was made into an outstanding trip by our guide Fatima and the local guides. Enjoyed how each guide presented the information in interesting/entertaining ways. Have not been disappointed by any of our RS guides, but Fatima has set a new standard of excellence! Was the most walking on cobblestones we have done on any trip (some by our own choice during free time) so the label of "strenuous" was accurate. Enjoyed Portugal a lot!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoyed learning about the production of cork. Port wine tasting! Fascinated by the beauty of the tile facades on the exterior of many buildings, inside the train station, and inside some cathedrals. Visited an ancient fort on our own that was very plain on the exterior, but the chapel inside the fort still contained beautiful, vivid blue and white tile pictures of biblical scenes covering the interior walls."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best travel experience I've had, Flights on time - weather was perfect - and travel on schedule throughout the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Valley Winery"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We knew very little about Portugal and learned so much about its history, language and culture. Our guide was outstanding and most of the hotels were wonderful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley is beautiful. We loved riding through it and visiting the winery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The guide Fatima was outstanding. She went above and beyond any tour guide I have ever had!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Both days spent on the farms - the cork farm and the vineyards in the Douro Valley!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guide and tour. Well rounded experience with traditional historic sites and off the path sites. The history knowledge of our guide Fatima was exceptional. Hotels, bus and restaurants were also very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cork Farm and Douro Vally vineyard!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Met all expectations

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

A nice variety of experiences and nicely paced.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beautiful sites to see, guides who were knowledgeable and fun to be with, and and experiences that were thought provoking as well as entertaining.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The opportunity to interact with locals on the two farms we visited. We learned about their specific farms but also about the economics, agricultural practices, and culture of two very different areas of the country."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Heart of Portugal is a very challenging tour but the most rewarding. Both Lisbon and Porto and uphill (or downhill depending on the direction) and may not be easy to walk for some travelers. But, in my opinion, the hilltops offered outstanding views of each city. The food was terrific and our mix of travelers was the best!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite moment was reaching the highest viewpoints of Nazare. On this day, the weather was flawless and I had never tried barnacles. Our guide encouraged everyone to get a small taste, but it wasn't for me. Also, the trip through the vineyards in the Douro Valley was BEAUTIFUL. The local guide made all of us feel as if we were eating lunch in her own home."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was very knowledgable about her country’s history and enthusiastic about sharing same. The tour incorporated multiple aspects of Portugal - farming, wine, commerce, architecture, history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Roman ruins near Coimbra. Roman Temple in Evora, and Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Christina and all of the guides were remarkably well prepared, friendly and engaging.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm was especially enjoyable."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal was a great place to visit. So much history and our guide, Christina, provided a terrific narrative.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first tour ever, and it was a very good first experience. We definitely saw more, did more, and learned more than if we had tried to navigate this on our own, even using the RS guidebook.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm was very interesting, not something that we could have finagled on our own. But the tours to the ceramics place and the port wine place were also exceptional. The "wow" moment for me, however, was probably Fatima, a religious place (surprisingly). For my partner, it was the Cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really felt like we experienced “all” of Portugal—which would have been very difficult on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to the cork farm, speaking with the owners, and sharing lunch with them."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Knowledgeable tour guide and excellent visits to cork farm and winery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Porto."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well planned, with rich cultural experiences at every stop. The hotels exceeded our expectations - they were comfortable, convenient, and well appointed. Our original guide got Covid, but he was replaced with two charming, professional women, who exuded love and knowledge of Portugal. We really felt that we got to know Portugal, it's history, customs, foods, exports (cork and Port) and people. Bravo, Rick, for giving us an authentic taste of Portugal!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We loved the cork farm visit and lunch, in the gorgeous Alentejo region of Portugal. We knew nothing about harvesting cork, and Sofia was the perfect guide to the process, start to finish. The lunch was delicious as well. Also, Teresa of St Euphremia Vineyards, explained how port wine is grown and processed as we walked around her farm that has been in her family for generations. The lunch was also delicious, served in a lovely room overlooking the beautiful Duoro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I thought the tour was well paced with enough time in each town/city along the way. There was a good mix of physical activity, the walking, and more sedate times to catch a breath.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Porto. This city was such a mix of the very old, the new, a population that was young and appeared anxious to try and preserve a culture and move in to the future at the same moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was well organized, and showed a great smattering of Portugal, making me want to explore more on my own, knowing I can do so without language concern. Once again, superb guides, Roberta and Marie-Jose who filled in at the last moment. I came away very impressed with Portugal, its history, land, and place in the world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Recinto Megalitico, Cromeleque dos Almendres, an extra sidetrip that Roberta arranged for 8 of us. To see the 95 menhirs, plus one, that are 7000 years old, brings me back to creation. Being able to wander through the site, and touch the stones, I could feel the connectiveness of the earth, running throughout all of the Universe's spirit. This should be included in the tour."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This tour was at a fast pace that was very rewarding. Both guides, Roberta and Maria, were very good on every part of the tour. The variety was terriffic, from a cork oak forest walk to intense city centers. Overall, the food was very good, with one exception. Our fellow group members were a great bunch to travel and be with. We'd do a Rick Steves tour again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite wow moment was the drive through the Douro Valley, The beauty and amount of vineyards spanning the slopes going down to the river was amazing. Very glad to get to see this, annd also visit one of the winerys."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Fatima, was very enthusiastic and did an excellent job sharing her enthusiasm for her country. I experienced the culture of Portugal through the people we met, the food, the wine and the history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several. I loved visiting and learning about the cork farm, and enjoying the excellent lunch there. I also loved the beautiful Douro Valley, and hearing about how they grow the grapes. The most unexpected wow moment was the opera singer in the city of Alcobaca. His singing was so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our group of 26 was lucky enough to have Fatima as our guide - there is no better guide on the planet! We learned much, saw this beautiful country and met even more beautiful people thanks to her. There's much more in Portugal to see - this was just a taste (tasty, too!). We made it through a heat wave together with laughs, oohs and aahs. What a wonderful birthday I had in Coimbra, complete with Fado signing. Thank you, Fatima, for showing us your country - until we return, Obrigada!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Beautiful Portugal is rich with history and Roman ruins that surpass most everywhere, but it's the people that wowed me the most. They are open, warm and quick to smile and share stories. My travel companions and I made new friends at every stop, every cafe, every Uber. Small restaurants in Lisbon, the Avis County cork farm/winery and vineyards in Duoro received us with open arms. Being invited in to see an Obidos tavern owner's renovations and hearing his story was a special wow moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall tour experience was outstanding! I hadn't been a tour since I turned 18 years old and went to Europe with a group of other teens from across the U.S. Since then, I have traveled extensively in Europe (on our own) with family and friends. I am amazed at how much I was able to see on this tour of Portugal, the history that I learned, and the experiences of local culture that we had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It really is hard to choose as there were so many! If I had to chose, I would say my favorite "wow" moments were listening to Fado singers in Lisbon in a historic restaurant and an impromptu opera concert arranged by our tour guide. Both of these moments brought me to tears!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was amazing. She helped us in so many ways and provide context for the places and people we visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm visit was astounding, as was tour of the Douro valley vineyard."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick Steves tours take the stress out of traveling and add such rich unique moments and insights - I'll never travel alone again!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The boat tour in Porto."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal is an amazing country. Fatima is an outstanding guide- informed, interesting, kind, entertaining and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had lots of wow moments but I think my favorites were the visit to the cork farm and vineyard and the happy hour in Obidos"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A ton of interesting sites,out of the way locations for great stops.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Traveling in the Duoro valley was great and very beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour keeps the participants busy but in a constructive way. I enjoyed seeing some sites and having some experiences I would not have had on my own or with other tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the mountain vineyard terraces in the Duoro Valley was fantastic. The views were beautiful and it was exciting to walk among the vineyards."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fatima was a great tour guide. She had so much knowledge about Portugal that she past that on to us as travelers to better know her country and the people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The family farms we visited. The cork and wine farm in the Alentejo region and the port wine farm in the Douro Valley. It was great to learn about each of there farms and meet the families members of each,"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was the perfect combination of Portugal's history, culture, traditions, food, and its proud people. We saw and experienced peoples' lives in their markets, their churches, their work, and their art. Our guide provided us with so many unique and meaningful experiences. We had fun with our great travel companions. All together one of our best Rick Steves' tours (out of a total of 16 tours).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our visit to the cork oak farm was a definite WOW! We learned so much about sustainable agriculture and how they apply current science and research to their farm practices. And to top it off they served a delicious lunch which was enjoyed by all."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

As this was my ninth tour with RS, I was expecting their great guides, well chosen hotels and locations of interest. I was not disappointed. Our guide Fatima kept us active with our planned schedule and many added activities of her own. She was part of our group as well as the leader. Her time was dedicated to us the entire trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I didn't experience a specific "Wow" moment on this trip, but I loved our excursions to unique places like the cork oak farm, the Quinta de Eufemia, the smaller winery, the Portuguese people and the ceramics factory, It's the combination of all these individual memories coming together that made one wonderful trip. Also, I was traveling with my two daughters which was a big "Wow" for me!!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First tour and unsure what to expect. Guide was outstanding, group was easygoing and Portugal was amazing.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moment was our guide Fatima. She brought everything to life with relevant explanations at points of interest and opportunities for off the beaten path activities."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed touring the vineyard and then eating in their dining room. Teresa was a wonderful host. What a gorgeous place! What a priviledge to meet her and learn about her family."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My knowledge of Portugal- people, history, culture and geography was embarrassingly limited. This tour addressed all and more. The Portuguese people were wonderful, the food so delicious, the culture and history rich. I had a lot of fun learning so much. Our guide, Fatima, was bubbling with pride of her country. Her enthusiasm was catching. The group was fun. There was no one who I didn’t enjoy hanging with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Unfair question because there were so many. After visiting the cork farm, Rovisco Garcia, we had lunch with Sofia and her sister. The meal, sopa de cacao, chicken pie with mushrooms, home made ice cream, and a selections of their family wines was just superb! Definitely one my list of top 10 meals of my first 75 years."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Exceeded expectations! Fabulous tour guide Claudia made it fun and interesting. Well organized. Immediately signed up for another Rick Steve’s tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the cork farm and vineyards in Douro Valley. Also really enjoyed Fado music"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cathedral in Lisbon oddly enough."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was the best tour we have ever experienced—anywhere. Our guide, Claudia was outstanding, and made the entire trip enjoyable for everyone involved.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved hearing Claudia’s stories about her experiences as a child in Portugal—particularly her descriptions of times with her grandmother in Lisbon’s Alfama neighborhood."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was great. Portugal is a beautiful country filled with interesting sights and wonderful people. We enjoyed it immensely.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fado concert in Coimbra. I had seen clips of fado performances on the Rick Steves shows about Portugal and listened to some before we went on the tour, but the live performance far exceeded any expectations."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour. Good guide, food and hotels. I would like to add a day in Lisbon with an optional trip to Sintra.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Climbing the wall in Óbidos"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Claudia, made the trip outstanding. My favorite Claudia quote is "sometimes you have to find joy in the day." She always did!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No one wow moment, but the whole country, the people and the culture. And the food and wine of course. I enjoyed the fado and was suprised to learn that Coimbra fado is different from Lisboa fado."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Even though we left the tour halfway through due to COVID concerns about getting home in time for other commitments (nine people exited early) it was a fabulous tour. Maria, our guide was caring, knowledgeable, fun and made sure we were cognizant of pick pockets in the towns.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Attending the cork farm tour was just beautiful. The family welcomed us with grace and were so genuine. The lunch was delicious and the wine flowed freely. Also, attending a gathering with Maria & the group on the hotel rooftop in Evora was special. We got to bond a little more with folks while enjoying fruit & wine."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent mix of history, art, religious history,, music, and food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I particularly enjoyed our visit to the cork farm. I learned so much about cork production, land management, and wildlife management. Our lunch with the family was delightful and personal. Donna Maria was turning 97 the day we visited, and it was special to be able to sing Happy Birthday to her."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I was on the tour where 11 people out of 28 got Covid so it was an interesting experience. I also got a really bad cough/Cold (not Covid as confirmed by a per test) so I'm afraid these things colored my experience of the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"touring the Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Excellent guide and great itinerary. Cases of Covid within the group and precautions taken to keep people healthy hindered us from getting to know other travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing all the magnificent tile work through out the country and visiting the Quinta in the Douro Valley. It was like traveling back in time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another great RS Tour! We are glad to be back in Europe enjoying the culture, sites and food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "Cork Farm" was one of the most unusual visits we've had on numerous RS tours. Beautiful scenery, fascinating background on cork production and wild game management, and a wonderful lunch at the end."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Days 1-3 were spectacular! We loved Lisbon (and Sintra, which we recommend visiting before the start of the tour), the food, wine, history, and the Portuguese people. Cristina was an amazing tour guide. On Day 4, a positive COVID test for one of us required that we leave the tour and isolate for a week in Evora. We made the best of the situation and after the quarantine period made it to Porto, where we explored on our own for several days.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seriously, there's a lot to see and do in Evora. It helped tremendously that one of us tested negative throughout, so important provisions like carryout food and wine could be easily obtained throughout our week there. We ended up with an unexpected chance to appreciate the food and wine, and the history, architecture, and culture of the Alentejo region."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Portugal tour had it all. There were breathtaking views, striking architecture, welcoming people, fascinating history and delicious pastries. :The tour was brought to perfection by Cristina through her charm, extensive knowledge, attention to detail and her love of Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Douro Valley, the significance of Fatima, the charm of Porto and the impressiveness of the Monastery of Jeronimos were just a sampling of the WOW moments. Every day had significant highlights, great fun"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good experience, did not have to worry about anything except being on time for the guided tours. Our guide was so knowledgable about the history of Portugal. Many details and interesting facts were given and discussed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing all the beautiful churches and sights in Portugal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We especially loved our trip to the cork farm and the family winery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of Portugal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 7th Rick Steves tour, and this one was just as excellent as all the others. Our guide, Cristina, was fabulous - so knowledgeable, interesting, funny, with the perfect amount of "Mother Hen" in her to keep us all safe and happy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"All of Portugal is a "WOW". But I loved the Douro Valley, with the rolling green hills covered in vineyards, and particularly enjoyed our fabulous lunch at a winery. The port wine was delicious! And that day was capped by an overnight stay at a fabulous resort-style hotel with a gorgeous view of that valley. I just sat out on our patio for several hours relaxing and taking it all in."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved Portugal!! Our fabulous guide Fatima shared her deep love and pride in her country and its people, and was beyond generous with her time and support. We felt we gained a rich understanding of Portugal's history and proud heritage, and certainly great admiration for its people. Great tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably the "Oaks, Olives,and Obidos day." The visit and tour of the cork farm was mind-blowing. The dedication and commitment of this family to the ecosystem and the generational inheritance of this farm was mind-blowing. The lunch and wine with this lovely family may have been the best we had during the entire trip."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An excellent tour. Perhaps the best of our 6 RS Tours!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The unexpected tours to family owned farms and wineries. Very Special!"