Best of Portugal in 13 Days Tour

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tomar. Douro Valley. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Really enjoyed Portugal. Each day was a new adventure!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The stock exchange building in Porto was truly amazing. Touring the cork farm was fascinating."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our Tour to Portugal was simply Crazy Amazing and so life changing for in me and my wife’s journey. This mindful adventure allows us to see, feel and breathe what it must be like to be apart of this spiritual land called Portugal. The sights, the people, the Iberian pork, majestic cork trees, wow port wine, fado, passion for Cristiano Ronaldo and only him, Knights and so much more..All of it massaged in our mind with the bedtime story’s Cristina our loving tour guide whispered on our bus rides…

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We love our tour guide Cristina's touch of love and bravery to share her soul and allow us to know and love the country she lives…She is a treasure and helped us to feel we are meant to be here…"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Weather was perfect, tour guide Maggie was outstanding, driver Pedro was a magician, hotels were charming, and the local guides were fantastic. In short, everything I've come to expect in a Rick Steves tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The "Capeilas Imperfeitas" (Unfinished Chapels) at Batalha Monastery were a marvel; they have to be experienced, pictures barely do them justice. Portugal has done a terrific job of restoring so many of their beautiful old landmarks."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the Portugal tour and learned so much about the history of trade routes, thanks to our tour guide Margaret and the individual experts at each site along the way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"For me it was the Maritime Museum, the old maps and the tribute/statue to Vasco de Gama and all the others carved with him. So much history in one day!!! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great tour, fabulous guide and really nice folks on the tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I cannot name only one. First our wonderful loving guide. Second, sitting down for orientation with a sober person (in AA) on either side of me. Third the monument on the way to Belem. Fourth the fresh pastel de nata Margaret brought to us while we stood in line for the monastery. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal is a beautiful country

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Singing in a restaurant"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our first group tour experience and we were very impressed with our guide, Margaret. From her range of knowledge to her thoughtful suggestions for dining and extra curricular suggestions, to her kind handling of mobility challenged group members, Margaret really made this a wonderful trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My "wow" was visiting the Gulbenkian Museum in Lisboa. While it was not on the formal itinerary, Margaret suggested it as an option for a free afternoon and it was an amazing private collection of art, home furnishings and ceramics. Also the Aljube Museum of Resistance and Freedom, which was also mentioned by Margaret as a free afternoon option, was a powerful experience of Portugal's decades under dictatorship and very meaningful in today's rise of fascism."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

This was our 16th RS tour and by far the most strenuous. We have taken both the Prague/Budapest and Barcelona/Madrid tours which are listed as "most active" and they pale in comparison to this tour. Virtually the entire tour was steep grades paved with cobblestones or limestone/marble pieces which are slippery when wet. We simply can't understand how this highly strenuous tour was not listed as "most active".

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maritime Museum and Museum of the Discoveries, first year student celebrations in Coimbra and the Douro Valley scenery"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Heart of Portugal trip was a good overview of this country, from the south to the north. From Lisbon with its interesting Maritime Museum to the arid cork fields to the lush, green beautiful Duoro Valley, we got a very good feel for this maritime country. Our tour guide, Maggie, did an excellent job showing us the beauty and history of her addopted home country. And while quite hilly and "interesting" walking, we woud our ways through the hills to find its interesting culture.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The beauty of the hilly and winding Duoro wine valley was a wow moment for me. The steep and winding roads through the vineyards was amazing and beautiful in its green lushness."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good accommodations and local guides to go along with a very good guide, Fatima.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tomar's Cera Castle/Knights Templar tour and Cork Oak "farm" tour and fab luncheon."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed learning about Portugal current day and history

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork oak farm and the lunch "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my second Rick Steves’ tour, the first being over 10 years ago. Portugal exceeded my expectations with its beauty, interesting history and low key vibes. Even in the larger cities of Lisbon & Porto there was no feeling of “hustle and bustle” or unnecessary street noise. Our guide Fatima was a gem, full of knowledge & so welcoming to her beloved country. She kept us moving all the time. Strenuous walking description was very accurate - many hills & narrow tiled streets!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The smaller towns between Lisbon & Porto were fascinating! The holy site of Fatima was a wow moment as well as the Knights Templar and the overall charm of Tomar. Particularly enjoyed the history of Coimbra, fado performance and the University as well as its beer loving student population."

Overall rating: rating 2 of 5

This my fourth Rick Steve’s tour and I think this one came up a little short. I’m most impressed by natural beauty and Portugal fell short compared to other countries. There was too much ancient culture, guess I’m just not all that interested in 12th and 13th century events. I found several of the local guides difficult to understand due to their heavy accent. I kept expecting the “vacation within a vacation” event which has always been great on past trips.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Portal was a fun city. I also enjoyed learning about the cork industry. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We saw many interesting things and the weather was most cooperative. The guide was extremely competent and the people on the tour were very nice.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visit to the cork farm and the Knights Templar castle in Tomar"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful two weeks

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nazarre and the surfing point light house incredible spot. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Portugal is a beautiful country and the tour covered a great sampling of both city locations and rural.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro valley was especially lovely."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Discovering Portugal with our guide, Maria Jose, was wonderful. We ate good food, met interesting people, and visited fascinating sites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"A "wow moment" would be the "Arabic room" in the old stock exchange building in Porto. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great trip! Our guide, Maria, was exceptional. Not only knowledgeable but helpful in every way!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The fado show with the femail singers."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

It was exactly what I was looking for.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Great weather, exceptional guides almost without exception

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although I was happy with the tour and saw interesting sights, I didn't have something I'd call a "wow" moment."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

All aspects were well-organized by our remarkable tour guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Crushing wine grapes the old fashion way - by Stomping them with our feet"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I loved seeing Portugal from south to north. It is a beautiful country. I didn’t know much if anything about Portugal’s history and was amazed to learn that between Portugal and Spain, those two countries conquered most of the world.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our day and night spent in the Douro Valley, the winery, lunch and beautiful vistas were my favorite part of our tour,"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This was my 6th Rick Steves tour, and it wasn't my favorite. It was too long for what you can see in Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I am not sure I had one -sadly. That one beach day was only 3 hours, and the destination was so crowded that I wasn't impressed. The winery and the Cork farm were good but not a wow experience. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Good balance of sights, great guide, good local guides, nice pace, good food selection. Hotels were well located, time to explore on own, good connections between cities. Appreciated answers to questions. Each person was given time and attention.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the connection and relationship built over the years between our guide, Claudia, and the places and people she took us to. She has taken the time to get to know people and the intricacies of their businesses to meaningfully provide information. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very positive! Maggie, the tour guide was absolutely exceptional, very well informed, organized, patient and kind.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping the grapes in the Druro Valley!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide and good variety of experiences made for an excellent trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Grape stomping in the Douro valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This Portugal tour was awesome! One of the characteristics of these tours is the fact that it's limited to a small group, 24 in this one. Who made our tour even better was our tour guide, Todd. He prepared handouts on the activities for each stop with maps of the area and its history plus restaurants recommendations. Such information was extremely valuable getting around in unfamiliar cities which saved a lot of time. I was able to make the best of every moment I was on my own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The major cities of Lisbon & Porto won me over with their food, port wine and the warm hospitality of their people along with its major museums and monuments holding the history of this beautiful country and its contribution to the world. The fado performances in Lisbon and Coimbra were memorable. The Rovisco Garcia Cork Farm and the Douro Valley Quinta Santa Eufemia winery are not to be missed! Tomar's Castle of the Knights Templar & Convent tour were breathtaking. Fatima...moving & uplifting!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved Portugal and Rick Steves Tour did an excellent job in showing the best of Portugal over a 12 day tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The history of Portugal as a world power and naval force was fascinating. Also, loved the afternoon at the winery owned for 11 generations by one family! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal was magical! Learning the history and seeing all of the beautiful tile was amazing! Our guide was fantastic. Honestly, the best guide we have ever had — and this was our 7th Rick Steves tour. I am hoping to go back!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tomar’s Castle of the Knights Templar and the religious celebration in Fatima. The Stock Exchange Palace in Porto. And the tile!! I just loved all of the tile patterns on the buildings. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Fatima, is very proud and vast knowledge of her country Portugal. Although I remembered some of the Portuguese influence on the world, this tour really showed what a power it was. I would have liked a bit more time in the Maritime Museum in Belem, fascinating place. Lisbon was ok, but the places we visited after were all fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Let's see...Fado in Lisbon just before Niccols burned or the cork ranch experience, the great group of people in our group, Tomar celebrations and Templar fortress, the open air mass in Fatima, stomping grapes in the Douro Valley, watching the sunset over Porto. So many wows!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guide (Fátima, full of energy, knowledge and pride for her country) & bus driver, locations & hotels & hotel staff

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping red wines grapes in the Douro Valley!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal was beautiful, the people warm and friendly, and the food was excellent. Fatima, our guide, was outstanding. We had a great group of people on the tour, which also made it enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was the beauty of the Douro Valley. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group of people, fantastic guide

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I think Porto and the Duro Valley,"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Loved this tour! Our guide, Fatima, was passionate about sharing her love of Portugal with our group. All of the local guides were excellent. My favorite experiences were visiting the cork farm and the Quinta.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping grapes at the Quinta was an unforgettable experience!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great experience. Excellent guide. Very good group of travelers. It was everything I expected of a Rick Steves tour (of which this was my fifth): all the major sites; excellent local guides; lots of information and history, past and present; and very fun excursions to the cork farm and port winery.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Arriving at Fatima for the conclusion of the outdoor Sunday Mass and procession amidst the thousands of people present - an incredible visual and inspirational experience - nothing like anything I ever have exprienced in my life."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I enjoyed our fellow tour member. The architecture was a feast for the eyes. The history and passion communicated by our main tour guide Fatima was outstanding and captivating. The tour guides providing site specific information were very good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The castle in Tomar and the Knights Templar history."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic! Rick Steves tours always, always have been outstanding, which is why I continue to travel with his company. From the tour leader to the one-of-a-kind experiences we get, everything will be fun and informative! Rafael made this tour very special! He shared his love for his country and his philosophy of connection that was very inspiring. I appreciate the care that went into the itinerary, and the balance between group events and the time for us to explore on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The one-of-a-kind experiences we get on Rick Steves tours! The cork farm was incredible! I had never given much thought to cork before, but I will always remember our visit. The lunch was fantastic, and I came home with their olive oil! The visit to the Duoro Valley quinta was fun and educational, and we had another delightful lunch! I get to savor the memories with the wine and port that just arrived at my house! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I have been travelling for over 40 years. This was my first 'organized' tour. The detail, care and personal attention by our guide was outstanding. The right combination of history, culture, art, food, local submersion augmented by the guide's personal connection to the unique experiences and venues. It felt special and curated. I didn't ever feel like I was a hidden face on a tour bus.The group became a small family who truly engaged and enjoyed being with each other.Our guide was exceptional

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The trip to the Duoro Valley and visit to a family-run, generational vineyard where we were invited, as the special Rick Steve's group, to participate in a pisa a pe (grape stomping), with one of the family members. It was not a 'tourist' event. This is the traditional method of crushing grapes. We were led into large, shallow granite tanks (lagares) where we linked arms, and stomped in a defined pattern to the beat of a drum, singing traditional songs. it was a truly unique experience. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I wish i had better words to describe how much we enjoyed this trip. So much to see, experience, and enjoy. Many people had told us that we would love the Rick Steves trip to Portugal. The experience exceeded our expectations. Raphael our guide was extremely helpful, , and Fun. . Our trip had the right balance of seeing what Portugal had to offer, and time on our own. All of the arrangements were so well situated it was very easy to relax and enjoy these fantastic excursions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nazare and the views of that spectacular ocean. Dauro Valley did not disappoint with spectacular views, interesting history, and amazing food and wine.... "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Raphael was stellar, very knowledgeable, and relatable. The different stops provided education and hands-on experiences, embodying the uniqueness of local cultures. We’re looking forward to our next Rick Steves tour in 2027!.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Two favorites: Stomping on the grapes in Parada do Bispo. Also, learning about the cork forest tour, followed by the delicious meal."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour more than lived up to my expectations in every way.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had several but most memorable for me was the Templar church in Tomar, the library in Coimbra and the view in Nazare. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The flow of daily activities was well planned, all the hotels but one were better than the typical RS tours (this was my 8th tour), and Rafael was one of the best guides we've had.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping grapes in the Douro Valley was a highlight! The views from the winery and the the lunch they provided were amazing! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guide. Good food, nice people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fátima portugal"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fantastic. Every aspect of the tour exceeded my expectations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping grapes at Quinta de Santa Eufémia in the Douro valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rick Steves Company planned a fabulous tour in every way: the destinations, the hotels, the activities, the timing, and mostly choosing Rafael as our tour guide--AMAZING!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We were fortunate to be in the Douro Valley in September when the grapes were being harvested. Our group had the opportunity to stomp grapes in a huge vat. It was one of the best experiences I have ever had traveling!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Comprehensive and fun two weeks

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Stomping the grapes"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a wonderful experience from start to finish. The itinerary was a great mix of history, culture, and beautiful scenery. Each of the cities and towns we visited had its own character and something memorable to offer. The food, wine, and port were excellent, and I tried fresh sardines in Nazaré for the first time and loved them! The hotels were very nice and strategically placed in each city. The group meals were all delicious, and I especially enjoyed the Fado performance.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the maritime museum in Lisbon and learning about how Portugal's explorers reshaped the world map during the 15th and 16th centuries. After our tour, our wonderful guide, Claudia, was waiting for us with warm pastéis de nata. Yum! Claudia's knowledge of her country's history and culture is exceptional. She made the past come alive and shared stories about her own family, which gave us a personal look at Portuguese life that we could never have gotten from a guidebook. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

I was very excited to get on this trip because of the preview I watched on Rick Steves Youtube channel. I believe my expectations for Portugal might be too high after the Greece and Italy trip. In Portugal, I enjoyed spending time in Sintra and Porto. I enjoyed a food tour very much in Lisbon via Rick Steve guide book through a 3rd party. The rest of the country is okay but I didn't have a "wow" time. Douro Valley is pretty but too much down time. The trip is a little boring to me.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"None"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"stomping on the grapes at the winery"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall great experience. 3rd RS tour and will probably do another. We brought friends new to RS touring and they loved it. Our guide Claudia did a fantastic job making our trip feel special. She did a good job of getting the group to meld. She and the other guides we had were passionate about their country and cities. Pleased with the hotel accommodations. Happy we came in earlier to do Sintra before the tour. The actual experiences RS tours provide are part of what makes it special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Grape Stomping at the winery in Douro Valley followed by a lunch and Port/Wine tasting was something I will never forget. The owners were so gracious in showing us their love of their family business. So glad Claudia was able to pull this off for us. Seeing the terraces throughout the Douro Valley were gorgeous. I will also never look at a cork in the same way after visiting the cork farm/winery. He gave us such a passionate tour and lunch was delicious. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our 6th Rick Steves tour and it matched the wonderful experiences we had on all of our other adventures. Claudia was a phenomenal tour guide who shared her great pride in her country and family experiences to help us all gain a good understanding of the culture of Portugal. Our fellow tourmates were a joy to be with--all such interesting people. We went on wonderful, unique tours plus had time to wander on our own. Hotels were in great locations which made it easy to explore. Great itinerary

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So Many! Stomping the grapes was phenomenal. What a unique experience! Loved the tour of the Maritime museum. Our guide put it in such a relevant, historical presentation that really enhanced our experience. Visiting a cork farm and sharing a wonderful meal with the owner. Being able to just talk with him enabled us to truly understand Portuguese life. The dinner and wine/Port tasting at the quinta in the Douro valley was amazing. The food, wine, and views will forever be in my memory."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great tour guide who showed us Portugal with local knowledge and informed historical knowledge. Nice group of people on the tour. Everyone was punctual and very conscientious. Food provided was great and always local.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Enjoyed Duoro Valley. Beautiful vineyard and great lunch. Also was fun to “ stomp grapes”!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My husband and I joined Claudia and the group on the Best of Portugal tour. Claudia was an outstanding tour guide; funny, thoughtful, well informed, kind, empathetic, interesting and energetic. Her facial expressions were captivating!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The grape stomping was a great highlight of many highlights. Learning how they handpicked and carried the baskets of grapes on their back up/down the narrow terraces was amazing."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Friendly band of travelers, good accommodations, nice mix of destinations and great local guides. It was an active tour, but not overly so. Only one stop (Nazare) seemed like a waste of time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The night after the tour, in Porto, 13 of us gathered for dinner. It was like a group of old friends getting together. Never saw anything like it on any tour."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

A great group of travelers. Everyone enjoyed each other’s company. Todd was absolutely the most organized person ever! Made everything go smoothly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cork Farm! Food,knowledge and interaction was top notch."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized and enjoyed our host, Todd

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Valley views"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour group was outstanding! That is what made the trip special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Porto is the WoW for me. Beautiful city."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very good tour, extremely well-organized, excellent group dynamics and interaction, only factor from not rating OUTSTANDING is that Portugal lacks more of the "wow" sites as other European countries

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Knights Templar Palace & Fortress"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great group of people on tour - lots of fun to be with.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Farm to table lunch at winery "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the tour. I was grateful dining accommodations were made for my vegetarian diet. The cork farm and port winery were interesting additions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There wasn't one moment in particular. The moments spent with my fellow travelers having dinner together and discovering various locations were great."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

FATIMA WAS ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL AS OUR TOUR GUIDE. SHE MADE THE WHOLE TOUR SO MEMERABLE.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I THINK GOING TO THE CORK FARM WAS THE BEST."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our seventh RS Tour and another excellent, awe-inspiring experience. Fatima is an incredible guide. She brings a vast knowledge of her country. skill at handling problems and a big heart to her job. Her personal stories and additions to the tour, such as a trip to a ceramics plant in Porto, were fascinating.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but the Baroque library at the University of Coimbra was one that stands out. Also the roofless ruins of the Lisbon convent ravaged by the 1755 earthquake. "

One of the memorable tours. Beautiful country and beautiful people. The tour represents the "heart" of Portugal perfectly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cockfarm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 8th RS tour, so we knew what to expect, which was a great experience. From big city (Lisbon) to rural towns, and something in-between (Porto), we got a great taste of Portugal. The Douro Valley was spectacular, as was the surprising towns of Tomar and Coimbra. We really enjoyed the visit to the "nothing wasted" cork farm, especially the amazing lunch. As always, though, it was our fellow travelers that made the experience memorable. We were a good blend of fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being thoroughly Catholic, we were looking forward to Fatima, but had no idea that we would be arriving in the middle of a massive outdoor liturgy at the shrine. The rousing music, the clear faith of the enraptured people, the teeming multitudes - it took our breath away. We gently elbowed our way toward the front and got to experience the final strains of the Mass up close and personal. Then the church bells pealed out and we both lost it...."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Visiting Portugal on a Rick Steves adventure was wonderful. This was our 8th RS tour and, like usual, it was well organized and led. We saw all the main attractions and got a good taste of the Portuguese culture while allowing us freedom to explore on our own or rest, if needed. Christina was enthusiastic and attentive - a great guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It's hard to narrow down one particular "wow", but here were the highlights: Fatima, the cork farm tour and lunch, and climbing the Duoro Valley terraces tasting grapes."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fátima visit. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an amazing and positive tour experience. The guide, Fatima is fantastic, enthusiastic and passionate and our group got on well with each other

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tomar, and the Knight Templars castle and its history and Porto"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a wonderful tour! Outstanding guide Fatima, made our group feel like visiting friends! Fatima showed her love of her country to us every day. We had no real knowledge of Portugal's history prior to the tour, but learned so much. We saw beautiful architecture, tried delicious new foods & enjoyed the friendliness of the Portuguese people. Assistant Guide Miguel, was a great addition to the group & we know he will be an outstanding guide as well. Driver Paolo, was a very skillful & safe driver

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the cork farm & learning how cork is harvested. We've never given any thought as to where cork comes from, but were amazed at the process! Our host at the cork farm did such a great job taking us through the farm & explaining the process. The wonderful lunch at the end of our visit was a perfect way to end the afternoon."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 12th trip with the company and it may have been our favorite. Fatima introduced us to Portugal and its beautiful traditions. The country was easy and welcoming. Our travel partners in the tour made it even more special.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to count. 27 years for a cork tree to produce? Tomar and the Knights of Templar. Cheering for the Portuguese team in the World Cup at the viewing area in Lisbon:,"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a wonderful tour! All the guides, especially Christina and Juao (sp?) were great at their jobs. Our only complaint was the hot weather!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm tour was amazing and all the food was delicious!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The adventure revealed a vivid, vibrant culture that has progressed economically and socially since I was last here as a college backpacker. I marveled at all the sights, sounds and people. The vistas kept getting more dramatic over the trip, especially at the Douro winery. Cristina is a marvelous host who shares a deep love and pride of her home country and I learned a lot from her. João is an encyclopedia of Portugal and its history and I tapped into his insights about the country’s dynamics.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The vibes of Porto, a quintessential European city with charm, liveliness and culture. I’ve already booked a return trip for a deeper dive! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing tour of Portugal. Our tour guides were wonderful, kind, helpful and knowledgeable. The local guides were also great at providing context, history, and comprehensive information about the places we visited. Overall the tour provided a comprehensive view of Portugal, places, culture and history. accommodate everyone's preferences for food.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We visited several medieval castles which were being restored on the exterior and interior. When we entered the castles it was amazing to see the beautiful interiors that had been built over hundreds of years and have now been brought back to their original beauty thanks in part to the funds provided by UNESCO. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 17th RS tour; I love how the tours use our group time wisely while also giving us time to explore on our own. Claudia was AMAZING! A great RS guide makes the difference from just a trip to an experience. I did not have a huge knowledge of Portugal before the tour, but I leave with an appreciation for the food, culture, and history. We definitely liked that the itinerary gave us a great selection of larger cities, smaller towns, and the countryside.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Some tours have a BIG one moment wow, but this tour I would say the wow was experiencing new things every single day. I love that RS tours allow (even the trip planners) to get to experience unexpected surprises too! From the views from a hotel room in the Douro Valley, to homecooked meals at the cork farm, to a surprise local treat on the bus rides. It is the most exciting feeling to experience new things! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Cláudia was incredible and she absolutely MADE the trip. She went above and beyond what I have come to expect from a Rick Steves tour guide. Her superior knowledge and enthusiasm for Portuguese history and culture really shone through, always ready to answer our questions and offer recommendations when needed. It was also the little things that Cláudia did for us each day that were appreciated, including organizing group happy hours and grabbing local baked delicacies for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick just one "wow" moment - but we had so many authentic, unique local experiences over the course of the trip. In particular, our visits to the cork farm and the quinta in the Douro River Valley were top-notch, intimate experiences that I would not have been able to organize if traveling alone or perhaps with any other tour company aside from Rick Steves."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my 4th RS tour but my first visit to Portugal. As usual I was impressed by my guides, the hotels, the food, the experiences, the bus transportation and the organization. It was the most physically challenging trip I've been on in a while, the cobblestones are no joke and I've walked Paris in heels. It was also one of the most "busy" tours, it felt like there was not much downtime but that might just be me comparing it to some of the smaller French villages I've visited which feel slow.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Actually, my biggest WOW moment was from a side visit I took to a special exhibit of art and fashion at the Gulbenkin Museum... but the tour WOW's for me would be the Duoro River Valley views and hairpin turns above the valley and walking into the Moorish inspired room at the Stock Exchange Bldg in Porto. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a new and varied experience each day.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Knights Templar church and the old family estate and winery in the Douro Valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Fatima, was so passionate about her country and simply a great and upbeat person to lead us on this tour. The group was inclusive and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many, but I think Tomar's Templar Castle was the most astounding. I also loved the Batalha monastery. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our time in Portugal was more than a tour - it was a witness to the deep love, understanding, and the pride of a people for their country - past and present. Our guide, Fatima welcomed us into her culture with open arms and an open heart - a fountain of information and enthusiasm-both deeply moving and meaningful - fun and whimsical - we came home feeling we had lived Portugal - not just visited.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There are almost too many to choose from, but if I had to pick just one it would be one of our first nights in Lisbon while the city was celebrating St Antonio - Fatima took us out into the crowded streets, the grills full of sardines, the squares full of live music and throngs of dancing people of all ages - the community parades - the brides running through the streets - it felt like a wonderful piece of serendipity to get to be a part of it all."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal is a rising star, with an unusual history and immense pride within the culture. Our tour guide expressed it, and we could feel it, especially since we were there during the 2026 FIFA World Cup! The historic architecture is beautiful, and we enjoyed the diversity the tour provided between the series of cities and towns that we visited. A terrific selection of cultural candy!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fátima, our amazing guide, was our biggest surprise! She never stopped! She miraculously followed all of the planned tour itinerary, plus allowed us to experience the national celebrations within the month of June. Two different saint's days, which included drink, funky hats, dance, and a huge costumed parade down Lisboa's main avenue. Portugal's first World Cup game was aired on a huge screen in Coimbra's town marketplace. We dressed in game attire, and cheered for the team! So much fun!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fatima was an incredible tour guide! She gave her heart & soul to us! I learned so much about the people, culture, and the history of Portugal. I am used to planning every detail of my vacations by myself spending months doing this, however,I never could have had the experience I had in Portugal had I planned this by myself. Fatima showed us what it was like to have the Total experience of Portugal in June with festivals, parties in the streets, and being there for the World Cup was exceptional!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments but I especially liked the Douro Valley wine tour, with the spectacular views and the scrumptious home cooked meal. Also the cities were all picturesque in their own way from Lisbon to Porto. But an exceptional wow moment was when Fatima led our group to a town square in Lisbon where we could join in the Feast of Saint Anthony. We tasted sardines, danced with the locals, and enjoyed the music. It was incredible! Thank you Fatima! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fátima did a fantastic job of making the trip fun, light, and interesting throughout Portugal. Food was generally excellent and the cork farm, Douro vineyards, and spiritual Fátima were highlights.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm tour, education, and learning experience by Sophia. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Biggest “wow” moment was probably stepping into the rotunda at the Templar castle in Tomar. Other favorite experiences were the tour and lunch at the cork farm near Évora and the winery tour and lunch in the Douro. In addition to all the history and the beautiful churches, just walking around Porto, Coimbra and Lisbon was wonderful. And the Portuguese people we met were lovely. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

There are not enough words to express how amazing our tour was in Portugal, without mentioning our over the top tour guide Fatima. She made the entire trip one of the best experiences I have ever had. She was incredibly knowledgeable, friendly, helpful, and really was great at pulling the group together. We all bought Portugal football shirts, and she took us to the Square so that we could cheer the team on. She made us feel like we were really a part of Portugal and welcomed us with open arms

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My two favorite well moments had to be touring the cork farm, followed by an incredible luncheon there and also touring the ceramic tile factory and seeing what was really involved in making these beautiful Portuguese tiles. There were actually too many wow moments to list because the entire trip was a wow moment. I loved the culture, the people, the food, the scenery, the weather, especially how Fatima showed us her love of country and pride her people have. She should be voted the best guide!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

When we picked the tour Portugal we didn’t know much about the country. Fatima, our tour guide, showed us her beautiful country with so much love and knowledge. It was an experience we will not forget. She even made all the hills and steps seem like an adventure. The local guides were all excellent too. We felt like the towns we stayed in gave us an intimate feel of Portugal. The sites we visited were amazing. Fatima gave us lots of ideas of what to explore on our own time. She was the best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow. How to pick one? Our visit to the ceramic factory was a wow and very unexpected. The owner was very welcoming and the staff seemed to enjoy showing us the different steps to the finished products. The women doing the hand painting were amazing. It gave us a feel of what life is like for them. They take pride in their work. When you look at all the pieces waiting to be painted it would be hard not to be discouraged. We couldn’t wait to go to the shops to buy the beautiful ceramics. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Beginning with our over-the-top guide, Fatima, the itinerary was incredible, and Fatima's personal touches, made this trip one of my best.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots of wow moments but I think the Convent of Christ in Tomar got my loudest wow."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Maria was top-notch, sites we visited were great, and accommodations were centrally located.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Valley, cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent guides, well planned trip to see a good overview of Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Coimbra Ceramic tour and the vineyard tour. Seeing how the ceramics were hand painted was impressive. The tour and luncheon at the cork was also exceptional."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized, saw and did alot but nice balance of free time, enjoyed thoroughly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Although I do not consider myself a religious person, it was amazing to be in Fatima on a Sunday."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful!. Excellent guides, great itinerary and iconic sights and well ececuted.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The vinyard tour and Douro Valley. The meal and wines at the cork farm were also exceptional."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a fantastic tour with wonderful tour guides, especially our main guide Maria. Lots of history, sites to visit, great dinners and lots of camaraderie with our fellow tour mates. I loved the variety of places we visited and how efficient everything ran.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The view of the Templar's castle in Tomar was breathtaking and also the vineyards were just beautiful."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very good tour. Maria and Rens were terrific. The group was friendly and got along well. It was a little weird being a single but everyone was welcoming.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The food tour in Porto and the cork farm."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful experience. This is our second trip with Rick Steves and the total experience in Portugual was amazing. It was well planned and every site that the tour took us to was thoroughly researched by the guide and were able to convey the cultural significant of the sites and culinary distictions of the region.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Porto was our wow moment. The City of Bridges and the weather effects of the convergence where the river meets the ocean. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

LWonderful trip start to finish. The guide, Rafael was experienced yet comfortable friendly funny and wanted the group to be friends. And he succeeded. We had nothing in common and yet we became very close all of the other tour guides were excellent so knowledgeable it makes that event so special. The hotels were a vast improvement. From our other RD tours We never had an unhappy moment

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many - the Fado performance. The Douro river valley and the winery tour. The hotel with the swimming pool in Évora a beautiful city. The Coimbra library "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

After a week in Portugal, we met our guide, Claudia, and fellow travelers for a vigorous adventure through the country's geography, history, and culture. The trip kicked off perfectly with an evening neighborhood walk and dinner. I appreciated the diverse activities, especially visiting a Douro Valley Quinta hotel and watching a live cork harvest. The upscale accommodations and well-balanced free time made the experience truly exceptional.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our tour was filled with "wow" moments! First, we loved the two superb Fado performances in Lisbon and Coimbra. Second, the cultural culinary experiences were unforgettable, especially the Porto food and wine tour. Third, the quality of all guides, destinations, and planned experiences was outstanding. And finally, our group formed an instant camaraderie, anchored early on by Claudia's thoughtful photo roster. Thank you."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I now feel I have a better understanding of Portugal and its history. Our tour guide shared an extensive knowledge of Portuguese history with our group and was obviously schooled in how to present it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Harvesting at the cork farm was interesting."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I loved this tour so much! Our tour guide Claudia was outstanding! Her expertise on everything Portugal was amazing!! The people in my tour was amazing as well. I loved that certain things on the tour were exclusive to Rick Steves tours. Like the amazing lunch we had at the cork oak farm and in Douro at the wine tour. The families were wonderful! This was pur first time doing a Rick Steves tour and would definitely do more! Thank you for a wonderful experience!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the cork oak tour and going to Douro Valley. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Claudia is an excellent Tour Guide!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Watching cork being harvested from cork oak trees at the cork farm. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Portugal tour was fantastic and Cristina was outstanding across many areas of expertise as our guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The River Tour boat in Porto! Maybe only 50 minutes, but I was mesmerized by beauty of Porto and Gaia from the water."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Heart of Portugal tour was everything I hoped it would be...scenic (Douro Valley, Alentejo region, Porto cruise), tasty (wine, port, a food tour!), and informative (

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting the cork farm in Alentejo. Sofia has unbelievable passion for her family's cork farm and all they produce. It was amazing to learn more about the hard work that goes into cork and its sustainability. The lunch they served was incredible. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour and tour guide were excellent. Christina was our tour guide and was very enthusiastic and knowledgeable. A great group of people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved the northern part of Portugal - the Douro Valley and Porto areas."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Cristina was absolutely amazing! She dedicated her energy of sharing her love, knowledge of history, and culture with each one of us. Her organizational skills are phenomenal and always with professionalism and friendliness.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Perfectly orchestrated, well-balanced group and individual time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Admittedly, hard to drill down to one! The first that comes to mind was the Convent of Christ in Tomar."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We had a very thorough look at most of Portugal, missing the Algarve. Christina, our guide, was very knowledgable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I cannot choose just one. I really enjoyed our visits to the cork farm, vineyard in Duoro valley and learning about the Knights Templar in Tomar."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was a perfect mixture of sights to see and time on our own. The restaurants chosen were lovely and food was delicious. A nice blend of larger cities and small villages were part of the tour. Excellent guides who shared their knowledge and their love of the area .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s difficult to pick just one wow moment. I loved visiting the Knights Templar church, the cork farm visit was excellent and the library in Coimbra was a chance of a lifetime. From my experience the people we encountered in Portugal were gracious and kind. The Marketplace in Porto was lively, entertaining and filled with delicious treats. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the Cork Farm was a wow moment. It was wonderful to experience a working farm that has been in the same family for generations. It was amazing to learn how cork is harvested."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour had a great itinerary and was timed just right. Our guide (as usual) was excellent!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tomar’s Castle of the Knights Templar"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

No complaints. Having been on previous Rick Steves tours, no disappointments

Favorite "WOW" moment

"With this very full itinerary, I really can't pick just one. Every day held something new to explore and discover. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful tour! We had a great group of fellow travelers-fun, happy, and eager to learn and see this country with so much history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley was gorgeous, but for me the real beauty of Portugal is its people. They were always friendly, gracious, and happy to share their country with us. Sonia and Maddie were terrific guides and the local guides were also fantastic. My wife and I have been on 5 previous RS tours and this one is one of our favorites."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour provided a thorough historical, cultural, and culinary experience that demonstrated how Portugal is unique compared with the rest of western Europe. I kept saying to myself "I didn't know that" multiple times every day. Geography was history, from using the sea for sustenance and exploration, from the influence of the Moors, Spain, France, and Great Britain on architecture, religion, and commerce, and from its own 20th century politics of dictatorship and revolution.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"First, Fatima. I imagined an intimate venue similar to the vision experienced by three children in a field a century ago. I was not prepared for the vast religious campus and enterprise that now celebrates faith with thousands of people. Second, Tomar's Knights Templar castle. The Templars' historical story is fascinating, but the wow was the Oratory chamber inside -- decorated with frescoes and symbolic and religious representations. I had not seem anything like it in western Europe."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Loved the "buddy system". Great way to have people checking in with each other and getting to know one another. Sonia and Maggie (tour leaders) added so much fun and value to the tour. People who participated were considerate and diverse which made traveling in a group fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visiting Tomar, the Templar Castle and the Covenant of Christ. Fatima's tour was incredibly interesting, thoughtful and intelligently presented. I really enjoyed learning about the the Knights of Templar and am inspired to read more about this topic. The castle is beautiful and historic. Well worth a visit. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The tour was a little too long. The time in the smaller cities was more enjoyable than the time in Lisbon and Porto.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cork and Port wine estates and Tomar were the most enjoyable. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Portugal is a beautiful country. The people are friendly. Our guides were very knowledgeable. I was a bit on information overload! was surprised at how hilly the cities are. You definitely have to be in good shape for this tour. Our hotels were all A+. The food was so-so in my opinion. Lots of pork and vegetables... and wine. LOTS of wine. As always, the bus was very comfortable. Our lead guides felt like family as did our fellow travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I very much enjoyed the Cork Oak farm. I learned a lot and it was nice to be out in the country. The lunch they served was fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guides Sonia and Margarida were very knowledgeable, helpful, and thoughtful as they helped our group navigate and explore beautiful Portugal. I learned so much about the history and culture of Portugal, dating back to the Roman, Morish, medieval, and modern times. All of the hotels, restaurants, and trips were expertly planned. A huge shout out to the best travel group ever!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm tour and Douro valley wine tour were spectacular. I have such a new found respect for cork and promise to recycle each and every wine cork for the rest of my life!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I so enjoyed touring Portugal. Guides Sonia and Maggie were excellent. Local guides were excellent. I loved learning about The Knights of Templar in Tomar. Cork Farm Tour and lunch was fantastic! Enjoyed learning about Port from Maria. I also loved the food tour in Porta.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I was overwhelmed by the power of faith in Fatima. Also, seeing the process of how Portuguese ceramics were made was very interesting. This group of tour members was the best of all of my Rick Steves groups. No Grumps! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour guide Todd was outstanding, providing a wealth of information at every stop. He was approachable, enthusiastic and knowledgeable. The local tour guides were also wonderful. The dining experiences were top quality.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Duoro Valley wine experience was my favorite. Not just the wine, but the country side and the river, breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide was outstanding

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the Knights of Templar castle"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was another great Rick Steves tour with lots of variety, good food, and plenty of free time.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Cork Farm, the Douro River valley and lunch at the "Rick Steves room"."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Todd was WONDERFUL! Kind, thoughtful, thorough, knowledgeable and FUN! It was quite hot in Portugal during our tour, but the hotels were great with terrific air conditioning. All but one of the hotels had elevators. Thank goodness for that! We saw and did SO MANY THINGS! We loved having local guides, as well as Todd, giving us mini tours. The people of Portugal are wam and wonderful! A GREAT tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So MANY! Pastel de Nata; Fátima; FADO was probably my most favorite! Sung by women in Lisboa and men in Coimbra! I LOVED it! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Tour was great. Saw and learned a lot about Portugal. Our guide Todd was great. He prepared over a dozen handouts and maps which made the trip even more enjoyable and informative. Todd gave us great ideas on local restaurants. His knowledge of the area was impressive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm with an 11 generation family was a highlight. The rows and rows of grape vines in the Douro Valley as they follow the contours of the hills was impressive."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Todd was very organized and provided much information. This would be outstanding if the time spent at Fatima would have been more aligned to hours of operation and/or that information was provided in first meeting. We felt the introduction meeting lacked details that were needed by us and missed the whole responsibility of the "Buddy System" explanation. Girard (our guide in Ireland) had done much better in this area.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The tour at the Cork farm and the Vineyard in the Duoro Valley was our real "wow" moment in the tour of Portugal. The family guides were terrific and the information learned from them was fantastic. Each group meal was well presented, represented the country and had fabulous setting. It was a very unique tourist & travel experience."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour started slow and unimpressed. Our guide, Todd, was very distracted and inattentive to our group in Lisbon and Evora, once on the road to Tomar, Todd's demeanor and attentiveness improved. And all seemed in order and he could focus on his group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Loved learning about Cork Trees and Port wine making, then Nazare', Batalha and the Douro Valley. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Diversity of experience and our guide Fatima, were the highlights

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm, Port winery, Tomar in general, Coima procession"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I learned so much about Portuguese history, as told by our guide Fatima in such an entertaining way. Our group was really friendly and a joy to travel with. The itinerary was just about perfect, including both beautiful vistas and historical spots. We had plenty of free time to explore on our own, which I really enjoyed.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Walking into the Knights Templar Oratory! Wow is an understatement!!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful guide, great pace and variety, interesting sights and engaging experiences

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Douro valley and winery, cork farm and fado performances"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I enjoyed the tour overall. I thought that the sites that we saw were well chosen, the tour was well organized, and Claudia was an amazing guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The two experiences that I really liked were the visit to the cork farm and the visit to the ceramics factory. I learned so much during both."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Be prepared for a LOT of stairs. Lots of great stuff to see but you need to work a little for it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The aquarium was fantastic and the countryside is breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing from the beginning to the end, so may unique experience organized to get the most out of every single day and leave me with a life time of happy memories.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"tasting barnacles. Could list may more I was wowed a lot"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rafael was a great tour guide. He did a fantastic job sharing his knowledge of Portugal. He went of his way to make sure all members of the group felt included and was anxious to get everyone’s feedback to ensure that everyone had a good experience. The local guides were also excellent. The side trips to the ceramic factory, cork farm and the winery really made the trip extra special. Fernando , the bus driver, was also great. Overall an excellent tour guide only problem was the EES process .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several but probably number one was the visit to the winery. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Organization, hotels, pacing, food, were all great. Too much history, king stories, church detail for me. The history could have been better organized and presented. Special events were very good..cork farn..etc.

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great time traveling & learning about Portugal. RS doesn’t disappoint, Rafael was a wonderful guide, so proud of his country and excited to tell us all about Portugal. The lodging, food, transportation & local guides all excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Everyday was a new adventure and better than the last. We really enjoyed the day at the cork farm. So interesting and a wonderful lunch. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Rafael, was excellent - knowledgeable, caring, and was great with logistics, helping us get the most out of each day. Our group mixed well and had a lot of fun. The visits to the cork farm and the port winery were experiences we could not have gotten on our own, and really helped us see two uniquely Portuguese industries and met the people who work so hard to keep their family businesses alive. Delicious lunches there as well. Our bus driver Fernando was helpful and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Too many to choose just one! There were many fun food tastings - barnacles, custard tarts, coffee stops, wine. For "sights", I guess I would choose the Knight's Templar sanctuary in Tomar, the crowds at the Fatima shrine, and the rolling hills in the Douro Valley lined with the handmade terraced vineyards."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From the very start at the meet and greet I felt like all of the travelers connected. Our guide made us feel like family from the beginning!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Evora, The museum of the bones"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I truly enjoyed the tour. It was well organized and very instructive and fun at the same time. The local guides were very interesting to listen to and the highlight of the trip was our tour guide. It was a nice mixture of tours, food, instructive and all around enjoyable and memorable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was visiting Tomar. I really enjoyed the history of the Knights Templar. As well as the town. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guides, great weather, great people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Hard to pick one. Maybe the cork farm "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Good sites/experiences, good food, good wine, great and caring guide. Nice travel companions.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm tour. Fatima pilgrimage site, first evening stroll emerging from escalator to a beautiful vibrant neighborhood "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Rafael was an amazing tour guide - very caring, well organized and shared extensive knowledge of Portugal history and culture, he was wonderful. The local guides in specific towns were also excellent. We learned a lot about Portugal on this tour with a real authentic view, while having a lot of fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many but the Douro Valley and vineyards were incredible and I'm so glad we got to visit a winery with so much history and family heritage."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first RS tour and my expectations were exceeded. The accommodations were all very nice as well as being centrally located. Our tour guide (Rafael) was personable, knowledgeable, well prepared and compassionate. Overall it was 12 days well spent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Touring the cork farm was one of my favorite things. Learning about how the trees grow and the harvesting process was enlightening. Having one of the owners as our tour guide and hearing the passion in his stories about his land was heartwarming. Oh, nd the lunch we enjoyed there was fantastic. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Positives: great fellow travelers, fun and energetic guide, the visit to the cork farm and the family winery, the beauty of the Duoro Valley, the amazing tiles and cobblestone art, wine, Fado performances, libraries and bookstores, food tour in Porto. Negatives: crowds in Porto and Lisbon, most museums closed for renovations, too much time in some locales and not enough in others.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Happy Hour on the rooftop of our Coimbra Hotel. Beautiful views at sunset and so many laughs with our new friends. After 9 RS tours I think about Wow Moments while on the tour. That is an issue for this tour (IMO). There really are none. There are lovely days and moments, but nothing that took my breath away. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well organized. The tours were outstanding. I also loved how free time was incorporated into the itinerary.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The vineyard tour and meal were amazing."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide Margarida was outstanding in showing us the culture and history of Portugal -she was also brilliant in creating a family of travelers.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The roof top "happy hour" Margarida orchestrated in Coimbra- "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Maggie was a superb tour guide. Hotels were all good. The ease of transport, all the details taken care of, and the group of people were all very nice. .

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm and vineyard in Douro valley were both great. Learned a lot and the food at both was excellent. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was my first tour with your company and I was very pleased.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our first lunch together at the winery near Tomar"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Everything was great! Our tour guide, Maggie, was wonderful. All the hotels met or exceeded our expectations. The tours, especially the cork farm and winery, were all enjoyable.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views of the Druro Valley were amazing. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

An excellent, well-balanced experience with a wonderful tour guide, Margarida, and a fun group of people. We really liked the guided tours in each locale, but also enjoyed the free time to wander the streets

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The wow moment is hard to pin down as there were many, but the Alentejo cork “farm” and the Douro wine tours were exceptional, especially the lunches, and wine, served at each. Just happy we didn’t have to wash all those wine glasses! And also to learn about the Knights Templar and storied history of Portugal."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

i loved our tour guide and and fellow travelers but Portugal was not my favorite tour. Lisbon and Porto were crowded and over touristed even in May. Many things were closed for renovation and Portugal just didn’t interest me in the same way other European countries I’ve visited have

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The vineyard tour in the Douro Valley. Such a beautiful area and interesting to hear about the generations of the family run port wine making business"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved the tour. It was our first Rick Steves tour so we’re apprehensive about whether we would like it. At the first night meet and greet when we heard people were on there 15th, 16th, 18th tour we figured we made the right decision. We w ere right we loved the trip

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm was great. Our local guide was wonderful. The wine tour in Douro was also great. In addition to great wine and a great lunch we got to eat cherries right off the tree"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour was greatly enhanced by our excellent guide Maria Jose. Her calm demeanor, her knowledge of Portugal and her attention to detail was amazing. Portugal, in general, is not a flashy, fast paced, high tech country. It is interesting in its history, it's earnest hard working people who love their country, and it's laid back pace. The cork farm, pottery factory, wine/port farm were all interesting experiences. The local guides also deserve mention as they all were excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had three favorite WOW moments. The first was Fatima. We were lucky to be there the day before the anniversary of the children's visions. Many pilgrims were arriving and the town was alive with spirituality. The second was the church in the Castle of Templars in Tomar. The local guide brought it to life in a special way. The last was the opportunity to join the people of Porto who were celebrating their Football (AKA soccer) having won the Primeira Liga title. Our guide helped make it possible"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Portugal is a very different European country. Rougher around the edges than other Euro countries we've experienced. This was our 19th RS tour since 2019 and we followed it with a Basque Country tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm was fantastic. We learned a lot, we got to walk through some wonderful countryside, and we rode a vehicle through the area. "

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Disappointing. My least favorite Rick Steves tour experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Probably visiting the Santa Clara church in Porto. Very ornate. The tour had fewer "wow" moments than previous tours."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was very enjoyable and active led by our treasure of a tour guide Maria Jose. Maria's demeanor was always warm and friendly, with a vast depth of knowledge about her beloved country and home city of Porto. I enjoyed the itinerary and the local tours and tour guides who were all excellent. I would have liked to seen the more southern part of Portugal as we headed west and north of Lisbon while finishing in Porto. The hotels were acceptable, except for the Coimbra Riversuites.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No specific wow...enjoyed all that each area/region had to offer. Lisbon was interesting with the different neighborhoods, ethnic food,etc. The Douro Valley was spectacular and Coimbra was fun with all the college vibe. The college was impressive as the students were graduating and ready to party.The Fatima expeience is something always to remember as we visited one day before the feast as pilgrims were already there. Porto was special as we experienced Porto's soccor championship celebration."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We enjoyed ourselves. Portugal is a beautiful country

Favorite "WOW" moment

"1) The Templar Church 2) Fado performance in Coimbra"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, with very nice people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Port winery and the cork farm were great experiences. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Maria Jose was an excellent guide (very organized, friendly, helpful and knowledgeable), group was congenial, unexpected side tours (cork farm, ceramics factory, vineyard) were wonderful). Enjoyed the pace and itinerary in general. Food experience was mixed, from exceptionally good to poor.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I had never been to Portugal and was immediately wowed by the tiles, the hills and the hardworking extremely friendly people."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour met the high expectations we had for a visit to Portugal. Our guide Rafael was very organized and informative, and made the tour enjoyable for everyone, especially when he provided the group with local food specialties. The two Fado performances were wonderful, as were the tours of the cork farm and the winery in the Douro valley. The trip to Nazare was a highlight with the spectacular clifftop views, and the chance to wander the back streets in Evora and Coimbra was enlightening.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The two most memorable moments were the visits to the cork farm and the Douro Valley winery. The tour of the cork farm was fascinating, and our host provided a detailed explanation of the cork harvesting process, and the lunch was one of the best meals we had on the tour. The Douro Valley is spectacular, and the tour of the vineyard (with a stop to pick cherries) along with a sampling of multiple varieties of port wine made the experience complete."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Wonderful tour guide and a good group of travelers. Weather was a little cool but mostly dry. Loved the Pasteis de Nata at every location. Especially when they were fresh and still warm. Visiting the cork tree farm and the Douro Valley vineyard were the highlights of the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork tree farm and the Douro Valley vineyard. Visiting locals that are keeping generational traditions alive and producing products we all love and use is so touching and memorable. So much history and knowledge passed down from generation to generation."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We loved seeing a good bit of Portugal. Our tour guide Rafael was so insightful and knowledgeable about the history of Portugal and gave us information in a storytelling way, such that we could understand as well as retain the information.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the tour and lunch at the cork farm. The meal was delicious and the setting lovely. The owner of the cork farm was funny and entertaining. Wonderful day! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I really liked the tour. The bus was very spacious, Most hotels were in great locations.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"If I had to narrow it down to one I would say the hotel on the Douro river."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Wonderful group and excellent informed guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Fatima and Nazare "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Outstanding - What more can one say?

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Trips of this breadth and depth never have a singular "WOW" moment. The "WOW"s were 24x7. Having the unexpected opportunity to speak with several Portuguese (local) people during this trip were precious moments."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour experiences were meaningful, fun, and educational.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm tour was a fascinating and educational experience. Kudos to the brother who served as the tour guide."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Tour itself was fantastic - great guide, fabulous sites, food and wine, and pleasant travel companions. Weather was less than optimal and we contracted a GI bug, hence the reason for the rating of very good vs outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Maritime museum was eye opening and fascinating. Cork farm visit was also amazing, and our hosts were so warm and welcoming! Duro Valley was breathtaking and our visit to the family run vineyard and winery was beyond special"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fatima, our guide, was amazing! Every local guide, in each stop, was fantastic. Their love for their country and their openness to telling us about the history of each location was first rate. They were enthusiastic, frank, kind and forthcoming. Fatima felt like an old friend with a new face. Her knowledge of Portugal history, current government, tax system, religious practices and even the difficult parts of Portuguese history and its impact on the world were impressive.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It is hard to pick just one but I loved the cork farm. Walking on the farm while listening to the quiet. Such a treat. The woman who described the process for making cork was incredible. Also, the Douro Valley and the wine tour. Porto was so beautiful and fun to hear the Fado music, which I knew nothing about, and the history of the Knights Templar. Coimbra was also a favorite."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent tour leader and great itinerary

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing the Duoro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I truly enjoyed Liisbon, and the excursions with the local guides were good.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I liked the cork Forest, with the tour of all the land, plants and scenery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

What a wonderful experience! The itinerary was thoughtfully planned and perfectly executed, at the hand of our knowledgable, vivacious tour guide, Fatima. The hotel accommodations were luxurious and comfortable, with helpful, friendly staff. The sites we visited were all amazingly beautiful, full of rich history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"While we really loved all the places we visited, I especially loved our tour through the Douro Valley's gorgeous scenery. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a great tour. Learning about Portugal was very interesting

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Visting the cork farm was fascinating to learn about how cork trees"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fatima was extremely personable, funny, and very knowledgeable. I learned so much from her about Portugal's history, culture, and its people. She was amazing! The local guides were also very good, and the activities during the tour were an excellent mix of education, contact with locals, and fun. This was an excellent tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The visit to the cork farm. Seeing the love and respect that the people had for the land under their care really touched my heart."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was an amazing tour. Claudia our guide was exceptional and took such good care of us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The colorful tiles on the buildings, the douro valley, the cork farm, the wine estate, Nazare', Coimbra univ. and library."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Amazing tour of a fascinating country led by stellar guide Claudia and many knowledgeable local guides. Portugal has an “Old World” charm, with a deep history, beautiful architecture, cathedrals, and lovely cobblestone streets and sidewalks. We experienced unique Fado music, a cork farm, a ceramics factory, vineyards, excellent food and wines, and kind and friendly people. The tour provided a nice variety of cities, towns, agricultural areas, cultural sights and experiences.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing and staying in the magnificent Douro Valley, one of the most beautiful places we’ve ever been. Photos don’t convey the stunning height and greenery of the mountains and steep vineyard terraces rising up from the serene Douro River."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Claudia provided the tour experience I was looking for. She displayed a true love of her country, was enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable, and fun.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm was an exciting experience. I'd not thought about cork production and/or Pine nuts. An educational experience. The owner family is super and we learned so much. Even the meal served was outstanding.""

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Another wonderful Rick Steves' with wonderful traveling companions and fabulous guide Claudia! (Claudia, Claudia, how do we do .... ; ) ) I enjoyed both the cities (Lisboa and Porto) as well as the smaller countryside sites. We saw beautiful architecture and so many beautiful tile front buildings (I now want my house tiled, lol). We ate so many pastel de nata and drank a lot of port wine. We may have tried ginjinha...

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Always too many to list just one "wow". Coimbra University and the library, the cork farm and lunch there, the Porto food tour with Angelo, Castle of the Knights Templar, fado performances, Stock Exchange Palace and Church of Sao Francisco, did I mention beautiful tiles everywhere? I did say something like wow when I saw and ate the francesinha sandwich. : )"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a very congenial group of 28 travelers - no grumps! I appreciated that there was lots of free time to explore on our own. Claudia brought Portugal to life for me - her knowledge of the country and its history - she is very passionate about Portugal! The hotels were all in great locations and Claudia did a good job of orienting us to each town. . I loved Claudia's technique of taking a group picture the first morning and posting it on what's app - and labeling each of us with our names!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the cork farm and the fabulous meal there. Also loved both Fado performances, touring the library at Coimbra University, and going to the winery. My husband and I absolutely loved the Maritime Museum - please keep it on the itinerary for 2027! Tiago was an amazing guide there. Sandra was an excellent guide at the Knights of the Templar. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very good with our excellent tour guide in Portugal, Maggie! She was enthusiastic, extremely knowledgeable, and fun. We fell in love with her.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The first cathedral we entered on our tour with a local guide in Lisbon."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Great guide, full of personality. Great fellow travelers, they were there to learn about the country and to make friends. Good cross section of the country and places to see. Perhaps could have adjusted the balance of time spent in places, but this is very much reflection of personal preference.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Duoro valley, particularly the dive up from river to summit. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour throughout Portugal. From the great hotel locations to the many sites and experiences we had, our guide, Maggie was a great travel partner. She shared the rich history of the country and infused our days with great energy and TLC along the way. Our tour group was FABULOUS and fun, too

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lots of cool moments in many of the towns we visited! Stand.out moments include the cork farm near Evora and seeing the Duoro valley."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Mama Maggie was fun and chalked full of history. I wanted to take a Master’s class with her next month to keep learning! From one end of Portugal to the other we learned so much! Highlights included the Maritime Museum which was full of amazing sailing history, mapping, actual boats and ancient cannons in Lisboa to the dynamic beauty of the Douro Valley.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning that Portuguese sailors discovered how to sail upwind by using triangle sails. And also that they discovered sailing nearly to Brazil and then heading to the Cape of Good Hope was the most efficient and successful way to get to the Indian Ocean to further their spice trade as well basically discover & reign over the world in the 1500 & 1600’s. Reading “Conquerors” now to fill in the holes. What they did in the name of Christianity was not always very Christian! "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very interesting tour, learned a lot.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork Farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour stayed on schedule, the guides were ready upon our arrival and the information and knowledge shared was insightful, thoughtful and accurate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning about Portugal and all its beauty and complexities."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was great from start to finish. Our tour guide Maggie, aka MOM, was fantastic. Warm friendly, knowledge and had great recommendations for our free time on what to see, how to get there and what to eat. She was outstanding. she even had treat for us on our bus rides. The places we saw were all great.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It hard to pick just one place as there were a lot of WOW moments, but I was fascinated by the history and the cork farm. One of the best meals was had there and the tour guide kept me engaged the whole time."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Margarida (our guide) was outstanding. Overall, each of the locations had a little something different which made the trip very enjoyable. Hotels were good and the wine was fantastic.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm surprisingly turned out to be our highlight of the trip. The owner family is super and we learned so much. Even the meal served was ohtstanding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Portugal was wonderful to explore. Our tour guide, Marguerite (Maggie), was excellent. I would say the only downside was there were several cathedrals and churches explored. They began to look alike after awhile.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many! The Cork and lunch together was very interesting. Who knew it takes 45 years before the first viable cork is taken from the tree! Coimbra's library, the school uniforms that are the inspiration for Harry Potter's school uniforms, and of course the Douro valley. It was very enjoyable going to the port wine estate and learning about the wine making techniques."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our first trip to Portugal. Our tour provided a great introduction to this interesting country!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Our visit to the Douro valley was breathtaking!"

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

Very important context, I am 33 and I was traveling with my parents, so perhaps I am not the typical target market for Rick Steves Tours. Overall the tour was good, though I would make some critical adjustments (related to the logistics and the hotels). I don't want to comment necessarily on the content provided, because that was great (but maybe just not for me).

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Rovisco Garcia (cork farm) experience - the wow moment was after we finished the tour and saw the gorgeous lodge next to the pool where we had lunch. Also lunch there was fabulous and easily the best meal we had on the tour. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was excellent a d Todd was a excellent leader. Very thoughtful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Belem are of Lisbon. I love history"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Excellent.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The farm visits, we had two."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

I had a memorable trip. There were things I was not prepared for though.

Favorite "WOW" moment

" The cork farm and dinner! The personal touch of the family meant everything. To speak and learn from someone who actually lives there was so heart warming. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a great experience from start to finish. Our tour leader Todd was extremely knowledgeable and so enthusiastic about Portugal. All of the local guides did a great job as well. Our driver Andre was very competent driving on those winding roads. As always I felt like we wouldn't have had the same experience if we weren't on a RS tour. Todd was also very helpful with suggestions for our time away from the group. Speaking of the group, everyone was amazing. Great people.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley was spectacular & the visit at the Quinta was great. The visit to the ceramics factory was also very interesting. The standout was our visit to the olives & oaks. It was very interesting not just hearing about the processes but also getting an owners perspective about running an old family business in modern day Portugal. Our lunch following was another one of a kind experience we never would have had if not for being on a RS tour. The food was incredible. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our trip was so enjoyable from start to finish. Every detail was accounted for and the unexpected moments were around every corner. Fatima and Sonja were amazing guides. Our bus driver, Mario was extremely involved and was so generous with his efforts to help make the tour a wonderful experience.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My husband and I were hiking down the hill from the castle at the top of Alfama and found a neighborhood cafe to have lunch. The food was amazing, but it was our conversation with our waiter that left us with a wonderful memory. The waiter was generous with his time and conversation, and gave us so much more than a meal in a cafe."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was full of adventure! Lots to see and do! Our tour guides Fatima & Sonia were AMAZING! I feel very lucky to have had them for our guides! Bus driver, Mario, was the BEST ever!! Loved all the cities we visited. Great tour to see half of Portugal & really experience it!!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved Douro Valley wine country. Visiting the winery, having lunch & wine tasting the port!. The cork oak farm was super fun too! Great lunch provided and fun to learn about the family farm! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Fatima, made this a wonderful tour with her enthusiasm for her country! Learning the history of Portugal was important to understanding the country today. Loved this tour!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many - the stork nests in the electric towers were cute, the ceramics factory tour was wow for the way the ceramics are painted. And of course entering the Douro Valley is a big WOW. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Hit all of the highlights of Portugal. Both Guides (Fatima and Sonia) were absolutely great and very helpful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley. The beautiful vistas from the family run winery we went to."

Overall rating: rating 3 of 5

This was an average Rick Steves Tour which still puts it way above other tours. I thought 3 days in Lisbon was way too much. There is not much going on. The museum was closed and we spent two mornings walking around Lisbon looking at buildings from the outside. Cut Lisbon back to one day unless you are going to include the castle. Also, almost all the elevators and finiculas are closed down. Lisbon is too touristy. I enjoyed the country side and Porto much more. Porto seemed much more alive and

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the buildings at the U of Coimbra. Food tour in Porto was very nice, as was the tour of the vineyard and the cork farm. I can't say anything really wowed me. Unusual for a RS Tour."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

from the exceptional tour guide to the exquisite hotel/inns to the cultural experiences, we could have not done this on our own.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Meeting with the people who live in Portugal; having lunch with the owners of the farms at their residence in the beautiful countryside"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We have loved the balance of must see cities and charming towns in the rural settings.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"To learn about the miracles at Fatima, the personal story of our Portugal guide named Fatima, and see the mass pilgrimage made to the shrine. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fatima was great, as was Sonia

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The views and the tiled architecture "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My overall tour experience was wonderful. Fatima was one of the best guides I have had. She shared her family's personal story which brought the history of Portugal alive. Sonia our guide in training was excellent too. Mario our bus driver jumped in to help whenever he could. He was an excellent wine pourer.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the meal we had in the Douro valley at the family run Port winery. The food and view were excellent."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The University Library in Coimbra."

Excellent in-depth tour, especially for our first time in Portgal!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were so many "Wow" moments, but the University Library in Coimbra was certainly a top sight!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Perfect balance of art, history, culture, food all in a most beautiful setting. Our guide was terrific as were our fellow travelers. I always appreciate the free time on these tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Wow moment was the vineyard in the Douro Valley. Spectacular views ( and wine). "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Once again, a RSE tour exceeded expectations. I initially thought that two different fado performances might be too much, but the comparison between them was very interesting. Our local guide in Tomar was also a highlight.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I especially enjoyed the tour of the cork farm. The owner's insights into their financial and environmental sustainability efforts were extremely thought-provoking."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The Rick Steves format worked very well for us again. This was our third RS tour, and in every one we enjoyed the live music evenings; visits to olive, grape, or cork farms; and local guides who are lovely to listen to.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Learning that Portuguese mixed with Spanish is called Portuñol or Portunhol."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was a wonderful tour. Portugal is beautiful and filled with old world history. Our guide, John C. was outstanding, compassionate and knowledgeable. Our fellow tour members were the best group of people we have travelled with on a RS Tour.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the Medieval Mystique of Tomar's Castle of the Knights Templar and the Douro Wine Country. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed the people and places visited. Having that tours stick to be less than 3 hours is very key for me

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I loved the lunch at the cork farm"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The Heart of Portugal Tour was our fifth Rick Steve's adventure. We were really impressed by our Guide, Claudia. We liked everything about the Tour including the itinerary, choice of hotels, and the food. Right from the Day 1 Orientation meeting Claudia made it evident she loved what she does and made sure we were all well informed with each day's events. The itinerary was laid out perfectly with the right amount of time at each stop, giving us plenty of free time to explore.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several "wow" moments, my top two would be the Fado performance in Lisboa and the trip to the Cork Farm. It was heart-warming seeing the young ladies and men carrying on a tradition that goes way back in the Portuguese history. And the Cork farm was similar in the fact that this land had been in the same families hands for many generations. It was also very interesting in learning how the Cork was harvested and all of the products that are created with the cork and nothing is wasted. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very informative and educational about Portugal and its people

Favorite "WOW" moment

"the beautiful chapel with its hand carved wooden alter and shrine at the family owned winery in Duoro valley. Also, the luncheon was delicious."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great experience, made all the more enjoyable by our tour guide, Claudia, with her personal storytelling and her knowledge of Portugal's culture and history.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"-Cork farm tour, with owner's insights and lunch at the estate. -Wine tour in Douro Valley and subsequent lunch. -Did I mention our tour guide???"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was well planned. The local guides were good. Our main guide Claudia was EXCELLENT. She was the best tour guide I've ever had on any tour, not just Rick Steves.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My wow moment was learning about Fado and the cork farm visit."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide Claudia was fantastic. The love for her country was very apparent. I learned so much about Portugal. The wines, port and soups were so delicious.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm. Away from the cities in the beautiful country side. Great tour and wonderful lunch."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Very enjoyable but too many hotels

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Nazare,vineyard,cork farm and tour companions"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This is such a great tour that this was the second time I had gone in just two years time. What made this such a wonderful trip was not just the sites and the fellow tour members, but our tour leader, Adriana. She brought a wonderful perspective and a freshness with her personal stories having grown up in Lisbon. Our local guides were also a treat who added their own unique perspective, especially Sandra in Tomar - definitely enjoyed learning about the Knights Templar.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I have two "wow" moments: stops at the cork farm and the vineyard. These are really unique experiences that you experience being a part of a Rick Steves tour. I love these because they are educational, outdoors and involved eating amazing food and drinking wonderful wine and port. One other special moment was when one of our very talented tour members took over the piano at our tour stops at a wine bar and sang a rousing rendition of 'Sweet Caroline'. Such a memorable afternoon!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Adriana, was fabulous! She clearly has a love for Portugal and conveyed that. We had very generous amounts of food and wine throughout the tour, and it was all so well planned. The bus was very convenient for traveling between cities and we had an excellent bus driver. Good balance of guided tours and free time. We really appreciated all of the local guides who imported so much information on their respective tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My husband and I both loved the visit to the Cork farm. The grounds were so beautiful and it was fun being driven throughout the farm and getting the family story of how they had to leave the farm but then we’re able to reclaim it in the 1990s. The food was fabulous at our luncheon there and the wine was outstanding. Sofia was a fabulous tour guide! "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The tour was exceptionally well-organized, with a perfect balance between excursions and free time. Our local guides were outstanding—specifically Adriana, who was amazing; her organization made the entire process seamless. A special thanks to our bus driver for the professional and reliable service throughout the trip.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"It’s hard to choose just one “wow” moment—Portugal itself felt like a continuous “wow.” The history, stunning architecture (especially hidden, non-touristic gems), amazing food, and warm, welcoming people all stood out. The Douro Valley was especially unforgettable—like a true paradise. Overall, it was an incredible experience, and Portugal is now one of my favorite countries."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Great guide, good pace, we'll planned

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Eating barnacles for food, Cork farm and douro Valley close seconds"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

It was a trip of a lifetime. I loved our guide Cristina and bus driver Helder,

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Going to Knights of Templar castle in Tomar, the winery in the Douro Valley, boat ride on the Douro River, the Cork farm, and the Shrine of Fatima."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We thoroughly enjoyed our time in Portugal. I left with a much better sense of the history, geography and culture of Portuga;

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Breathe taking scenery in the Douro Valley, especially our overnight stay along the Douro River"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was one of my favorite tours. Portugal surprised me. It was beautiful with differences between regions from coastal to mountainous. As usual, the tour was well organized. It had a great balance of free time and organized tours. I loved every minute in Portugal and I will definitely return.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were many wow moments. The tour Tomar’s Castle of the Knights Templar was one of my favorites. Fatima brought the Templar’s history to life; really one of the best tours I’ve had over 8 tours. I also enjoyed the cork farm and the visit to the Douro Wine Quinta. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

The group size was perfect. The tour guide was very knowledgeable and helpful (and remembered ALL of our names within minutes it seemed). The tour covered all of the high points of Portugal except the Algarve (which is being addressed, as I understand). Couldn't ask for more!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Douro Valley was awe inspiring. However, my "wow" was learning about the 1974 nearly bloodless military coup that overthrew the authoritarian Estado Novo regime and began Portugal's transition to democracy. What happened then (from authoritarian to democracy) followed a similar path as what's happening in the US now (except from democracy to authoritarian). It blew me away!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This tour was excellent! Our guide Cristina was top notch! The tour was fun, well organized, and included an amazing itinerary. Would definitely recommend.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Convent of Christ & Castle of Tomar, the Cork farm, port winery in Douro Valley, the Douro Valley itself, Fatima religious site, King Joao's Library. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

This was our 8th RS tour and it was just as fabulous as the others. Our guide Cristina was phenomenal. A wealth of knowledge and so warm and friendly.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I really enjoyed the cork farm as well as the family estate / farm in the Douro Valley. "

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

First, our guide Maria, was outstanding. She was helpful in every way, and provided us with many unexpected treats.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm tour and the ceramics factory."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our guide, Maria Jose, was wonderful. She was very knowledgable and extremely friendly. Our hotel accommodations were great. The tour destinations were interesting and we had plenty of free time to explore and get to know the other members of our tour group, all of whom were delightful.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I would have to say the tour of the cork farm. Our host was charming and he explained so much about the workings of the farm and business aspects of his work. The setting was beautiful and the place felt welcoming."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

From beginning to end I felt excited, taken care of, stimulated, welcome and awed. Maria is a fabulous guide who made Portugal come to life. She loves Portugal and is eager to share it.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"My favorite "wow" moment was watching the ladies in the ceramics factory hand paint the wares! Who knew that this was actually done any more?! Bent over, using tiny bristle brushes hour after hour, day after day."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

The this was my third RS tour and it did not disappoint. Thoroughly enjoyed the cities we visited, the pace and the people. Our Tour Guide- Maria- was lovely and knowledgeable. In fact all of the guides were excellent - knowledgeable and passionate.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"There were several but if I had to pick one it would be driving into Porto and stopping for a photo op along the Duoro River with beautiful views."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Well paced, variety of experiences, great fellow tour members, excellent guide, no hiccups at all. We were lucky to have perfect weather and stay healthy.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We always appreciate Rick Steves' "signature" experiences and this favorite was probably the cork farm visit, with its brilliant and hospitable owner/guide."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Overall very good tour and experience. One of our best guides ever in Maria

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm probabaly"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

Fatima was a fantastic guide.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Lunch at the ‘buddies’ event."

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved the passion our guide brought to bringing historical Portugal and today's Portugal to life for us.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"I learned so much from the cork farm. Not just about how cork is grown and harvested, but about ecological efforts to make the farm sustaining. We loved that the family shared their stories with us and the meal was wonderful as well. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Very nice!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Cork farm Castle in Tomar"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Short Answer: FANTASTIC!! Our first Rick Steves' small group tour. We've followed his books since the 90s and love them ... but THIS was unexpectedly amazing. I've become an evangelist!

Favorite "WOW" moment

"How amazing Portugal is. We loved it so much! The history, the culture, the people. Access to places and experiences that would not otherwise be available if it weren't for the tour. The whole experience was WOW!"

Overall rating: rating 4 of 5

We loved our guide(s) and had a nice time

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Seeing modern people working and hearing about current issues. Ceramics factory, cork farm, winery. "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Fatima is a force of nature. A most wonderful guide. The visits to the cork farm and the vineyard in the Duoro Valley were outstanding.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The Oratory of the Knights Templar Castle in Tomar "

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

I really enjoyed my tour to Portugal. The guides were phenomenal. I learned so much about the history, culture of each place we visited. The accommodations were very nice, the food delicious. The schedule was busy, but with lots of time to explore on our own. Although Portugal is hilly, I found it manageable. I loved the architecture, the tiles, the weather, food and of course the Portuguese people. I enjoyed meeting my tour mates. So many interesting folks from across the country.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"So many wow moments, it’s hard to choose one. The Douro Valley was stunning. I loved all the places we visited but am partial to Porto. Such a vibrant city. The Castle of the Templars in Tomar was a wow moment for me. Such a surprise. Well worth the visit."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Best of Portugal was my first Rick Steves tour. I was initially skeptical about a bus tour, but this tour has completely changed my outlook. In fact, the tour was beyond my expectations, taking us into cultural aspects of Portugal over rolling hills and through picturesque locations, interestingly narrated by our guide. Every day was different and such a delight! I also loved the free time to explore or relax. I can understand why so many of our group have taken numerous Rick Steves tours.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Being present at Fatima on Palm Sunday."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our main tour guide Fatima helped make the trip for me. I’m happy to be able to call her my friend!! Her sense of humor first and foremost created a fun and lively atmosphere. Her passion for Portugal and its people was insightful and heartwarming. Her storytelling piqued my interest to deepen my knowledge about the people of Portugal and the many points of interest we visited. Barb F.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Favorite Wow moment was Fatima's explanation of Knights Templar. Her prior teaching skills certainly were used to its full advantage and definitely piqued my interest to know more to the point I bought a book in the shop. Also, Fatima on Palm Sunday was quite emotional for me personally Barb F."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Was just awesome !!!! Every aspect of it

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Templar Knights, Nazare, Cork Farm, Fatima, Douro Valley"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had a really wonderful time touring Portugal! All of the stops we made along the tour were unique and provided meaningful insight into the history and life then and now in Portugal.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"We had the good fortune to meet and spend part of the day with two families in the Northern Alentejo and Douro Valley, each who have made their living in those places for generations. Such truly nice people who have endured and were so welcoming and happy to share their history and fruits of their labor with us. And arriving in Fatima on Palm Sunday in time to be a part of the outdoor Mass was a moving experience that was yet another WOW moment for me."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We recently took the 16-day Rick Steves Best of Portugal tour, and Fatima was an outstanding guide. Her knowledge, warmth, humor, and enthusiasm made every destination more meaningful. She kept the tour organized and relaxed, shared wonderful stories, and was always helpful with questions and suggestions. Fatima’s love of Portugal was contagious, and she made the trip truly memorable. We would happily take another tour with her.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tomar, headquarters of the Knights Templar. "

Maggie was a wonderful tour guide and I felt like we got to see all of Portugal. Our group was like a family and mixed together quite well.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The cork farm and the winery were my favorite parts of the tour. I was impressed that only Rick Steves Tours gets to have lunch at the winery."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

Our tour guide was amazing. Sites were a good mix and included places we wouldn’t have seen if on our own. The other group participants were friendly and engaged. Quite a bit of free time for couples, especially to seek dining when not scheduled for the group.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"No favorites, lots of “wows”!"

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We’ve been traveling across Europe for more than 15 years (230 days and counting) using almost exclusively Rick Steves travel guides. They have never steered us wrong - not on hotels, restaurants, guides, etc. But this was our first Rick Steves tour. We weren’t disappointed. Great guide, great traveling companions (Rick Steves fans one and all, how could they not be?), great hotel and restaurant selections, great day tours. Just a great experience overall.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Can I pick three? 1. Our tour and meal at the Rovisco Garcia farm and estate, where we learned about cork tree harvesting and sipped their excellent wines. 2. Our visit to the Quinta Santa Eufemia vineyards in the Douro Vally, which also included great wines and food. 3. Watching the sun set on Évora from the Roman temple. Breathtaking."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

My wife and I had a great time. 'Maggie' the tour guide showed us the scenery and cultural aspects of Portugal that a causal tourist would not be able to get easily.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"The vineyard tour near Pinhao. The surrounding scenery, the lunch and wine were outstanding."

Overall rating: rating 5 of 5

We had an outstanding tour and guide (Margarida). Margarida has such historical knowledge and is passionate about her country, and made it fun for everyone. The local guides for the shorter tours where also great. All the hotels and transportation aspects were just right. Lastly the other tour attendees were fun to be around.

Favorite "WOW" moment

"Tomar - The Castle of the Knights Templar and Convent or Christ were outsanding. We were also fortunate to have the very knowledgeable local guide. I could have spend a few days here exploring."