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Experiences you have as you travel often hold the longest memories. As part of their research trips, our specialists seek out authentic ways to get to know Portugal, and the best local guides. These activities reflect some of their best-loved experiences.
Ponta Delgada walking tour
Tour the narrow, cobbled streets of Ponta Delgada, the capital of the Azores, with a local guide. Learn about its foundation, architecture and defenses and its heyday in the 18th and 19th centuries when wealthy merchants constructed imposing Baroque buildings.
Lagos coastal walk and Sagres visit
Explore Portugal’s southern coast on this full-day walking tour from Lagos. The hike takes in the city itself as well as the cliffs at the Ponta da Piedade, before heading for the remote village of Sagres overlooking the Atlantic.
Sete Cidades 4x4 and cycling tour
Explore by 4x4 and bike to get far-reaching views of the enormous caldera at Sete Cidades as well as a more personal introduction to this unusual landscape, its history, legends and lakes as well as the volcanic activity that shaped it.
Kayaking at Furnas Lagoon
A crater lake cradled by a dormant volcano, Furnas is surrounded by lush hills, geothermal fields and small villages. Paddle around the lake with a local guide to learn about its volcanic heritage as well as its plant and animal life.
Sintra and Cascais coastal drive
Whimsical palaces and exotic gardens give Sintra a magical air. You can explore this fairy-tale town, just north of Lisbon, and its surroundings on a private guided tour, which also takes in the coastal resort of Cascais.
Portuguese country cooking class
On this hands-on half-day activity, you’ll visit a family farm in the countryside and learn to cook authentic Portuguese dishes. You’ll get an insight into Portugal’s food traditions and typical ingredients, as well as learning the practical skills you’ll need to prepare the dishes back home.
Hiking Pico’s wine region
Take a guided walk around the UNESCO-protected vineyards of Pico, an island cultivated with vines since the 15th century. Learn about the history of viticulture here and the unique growing conditions before sampling local wines at the island cooperative.
Mafra, Óbidos and Batalha
Get to grips with Portuguese history with the help of a private guide on this full-day tour from Lisbon that takes in the 14th-century Monastery of Batalha, a medieval hilltop village and the flamboyant Palácio Nacional de Mafra.
Traditions of Lisbon walking tour
Explore Lisbon with a local guide on a private half-day walking tour, which takes in several of its most interesting districts. You’ll learn about the city’s history and traditions, and stop for local food and drinks along the way.
Market to plate cataplana cooking class
Learn how to make the Algarve’s signature dish — cataplana — a combination of fresh seafood, vegetables and spices, on this half-day cooking course with a private chef. You’ll be guided around Faro’s central market and then cook the dish in a local restaurant in the city’s historic old town.
Alentejo wine tour with wine pairing lunch
Explore the wineries of the Alentejo region on a full-day tour that includes a wine-pairing lunch and visits to two wineries. Along the way, you’ll learn about the history and traditions of one of Portugal’s premier wine-producing regions.
Porto panoramic tour with lunch cruise
Explore Porto’s history and culture on this half-day guided tour that includes a walking tour of its historic districts, a visit to the beach and a hilltop lookout, as well as a river cruise where you can enjoy lunch on board.
Évora and the Alentejo: wine and gourmet tour
Explore the Alentejo, Portugal’s most significant food and wine region, on a full-day private tour. You’ll see Roman remains and medieval streets in historic Évora, sample local wines in a family-run winery, and drive through rolling countryside in-between.
Whale and dolphin watching in the Azores
Explore the deep waters off the Azores on this half-day whale and dolphin watching tour in an area where about 25 different species, from blue whales to humpbacks and orcas, are frequently seen.
Historical tour of Braga & Guimarães
Visit churches, castles and palaces, winding lanes and medieval plazas as you explore historic Braga and Guimarães. A guide and driver will help you explore two of the most significant cities in Portuguese history on this private full-day tour from Porto.
Arrábida panoramic tasting tour
Explore some of Portugal’s most dramatic coastal scenery on this full-day private tour through the Arrábida region south of Lisbon. En route you’ll get to visit a local winery, coastal cliffs and quaint towns with medieval castles.
Breakfast above the clouds
Tuck into a private picnic on the summit of Pico do Areeiro as the sun rises above an ocean of cloud. You can watch the sky brighten in rays of warm orange light to the sound of birdsong, all with a hot drink in hand.
Hiking Madeira’s levadas pathways
The levada trails run alongside Madeira’s 15th-century network of waterways. You’ll find panoramic views around every corner as you trek through the dense forests, emerald valleys, and remote villages of the island’s hinterland.
