The cities and towns were clean and safe. The whole group looked out for each other, showing great courtesy, respect and kindness towards each other. "I was deeply moved by our visit to Fatima - especially since we were there on Palm Sunday.". Nuno our bus driver always had a smile to share and navigated narrow roads with ease. We had only taken a RS My Way Tour prior to Portugal and our take away is that we're probably more "My Way" tour types or maybe somewhere in between. "The Douro Valley and the Vintage hotel were spectacular. The cork farm and walking the wall of the medieval village were my favorite as was the activity of Porto. "All of Portugal is a "WOW". The tour exceeded my expectations thanks to our enthusiastic, personable, well organized, knowledgeable guide - Fatima. We traveled with good friends that we don't get to see often. Except for one day of rain, we couldn't have asked for more perfect weather. We had fun with our great travel companions. "Tour of the Cork farm. Our Driver Alex was professional and safely navigated the Portugal roadways. And the cork farm!! Most days are moderate to strenuously paced with 28 miles of walking, including hilly terrain and lots of stairs. The tour was great. Doubt I would ever go with the "no-guided" tours in the future. All the food and wine contributed to our enjoyment! The vineyard tour in the Duoro Valley was a big wow moment, but I enjoyed all the small wow moments along the way - walking on the beach in Nazare, enjoying a warm pastry in Belem, the food tour in Porto.". Enjoyable. Your guide will help steer you to Porto's airport, which is an easy metro or taxi ride away. The tour was fabulous as usual for a Rick Steve's tour, but was somewhat disjointed because of having 3 guides. Great self-guided neighborhood walks and museum tours. Booking round-trip to one city will require a connecting flight, train trip, or additional overnight stay in Portugal. The variety of experiences was lovely, and I truly felt like I got to know the people and culture of Portugal very well. From drinking the sour cherry liquor ginjinha in walled Obidos to visiting a cork farm, the variety made for a fascinating experience. I learned so much about Portugal's history and culture from our amazing guide, Fatima, and the wonderful local guides she provided for us. The hotels and the food were all excellent.The sights varied from neighborhood walks to visiting monasteries, walled towns, vineyards, a cork farm, churches and castles. "I loved the Cork Farm Tour, the winery/port tour, and the food tour. We loved our time in Evos with her. If there was a side tour during the first week, that might be a consideration--maybe an apple or tree farm????". Great attitudes and energy. CBS News Ever since COVID cancelled his travel plans, he's mostly been staying inside, practicing piano, and exploring. And then there were the amazing artist who hand paint the tiles and various ceramic art pieces To wrap it up, I guess my favorite wow moment would have to be just "Portugal" !!". It should not be a two night stay. We got to bond a little more with folks while enjoying fruit & wine.". I loved our winery guide; she clearly explained the wine/port growing/making process , really fascinating. The majority of the outings were fantastic! I've been on a few tours but the collection of people and Rafael as our leader made this an exceptional trip. (21:26), Portugal train strike-June 5 to July 5, 2023, Portugal train tickets- Beware of unauthorized online sellers. The Douro Valley was beyond beautiful.". Our tour was very enjoyable from start to finish. ", "After thinking the cork farm would be the wow, I then thought the Sunday Mass at Fatima being the wow, but the WOW was stomping grapes at Quinta de Santa Eufemia. "The amazing lunch at the cork farm and at the winery in the Duoro valley". There were so many more! Our 11th RS tour. On arrival in this rustic Portuguese San Francisco, a savvy guide will show us how to explore the city through our taste buds with a sampling of delicious local cuisine, teaching us about history, architecture, and culture along the way. They managed the group effectively with fun and enthusiasm. She brought Portugal to life. Christ of the Trenches cross. Our guide was amazing. This was my 7th Rick Steves tour, and this one was just as excellent as all the others. Her passion for her country, her people, history, her family roots & Portuguese traditions were palpable. For my wife it was the library in Coimbra.". I had the opportunity to sit next to our guide's wife and young daughter. The tour was all we hoped for and so very much more. Step back into history at the palaces in Sintra . Boat: hour. ", Very good tour, with a few hiccups (bus problems on the way to Porto, whoops), great guide, pulled group together, well informed. ", Appreciated all of our tour guides. "Douro Valley (we stayed in Pinhao)--pictures of this area can't do it justice.". He has an extraordinary ability to share his passion for his country and its people in a way that is engaging, informative and enjoyable. :) Our tour guide, Javier was wonderful. Her energy, knowledge and love of her country were contagious. My greatest uncertainty turned out to be the greatest positive - traveling with 20+ other people for 10 days. Loved the tours of the cork farm and the winery with an excellent lunch provided by both. "I would have to say the ceramic factory - I have a new appreciation for the Hand Painted goods we see in the shops.". However, an effort was made to provide alternatives for my wife and me. A very close second was the visit to the family owned vineyard in the Douro Valley -- lots to see and appreciate about how port wine grapes are are grown, the wine is produced produced followed by another excellent home cooked meal. I loved what I saw but it was a little too fast paced for me. "Visiting the cork farm and vineyards in Douro Valley. 5. This was the best tour we have ever experiencedanywhere. we like the idea of having some free time. Fatima was a great tour guide. The reverence that Claudia showed while explaining the events happening was emotional, and created a sense of awe for me. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. Restauradores Martim Moniz Baixa- Chiado Baixa-Chiado Cais do Sodr Rossio #15E #28E #28E #28E #28E Bus Tours #2, 12E, &15E #12E & 28E Rossio Largo do Carmo Praa Duque de Tercei ra Praa Cames Fellow travelers were great. If I had to chose, I would say my favorite "wow" moments were listening to Fado singers in Lisbon in a historic restaurant and an impromptu opera concert arranged by our tour guide. The restaurant behind the hotel was awesome {on our own} The happy hour we had at Book and Cook (the library restaurant) was awesome. Be on your feet, walking and standing, for up to four hours, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions. All guests of RST stayed in the rooms facing the lake view. We really enjoyed the tour, the pace was very active, the food was just okay, really enjoyed the lunches at the farms the best. Waking up in our hotel in Obidos, looking up to castle walls and towers, and the view overlooking the valley.". We had a particularly great group! His latest book, "For the Love of Europe: My Favorite Places, People, and Stories," is a collection of 100 essays from his . "Probably a toss-up between the Cork Farm outside Obidos and the Ceramics factory outside of Coimbra. The itinerary was a great overview and introduction to Portugal, made especially wonderful by our guide, Claudia, whose abilities were/are beyond measure. We also had a great group of fellow travelers. Not to nention knowledgeable! We loved riding through it and visiting the winery.". Fatima was an outstanding tour guide. Fatima was a wonderful guide and our group really bonded under her leadership. As always, it was a comprehensive tour! You'll have the rest of your afternoon free to visit any of Lisbon's "niche" museums (tile, fado, port wine, and other Portuguese specialties). Our tour group bonded quickly, and that really enhanced the overall experience. "So many, the library at Coimbra University, Douro Valley, Fado concert were some highlights.". Each of these farm tours was extraordinary in their own way and was a break from the cathedrals, castles and monasteries. I was on the tour where 11 people out of 28 got Covid so it was an interesting experience. A nice variety of experiences and nicely paced. Stained legs and laughter.". The buildings, churches, tile, tiled streets were unbelievable. We'll have a chance to meet farming locals and taste-test their olive oil. Also, the trip through the vineyards in the Douro Valley was BEAUTIFUL. "I had lots of wow moments but I think my favorites were the visit to the cork farm and vineyard and the happy hour in Obidos". We really enjoyed the Heart of Portugal. Most tour members arrange to fly into Lisbon (LIS) and out of Porto (OPO) choose "multicity" on flight-booking websites. Once again, superb guides, Roberta and Marie-Jose who filled in at the last moment. Hotels were great too. What a bonding time with my fellow travelers. This tour was at a fast pace that was very rewarding. Except for a few days of rain (which did not stop uswe just used our raincoats and umbrellas ) it was a wonderful tour with beautiful weather, a very knowledgeable and personable tour guide who guided us on the best of Portugal tastes, sights, sounds. Good tours but too many churches kings queens and clergy. We appreciate the ability of the company to find us replacement Tour Guides after Margaret had a family emergency - 3 guides with 5 days showed quite the diversity of the Rick Steves staff. In Portugal, however, there isn's a flat spot in the entire country. We definitely saw more, did more, and learned more than if we had tried to navigate this on our own, even using the RS guidebook. June 28, 2018 Today we'll head east to the laid-back Alentejo countryside and the history-rich university town of vora. "The Cork farm visit, which included a delicious lunch afterwards served with local wine. Portugal is a fascinating and welcoming country making me want to include it in future travels. I am not able to compare it to another European country in terms of vibe, food, and language. I believe some things could have been left out and others added. "Fatima. Bus: 4 hours. Loved everything but those were highlights.". It exceeded my expectations on every level - sights, food, culture. We made the best of the situation and after the quarantine period made it to Porto, where we explored on our own for several days. 28 people is a lot! Both provided great insights into key aspects of Portuguese life and culture.". Great atmosphere with huge variety of food and drinks. I regret not being able to complete the tour due to Covid, but I enjoyed very much my first four days. Rick Steves' Audio Europe App available for Apple and Android. "I loved both the Cork/Wine Farm and the Wine/Port visits were special. Also the Douro valley is up there as well. "Stomping grapes at a lovely family-owned winery in the Douro Valleya once in a lifetime experience.". Excellent mix of history, art, religious history,, music, and food. Also, Teresa of St Euphremia Vineyards, explained how port wine is grown and processed as we walked around her farm that has been in her family for generations. Maria was very helpful after I tested positive. Recommend this tour! The library in Coimbra. The bus and driver were excellent, too. Our guide, Fatima, was fun, shared great information, was proud of her country, and she ran a "tight ship" with lots of humor. Saw charming small towns, cork farm and vineyards. Very well done. "Our visit to Rovisco Garcia to learn about cork, olive oil, and wine production. "The walls of Obidos at night . Gnarled fishermen still mend their nets, and rustically clad women sell fish and produce in markets. Family owned pottery company. ", Tour members and a guide were very pleasant and excellent tour team, "Grape stomping together with members and Claudia". "Reading Jose Saramago while in country Visiting the cork farm". I was pleasantly surprised by the evening dinner for my birthday!". The tour keeps the participants busy but in a constructive way. The food was delicious and the hosts incredibly generous with their time and energy.". I knew from the welcome meeting that she was going to make this tour enjoyable because she has the right personality. Tour Lisbon's cobbled lanes and grand squares, reminders of Portugal's seafaring glory days. You have to be in pretty good shape for this tour, lots of walking on coublestones. Portugal was a great place to visit. To help you get started, I've listed my top picks for where to go in Portugal, and my plan for your best two-week trip. However, that didn't take away from our enjoyment.". Every day had significant highlights, great fun". The tour included a lot of monasteries and churches--maybe a few too many. The variety was terriffic, from a cork oak forest walk to intense city centers. 2. Your Rick Steves guide will take you on an intimate adventure that connects you with the Portuguese people, from salty harbors to sun-baked farms to lovingly tended vineyards. The R.S. "There were two of them. Claudia was kind, thoughtful, knowledgeable and always made sure to give each member of the group the best experience she could provide. Bravo, Rick, for giving us an authentic taste of Portugal! "The tour of the Cork Farm. His singing was so beautiful, it brought tears to my eyes.". Move over Tuscany.". Both guides, Roberta and Maria, were very good on every part of the tour. His mission: to empower Americans to have European trips that are fun, affordable, and culturally broadening. All together one of our best Rick Steves' tours (out of a total of 16 tours). "Definitely the cork farm visit. It was inspiring to see the carefully crafted terraces and stone work on the steep hillside vineyards created over hundreds of years. "Seeing all the magnificent tile work through out the country and visiting the Quinta in the Douro Valley. We loved the tour and loved meeting her and sharing in her pride and enthusiasm for her country! We had a great time. Our guide, Fatima, clearly loves Portugal and her enthusiasm for her country was contagious and informative. "There were several wow moments for me on this trip, from the wonderfully busy, winding streets of Lisbon to the tiled buildings of Porto. Javier was a fabulous guide. 26m IMDb RATING 8.6 /10 597 YOUR RATING Rate Documentary Reality-TV American travel authority Rick Steves guides viewers through his favorite European cities. Food was below average. The tour was wonderful. Sadly, it is a town that exists for tourism.Do NOT stay in Obidos. We learned much, saw this beautiful country and met even more beautiful people thanks to her. no surprises, everyday well scheduled, well planned, thoroughly packed with exposure to Portuguese culture. Tour Questions? The visit to Quinta Santa Eufemia in the Douro Valley. "Beautiful Portugal is rich with history and Roman ruins that surpass most everywhere, but it's the people that wowed me the most. "No one wow moment, but the whole country, the people and the culture. I was enchanted by the student groups in their black attire and robes musically performing. Her time was dedicated to us the entire trip. I believe RS needs to encourage/require the guides to get tests from guests with symptoms - several guests exhibited symptoms during the trip. "Many, many extraordinary vistas of Portugal.". If your idea of good travel includes friendly locals (who generally speak English), a rich culture, affordable prices, a thriving urban scene, seaside resort towns, exotic architecture, windswept castles, and fresh seafood with chilled wine on a beach at sunsetyou've chosen the right destination. It was a beautiful scene!". Overall a very good tour. Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. I loved visiting and learning about the cork farm, and enjoying the excellent lunch there. It competes with our day on the cork farm.". I enjoyed seeing some sites and having some experiences I would not have had on my own or with other tours. Our Dinner at "Momentous" was one of the best dinners we've ever had. "Douro Valley winery and the evening by the river, the tour of the ceramic factory, and the day at the cork farm.". Amazing tour. "The opportunity to interact with locals on the two farms we visited. Parts of it were very good. Portugal - Rick Steves' Europe Home Explore Europe Portugal vora Share Portugal Perched on the Atlantic on the far edge of Europe, Portugal preserves a salty, traditional culture. That put stress on the next day. The show is produced by Oregon Public Broadcasting and distributed by American Public Television. We'll begin today with a visit to Alcobaa to tour the ornate Baroque-Gothic Cistercian Monastery of Santa Maria, where we'll hear the star-crossed story of King Pedro and his doomed mistress, Ins. The lunch was delicious and the wine flowed freely. "Our visit to Fatima was moving, not only for the majesty of area, but also for the feeling of awe that premeditated from the pilgrims that had traveled so far to be a part of the experience.". "Probably the "Oaks, Olives,and Obidos day." But my favorite experience on this trip was dining at Momentos (Claudia's recommendation) in Evora. You'll have the evening free to continue to explore the museum or return to Lisbon for dinner on your own. 2023 Rick Steves' Europe, Inc. | Two of the hotels and very nice pools which were very inviting during some of our free time. Follow-up was the Fado in Coimbra, the singing was magical, the 12 string guitar playing outstanding.". 8 New Shows 2021-2022 $9.99 12 New Shows 2019-2020 $4.99 $14.99 20-Year Anthology DVD Box Set $49.99 European Christmas DVD $9.99 European Christmas Music CD $9.99 Roman Temple in Evora, and Douro Valley.". Out on Salema's beach, residents and tourists pursue a policy of peaceful coexistence. She was kind, knowledgeable, and had many fun surprises for us that we never expected. We found the number of monetary visits to be a bit too much, however. Overall, the food was very good, with one exception. The first meal at the train station was not a good intro to the tour. Our guide, Maria, was exceptional and made an extra effort to add her touch to the tour with local treats and suggestions. "Getting to tour and visit with the owners of the cork farm and learning about their farming methods. Heart of Portugal is a very challenging tour but the most rewarding. Sleep in Coimbra. (PDF Download) Rick Steves Portugal (2023 Travel Guide) By Rick Steves Ebook PDF Rick Steves Portugal (2023 Travel Guide) | EBOOK ONLINE DOWNLOAD If you want to download free Ebook, you are in the . Generations in this family have poured their heart, soul and hard work into this place.". Sharing how they make the business and family life work, and how similar issues are with children was delightful.". Being invited in to see an Obidos tavern owner's renovations and hearing his story was a special wow moment.". "It's difficult to choose between the spectacular natural views of the Duoro Valley and the incredible artistry of the cathedrals and tileworks.". I loved the cobblestone roads and sidewalks and all the tiled building s. The food walking tour was great,". ), "The surprise lunch in Nazare was amazing, the men and women fado group in Lisbon were wonderful, and a professional Opera singer singing in an outdoor alcove in Alcobaca was an unexpected delight.". This was an experience that would have been difficult to achieve without the tour.". The RS Portugal tour was great. Her love of Portugal is contagious and it brought the country and people alive. Great tour. Loved our guide Fatima - she gave 110%. We went to places and saw things that we never would have found or known about on our own. "To me walled towns are magical, with Obidos being the first castle town it truly was a moment for me to see the ramparts and experience the beautiful sunset. "I particularly like the town of Nazare. It was just about the right length of time although we would give up a night in Lisbon and would rather have spent another night in vora! While these were beautiful, after awhile they all blended together. Love those small family run excursions". The dedication and commitment of this family to the ecosystem and the generational inheritance of this farm was mind-blowing. For more information about transportation options for getting to and from your tour, see your Rick Steves Portugal guidebook. This was another excellent tour. "The two "wow" moments were visits to the cork farm and the vineyard/winery. Every aspect of the tour was well-planned and it showed. I have never experienced anything like this. The coordination, planning and execution of the daily events were seamless. We loved Portugal. Depending on the length of your trip, assuming you're using public transportation, and taking geographic proximity into account, here are my recommended priorities: Day 1: Arrive in Lisbon (sleep in Lisbon), Day 4: Lisbon, or side-trip to Sintra by train (sleep in Lisbon), Day 5: Morning in Lisbon; in the afternoon, pick up car and drive 3 hours to the Algarve (sleep in Salema), Day 6: Beach day in Salema (sleep in Salema), Day 7: Side trip to Cape Sagres and more beach time (sleep in Salema), Day 8: Drive 30 minutes to Lagos, then, later in the day, 3 hours to vora (sleep in vora), Day 9: Morning in vora; afternoon to Nazar via bidos (3 hours of driving; sleep in Nazar), Day 11: To Coimbra (2 hours) with possible stops in Alcobaa, Batalha, Ftima, or Tomar (sleep in Coimbra), Day 13: 2.5-hour drive to the Douro Valley (sleep in the Douro Valley), Day 14: 2-hour drive to Porto, drop off car (sleep in Porto). "Cork farm tour and the Vintage Hotel in Pinhao.". The hotels were perfect in location and amenities. Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. "Going to the cork farm was an amazing experience. We knew nothing about harvesting cork, and Sofia was the perfect guide to the process, start to finish. The local guide made all of us feel as if we were eating lunch in her own home.". The location of our central hotel with so much to see and do just outside the entrance, including the wonderful trolleys was a great choice. Moderate walking: 26 miles throughout the day with some hills and stairs. This city was such a mix of the very old, the new, a population that was young and appeared anxious to try and preserve a culture and move in to the future at the same moment.". This was our tenth Rick Steves tour and it did not disappoint. As with previous tours, a very good itinerary was made into an outstanding trip by our guide Fatima and the local guides. ", The tour was successful. We learned so much. 489 ratings25 reviews. Wow!". "Two WOW moments were the Cork tour and the Santa Eufemia Winery and lunch. Great group. "Recinto Megalitico, Cromeleque dos Almendres, an extra sidetrip that Roberta arranged for 8 of us. The very first few from the bus upon arrival was breathtaking. My travel companions and I made new friends at every stop, every cafe, every Uber. I learned a lot about Portugal including its culture, history and government. Bus: 2 hours. The food was terrific and our mix of travelers was the best! The monuments and the monastery/church were great. Tour guide was exceptional, areas covered were extraordinary. The food tour in Porto was phenomenal. Our guide, Fatima, was bubbling with pride of her country. The food, wine, history,and religion of Portugal were discussed with such enthusiam. Our guide was outstanding and most of the hotels were wonderful. Along the way we'll learn about "village" Lisbon's neighborhood life, the poetry of the revered Fernando Pessoa, and Portugal's "Carnation Revolution," which peacefully ended nearly five decades of fascist rule in 1974. Also, attending a gathering with Maria & the group on the hotel rooftop in Evora was special. "I liked everything I saw but if I have to pick it was the cork farm and the port wine estate, lunches with the owners especially.". Then we'll take in the view from Edward VII Park before ending at the world-class Gulbenkian Museum, where we'll see how an international oil tycoon assembled a priceless art collection spanning 5,000 years. Too much time spent at individual sights. Excellent tour guide and enjoyable tour-mates. We also loved the Douro Valley and the town of Evora.". "Monastery of Jeronimos and city of Obidos". What a wonderful birthday I had in Coimbra, complete with Fado signing. "Lisbon enchanted me. The tour guide was very well organized, and everything went smoothly. Weather cooperative. Great guide. I was impressed with number of people that spoke English. I had seen clips of fado performances on the Rick Steves shows about Portugal and listened to some before we went on the tour, but the live performance far exceeded any expectations.". "Most may say the tile factory, cork farm, or winery in the Duoro Valley as wow moments. The weather was great, scenery and stops just lovely. :The tour was brought to perfection by Cristina through her charm, extensive knowledge, attention to detail and her love of Portugal. I felt that the tour could have been a little shorter - cut out a day in Lisbon and possibly Douro Valley overnight (although the hotel was stunning). Using public transportation, modify the itinerary as follows: From Lisbon, take the bus to Salema (change in Lagos). A rare chance nearly missed.". "The portugese meals, some in the proverbial hole in the wall restaurants and the restaurant owners welcome to Fatima and us. ", "Walking the streets in Lisbon and seeing all the beautiful and varied tiles.". An excellent tour highlighting the major cities and rural settings. Strenuous. "I was in awe of the large map of the world that designated The seafaring of the Portuguese sailors and the Portuguese colonies. Great people and enjoyed the activities and food - especially the trip to the cork farm! Learning about the harvest of cork and pine nuts was special. "Visiting an active cork farm and learning about the process of growing cork oak trees from start to finish was the highlight of the tour for me. This was my 7th RS tour and I am alway amazed at the quality of tour guides, hotels, bus driver, bus and other amenities that Ive come to expect (and appreciate) with Rick Steves tours. From an impromptu concert while in Alcobaca to the amazing lunch in Coimbra, these little moments made the trip. Until I contracted COVID I was enjoying the broad exposure to Portugal. Fatimas energy and enthusiasm made every moment a pleasure. The local guides were all fantastic. Could have been outstanding with less people. Batalha Site of the Monastery of Santa Maria, widely considered Portugal's finest architectural achievement.
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