My partner and I spent a wonderful week in Portugal, previewing the route for our small group tour, meeting local guides, checking out activities, and eating our weight in Pasteis de nata. I can report that the food, wine, natural beauty, and hospitality were truly memorable!
Among the highlights were a walking tour of Lisbon with a local guide who provided a fresh perspective on the history and culture that have made the city such a melting pot. From there we traveled to nearby Sintra for a tour of Pena Palace. This spectacular castle incorporates architectural styles that range from Moorish to Romanesque to Renaissance, that somehow work together. It’s really a wonder to see in person!
After a stop downtown to taste Sintra’s signature Travesseiro pastry, we headed to Cascais. This fishing village was once a summer retreat for Portuguese nobility and retains some stately seaside villas, along with beautiful beaches and a 16th century fort. From there we drove to Cabo da Roca, whose rugged coast marks the westernmost point in mainland Europe. Standing on a windswept cliff with a panoramic view of the Atlantic, it was easy to see why this spot was once believed by sailors to be “the end of the world.”
On the advice of our local guide Agnes, we made a detour to picturesque Sesimbra on our way south to the Algarve. An important port during the Age of Discovery, the town is now best known for its beaches and restaurants specializing in traditional seafood dishes. It was a perfect place to wander narrow cobblestone streets and admire the colorful tiled buildings. I plan to add a stop in Sesimbra to our fall tour itinerary.
Our final destination was Portugal’s southern Algarve, a region famous for its beaches and surf spots, natural beauty, and seafaring heritage. We stayed in the small family-run hotel in Lagos where our tour group will stay. The property is lush with tropical flowers and palm trees and we loved being able to eat breakfast on the hotel’s sunny terrace despite it being March. Surrounded by ancient city walls, Lagos is best-known for jagged limestone cliffs that over centuries have weathered into unique rock formations, some jutting as high as 60 feet out of the sea. We joined a small group for a kayak tour to Ponte da Piedade, one of the most scenic of the rock formations. With a local guide leading us, we paddled through caves and grottoes and under towering arches, a truly unforgettable experience.
For our first dinner in Lagos, we sought out a place that our guide had promised was the best in the area, and her recommendation was spot-on. The oceanside restaurant’s glass front provided a view that was rivaled by the amazing food. Our meal–fresh seafood, rustic bread with a trio of flavored handmade butters, perfectly prepared local vegetables, and chocolate bon bons filled with almond paste–was so good that we went back the next night. Our waiter, who we now consider a friend, suggested a vintage port to go with the pavlova he insisted I have for my birthday. It was among the best meals I’ve ever had and I’m eager to share my new favorite restaurant with our group this fall. There are lots of incredible experiences in store and I hope you’ll join me on this tour!
Learn more about the 2025 Portugal tour here