Tour do Portugal!
Portugal
|
Mar 11 - Mar 24, 2026
Really overall an amazing 2 week trip with many wonderful experiences. The knowledge and support from the Kimkim team was impeccable and took so much stress away from travel. The Kim team seemed to think of just about everything.
Our trip seemed to ratchet up at every stop. We began in Lisbon to get settle and oriented. The balance of tour and free time was important. Great guides.
Next by train Coimbra added more about history, the university and town. The trip to Aveiro was interesting and the guide superb. However, we could pass on this one and replace with a trip to Conigriba to see the Roman ruins.
Another train to Porto with enough free time to see much of the city. A fabulous guide (university professor) the next day helped us really understand the history of the area. The highlight of the trip was the next day to the Duoro valley - the driver/guide took us to a winery, maybe the best lunch we had for the entire trip on a hilltop, a ride down the Duoro river and back to another winery. Felt really special even though this was our largest group (7).
The drive to Sintra was the right choice versus a couple different trains. A whirlwind tour of three palaces the next day was good although we wish we had a more knowledgeable guide. (There are certified guides in Portugal who must study for 3 years, take tests, etc. ).
Cascais was amazing and another highlight in itself. The guide the next day was wonderful with a trip to the coast (Cabo da Roca - end of the world AKA western most point in Europe) and took us to a small local beach not far”on the tour” which may only be known by locals.
Transfers were all seamless. Thank you
Accommodations all had breakfast included:
Lisbon we booked ourselves - Ivens Hotel with a wonderful restaurant attached
Coimbra - Quinta das Lagrimas - hotel needs some updating but the former Michelin star restaurant was a nice surprise
Porto - Menina Colina Guesthouse was our favorite with an amazing room and hosts. Wanted to live in for a month
Sintra MarmĂłris Palace with the best view of all - Sintra and the moorish castle . Very accommodating and wine and cheese (and Fado!) in the afternoon
Cascais - Pergola hotel has beautiful grounds although the room was the most basic on the trip. Breakfast was excellent although we did not dine in the restaurant - too many better choices!
Hotel Reviews
Fantastic hotel with the best restaurant attached. Breakfast was the best of the entire trip.
Hotel in need of updating. Long walk to room and from room to dining. The grounds and gardens are pretty special. Not an easy place to walk from or to the town
Highlight of our trip. Amazing location, quiet. Staff were super.
Very unique place, short walk to town. Staff amazingly helpful. Wine and cheese in the afternoon with Fado one day. We had a suite with external access. Quite. Beautiful
Beautiful grounds and wonderful staff. Breakfast was great. However, room was the smallest and most basic. In addition, while it did overlook the garden, it also overlooked the restaurant which plays music and is fairly loud until 11pm. Might have been better in a room facing the back. Also, room was on the second floor so might be tough for some climbing stairs and carrying luggage
Activity Reviews
Guide was excellent. Experience was mixed at best. Aveiro is a very nice town. Highlight were the salt ponds and seeing the workers up close, Costa Nova (although empty this time of year). The town and canals not really worth it. The “gondolas” don’t go anywhere and the canals don’t even connect.
Certified guide, another LuĂs, who was fantastic, great driver, even took us to an local beach
Needed downtime and exploration. Added the convent de Carmo Which was amazing
Certified guide, Rui, was excellent. Lot of walking and stapes but really helped to orient to place and history
Pretty fun and good to be sitting. Saw a ton of the city we might not have otherwise.
Certified guide. Really interesting regarding the university. The guide was a graduate.
The palaces were wonderful. This trip wears the only one without a certified (by Portugal) guide. The guide was very nice but seemed to be filling in for his son in law In addition, entrance fees were apparently not included for two locations despite assurances we had already paid. Kimkim was great in refunding rapidly. Thank you.
Got a lay of the town. Great certified guide
Walked down to the Nova Gaia and toured the Calem Lodge. Best view of Porto from across the river.
Can we give more than 5 stars? Best overall day in Portugal. Ended up joining a wine club and could have spent a few days there. Wine liver paradise. So scenic!