Lisbon Shore Excursion: Private Lisbon Sightseeing Tour

A busy day, but we sure got our money's worth! Our guide, Catarina, was WONDERFUL and intent on including everything that WE had on our list isn't it all about the guide?!, totally committed to showing us her much-loved city. Educational visits to all major must-see sights, and some off-the-usual-path sights, too like the gentrified area around the site of the World's Exposition, which included a cable car ride!. She also made sure that we had enough time to enjoy a beer in Alfama, and lunch with working-class locals in a busy shopping area garlic squid to die for! and that world-famous Pasteis de Belem pastry which we enjoyed without standing in line, thanks to Catarina. Comfortable, modern van. Loved the day, big time!

The sights that we saw in Lisbon on the tour were great and we also really liked stopping at the Portuguese pastry shop. The egg tarts are not to be missed. However we were very disappointed in our tour guide and the transportation. We had booked the small group tour and there were 4 of us in our party. 3 of those in our party were over 70 years old. First our ship stayed on ships time while in Lisbon and as we waited for our tour guide it seemed like virtually every other tour made this one hour adjustment. Our tour guide did not. Then even after the one hour had passed, our tour guide was not there. As a result we had to wait about an extra 1/2 hour for her to show up. We phoned the office a couple of times and the man who answered the phone said our guide was stuck in traffic and would be late. He also said he tried to call us but our phone was off. We question the truth in this as our phone records every missed call even when the phone is turned off when the attempt is made. When our tour guide showed up she said traffic was bad because the prior day was a holiday. This should not have been a surprise to her as she is a local and the other tours showed up on time. Then she did not park right at our port location but we had to walk a bit to get out of the port then to cross the street to go to a public parking lot. We were dropped in the same lot at the end of the tour. For the sights we were taken to see there was extensive walking from where she would park the car to where she was taking us. I am talking blocks and blocks of walking just to get from the parking lot to the site. One member of our group told the guide that we did not sign up for a walking tour. We feel like most of the tour was spent walking from the car to the sites. This happened to be the first viator my wife and I had taken and we booked with them upon the recommendation of the other 2 people in our group. Had this been our only viator, it would have been our last. However we are very happy to report that all the other viators we took were fantastic in all aspects important to a tour so we have really changed our opinion of viator. I must add that this guide was very pleasant and friendly but did not seem to be the most knowledgeable of the tour guides we had on other viators.

This was a terrific way to see a beautiful city at less cost per person than many shore excursions offered from our ship, covering more ground and with a far more personal focus. Our terrific guide, Joel, made it possible, in a single day, to really get a feel for Lisbon's fascinating history, complex culture and diverse neighborhoods. There were six of us traveling together, and the mini-van provided was far more comfortable than the large 30-odd-passenger tour buses. We couldn't have been happier with Joel's choice of a restaurant for lunch -- not the typical tourist spot one is generally subjected to on a ship's excursion, but a superb local fish restaurant with an extensive menu and fantastic food. For first-time visitors to Lisbon, with only a day to spend getting to know the city, this private tour was informative, fun, and ultimately among the most satisfying hours spent on our cruise.

This tour was amazing!

good tour, great guide. car used too small for 4 adults.

Joel was a fantastic guide and driver!

Wonderful day with Joel. He showed us all the beautiful views, local unknown gems and meal in true Portugal restaurant, not tourist venue. He was passionate that we see and experience all that we could fit into a day.he did this all while accommodating mu husbands accessibility needs. six of us had a phenomenal time. I highly recommend.

I was pleased with everything about the tour. We had an outstanding guide/driver and we were shown some impressive sights among the best Lisbon has to offer. We were originally planning on four people, but because of last minute illness, we only had three, which was probably good in a way because it would have been a very tight fit for four peple to fit comfortably in a mid-size Mercedes sedan--this is my only negative comment.

What a lovely day in Lisbon, our guide Joel made the whole trip both informative and enjoyable, taking us to the see the highlights of the city and on a very enjoyable tour of Sintra and the palace.
As I have walking issues at present Joel tailored the whole trip to suit me and made the whole day do-able.
I would like to recommend Joel he was the perfect guide for a beautiful city.

Joanne and Paul Brelsforth

Vrey good time. Our driver new the out of the way places.