Captivating Portugal tours & holidays
Portugal might be most famous for its glorious beaches but there’s a lot more to this country than golden sands. Whether you’re dreaming of the cities of the mainland, the Algarve coast or the volcanic islands of Madeira and the Azores, our Portugal escorted tours can show you the country’s highlights, from historic sights and fairy-tale castles to wonderful scenery, vineyards and subtropical landscapes.
On our Portugal touring holidays, stroll along riverside terraces, ancient city walls, hills carved out by volcanoes or the lush levadas of Madeira, the island’s unique waterways. Indulge over local specialities, from seafood stews to flaky custard tarts, all accompanied by Portugal’s world-famous wines and port. Admire Lisbon’s cinematic hilltops, Porto’s tiled winding streets, historic ports where adventurers set off to explore the world, the colourful buildings of Sao Miguel or Funchal’s flower-filled gardens.
Immerse yourself in local history at traditional pousadas, or for a Portugal guided tour with a difference, take a look at our Douro river cruises. After starting in Porto, sightseeing and wine-sipping, you’ll slowly meander through the UNESCO-protected Douro River Valley, admiring views of terraced vineyards and stopping off to explore historic cities, castles and palaces.
Alison Porter
Product Manager
What our experts love about Portugal
Everyone enjoys pasteis de nata (Portuguese custard tarts), but the ovos moles treats in Aveiro are just as lovely. It's a sweet wafer snack filled with an indulgent custard - very moreish!
What are the best places to visit in Portugal?
Lisbon
The country’s vibrant capital has something to tempt all travellers, whether you’re looking for ancient castles, culture, traditional food, the fascinating maritime history of Belem, or some of the quirkiest public transport ever designed. Discover the grand architecture of a city recreated after a devastating earthquake, its ornate squares, cobbled streets and enticing old quarter. Cruise along the river or ride a classic yellow tram, before climbing the city’s many hills in one of its lifts and funiculars. Lisbon also makes a great base for day trips to the coast at Cascais and Estoril, or the fairy-tale palaces of Sintra.
The country’s vibrant capital has something to tempt all travellers, whether you’re looking for ancient castles, culture, traditional food, the fascinating maritime history of Belem, or some of the quirkiest public transport ever designed. Discover the grand architecture of a city recreated after a devastating earthquake, its ornate squares, cobbled streets and enticing old quarter. Cruise along the river or ride a classic yellow tram, before climbing the city’s many hills in one of its lifts and funiculars. Lisbon also makes a great base for day trips to the coast at Cascais and Estoril, or the fairy-tale palaces of Sintra.
Porto
When you’re looking at Portugal touring holidays, Lisbon’s second city Porto certainly isn’t second place. The birthplace of port, you can venture into historic cellars and discover how the fortified wine is made, before tasting the finished product. Away from the riverfront port warehouses, the city’s winding streets have some of Portugal’s loveliest tiles, with a spectacular array decorating the train station, as well as colourful street art and painted townhouses. Browse the old market, discover quirky bookshops, and cruise the river to see Porto’s seven bridges. The city makes a great starting point for a Douro Valley cruise too.
When you’re looking at Portugal touring holidays, Lisbon’s second city Porto certainly isn’t second place. The birthplace of port, you can venture into historic cellars and discover how the fortified wine is made, before tasting the finished product. Away from the riverfront port warehouses, the city’s winding streets have some of Portugal’s loveliest tiles, with a spectacular array decorating the train station, as well as colourful street art and painted townhouses. Browse the old market, discover quirky bookshops, and cruise the river to see Porto’s seven bridges. The city makes a great starting point for a Douro Valley cruise too.
Douro Valley
The wine terraces of the Douro Valley are deservedly one of Portugal’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, where the vineyards have a winemaking history stretching back over 2,000 years. Spot medieval villages with their whitewashed houses and red-tiled roofs from the water, cruising slowly along the Douro River, stopping to stroll through the pine forests and, of course, sample a few of the local vintages. Explore historic Lamego, where Afonso Henriques was declared Portugal’s first king in the now ruined castle, or Pinhāo, famous for its beautiful tiles.
The wine terraces of the Douro Valley are deservedly one of Portugal’s UNESCO World Heritage sites, where the vineyards have a winemaking history stretching back over 2,000 years. Spot medieval villages with their whitewashed houses and red-tiled roofs from the water, cruising slowly along the Douro River, stopping to stroll through the pine forests and, of course, sample a few of the local vintages. Explore historic Lamego, where Afonso Henriques was declared Portugal’s first king in the now ruined castle, or Pinhāo, famous for its beautiful tiles.
The Algarve
Famous for its miles of golden beaches, you’ll find there’s plenty beyond sea and sandcastles on a Portugal guided tour. Explore sleepy towns famous for their cork production, or wander the quiet streets of Faro’s Old Town, past its 13th century cathedral. There’s more history to be found in Lagos, along the coast, where many of Portugal’s greatest explorers set off to discover what lay beyond the horizon. Or visit the ‘end of the world’ at the dramatic cliffs of Sagres, as well as the quiet eastern Algarve at Tavira, near the protected Ria Formosa Natural Park.
Famous for its miles of golden beaches, you’ll find there’s plenty beyond sea and sandcastles on a Portugal guided tour. Explore sleepy towns famous for their cork production, or wander the quiet streets of Faro’s Old Town, past its 13th century cathedral. There’s more history to be found in Lagos, along the coast, where many of Portugal’s greatest explorers set off to discover what lay beyond the horizon. Or visit the ‘end of the world’ at the dramatic cliffs of Sagres, as well as the quiet eastern Algarve at Tavira, near the protected Ria Formosa Natural Park.
Long one of our most popular Portugal escorted tour destinations, the island of Madeira is one of the country’s jewels. Spend your days discovering its subtropical scenery, from botanical gardens to walks through ancient forest, visits to farms growing exotic fruits and drives along the eye-catching coast to spot whales. Spy some of the island’s birds in the protected Laurissilva forest or walk one of...
Long one of our most popular Portugal escorted tour destinations, the island of Madeira is one of the country’s jewels. Spend your days discovering its subtropical scenery, from botanical gardens to walks through ancient forest, visits to farms growing exotic...
The Azores
The westernmost point of Europe, these islands might be remote but they’re well worth discovering, home to volcanic landscapes, thermal hot springs, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and pineapple plantations. Enjoy a meal slow-cooked in the heat of the island’s soil, spot whales and dolphins off the coast or hike the lush hills and valleys to gaze on the twin blue-green lakes of Sete Cidades. You’ll have chance to marvel at the ferns and flowers of the 18th century Terra Nostra estate, walk through lava tubes and primeval forests on Terceira and stay in the Azores’ oldest city, Angra do Heroísmo.
The westernmost point of Europe, these islands might be remote but they’re well worth discovering, home to volcanic landscapes, thermal hot springs, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and pineapple plantations. Enjoy a meal slow-cooked in the heat of the island’s soil, spot whales and dolphins off the coast or hike the lush hills and valleys to gaze on the twin blue-green lakes of Sete Cidades. You’ll have chance to marvel at the ferns and flowers of the 18th century Terra Nostra estate, walk through lava tubes and primeval forests on Terceira and stay in the Azores’ oldest city, Angra do Heroísmo.
More information about Portugal
When you book with us, you’re benefitting from decades of experience. We’ve been carefully crafting tours for more than 45 years, so we know what does (and doesn’t) make a great holiday.
VIP door-to-door transfers from home are always included in the price of our Portugal holidays, as is the service of a tour manager throughout the tour. Hotels we feature are all handpicked – we look for things like exceptional locations, standout views and properties with an abundance of charm and character. And we include a selection of excursions along the way to really help you get the most out of your trip.
Portuguese is the national language of Portugal, although English is widely spoken in the Algarve and the cities of the mainland in particular.
The official currency in Portugal is the Euro. Major credit and debit cards are also widely accepted and ATMs are easy to find in urban areas.
Portugal has an average of more than 300 sunny days a year, so it makes a great destination year-round. The north can be a lot cooler in winter, while temperatures and crowds both increase dramatically in Lisbon during the summer. Travelling in April/May or September/October usually sees good weather without the crowds of the peak summer season.
Madeira’s subtropical climate makes it as popular in winter as in summer, while May to October tend to be the best months to enjoy the spectacular scenery of the Azores. Whales can be seen off the coast of the Azores year-round, although the main whale-watching season runs from April to October, as there are more species passing through the waters here, as well as better conditions for boat trips.
While Portugal is generally sunny, the climate does vary significantly between north and south, so it pays to plan your Portugal tours accordingly. Expect more rain and cooler temperatures in Porto and the Douro River area during the winter months, when Lisbon can still be a pleasant 20C. In midsummer, it’s not uncommon to have temperatures over 30C in Lisbon and the Algarve, although the strong winds on the southern coast help with the heat. The islands have their own climates too. Subtropical Madeira can be visited year round and is often a popular winter sun destination, while the Azores are best visited from late spring to early autumn, for good walking weather and whale-watching.
Portugal has one of the world’s lowest crime rates, and is an extremely safe country for tourists. It always pays to take sensible precautions, including being aware of pickpockets In major cities though.
Tipping is customary for good service – around 10-15% of the bill is common in restaurants. You’re not expected to tip in cafes and bars although it’s usual to leave any loose change after payment. Tour guides and drivers will appreciate a small tip (we include recommended amounts for tour managers, drivers and guides in our useful information packs, which you’ll receive after booking). Remember that porterage is included in our Portugal tours, so there’s no need to tip for bags.
Portugal uses Type C and Type F plugs, which both have two round pins, so you’ll need a standard European plug adaptor for UK plugs. Voltage is the same as the UK at 230V and 50Hz.
Currently, UK citizens don’t need a visa to travel to Portugal. Requirements can change, though – for the most up-to-date information on visas, please use the quick-check tool on our visa requirements page.
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Why choose a Titan tour?
Titan Travel have always been about seeing more and doing more – which is why we meticulously plan our award-winning escorted tours so that our expertly crafted itineraries make sure that so much is included. Once you book your holiday, you can relax knowing that every element has been taken care of. Choose the tour that gives you more.
Nationwide return chauffeur service
Getting to the airport is easy, thanks to our nationwide return shared chauffeur service, which is included on every tour.
More value
From excursions to hotels, entry tickets and dining packages, we include more than any other tour
More knowledgeable
Be guided by some of the most passionate and knowledgeable tour managers in the world, on hand to help every step of the way.
More flexible
Feel free to amend or extend your travel plans, up until final payment, and enjoy free time on your tour with us too.
