Portugal for Solo Travelers
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Soak up the sun along Portugal’s winding rivers and golden coasts solo—but not alone.
Tucking into Portugal’s signature pastry pastéis de nata is a lot more fun with new friends by your side. A feast for every sense, Portugal beckons you with colorful architecture, crashing waves, mouthwatering cuisine, and the bittersweet sounds of fado. We’ve curated this trip especially for solo travelers with immersive group experiences—like bonding in a hands-on cooking class—and time to recharge on your own. If you’ve been waiting for someone to take the plunge with, we’ve got you covered with a whole lot of friends you just haven’t met yet.
Your tour package includes
- 7 nights in a private room at handpicked hotels
- 7 breakfasts
- 3 dinners with beer or wine
- 1 cooking class
- 1 food tasting
Included highlights
- Porto’s central market
- Douro riverfront
- Stock Exchange Palace
- Coimbra
- Évora’s Chapel of Bones
An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.
Day-by-day itinerary
Print itineraryBoard your overnight flight to Porto today.
Welcome to Portugal! After settling into your hotel, get to know your Tour Director and fellow group members at a mixer before enjoying a welcome dinner. Linger over a glass of port wine, swap stories, and get ready to share the trip of a lifetime.
Navigate Porto’s narrow streets and old-world architecture like a true tripeiro, or local resident, as you follow your city guide. Keep an eye out for azulejos—the intricately painted tiles that adorn church facades, train stations, and many other delightful nooks and crannies.
- Pass citywide icons, such as Liberty Square’s ornate neoclassical buildings and Carmelitas Church’s fanciful Baroque and Rococo influences.
- Make friends with the Baroque-style Clérigos Tower—you’ll be able to spot this soaring steeple as you traverse Porto. Use it as your North Star.
- Break for coffee and a sweet treat at a local cafe. Whether you gravitate toward another custardy pastéis de nata—a flaky and flavorful custard tart—or the heftier, doughier Portuguese croissant, Porto’s pastries are not to be missed.
- Peruse the stalls at one of Porto’s bustling markets, where farmers sell fresh produce and flowers and fishmongers peddle the day’s fresh catch.
- Wander through the tiny, medieval, riverside lanes of the Ribeira district and let your eyes dance across the candy-colored facades of its buildings.
- Take a scenic drive through waterside neighborhoods and along the Douro riverfront. Watch for fishing boats on the water and churches tucked along the cobblestone streets.
The best views of Porto are from the waters of the Douro. If you opt into this afternoon’s cruise, you’ll drift by hillside villas and under ancient bridges, ending with a guided tour of a port wine cellar (complete with a tasting, of course).
Not joining the cruise? Spend your free afternoon uncovering the architectural and culinary treasures of the Ribeira district and try to hunt down a francesinha. This hearty, tomato sauce-soaked take on the French croque monsieur is a Portuense specialty.
Douro River Cruise & Port Wine Cellar
From $89 per person
Drive south from Porto, stopping to explore Coimbra on a guided walking tour of the city. Home to the country’s first university, this slightly under-the-radar area is the fourth-largest population center in Portugal and dates to pre-Roman times. Monuments that tell the story of Roman and Moorish occupation stand alongside manicured parks and gardens.
Coimbra University houses a flourishing botanical garden and the Joanina Library, filled with tomes that date to the 16th century.
Around the city, narrow medieval streets twist and turn between ochre-colored buildings, virtually untouched by time.
After exploring, head to your hotel in Évora, a town nestled into the thicket of cork groves that dominates the Alentejo Region. Settle into your room and prepare for a day among the walled city’s Roman ruins.
Before making your way to the sun-soaked Algarve, follow a local guide through the streets of UNESCO-recognized Évora, one of Europe’s oldest continuously inhabited cities. Its streets, paved with cobblestones, are culturally protected and cherished by locals. Look all around you for the yellow trim that decorates Évora’s buildings—local lore promises the color offers protection from evil spirits.
- Take in the region’s whitewashed homes and intricate tilework and make it your mission to uncover as many azulejos as possible. While some are grand displays, others are hidden in plain sight, just waiting to surprise you.
- Pass the remains of the Roman Temple, its 14 Corinthian columns standing solemnly, their capitals mostly still intact.
- Prepare for an encounter with the macabre when you enter the Capela dos Ossos—the Chapel of Bones—a 16th-century chapel lined with the skulls and bones of the interred.
- Learn about cork production with a tour of the Alentejo Cork Factory. Portugal exports more than half of the world’s cork supply, making this product of the cork oak tree essential to Portugal’s economy.
Continue to the beach-lined Algarve Region and sit down for an included dinner, served with beer or wine.
Discover the white-sand beaches framed by dramatic golden coastal cliffs, and small settlements of the Algarve Region, southern Portugal’s beachy haven. You’ll visit the seafaring towns of Lagos and Sagres. Between long stretches of sand, the gentle sway of fishing boats, and jagged rock formations that dot the water, you may find the coastal breeze sweeps you off your feet. Let it.
- Enter Sagres Fortress and admire windswept views of the water stretching to the horizon. The area was once considered the end of the earth—the last explored point of the ancient world before it plunged into the uncharted Atlantic.
- Relish the drama of dizzying cliffs that plunge into the Atlantic at Cape St. Vincent, the southwestern most point of mainland Europe. You’re now standing where many explorers stopped, so take a moment and relish in your solo travel boldness.
Get to know the alluring Portuguese capital on a tour with a local guide. Roam historic neighborhoods adorned with pastel buildings while a gentle Atlantic breeze whispers over cobbled streets and plaintive notes of fado music fill the air.
- Admire views of the city from the green expanse of Eduardo VII Park, then pass through the Praça Marquês de Pombal: a massive plaza and roundabout with a soaring statue noting Lisbon’s reconstruction following a devastating earthquake in 1755.
- Continue to the Mouraria district—Lisbon’s historic Moorish quarter, brimming with street art and a buzzworthy food scene.
- Discover the city’s maritime heritage at the Monument to the Discoveries and Belém Tower—paragons of Portuguese Gothic architecture made with local limestone.
- Walk through the Chiado theater district to neighboring Baixa, passing by its elegant shops and quirky cafes.
- Ride on one of the city’s cheerful yellow trams—known as remodelados—that have become icons of the city since entering service in 1873.
Discover the meaning of saudade—the crossroads between nostalgia and longing— by adding an evening fado show to your itinerary, featuring Portugal’s traditional music.
Prefer to spend the evening on your own? Ask your Tour Director for a recommendation or grab one of your fellow solo travelers and head to the Graça district for a panoramic view of Lisbon from an uphill perch. You can also begin (or end) your night out with a punchy Lisbon specialty: taking a shot of ginjinha, a sour cherry liqueur.
Fado Show & Dinner
From $105 per person
Vividly hued architecture and impossibly perfect gardens greet you in Sintra should you choose to add this special excursion to the former playground of Portuguese royalty. If you prefer to spend the day setting out on your own, explore the green expanse of Parque Florestal de Monsanto, a massive swath of protected forest right inside the city limits.
This evening, roll up your sleeves to take part in a cooking class, where you’ll learn how to make a traditional Portuguese appetizer, dinner, and dessert. Then, enjoy local wine, paired with the food you made, during a farewell dinner.
Sintra
From $99 per person
Transfer to the airport for your flight home or, if you’re trying to delay feeling the melancholy of saudade yourself, extend your trip and stay in Lisbon for a few more days. Stroll the labyrinthian streets of Alfama, join locals for a home-cooked meal, or join a day trip to a storybook medieval town.
Today, we’ve curated a pair of activities that dive into pillars of Portuguese culture: religion and cuisine. Opt into the guided tour of Tomar and Fátima to marvel at the fortified 12th century home of the Knights Templar and a famous Christian pilgrimage site.
For dinner, enjoy Lisboeta hospitality with an option to join a home-hosted meal bursting with authentic flavors.
If you’re relishing your free day in Lisbon on your own, escape to the terraced lawns of the Jardim do Torel, a hidden garden just calling for a packed picnic lunch. You can also make your way to the maze-like, hillside streets of Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest district.
Religious Heritage of Tomar & Fátima
From $99 per person
Lisbon Home-Hosted Dinner
From $89 per person
Lisbon is already the stuff of dreams, but if you’d like to add a fairytale ending to your last full day in Portugal, be sure to add the day trip to Óbidos and Nazaré to your itinerary. These rustic villages are ripped from the pages of a medieval storybook and lie just an hour’s drive from Lisbon.
If you’re spending your free day choosing your own adventure, consider tram-hopping your way around the city one last time.
You and your fellow solo travelers have come to the end of your journey—but the beginning of many future friendships. This evening, enjoy a farewell drink as you celebrate your trip with your fellow group members.
Old World Portugal: Medieval Óbidos and Nazaré
From $139 per person
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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Reviews
4.7 out of 5 stars
Overall rating 4.7 out of 5
5 out of 5 stars
This was a fantastic tour especially for the solo traveler. Hotels were nice, modern and in great locations. I saw so much and learned so many things at every stop. This was a great value .
5 out of 5 stars
Guilia was our tour director. She was fun, happy, and helpful. I liked her presence and felt safe with her in control. She helped with any concerns we had and she went out of her way to make sure we had a good experience. Ask her about the whispers trouble and how she had to run back to the hotel to...
5 out of 5 stars
The tour was awesome and the tour director was great!
Traveler photos
Hotels, flights & FAQ
Here's the nitty-gritty—where you’ll stay, how you’ll get there, and what to know about your destination before you go.Hotels
We handpick every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm. Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date, but these are frequently used hotels for this tour and we're confident you'll be satisfied.This modern hotel is located in Porto’s Ribeira neighborhood. Guests enjoy a top-floor pool, a gym, and a restaurant. Nearby, you’ll find Ribeira Squa...
This upscale hotel is located in the historic center of Évora. Guests enjoy a swimming pool, a restaurant, and free Wi-Fi. Nearby, you’ll find Giraldo...
This coastal hotel is located in Portimão. Guests enjoy a pool, a restaurant, and bar options. Nearby, you’ll find Praia da Rocha, Fortaleza de Santa ...
This chic hotel is located on the central Marquês de Pombal Square in Lisbon. Guests enjoy the sun terrace, an on-site restaurant and bar, and spaciou...
Flights
- Round-trip flight for your tour
- Airport transfers at your destination
- A great price locked in today
- 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
- Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
- Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
- Find out more about flights
FAQ
Print FAQ- In order to enter Portugal, U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
- We recommend having at least one blank passport page for entry stamps.
- Beginning in 2025, U.S. and Canadian passport holders must register for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to enter many European countries.
- Passport holders from over 60 visa-exempt countries (including the U.S. and Canada) will need to apply for an ETIAS travel authorization in order to visit 30 European countries. That means that even if you’ve previously traveled to any of these European countries without a visa, starting in 2025, you’ll need to get ETIAS authorization to visit them again. If you’re traveling to multiple countries with this requirement, you only need to complete the form once. All Go Ahead travelers are responsible for obtaining their own ETIAS travel authorization before departure. For more details, please visit our Help Center.
- If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact your destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code PO6.
- Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in Porto and depart from Lisbon.
- Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost if they are arriving or departing on the standard day.
- When you arrive in Porto, a Go Ahead representative will be waiting for you in the arrivals hall with a Go Ahead sign or a sign with your name(s). If you don’t see a representative immediately, please be patient and stay in the arrivals area. They may be assisting another traveler who has also just arrived and will be back shortly.
Physical Activity Level
This is a high physical activity-level tour. You can expect to be on the move on a regular basis throughout the course of the tour.
Tour Pacing
This is a brisk-paced tour. The pace of a tour itinerary considers how often you’ll switch hotels, the amount of planned daily activities, and how you’ll get from place to place. You can expect:
- One 1-night stays
- Most days full of included activities (more if you add excursions)
- Most transportation by motor coach
- Daily bus time varies and can be lengthy
Walking, Terrain & Physical Requirements
- Travelers should be prepared to walk 2-3 miles per day - this includes city streets, cobblestones, stairs, and hills.
- Cobblestone streets can become slick when wet.
- Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance.
- Please Note: Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
Climate Considerations
- In the summer months (June-September), travelers can expect low to mid-80sF, with occasional heatwaves.
Physical Activity & Tour Pace Questions
- Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special mobility or luggage handling assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group enjoys a smooth and informative journey, and they can’t be relied on to provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- This tour moves at a reasonable pace to avoid missing scheduled stops. The rest of the group cannot miss any scheduled activities because of the needs of an individual.
- Due to the pace and physical activity level of this tour, mobility aids such as wheelchairs or walkers will be difficult to use and are not recommended. Please notify Go Ahead Tours before your departure if you plan to bring these on tour with you.
- If you have mobility concerns or tour pace questions, please visit our Help Center or send a message to our Customer Experience Team. We’re here to help!
- Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches.
- Some airlines may impose additional charges if you exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
- Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights.
- Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
- Travelers must manage their own luggage throughout tour as porters are not guaranteed. This includes at hotels and airports.
- We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered to accommodate varying temperatures, as well as a light jacket or rainwear.
- A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
- You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
- It is preferable not to visit churches or other religious sites with bare legs and shoulders (and entrance may be denied on this basis).
- We recommend packing a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastic waste.
- We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
- We recommend packing your Insurance Card (from your primary insurance provider) in your carry on luggage.
- Go Ahead handpicks every hotel to strike the balance of comfort, location, and local charm.
- Accommodations are typically three to four star hotels.
- All accommodations include a private bathroom.
- Most rooms will include a safe for valuables.
- Your hotels will have Wifi, but it may be limited to common areas.
- Elevators in hotels are not guaranteed.
- Some hotels on this tour require travelers to walk with their luggage a few blocks as buses cannot drop travelers off right out front.
- Please be advised that the strength of the air conditioning in European hotels/buildings is often not as strong or as cool as what you might be used to in the U.S. or Canada.
- Portugal operates on the European standard 220-240 volts and uses Types C, E, or F plugs with two small, round pins.
- We cannot guarantee that your hotel accommodations will have laundry services or facilities. We recommend checking directly with the hotel once they are confirmed about 30 days prior to departure.
- Specific accommodations will vary based on your departure date.
- Excursions are available for purchase prior to departure, and most excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour directly through your mobile app for an additional $10 USD.
- We recommend purchasing excursions at least 3 days prior to your tour departure. Please note some excursions have advance booking deadlines. Check your tour itinerary for more information to ensure you don’t miss the deadline to add them.
- Optional excursions may be canceled on tour due to reasons like low enrollment, weather or unexpected closures. If an excursion you signed up for is canceled by Go Ahead Tours, you will be refunded the full cost of the excursion. Please note it may take up to 60 days for your refund to be processed.
- Your Tour Director may offer their own optional excursions which can only be purchased on tour via cash (in local currency).
- At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website at cdc.gov.
- If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies, please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to your account and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
- If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
- Most of our itineraries include headsets used during certain sightseeing tours so travelers can hear their guides or Tour Director. If you use an assisted listening device, such as a hearing aid or cochlear implant, please contact our customer experience team as we may be able to provide alternative solutions to best suit your needs. Please note that at this time not all our destinations offer headsets due to supplier limitations.
- The water is safe to drink throughout your tour unless posted otherwise.
- You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code PO6.
- This tour includes three dinners. Included meals may be plated set menus, buffet or family style depending on the location. Dinners include one glass of beer, wine, or soft drink and water, coffee and tea.
- Breakfast each morning is also included at the hotel and is typically buffet style with hot and cold options.
- Portuguese food is fresh, hearty, and delicious. Try seafood stew cooked in a cataplana, a shell-shaped copper pan, or the national dish, bacalhau (salted cod). A couvert, or simple plate of bread, butter, and olives, is often served when you sit down to a meal—while it is free in many restaurants, some will add a charge to your bill for it.
- At the conclusion of your tour, it is customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
- We recommend tipping the equivalent of $10-$12USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
- If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
- Tips can only be paid in cash.
- The cost of porterage is included in your tour price, and it is not necessary to tip baggage handlers.
- You will use the euro on tour.
- Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
- We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
- You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
- International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
- Plan ahead and bring cash to tip your tour director, local guides, and bus drivers. We also recommend keeping coins in the local currency on hand, as some public bathrooms may charge a fee for use.
- To ensure you feel prepared before traveling on tour, we strongly recommend you download the EF Go Ahead Tours mobile app. The app is free and provides important deadlines, entry requirements, your detailed itinerary, packing tips and more. You can also connect with fellow travelers through the chat feature in the app.
- Wifi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
- There is no Wifi on any of the motor coaches.
- Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
- Your Tour Director will be leading your group throughout your journey. You will have the same Tour Director throughout your tour.
- The role of the Tour Director is not only to provide information and context on the destinations you visit, but also to confirm services, coordinate inclusions, prepare each days’ activities and support travelers while on tour. As such, they must focus on the success of the group, and cannot provide individualized assistance to any one traveler.
- One of the benefits of traveling with EF Go Ahead Tours is our on tour emergency support team.
- Our extensive network of offices around the world, and our integration of ISO 31000: Risk Management Guidelines, help our dedicated 24/7 Emergency Service teams anticipate and address on-tour challenges in a flexible and iterative way.
- This team supports travelers and Tour Directors using a combination of extensive training, simulations, incident response planning, and decades of experience to help manage emergencies if they arise, ranging from personal health concerns or injuries to major world events.
- As needed, On Tour Support can facilitate additional support for travelers on tour, arrange assistance from outside specialists, and liaise with local and international authorities to help solve on-the-ground issues. In addition, the team is dedicated to supporting and facilitating communication between travelers and families in the event of an emergency while on the road or at home.
- When you travel with EF Go Ahead Tours, you’ll make a positive impact on the places you visit, and the people and animals you meet along the way. That’s because our three core Responsible Travel commitments—protecting the environment, supporting local communities, and promoting animal welfare—are at the heart of every tour we offer.
- Travel, when done responsibly, can make an enormous socio-economic impact to communities. To maximize your impact, eat at locally owned restaurants and shop at local businesses. Ask your Tour Director to point out restaurants they recommend.
- Prepare for your trip: be aware of the monetary norms such as tipping and negotiating in a market, learn about the destination’s forms of etiquette, and take some time to learn a few words in the local language.
- When interacting with locals, make sure to ask people for permission before you take their picture, and approach cultural differences with empathy and an open mind.
- EF Go Ahead Tours encourages our travelers to limit their waste while on the road, especially single use plastics. You can avoid single use plastics by packing your own toiletries, using electronic documents, and bringing a reusable water bottle and shopping bag. If you need to use plastics or paper, please recycle.
- Environment: On this tour, we recommend the use of a reusable water bottle, as the local drinking water is safe for travelers. Your Tour Director can provide additional guidance on local water standards. Make sure to bring a reusable water bottle to cut down on single use plastics.