Van Go Tourism is a Portuguese Travel Agency, accredited by Turismo de Portugal, specialized in private day trips and multi-day tours in Portugal.

Custom Portugal 3-Day Tour with Private Licensed Tour Guide

While group tours are usually more budget friendly, the value for price paid on a private guided tour far exceeds the savings of group tours in terms of privacy, security, convenience, flexibility and efficient time management. Our custom itinerary reflected the places and activities that we wanted to experience instead of pre-packaged cookie-cutter tours. We consulted with the owner of Van Go Tourism by email and with our input and some of her suggestions we agreed to an itinerary that suited us. Van Go stressed that the entire tour was flexible. We had the ability to change our plans while on the go. Susana, our licensed tour guide for the three days together impressed us with her encyclopedic knowledge that covered ancient history to current real estate values, secret spots, and dependable dining suggestions. One of the highlights of the tour occurred in the Douro Valley where through Van Go’s connections, they arranged a semi-private tour of the Niepoort Winery where we enjoyed wine tastings and a very special lunch where we received wonderful hospitality. This experience was one of several we enjoyed with Susana and hard to find on a group tour. I recommend investigating what Van Go Tourism has to offer when you are planning to tour Portugal and beyond. They offer first-class service, reasonable rates, and proved themselves to be a reputable company with a lot of integrity.

Honest tour company you can trust

When you go on vacation most times you’re putting your trust in a strange company to have a good time. We booked 2 tours with them. Communication was key with this company. They found out that something was closed on 1 of the days we chose. So they told us about it and asked if we move that spot to the other tour. Also we bought tickets for a place we went to on tour. We didn’t know they were included in the tour. We wouldn’t of known any better. But this company was honest and said that because of the tickets we bought on accident they would pick up admission tickets at 2 other places. Thank you for your honesty!

Outstanding!

The visit organized by Van Go Tourism, and our guide Susana, were above our expectations. Everything was professionally planned: sightseeing, visits to monuments, beaches and towns, and an excellent choice of restaurant for lunch with very good fish and a beautiful sea view.

Van Go Tourism!!

Six of us made plans to go to Portugal in 2020, but because of Covid, we had to put it off until August 2022. In February 2022, I went online to look for the best tour company for our trip to Portugal. I found Van Go Tourism and began communicating with Margarida. Her responses to my many emails were immediate and thorough. With lots of help from Margarida and a fellow traveler, I was able to develop a 7 day itinerary which included the following:

1) Lisbon with Belem

2) Evora with Cork Factory

3) free day in Lisbon

4) Algarve

5) Sintra, Cape Roca, Cascais

6) Obidos, Nazare, Alcobaca, Batalha & Fatima (overnight in Fatima).

7) Coimbra and a transfer to Porto

The itinerary was a combination of Van Go published tours and custom tours. Margarida was very flexible and told me that changes could be made as we went. Margarida also added in our transfer from the airport to our hotel upon our arrival in Lisbon.

We just got home this past Sunday and I can’t say enough about our experience with Van Go! All details were taken care of, thanks to Margarida. Then we met Susana, our guide for 7 days. She was waiting for us when we arrived at Lisbon airport with a smile and hugs for all of us. She took us to the beautiful new van that fortunately, held all of our luggage! Our tour started immediately as she took us to our hotel. Susana’s knowledge of Portugal especially the history is amazing! She is passionate and so interesting. In addition to this, she is a very compassionate person, taking care of all of us. A very thoughtful person – she immediately got to know our individual needs. Also, she was very generous – treating us to the local specialties. Loved the Pastéis de Belém! As Margarida said, we were able to make changes to our tours. Susana was very flexible, allowing us to modify our days if we wanted to spend more time at a particular place or if we were tired and wanted to skip an attraction or monument. Certain tickets were purchased in advance of our trip, but most were purchased on the days we were visiting particular attractions. Susana was always able to get to the front of the line so there was no wait for tickets. In order to avoid the crowds, she also chose the ideal times to visit attractions (especially Pena Palace) and to have lunch.

When communicating with Margarida before our trip, I told her that I would love to meet her. To our surprise, Margarida met us at a pastry shop in Sintra where we were treated to the local specialty, Travesseiros de Sintra. Yum! It was so nice meeting Margarida after the months of planning!

I loved Portugal! Thanks to Susana and Margarida of Van Go Tourism for making our vacation extra special!!

Just Book It, You Won’t Regret It

I cannot recommend this tour enough. Sintra is the most beautiful, magical place you will set eyes on. We went during high season, but still got to see all the best monuments without having to stand in line. We felt like VIP’s with the best tour guide of all time, Susana.

We were picked up at our hotel in a roomy, air conditioned van and drove directly to the monuments. In the morning we explored Pena Palace, took a stroll through the gardens, then walked the walls of the Castle of the Moors. We had a relaxing lunch at the town center, visited the National Palace, then enjoyed a coffee and Sintra’s classic pastry, Travesseiro. Lastly, we toured Quinta da Regaleira and descended the Initiation Well.

The monuments are stunning and Susana made them even more meaningful by sharing the history behind them. She knew all the best views and places to take photos. She offered us lots of options to customize our trip. Would you like to walk the gardens or drive? Would you like a relaxing meal or a quick bite and time for shopping? Even the monuments we didn’t get to visit, Susana pointed out on our drive and shared some info about them. A great unexpected bonus was that on the drive home, Susana let us pick her brain about recommendations for the rest of our trip! She is a total pro and so fun, we were sad to part at the end of the day.

It was definitely crowded, but we never felt cramped or rushed or made to wait. When I booked the trip, I thought it was strange only tickets for Pena Palace were included and not the other monuments. I considered buying tickets for those separately, but that is unnecessary. Susana knows how to get tickets to the other monuments easily and not buying ahead of time allows you some flexibility.

Towards the end of the day, we noticed lots of grumpy people who spent a large part of the day standing in line and waiting for the tram. We were so glad we booked this tour. It really turned out to be one of our best days in Portugal.