Every day,
planned
around you.
Private tours across Portugal, guided by the person who plans them.
Sintra · Lisbon · the coast · Alentejo · the Douro
Nothing is fixed
until it suits you.
Tell us what you enjoy. History, beaches, food and wine, nature, or a bit of everything. Your guide plans the day around it, picks you up, drives, guides, and changes the plan whenever the day asks for it. You’ll spend the whole day with the person who planned it.
Our service
Three steps.
One of them is lunch.
- 01
Tell us what you love.
A quick chat on WhatsApp with your guide: dates, who’s travelling, what you enjoy.
- 02
Your guide plans the day.
You get a route, a rhythm and one price for your group. Change anything.
- 03
We’ll change it on the way.
If the light is better at the coast, we go to the coast.
Five ways to
spend a day.
Signature days, as a starting point. Every one of them changes once we talk.
Prices are per day, for your group. All five days, and longer trips
Coast or country.
Both, if you like.
Portugal is small enough to do both in a day, and varied enough that you shouldn’t have to choose. Tell us which way you lean and your guide will find the balance.
Ask about your dayOne price for the day,
for your group.
Group tours charge per seat. A private day is priced for the whole group, so a family of four pays one price, not four. Here’s what it includes:
Entrance tickets, meals and tastings are paid separately, so you only pay for what you choose.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- A private vehicle, just for your group
- One guide for the whole day,
who also drives - A plan made with your guide
before the day - Changes on the way, at no extra cost
- Lunch and tasting reservations
made for you
Tripadvisor · 5.0 · 79 reviews
What guests say
after they get home.
“There was never a dull moment with Gustavo. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and he was incredibly flexible with our itinerary, making sure we had the best experience possible.”
“He knew just what we needed to see (and eat) at each town. We really appreciated how flexible he was with time and dealing with some weather challenges.”
“The day was relaxed and flexible since it was just the two of us. We stopped at the Christ statue, drove through the Arrábida mountains, had lunch in a charming town and finished with a beer tasting in Lisbon.”
“He shared so much about what we were seeing and even managed to get us to the front of the line at one of the sights. He also stayed on schedule so I was not worried about missing the ship.”
One guide.
Start to finish.
Gustavo Ghisi started Ghisi Tours to give people the kind of day he’d plan for a friend visiting Portugal. Every guide works the same way: the person who plans your day with you is the person who spends it with you, from the pickup to the last stop.
Most of our guests come to us through someone who travelled with us.
Before you ask.
Is the tour private?
Yes. The car and the day are just for your group.
How is the price set?
Per day, for your group. You’ll get the full price before you confirm.
Can we change the plan on the day?
Yes. That’s how it’s meant to work.
Where do you pick us up?
At your hotel or apartment in Lisbon, or wherever we agree.
Who will guide us?
The same person you plan the day with on WhatsApp. You’ll know their name before you book.
Which languages do your guides speak?
English and Portuguese.
The long way home
is the one we take.
Send us your dates. Your guide will reply with a plan.
Where we go
Five ways to
spend a day.
Signature days, as a starting point. Every one of them changes once we talk, and any day that isn’t here can be.
Sintra, Cabo da Roca, Cascais
Palaces before the queues, the westernmost point of Europe, and dinner by the sea.
See the dayThe long way home
Lisbon to Porto, or back, with the whole day in between. Óbidos, Nazaré, a long lunch in Aveiro.
See the dayArrábida by motorcycle
You ride pillion. The coast road does the rest. Helmet, jacket and lunch included.
See the dayThe Alentejo
Cork forests, white towns, wine estates and the quietest lunch in Portugal.
See the dayThe Douro
Terraced vineyards, a boat on the river, and a tasting at a family quinta.
See the day
Two days.
Three. A week.
A day is the unit, but it doesn’t have to be the limit. Guests have crossed the country with us over several days: Lisbon to Porto with the middle in between, Fátima and the Douro, or the coast and the Alentejo back to back, with the same guide and the same van the whole way.
Tell us how many days you have and where you land. We’ll shape them around that, with the hotels left to you or booked with you, as you prefer.
- Lisbon
- Sintra
- Cascais
- Arrábida
- Sesimbra
- Óbidos
- Nazaré
- Fátima
- Aveiro
- Coimbra
- Porto
- The Douro
- Évora
- Monsaraz
Tripadvisor · 5.0 · 79 reviews
What guests say
after they get home.
“Gustavo is quite entertaining as well as knowledgeable on history and events. We stopped at the Nazaré lighthouse and beaches, then had lunch in Aveiro.”
“There was never a dull moment with Gustavo. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and he was incredibly flexible with our itinerary, making sure we had the best experience possible.”
“He knew just what we needed to see (and eat) at each town. We really appreciated how flexible he was with time and dealing with some weather challenges.”
“Gustavo’s passion, humour and deep local knowledge truly set the experience apart. He went above and beyond to make sure we had the trip of a lifetime.”
Anywhere else
is also a day.
If the place you want isn’t on this page, send it anyway.
Palaces before
the queues.
Sintra early, the edge of Europe at midday, and Cascais when the light turns gold.
The day most
people come for.
Sintra is the one place everybody wants to see, which is why the timing matters more than the list. We go in early, before the coaches, and pick one palace to do properly instead of three to rush. From there the day opens up: the cliffs at Cabo da Roca, fish by the sea, the coast road down to Cascais.
This is our most booked day and the one with the most reviews. It is also the easiest to get wrong without a plan, which is the reason we make one with you first.
A possible
rhythm.
This is one version of the day. Yours starts from it and goes wherever you and your guide decide.
- Morning
Pickup, then straight to Sintra
Your guide collects you at your hotel or apartment. On the way up you decide together: Pena Palace for the colour and the view, or Quinta da Regaleira for the gardens and the initiation well. Tickets are booked ahead, so you walk in.
- Late morning
The old town, on foot
A slow walk through the centre while it is still quiet. A travesseiro from Piriquita, still warm, and the National Palace from the outside if you prefer to keep moving.
- Midday
Cabo da Roca
The westernmost point of mainland Europe. Cliffs, wind, the Atlantic. Fifteen minutes is enough for some people, an hour for others. Your call.
- Lunch
Fish, by the sea
Azenhas do Mar, Praia das Maçãs or Guincho, depending on the wind and what you feel like. Your guide books it.
- Afternoon
The coast road to Cascais
Guincho beach, the Boca do Inferno, and the marginal road into Cascais with the sun getting lower. A stop for a swim if the season allows.
- Evening
Cascais, then home
A walk through the old town, a drink by the harbour, or dinner if you want the day to keep going. Drop-off wherever you are staying.
Good to know
Before the day.
Tickets, meals and tastings are paid on the day, so you only pay for what you choose.
- Comfortable shoesSintra is hills and cobbles. Pena has a climb, and there is a shuttle if you would rather skip it.
- A layer for the capeCabo da Roca is windy even in August.
- Palace ticketsPaid separately and booked ahead by your guide, so there is no queue.
- PickupLisbon, Cascais, Sintra, or the cruise terminal. Tell us where you are staying.
- PaceAs full or as slow as you want it. Your guide will say honestly what fits.
Make it yours.
Two palaces instead of one
Doable if you start early and keep lunch short. Your guide will tell you honestly whether it fits.
Skip Cascais, add Azenhas
If you would rather have cliffs and a quiet village than a town, we go north along the coast instead of south.
Half a day
Sintra in the morning, drop-off by lunch. Good if you are leaving the same evening.
“He knew just what we needed to see (and eat) at each town. We really appreciated how flexible he was with time and dealing with some weather challenges.”
Sintra, early.
Cascais, late.
Send your dates and your guide will reply with a plan.
Lisbon to Porto,
the slow way.
A transfer that turns into a day. Óbidos, Nazaré, Fátima if you want it, lunch in Aveiro, and your luggage in the back.
The day nobody
else plans.
Most people take the train between Lisbon and Porto and lose a day staring at a window. This is the other option. Your guide picks you up with your bags, and the three-hour drive becomes a day across the middle of the country, with stops you would never manage on your own.
It works in either direction, and it works as the first or last day of a longer trip with us. Guests have combined it with Fátima, Óbidos, Nazaré, Aveiro and a few days in Porto.
A possible
rhythm.
This is one version of the day. Yours starts from it and goes wherever you and your guide decide.
- Morning
Pickup with your bags
Your guide loads the van at your hotel in Lisbon. No station, no taxi, no counting suitcases.
- Mid-morning
Óbidos
A walled town small enough to walk in an hour. The castle walls, the painted houses, and a ginja served in a chocolate cup.
- Late morning
Nazaré
The lighthouse above the beach where the biggest waves in the world are surfed in winter. In summer, a long golden beach and a fishing town that still looks like one.
- Optional
Fátima
The sanctuary is forty minutes inland. Some guests come for it specifically, others skip it. Say which.
- Lunch
Aveiro
Canals, moliceiro boats, striped houses on the Costa Nova beach, and lunch by the water. Fish, or the ovos moles for the sweet tooth.
- Late afternoon
Porto
Into the city with the light turning. Drop-off at your hotel, and a few tips from your guide on where to eat that night.
Good to know
Before the day.
Tickets, meals and tastings are paid on the day, so you only pay for what you choose.
- LuggageThere is room for everyone’s bags. Tell us how many so we bring the right vehicle.
- DirectionLisbon to Porto or Porto to Lisbon. Same stops, same price.
- TimeA long day, by design. Fewer stops make it a shorter one.
- FátimaA detour inland. Worth it if it matters to you, and your guide will fit it in.
- TicketsNothing to book ahead on this day. Lunch is reserved by your guide.
Make it yours.
Coimbra instead of Aveiro
The old university, the library, and a city built on a hill. Trades the canals for stone.
Stay the night halfway
Two days instead of one, with a night in Nazaré or Óbidos. Ask about a longer trip.
Just the drive, with one stop
If you are short on time: pickup, one good lunch somewhere on the way, drop-off. Still better than the train.
“Gustavo is quite entertaining as well as knowledgeable on history and events. We stopped at the Nazaré lighthouse and beaches, then had lunch in Aveiro.”
The long way home
is the one we take.
Tell us the dates and the direction. Your guide will plan the day in between.
You ride pillion.
The coast road
does the rest.
Across the bridge, over the Arrábida mountain and down to Sesimbra for lunch. By motorcycle for one, by van for a group.
Lisbon’s other
coast.
South of the river there is a mountain that drops straight into the sea, a road that follows its edge, and a fishing town at the end of it. Most visitors never cross the bridge. You will, and if you want, on the back of a motorcycle.
Helmet and jacket are provided. If you are more than one, or would rather have a roof, the same day runs in the van, with the same stops and the same lunch.
A possible
rhythm.
This is one version of the day. Yours starts from it and goes wherever you and your guide decide.
- Morning
Over the 25 de Abril bridge
Pickup in Lisbon, then across the river with the whole city behind you. First stop at Cristo Rei for the view back.
- Late morning
The Arrábida road
Into the natural park and along the ridge. The viewpoint over Portinho da Arrábida is the one people photograph. The road is the reason you came.
- Lunch
Sesimbra
Grilled fish in a town that still sends boats out every morning. Your guide knows which table.
- Afternoon
Cabo Espichel
The cape at the end of the peninsula: a sanctuary, a lighthouse and cliffs with nothing beyond them but the Atlantic.
- Late afternoon
A tasting on the way back
Moscatel in Azeitão, or a beer tasting back in Lisbon if you would rather end in the city. Your pick.
- Evening
Back across the bridge
Drop-off at your hotel with the sun behind you.
Good to know
Before the day.
Tickets, meals and tastings are paid on the day, so you only pay for what you choose.
- The motorcycleOne passenger, riding pillion with your guide. Helmet and jacket provided. Closed shoes and long trousers, please.
- By van insteadSame day, same stops, as many people as you are. Say which when you message.
- WeatherRain moves the motorcycle version to another day or into the van. Your guide will call it the night before.
- LunchTends to run long. That is allowed.
- A swimPortinho da Arrábida has one of the calmest beaches near Lisbon. Bring a towel in summer.
Make it yours.
Add Setúbal
The market, the fried cuttlefish, and a boat to see the dolphins in the Sado estuary if the season is right.
Skip the tasting, add the beach
More time at Portinho or Galapinhos, less time in a cellar.
Make it a full day
Start earlier, add Palmela castle and a slower lunch, and come back with the sunset.
“The day was relaxed and flexible since it was just the two of us. We stopped at the Christ statue, drove through the Arrábida mountains, had lunch in a charming town and finished with a beer tasting in Lisbon.”
Across the bridge,
along the edge.
Tell us if it is one of you or a few. Your guide will plan the rest.
The quietest lunch
in Portugal.
Cork forests, a Roman temple, a white town on a hill above a lake, and a wine estate that takes its time.
Slow, flat
and golden.
An hour and a half east of Lisbon the country changes. The hills flatten, the cork oaks spread out, and the towns turn white. The Alentejo is the part of Portugal that still runs on lunch, and the day is built around that.
Évora for the history, Monsaraz for the view, and a family estate for the wine. Nothing on this day is rushed, because nothing in the Alentejo is.
A possible
rhythm.
This is one version of the day. Yours starts from it and goes wherever you and your guide decide.
- Morning
East, through the cork
Pickup in Lisbon, across the Vasco da Gama bridge and into the plains. Your guide will tell you how cork is harvested and why the trees are numbered.
- Late morning
Évora
The Roman temple, the cathedral roof, the Chapel of Bones, and a walk through streets that have been there two thousand years.
- Lunch
A long one
Black pork, migas, bread and the local red. In a tasca in Évora or at the wine estate, depending on the day.
- Afternoon
A wine estate
A visit and a tasting at a family quinta. Alentejo wines are big, warm and underpriced, and you will see why.
- Late afternoon
Monsaraz
A medieval village on a hilltop above the Alqueva lake, the largest artificial lake in Western Europe. Walk the walls as the light goes orange.
- Evening
Back to Lisbon
Two hours on an empty road, most of it in the dark, most of it asleep. Drop-off at your hotel.
Good to know
Before the day.
Tickets, meals and tastings are paid on the day, so you only pay for what you choose.
- DistanceÉvora is about an hour and a half from Lisbon, Monsaraz another hour. A long day, worth it.
- HeatSummer afternoons go past 35 degrees. We plan the walking for the morning and the shade for the afternoon.
- TicketsChapel of Bones and the cathedral are paid on the spot. The estate tasting is booked ahead by your guide.
- PaceKeep Monsaraz and plan on getting back late. Drop it and the day shortens.
- KidsThe lake, the castle walls and the cork trees work well with children. Say their ages when you message.
Make it yours.
Stay the night
Monsaraz at dusk is the kind of place you want to wake up in. Ask about a two-day version.
Évora only
A shorter day focused on the city and one estate. Back in Lisbon for dinner.
Marble and megaliths
Swap Monsaraz for the marble town of Estremoz and the Almendres cromlech, older than Stonehenge.
“He knew just what we needed to see (and eat) at each town. We really appreciated how flexible he was with time and dealing with some weather challenges.”
East, until
the towns turn white.
Send your dates. Your guide will plan the day around the lunch.
Terraces, a river,
a family quinta.
From Porto into the valley: viewpoints over the terraces, a boat on the river, lunch and a tasting at a quinta that has been there for generations.
The valley that
built the port.
Two hours east of Porto the river cuts through hills terraced by hand over three centuries. It is the oldest demarcated wine region in the world and still looks like it did when the work was done by mule.
This day runs from Porto, or as the last day of a longer trip that started in Lisbon. Your guide drives the river road, picks the viewpoints for the light, and books a quinta where you are a guest, not a tour group.
A possible
rhythm.
This is one version of the day. Yours starts from it and goes wherever you and your guide decide.
- Morning
Out of Porto, over the hills
Pickup at your hotel. An hour and a half on the motorway, then the road drops into the valley and the view opens.
- Late morning
The viewpoints
São Leonardo de Galafura or Casal de Loivos, depending on the haze. The terraces, the river, and nothing else.
- Midday
Pinhão
The station with its blue tile panels of the harvest, and the river at its widest and calmest.
- Lunch
At a quinta
Lunch and a tasting at a family estate above the river. Port, and the dry reds the region is now better known for.
- Afternoon
On the water
An hour on a traditional rabelo boat, or a longer cruise if you prefer. The terraces look different from below.
- Evening
Back to Porto
Along the river road with the sun behind the hills. Drop-off at your hotel.
Good to know
Before the day.
Tickets, meals and tastings are paid on the day, so you only pay for what you choose.
- Start pointThis day starts in Porto. From Lisbon it is a two-day trip, with the long way home as day one.
- HarvestSeptember and early October are harvest season. Busier at the quintas, and the best time to be there.
- The boatBooked ahead by your guide. Skip it if you would rather have a second quinta.
- PaceThe road is slow on purpose. Plan on a full day.
- TastingsPaid on the day. Your guide will tell you what each one costs before you go in.
Make it yours.
Two quintas, no boat
More wine, less water. Good for people who came for the cellars.
The train one way
Drive in, take the scenic railway back along the river from Pinhão to Régua, and meet the van there.
Two days from Lisbon
Lisbon to Porto the slow way on day one, the Douro on day two, and Porto in between.
“Gustavo’s passion, humour and deep local knowledge truly set the experience apart. He went above and beyond to make sure we had the trip of a lifetime.”
Up the river,
into the terraces.
Tell us where you are staying. Your guide will plan the day from there.
How it works
From the first message
to the last stop.
One person plans your day, picks you up, drives, guides, and changes the plan when the day asks for it. Here is what that looks like in practice.
Four steps.
One of them is lunch.
No forms, no booking engine, no middle person. A conversation, a plan, a day.
- 01
You message us.
On WhatsApp, or by email if you prefer. Tell us your dates, how many you are, where you are staying, and what you enjoy. History, food and wine, beaches, nature, or a bit of everything.
The person who replies is the person who will guide you. You’ll know their name from the first message.
- 02
Your guide plans the day.
You get a route, a rhythm and one price for your group. Not a menu of options, a plan: where you’ll start, where lunch is, what to leave out so the rest breathes.
Change anything. Add a stop, drop a palace, start later. The plan is a draft until you say it isn’t.
- 03
The day.
Your guide picks you up at the door, in a clean, comfortable van that is yours for the day. Tickets are booked, lunch is reserved, and the order of the day is already thought through.
Then the day does what days do. If the light is better at the coast, we go to the coast. If a town is worth another hour, it gets one. Nothing costs extra because you changed your mind.
- 04
The last stop.
Drop-off wherever you are staying, or at the airport, the station or the ship if that is where you’re headed. Your guide sends you the names of the places you asked about on the way.
Most of our guests come to us through someone who travelled with us. That is the whole marketing plan.
One price for the day,
for your group.
Group tours charge per seat. A private day is priced for the whole group, so a family of four pays one price, not four. The price depends on the day, the distance and how many of you there are, and your guide gives it to you in full before you confirm.
We don’t publish prices here because no two days are the same. Ask, and you’ll have a number within 24 hours.
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- A private vehicle, just for your group
- One guide for the whole day,
who also drives - A plan made with your guide
before the day - Changes on the way, at no extra cost
- Lunch and tasting reservations
made for you
- Paid separately, on the day: entrance tickets, meals and tastings.
Practical
The small print,
in plain words.
Pickup
Your hotel or apartment in Lisbon, Cascais or Sintra. The cruise terminal and the airport too. Porto for the Douro day.
The van
Clean, comfortable, air-conditioned, with room for everyone’s luggage. Yours for the day.
Timing
As long as the day needs, and no longer than you want. Your guide will say honestly what fits in the time you have.
Weather
Portugal mostly cooperates. When it doesn’t, the plan moves indoors, inland, or to another day. You decide together.
Cruise days
We know the ship’s times matter more than ours. You’ll be back at the terminal with time to spare.
Languages
English and Portuguese.
Before you ask.
Is the tour private?
Yes. The vehicle and the day are just for your group. Nobody else gets added.
How is the price set?
Per day, for your group, not per person. Your guide gives you the full price before you confirm, and it doesn’t change on the day.
What does the price include?
Pickup and drop-off, the vehicle, fuel, tolls, parking, and your guide for the whole day. Reservations for lunch and tastings are made for you.
What isn’t included?
Entrance tickets, meals and tastings. You pay for those on the spot, so you only pay for what you choose.
Can we change the plan on the day?
Yes. That’s the point of a private day. If the weather turns or you fall in love with a town, the plan moves.
Who will guide us?
The same person you plan the day with on WhatsApp. When Gustavo is already booked, you plan with the guide who will drive you, so you know who you are getting from the first message.
Where do you pick us up?
At your hotel or apartment in Lisbon, Cascais or Sintra, at the cruise terminal, or at the airport. Other places on request.
Which languages do your guides speak?
English and Portuguese.
Do you do multi-day trips?
Yes. Lisbon to Porto over two or three days is the most common. See the long way home, or ask for something else.
Send the dates.
Get a plan.
A reply within 24 hours, from the person who’ll guide you.
About
The person who plans
your day drives it.
Ghisi Tours is a small company built on one rule. This is where it came from.
Gustavo Ghisi, founder. On the beach in Cascais.
Gustavo started it
the way he still runs it.
Gustavo Ghisi is Brazilian, and has lived in Portugal since 2010. He came for the travelling and stayed for the country, and after more than a decade in hospitality and tourism he started Ghisi Tours to give visitors the kind of day he would plan for a friend: the places worth the drive, the lunch worth the wait, and the detours that make a day feel like yours.
He is based in Cascais, a few minutes from Sintra and the coast. He drives, he guides, and he answers the WhatsApp himself.
Guests tend to mention the same three things: that he knows what to see and what to eat in every town, that nothing was too much trouble, and that they laughed a lot. Seventy-nine of them have written that down on Tripadvisor, and every one of them gave five stars.
“Let’s explore Portugal like a friend is showing you around.”
One guide,
start to finish.
Most tour companies split the job. Someone sells you the day, someone else plans it, and a driver you have never spoken to turns up in the morning. We don’t. The person you plan the day with on WhatsApp is the person who picks you up, drives, guides, and changes the plan with you on the way.
When Gustavo is already booked, you plan with the guide who will drive you. Same rule, same standard, and you know their name before you confirm anything.
- You talk to your guide, not to an office.
- Your guide plans the day, then spends it with you.
- One price for your group, agreed before the day.
- The plan changes whenever the day asks for it.
Why the bird.
The bird in our mark is a hoopoe. You will see them on the lawns of Sintra and in the cork fields of the Alentejo, orange with a crest, hard to miss once you know to look.
In a Persian poem written eight hundred years ago, the hoopoe is the one bird that knows the way, and leads all the others on a long journey to find their king. It seemed like the right bird for a guide.
“And now you want a Khalif: and I know
Him, and his whereabout, and How to go.”Attar, The Bird Parliament. Edward FitzGerald’s translation, 1889.
Tripadvisor · 5.0 · 79 reviews
What guests say
after they get home.
“Gustavo’s passion, humour and deep local knowledge truly set the experience apart. He went above and beyond to make sure we had the trip of a lifetime.”
“He knew just what we needed to see (and eat) at each town. We really appreciated how flexible he was with time and dealing with some weather challenges.”
“He was a safe driver, funny and very kind. His van is clean and comfortable.”
“There was never a dull moment with Gustavo. Nothing was ever too much trouble, and he was incredibly flexible with our itinerary, making sure we had the best experience possible.”
Come and see
for yourself.
Send us your dates. Gustavo, or your guide, will reply with a plan.
Contact
Send your dates.
Get a plan.
Fill in what you know and it opens a WhatsApp message to your guide, ready to send. Or skip the form and write to us directly.
- WhatsApp+351 910 646 323
- Phone+351 910 646 323
- Emailg.ghisi@outlook.com
- Instagram@ghisigustavo
- ReviewsTripadvisor · 5.0
We reply within 24 hours. If your dates are close, WhatsApp is fastest.
Based in Cascais. Pickups across Lisbon, Cascais and Sintra, the cruise terminal and the airport. Porto for the Douro.
Or just say hello.
A message is enough. Your guide will ask the rest.
404
Wrong turn.
Happens to us too.
That page isn’t here. The rest of the site is, and so is your guide.