SHORE EXCURSIONS · BY REGION
The best days ashore.
The 15 most popular atlantic coast & islands shore excursions for cruise passengers. The trips worth your hours ashore, what each one runs, who operates it and how to be back before all-aboard.
Guided Corralejo sand dunes and turquoise coves shore excursion from Puerto del Rosario. Dune time, sea swim, and free shopping.
Most Popular“Unser Guide hat etwas wirr gesprochen und man wusste am Anfang nicht welche Tour ( große oder kleine Runde) man gebucht hat und was auf einem zukommt.”
A cruise-ship day on Santiago with port pickup, mountain views, **batuco/morna** music and dancing, plus a real swim at Tarrafal.
“gut , länger als geplant ,hätte es für uns nicht gebraucht”
Private 7-hour Madeira tour from Funchal Cruise Port for up to 8, with flexible stops like Cabo Girão, Monte, and Câmara de Lobos.
“We chose 4 activities with João’s help. In 4 hour we covered our list. We picked the pick-up and drop off times. Best private tour ever!”
Private Lisbon half-day electric tuk-tuk tour with cruise pickup, Alfama to Bairro Alto viewpoints, and key Belém sights in about 3 hours.
“The scenic viewpoints were the highlights of this tour. The knowledge of the tour guide was impressive. The Tour could have been shortened and still would have seen the same about of sites. The history and information was a bit too much.”
Furnas crater, tea at Gorreana, and hot springs on a port-friendly shore tour from Ponta Delgada with optional Terra Nostra soak.
“The tour guide skip the most important sightseeing point and did not offer us to take the photo of the lake. Most of the time is wasting on the road in travelling. Not much to see. Really disappointed and not recommended other travellers to join this tour!”
A small-group Sete Cidades shore excursion from Ponta Delgada: pineapple greenhouse, crater viewpoints, and the Blue & Green Lakes.
“Our guide took us all over. She was very very knowledgeable, fun, friendly and truly caring. Andrea took us to the volcano lake, tried local food, saw a few churches, beaches and extra time was spent in the city learning so very much.”
Half-day 4x4 shore excursion from Ponta Delgada to Sete Cidades, Furnas, or Lagoa do Fogo with port pickup and small-group touring.
“Luis was great and the tour beautiful. Very appreciative of the excellent communication from the office prior to the tour. Everything went smoothly from pickup to drop off back at the ship.”
Private small-group Lisbon shore tour with pickup, air-conditioned comfort, Alfama walking, Belém icons, and optional Pastéis de Belém.
“Our driver showed up late and tried to say she had been there all along (she wasn’t). Then she asked where our luggage was as she thought we were going to a hotel afterwards even though she picked us up from the cruise terminal! Poor start to the tour. She was OK on the tour…”
Private 4-hour Lisbon shore tour by minivan with Belém and Alfama highlights plus pastel de Belém, cod cake, vinho verde and port.
“Vlad was great. He has a great knowledge of Portugal and is a lot of fun to be with. We enjoyed our time with him and wish we could have spent a full day instead of only 5 hours. It was like spending the day with an old friend. We would love to go back…”
Private Lisbon and Sintra shore day with port pickup, UNESCO sites, Cabo da Roca views, and optional palaces—English guide included.
“We had the privilege to have David as our tour guide. This was a private day tour to see Lisbon, Sintra, Cascais, and many other areas. We arrived early morning on a cruise ship and David picked us up bright and early. We spent almost 9 hours touring and seeing the Lisbon and Sintra areas.…”
Private Lisbon shore tour with port pickup, air-conditioned comfort, and a local guide covering Rossio, Alfama, Sé, Jerónimos, and Pastéis de Belém.
“Joel was a wonderful tour guide. We had 5pp on the tour and he customized it to what we wanted to see. He gave us time at the Sunday markets for shopping. His English was fantastic. Highly recommend!”
São Vicente in a half or full day: Mindelo markets, forts, Monte Verde tea views, and a Baia das Gatas swim, with easy port pickup.
“Our tour guide, Raphael, did an excellent job of sharing his island. We enjoyed the walking tour of Mindelo to learn history and how the people live. The drive up to the peak on a hand built road was interesting, as was the trip to a lovely beach! The local lunch he arranged was very…”
Vigo to Santiago de Compostela shore day with an English guide, cathedral entry, and guided walking for about $82.
“Worst tour experience ever. Guide was not where promised. Got odd instructions to walk blocks from original site. 7 other people who signed up for tour walked with us. Finally the bus came to pick us up. Our tour was combined with some other operator. Will never use your services again. Guide walled too fast…”
Private Sintra and Pena Palace shore excursion from Lisbon port with guided palaces, skip-the-line help, ocean stops, and private comfort.
“Our family had a great time in Sintra with our guide Gabbie. She was very engaging and full of energy. She made sure that we were all ok . Has fun in our tour despite the weather. I highly recommend her.”
Private half-day Sintra and Cascais shore excursion with pickup, guided stops at Pena, Cabo da Roca, and Boca do Inferno.
“We could not have had a better experience with our tour guide, Susana. Her professionalism, knowledge, and warm personality were all the best I’ve seen using Viator! Our only regret is that we didn’t book the full day tour because there is so much to see.”
Every coast a ship calls at, and the best of every port day.
