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If you're not coming to Portugal and have other plans, I know right about the 3 nicest guides! 

They're brilliant, super professional, amazingly knowleageble and greatly fun to be with!

In Berlin, Matti:

With over a decade of experience and a deep love for Berlin, Matti is there to make your visit unforgettable: he's a local, born and bred.

Joining the family trade, he's a second-generation tour guide, following in his mother's footsteps!

Maybe his little one (his tornado son, as he calls him) will step into the 3rd generation!

Guiding isn't just a job for him; it's his calling - a way to share Berlin's history, culture and stories with others.

Whether you're a solo traveler, a family or a group of friends!

www.toursofberlin.com/

In London, Vivien:

As a proud holder of the prestigious London Blue Bdge Tourist Guide qualification, Vivien loves London and she really knows it too.

Traveling is a pastime for some people, a break from regular life. As your tour guide, she’ll help you disconnect from your everyday world, so you can immerse yourself in London, its sights, its history, its heritage and world famous  landmarks.

Vivien is a Londonologist, a dog-owning, a country-walking, a museum-junkie, old books on London-collecting knitting nut that drinks rather a lot of tea, preferably from a London-themed mug with a slice of something nice on the side.

https://www.yourguidelondon.com/

In Paris, Sara:

She's an Italian art historian Parisian at heart and a licensed tour guide in France who fell in love with Paris a long time ago and moved there. 

On her tours, she loves to make the past live again, following unusual paths even in the most touristic areas and letting you experience the authentic Paris, feeling like a local. 

She's smiley and flexible: if you are looking for a truly taylormade Parisian tour in a very friendly atmosphere feel free to contact me and I will organise it for you: from walking tours in the city to high-end shopping experiences, from Skip-the-line Museums visits to thematic itineraries to enjoy Parisian cultural or gastronomic heritage.

She has been working with schools for years (and has 2 of her own) so she knows what you are looking for if you are travelling with kids.

One of the things I love about Lisbon is that all year round there is beautiful sunlight. Less than 600mm of rain and at least 2800 hours of sunshine per year. I love Lisbon with a blue sky, but trust me that even its rare dramatic grey vaulted ceiling suits it perfectly too, as it somehow matches our sometimes fatalistic souls. Many of us here are driven by Fado, a melody engraved deep in our hearts like a living poem.

The Portuguese capital has many different neighbourhoods: each with its unique ambience and history. There are some that cannot be missed as you’ll be amazed with the amount of things you can learn from experiencing them. Being a hilly city, Lisbon allows you to contemplate dreamy panoramas from different viewpoints, some still unbelievably quiet and inspiring. Whether you choose to go uphill, downhill, stay in the flat area or mix it up, Lisbon keeps offering you a bit of everything, from ancient to modern times.

TOP 10 THINGS THAT YOU CAN’T MISS IN LISBON

1. Start by getting to know the heart of Lisbon, that might probably be the area around where you’re staying: the Downtown (Baixa), with its extremely spacious and well organised urban planning and architecture, result of the rebuilding works after the 1755 earthquake and much influenced by the Age of Enlightenment.

2. Then take a gentle walk along the Tagus River.

3. ...or simply sit by the water and admire the triumphal arch in Commerce Square.

4. Another top place is undoubtedly the lovely Carmo Square with its jacaranda trees that bloom purple in May and June. Originally from South America, these trees arrived in Lisbon in the mid 17th-century and are a colourful sight in the spring.

5. While at the square, don’t miss visiting the partially-ruined 14th century Carmelite Convent, a former religious building which presently houses an Archeological Museum. Enter and delight your eyes with the old stones framing Lisbon’s blue sky.

6. Then it’s time to discover what’s underneath your feet in Príncipe Real garden, but only after you take a deep breath and immerse your spirit in the outstanding tropical flora it contains.

7. The tunnels and galleries of the Water Museum (Reservatório da Patriarcal) are part of a unique experience through which you can discover the historical, technological and scientific heritage of the role played by water in the city, strictly related to the 18th century aqueduct.

8. Definitely make sure you enter São Jorge’s Castle, up the highest hill of Lisbon, an area where the remains that have been found date as far back as the 6th century BC. The castle itself was founded in the 10th and 11th centuries and besides being one of the over 200 existing castles in Portugal, is a place where you can learn about the impressive Middle Ages period, the fortress’ specific functions and the main events that took place there.

9. The neighbourhood of Graça is by far my top choice for 2021, and beyond! Located up a hill about a 20 minute walk from Baixa or a ride on tram #28, it arose around a 13th century Convent and kept a kind of rural appearance until the 19th century when there was a sudden arrival of a vast migration of people from the countryside to the city. That’s when the spectacular “Villas” were born. In their genesis, areas of popular and working-class housing and although their use might now be different, the local charm remains untouched from the days of yore. And the views here…? Breathtaking!

10. Finish the day with a live fado experience. I’ll be happy to recommend to you some of the best places to listen to this melancholy, expressive music.

I hope you’re ripe for the experience: most likely Lisbon will capture your heart and there won’t be a one time only, as you’ll get hooked by its vibe! I love leading walking tours and I definitely think they’re one of the best ways to get into Lisbon’s spirit: walk, walk and walk a bit more. Itineraries can be built from scratch, depending on your interest, mobility and how long you want the tour to last. Everything is possible and doable and we can make it work and explore the city together as a team.

https://www.toursbylocals.com/blog/10-best-things-to-do-in-lisbon

Queluz Palace, Sintra 🇵🇹
Personally, I enjoy a lot staying away from crowds and Queluz Palace is one of my favourite places.A sumptuous 18 century royal palace where you can enjoy the incredible tasty blend of Baroque, Rococo and Neoclassicism.The gardens were inspired in the Chateau de Marly (NW of Versailles), Louis XIV’s second great work as he "would sometimes like to have simplicity and solitude.” 😉This was where our royal family went to live after the big earthquake of 1755 in Lisbon.
➡️ You can easily learn so much about the Portuguese history if you visit this masterpiece! 🍀🕰️ 20 min from Lisbon

#7 PORTUGAL  

The most desirable country (short haul)

#1 LISBON

The most desirable city (short haul)

#5 Me
Best Specialist Guide

After 18 years of doing what I love the most, I feel extremely grateful but I'm still speechless... Me? Really? I only received this unbelievable news after the results came out!  I could have asked everyone to vote My beloved Lisbon is the Most Desirable City (Short Haul) and I'm forever thankful for knowing the passion I have for what I do is now recognised worldwide. Wow!!! This is still not real.I thank you all: my sweet travellers, my passionate colleagues, my dear friends and my beautiful family. You mean the world to me. Obrigada!

https://www.wanderlust.co.uk/content/wanderlust-travel-awards-winners-results-2021/

The amazing light of Lisbon at 8AM on a cold January day Yes, it's still possible to travel and discover the world safely I walk, you sit and enjoy! 

Join a group of friends or family and experience one of my tours!

Take a peek at my website and find out more!@www.fall4lisbonwithmarta.pt