TRAVELLERS_CHOICE

📌✉️  Please message me if you're having trouble with booking one of my tours:  I am checking my messages frequently. Thank you! 😊

About me:
I was born in Lisbon and I'm forever in love with it!
After my family, guiding is my greatest passion: I simply love what I do!

I have a 5 year academic degree called Touristic Information, specifically to work as a Tourist Guide, as well as the Certificate of Competence acquired through a qualifying examination, in order to be able to exercise this regulated profession.
I own and manage a tour company licensed by the Turismo de Portugal IP, Portugal's National Tourism Authority.
Tour guiding has been my full time job since 2003 and it has always been incredibly rewarding. In 2021, I was recognized by the Wanderlust Awards as one of the world's "Best Specialist Guides", which I think is a result of doing what I love every day. Waking up knowing I'll meet enthusiastic people who are excited to discover my city makes me a very grateful and happy person!

For over two decades (wow, it's hard to believe time flew that fast!) I travelled the world as a tour guide and tour manager in Europe and both South and Central America. I stopped being so nomadic when my first child was born and in 2016, I became part of ToursByLocals' amazing team and since then I've been 100% dedicated to my lovely Lisbon and its surroundings. I've delivered over 4,000 tours since 2003 and 1,000 were with ToursByLocals since 2016.

I am a mother of 3. I love planning family trips. I know how important it is to create special family memories. Travelling means getting to know new places and cultures, experiencing nature more closely, walking and playing more, discovering history through cities, monuments and palaces! Our childhood travel memories are often the sweetest and along with other remarkable moments, we build who we are and how we live in the world. So if you're in need of someone to guide you and your kids and have them thrilled about travelling, I'm your guide!

I'm also very fond of small groups of friends, extended family trips and solo travellers. It's a much more personal approach and very interesting and grateful, too. It's so lovely to get to know you! My wish is to make you feel all the unique details of this fairytale country the way I proudly do, welcoming you as a friend, however always assuring professional, original and interesting tours.

I offer walking tours or if you prefer to just sit and relax, I also provide tours with transportation included (private minivan, minibus, bus).
You can choose from my many tours the one you're most interested in, or we can build together a tailored experience, everything at your pace.
Once you send me a message, I'll try to answer right away, but if I'm delivering a tour or busy with my family, I'll let you know that I'll get back to you soon.

I'll be happy to create a customized tour just for you and if you have a special request, if it's a family with different age ranges. . . let me know so we can build the best option for your group. Some of my tours can perfectly be combined in one day, like 2 half day tours or in difference days, if you're staying longer.

I can also help you plan the best timings to avoid the crowds and even help you buy your tickets.

Even if I'm a tour guide and I'd love to share everything I know with you, don't expect to be  attending an historic conference! I consider myself a knowledgeable professional but at the same time I'm also a very easy going, friendly and flexible person who truly believes  that one can learn a lot by enjoying what they're listening to and seeing in a relaxed way and above all, having fun!

There are lots of magic places in Portugal: let me know about you, your interests and ideas and according to that I will work on your time here!
One very original experience still feels incredible: the virtual tours. The idea came up with the 2020 pandemic scenery and I decided to keep them going in the future as they're such a pleasant way of travelling differently and sustainably. These tours are perfect to gather families and friends who live away from each other and for schools to complement their teaching, as well as to help those who cannot travel for many reasons, to be able to see the world. I believe we always need to make the best out of the worst.

Portugal is a country to visit all year round: weather is wonderful and even during the winter you can enjoy the simple pleasures of life like sitting on an esplanade, absorbing each sunbeam! Plus, I love cooking and baking and I'm happy to share my recipes. Portuguese food is simply delicious and the wine is just perfect for a toast to celebrate life! 

Get ready to deeply fall in love with Portugal! Can't wait to meet you! 

Credentials:
-Certified licensed Tourist Guide since 2003 (17/26820/1244)
-Proud member of SNATTI #4282
-5 year Degree in Tourism Information by the Estoril Higher Institute for Tourism and Hotel Studies, a non-profit public higher-education institution
Tourist Guide & Tour Leader Certificate of Competence, acquired through 2 different qualifying examinations, in order to be able to exercise this profession.
-Master Degree in Tourism – Specialisation in Strategic Management of Tourism Destinations
-I own and manage a tour company licensed by the Turismo de Portugal IP, Portugal's National Tourism Authority

We'll start the day away with the visit to Quinta da Regaleira.
Then, we'll visit Pena Palace and the historic centre of Sintra, a fascinating small town at the bottom of the mountain range. Endowed with luxuriant vegetation, it is part of the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park.
Fairytale castles and palaces will take you back in time; undoubtedly a special nook with unique characteristics that led UNESCO to classify it as a World heritage site.
Return to Lisbon or drop off in Cascais for a nice romantic dinner by the ocean.

Enchanted Sintra with Pena Palace, Regaleira - Full Day Tour

Are you visiting Lisbon for the first time? What about adding a stop in Sintra too?
Short stop to discover the historic centre of Sintra, a fascinating small town at the foot of the mountain, endowed with luxuriant vegetation and part of a Natural Park and surrounded by fairytale castles and palaces. This special nook with unique characteristics led UNESCO to classify it as a World heritage site.

Visit Pena Palace.

Photo stop in Cascais.

Stop at the Pastéis de Belém for some delicious custard tarts.
Photo stop at the magnificent Jerónimos Monastery (exterior), the jewel of Manueline Art.
Travel back in time until the XVI century and delight yourself by looking at the Belém Tower (exterior) which lays on River Tagus' light blue waters.

Are you ready to fall in love with Portugal?

Highlights of Sintra, Cascais and Belém, the perfect combination - Full Day Tour

If you're looking for a different day trip starting from Lisbon with your family and friends, this is the perfect tour!
Enjoy the beauty of the quiet Alentejo region and its amazing history, culture, traditions, gastronomy and monuments.
Évora is a world heritage site where you can see from a 7, 000 years old cromlech, a Roman temple built on 1AC, a 13th century gothic cathedral, an astonishing bone chapel, the typical houses, shops and streets, beautiful gardens and the second oldest Portuguese university.
Surrounding Évora, there's an impressive 16th century aqueduct and breathtaking landscapes filled with cork trees!
This gem has always been one of the favourite cities of the Portuguese royal family and of many noble families who loved this hideaway, I guess as much as you will :)
Nearby there are true places not to be missed so you might consider stay for a couple of days in Évora.
Contact me for further information, please.

Tour guide in Lisbon Marta C.

Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian

Contact the Guide

Delivers tours starting at

Tours by Marta C.

Customize your tour

Traveller reviews for private tours