Private tour in Porto Sara M
5.0
(38) reviews
3 hours
1
3 hours
1
Sara M.
5.0
Guide rating
330
Reviews
Tours delivered
3 hrs
Avg. response time
Hello Everyone, I'm Sara, an Official Certified Licensed Guide, passionate professional and raised in Porto! Proudly, I received the 2026 TBL Golden Guide Award for Best Walking Tour of the year I have been working in Tourism since 2005 and after my degree in Tourism, became a Portuguese Certified Official Licensed Guide in 2018, proudly showing my Unesco city and the North of Portugal to thousands of visitors, from all over the world, ever since. Every single day I teach and I learn from my wonderful guests. I combine my love for our history, culture, people, legends, gastronomy, religion and architecture, with a rich and diverse professional background, as I also have a Law Degree from the University of Porto, been a Teacher of Economics, Public Relations in an Orchestra and worked for 9 years in the Port Wine Industry! Wow, what a ride! Although I found my true calling in Professional Guiding, my guests tell me all the time how much my life's "knowhow" enriches their own experience here with me, and their knowledge of the region and country. A traveller myself, I've been all over the world. I'll show you the city in the perspective of a true local, that finds personal memories in every story, sight, colour or smell of this place and its proud people, with unique soul: after all, we gave Portugal its NAME! But not only Porto, all of the North of Portugal can be visited with me: Douro Valley, Guimarães, Braga, and many others amazing places. Friendly and people person, I want to meet your expectations, from the most famous highlights to the "off the beaten path", because, at the end of the day, it is your customized tour. On my free time, you'll find me at my house, overlooking the Douro river, spendind time with my family and beloved rescue dogs, reading (a true passion) and going for hikes. Or checking out a great new restaurant! I have several kind of tours offered here on TBL, both Half Day or Full Day: *Walking tours - I offer these in Porto, and due to the size of the city, I believe it to be one of the best ways to see it, if that's a possibility for you. *Tours with Transportation included, in Private Car or Van, where you'll have me as a Guide and also a Private Driver, who drops us off and picks us up where we need. This can happen in the city of Porto, and will happen everytime we go outside the city, like the Douro Valley, Guimarães and Braga. * Tapas Tours, to discover the best Gastronomic secrets. * Jewish Heritage Tours. More than 10 choices, plus all the possibilities of Customization! Might you have a big group, I can also hire a bus. The itineraries of my tours are made to include the most memorable places, but can be changed accordingly to the location of your hotel and your motivations, and some sights can be replaced for others you're more interested in. We will surely find something you like, or get ideas for tours that can be customize for you! I also got my "Clean & Safe" certification, provided by the Tourism of Portugal board after a training, certifying that I am a Professional Complying with Health Measures in Portugal, which is very necessary in this period post appearance of COVID-19. Really hope I can be the one making you fall in love with the North of Portugal! - Certified Official Licensed Guide, approved by Agic (nr. 219) and Snatti (nr. 4751) - Tourism Degree in ISLA - Law Degree in the University of Porto and working as a Lawyer 5 years - Post Graduation in Economics and teaching Experience - Public Relations in Front Office of Symphonic Orchestra of Porto - Port Wine Industry Professional (Sogrape and Fladgate Partnership Group) for 9 years.
Have a question or want to customize this tour? Message Sara M.
Starting at the Hotel or desired meeting point, we'll explore the old Jewish Heritage of Porto. Active part of Porto's merchant and business medieval community, the Jewish population (20% in the 15th century) was caught off guard by the 1496 Expulsion Law of King Manuel I, that forced them to conversion or expulsion, soon before the Inquisition began in the country. Let's go together to the old neighborhoods of the ancient Portuguese Sephardic Jews, "Vitória" and "Miragaia", turned into borrows of "New Christians" and talk about the traces that still exist there (as most were intentionally destroyed), as well as the development of this community in the city and the country, from then up to our days. Never forgetting key storytelling facts, like "Marranos", "Crypto- Judaism" or Aristides Mendes, Portuguese Consul, that saved 30. 000 lives during Holocaust, among many interesting facts. Note: Tour is designed for Walking but can be Customized for Car/Van too (consult Guide for budget).
Sara was a terrific guide. She is very knowledgeable about Jewish life in Porto. It was a walking tour and we visited locations we would never know about. She shared her very in depth knowledge about Porto and especially on this topic. We learned so much from her. We highly recommend her if you are interested in a Jewish tour of Porto. She’s very personable too. Thank you Sara. We also took an Uber and visited the synagogue and the museum on her recommendation.
Sara really brought the story of Porto’s Jewish history to life. Although much of the physical evidence is gone she was able to show us what was still there while chronologically taking us through the story. She showed us things we never would have found on our own. I highly recommend this tour and am confident that any tour you book with her will be worth it.
Sara was absolutely fantastic. She had a really in depth knowledge of all the history and background of Jewish Porto. She took us all over the Jewish area and even showed us a hidden synagogue. Really fascinating!
We very much enjoyed the morning we spent doing a tour of Jewish Porto with Sara Mello. Sara is a knowledgeable guide who is very skillful at relating the history of the Jewish community in Porto, weaving together the complex story in a way that is easy to understand and relate to. I particularly appreciated her perspective on the psychological impact of the Inquisition on those who suffered through it. The telling of the rebirth of this community in the 20th century was moving and fascinating, and helped us appreciate the importance of the Kadouri Synagogue when we attended services on Shabbat. Sara is a top-notch guide and we warmly recommend her and Tours by Locals.
The best tour for us in Porto was the Jewish Heritage of Porto with Sara Mello. Her incredible personality and knowledge, passionate approach, and genuine love for her work and Jewish history—past, present, and future—make this tour unforgettable and exceptionally engaging.
The Jewish Heritage of Porto tour was one of the true highlights of our trip. Sara guided us through every landmark that remains from the city's rich Jewish past, bringing centuries of history vividly to life. As we walked along the cobblestones streets and visited a secret synagogue, we felt deeply connected to the stories she shared. Sara is a captivating speaker, with a very profound knowledge of the subject. She is highly professional and I give her bonus points for conducting most of our tour in the pouring rain. I would recommend Sara to anyone who appreciates Jewish History and wants to get deeper insight into its presence and legacy in Portugal.
Tour Itinerary: • Hotel or Meeting Point We'll walk the old Jewish Quarters and pass the famous sites of: * Olival Door * Benedictine Monastery * Memorial of 1496 * Vitória Street * Old Synagogue Site * View Point of Vitória * Hekhal in Secret XVI century Private Synagogue * New Christian Houses * Ancient Synagogue "Esnoga" Staircase * Miragaia Quarter * Cruciforme House * Staircase of the Jewish Mount * View Point of "Bandeirinha" Important: Kadoorie Synagogue is NOT INCLUDED on this Tour, that focuses on the old Jewish areas of the city. If you wish to have the Synagogue and the Sephardic Museum, please book the other Jewish Heritage Tour I offer - Jewish Heritage with Synagogue.
Tell your guide which places matter to you, skip what doesn't, and tailor the experience for your group's needs. Not finding what you want? Message your guide to build something unique.
Walking Tour (can be customized to Car/Van) Confortable Shoes, if Walking. Confort stops will happen, for rest and WC.
Porto, Portugal
Hotel in City Center OR Meeting Point agreed with Client in the City Center.
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If your tour is valued over $200 USD and booked at least 45 days before the tour date, you can book with a deposit!
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