Faro Night Segway Tour: A Candid Review with Cocktails

Picture this: it is Faro, Portugal. The air carries that certain saltiness from the nearby ocean, the kind of thing that just gets everywhere. Now, the sun’s going down, coloring everything with shades of orange and purple. Rather than just strolling around, how about zipping through the streets on a Segway? That is what the Faro Night Segway Tour suggests, plus they toss in drinks, too. So, that makes this review about the tour and my attempt at gliding (sometimes clumsily) while seeing a city at night. Was it actually worth the money? Let’s explore that very thing, plus whether those drinks ended up being deserved after wrestling with a Segway.

First Glides: Gearing Up and Getting Started

At first, when everyone shows up, there’s a little safety tutorial, basically because no one wants a bunch of tourists crashing into ancient landmarks. You get shown how to mount the Segway, how to keep your balance, and that sort of thing, so no prior experience is actually needed. Now, honestly, at first, it feels very awkward, kind of like learning to ride a bike again but without the pedals and the freedom. Leaning forward makes you go, leaning back slows you down, so really, it’s all very instinctive… until you nearly bump into a parked car. It seems that even with training, some people, maybe including myself, will still have moments that test their coordination. At least it adds something like a story to tell, I suppose.

One guide that I spoke with said that he always makes certain everybody feels okay before hitting the road. He kept reminding the group, like myself, “Lean ever so slightly,” and that became the phrase of the evening. After just a few minutes of circling around the starting point, I, like others I’m sure, started to feel slightly more in control. I did notice, however, one lady in the group seemed like a pro immediately, darting around and looking like she might begin doing tricks if she could. In short, she really made the rest of us look bad. But once we moved past that area and actually into the older parts of Faro, things got noticeably more interesting.

Through the Night: Seeing Faro’s Sights

I suppose the true draw of the tour shows itself when the sky darkens. So, the city sort of transforms under the night sky. The old buildings get lit up, shadows create drama, and the overall atmosphere feels much, well, I suppose charming would fit here. We went gliding by spots like the Municipal Museum, which honestly looks pretty stunning when the floodlights come on, really providing a majestic appearance. So, that’s one I certainly will be talking about. Then there was the Old Town area, too. That very thing, with its small alleyways and historic buildings, feels very different on a Segway than simply walking. You can cover much ground and just absorb much more in a shorter period of time. Very much a highlight for everyone, it seems.

Another thing? The guide just gave a lot of interesting info as we cruised along. Like, he’d casually point out architectural features and then slip in a short story about Faro’s history. Now, you know, the kind of stuff you probably wouldn’t get if you were just casually checking things out on your own. So, I suppose, in that sense, it adds much value to the trip. The real appeal, for me, came from how intimate everything felt. Rather than being crammed on a bus, you’re just out there in the night air. It definitely seemed like you were experiencing the city in a way that many tourists never would. In my mind, that’s priceless.

Pit Stop: Cocktails and Chat

What could really be something like a perfect midpoint? Cocktails. So, somewhere along the way, the tour made a stop at what I suppose might be described as a chill little spot where everyone could grab something like a drink. It’s usually included, so that is very cool, plus there are many different kinds of drinks available. It wasn’t just the drink itself that stood out, you see. It was really how it encouraged people to begin talking with each other. We were swapping stories about the scariest parts of the Segway ride and complimenting each other on maybe near misses that would probably scare the rest of the riders, you see. In this way, that very break acted almost like an unexpected social event. That actually seemed kinda fun.

That is, aside from nearly running over someone’s toes. One guy on the tour admitted that it might’ve been his fourth drink, and, really, he began to weave around so much, that a few of us thought he might just drive into a wall. Thankfully, though, no Segway-related accidents actually occurred. So, it’s worth emphasizing that most people behaved reasonably, laughed quite a lot, and actually really seemed to savor that little pause from the moving tour. After that break? The final part of the tour had us, with newfound confidence from the drinks (or simply relief that we hadn’t fallen), go zipping back toward the starting point, seeing just a few more sights under the dark sky. So, as they say, cheers to the perfect midpoint.

The Verdict: Is it worth your money and time?

Okay, so that makes it come down to the most pressing question: Would I recommend this night Segway excursion in Faro? Here’s what I’ve actually discovered. If you, like your friend over there, are searching for a different method of experiencing a place and also don’t mind seeming a little goofy while you learn something? This could actually be great. The Segways are pretty fun once you start getting a little comfortable, and viewing Faro once the sun’s down gives everything something like a whole other vibe. Now, admittedly, if you are the type that hates anything slightly touristy, then this probably is not actually going to convert you. And yeah, there’s that little part of you that just feels ridiculous on those machines.

I would say the pricing does come in slightly higher than what you will find with just some walking excursions, but when factoring in that unusual aspect and the added alcoholic drinks? It probably balances out well. You may want to think about this if your coordination gets shaky post one cocktail. Generally? That tour guides make an effort to ensure everybody has a memorable and, far more crucially, very safe time. I was happy with my decision and had plenty of giggles (and photo ops). Just think about everything and, like, give it a whirl should it strike your eye. You may discover that you liked it.

In my case? Well, I enjoyed myself immensely. It could be fun for people whether going solo, in couples, or maybe just small groups who don’t worry too much about trying to appear serious constantly. It really gets down to what type of adventure will give you the best reward at the end, honestly. But if gliding past the lovely spots of a lovely location while having a drink actually seems like it suits what you look for? Really, think of Faro.

#Faro #Segway #Nightlife #Portugal #TravelReview