Lisbon Segway Tour: A 3 Hour Private Streets of Hills Examination

Thinking about seeing Lisbon but dreading the hills? I had that worry too, but I did it anyway! That is, I ended up giving the “Lisbon 3 Hour Private Segway Streets of Hills” tour a shot. So, I want to pass along what I experienced to see if maybe it would be for you, too. As you likely know, Lisbon is gorgeous, with buildings that have tons of character and history around pretty much every turn. Yet, those very charming streets? They are just, just very steep. So a Segway seemed like a super attractive option. I can share details about what made the trip worth it, where I think maybe things could use a bit of touching up and whether I feel it’s worth it to check this particular tour choice out.

First Glances: Signing Up and What To Expect

So, I discovered that getting everything set up was really straight to the point. It’s almost just what you’d expect these days: browse online, find what you’re looking for, click a couple of things, and you’re set. In this case, booking the tour didn’t cause a single headache, which honestly? Is such a nice way to start a vacation. Very key details include things like meeting point info and tour operator contact info delivered straight to your inbox shortly after completing your booking. You can book it through sites like GetYourGuide, Viator, etc. I liked having the capability to cancel up to 24 hours before the tour for a full refund, should stuff pop up; you know how that goes.

When booking, it’s pretty much made clear what is and isn’t included, very important for smoothing out the expectations. That being said, tour price normally does cover the Segway rental, the guide (who, let’s face it, will probably make or break the tour) and helmets, of course. Just, generally speaking, what you’re spending on is just getting the tour itself, but expect stuff like food and entry tickets into any attraction is an expense you will need to keep in mind and account for on your own.

Getting Going: Training and Initial Feelings

The initial jitters I had about working the Segway just completely vanished quickly due to a good and helpful pre-tour run-through that got us up to speed on safe operation. Very true to the word of what you hear, mastering to operate a Segway truly doesn’t require much of any experience whatsoever. In just about fifteen minutes, I had already been zipping around with no trouble. This makes it seriously welcoming for anyone just looking for an easygoing ride.

Because this was actually a private tour, the group happened to be just my friend and me. This gave us the chance to tailor the tour a bit to our liking when it came to things we wanted to see most and how long we lingered at the sites. That private element really is that it made the entire experience just much more personable. I guess you could call it way better than being herded around with just a large group of tourists! I thought that that particular point was where I really started to have fun because our guide really knew a fair amount when it came to providing cool info that you would certainly never find in a typical tourist book, and this is where our journey had its legs!

Winding Via Alfama, Graça, and Mouraria: The Sights

Oh, let me tell you, those neighborhoods of Alfama, Graça, and Mouraria aren’t just pretty; they are practically bursting at the seams when it comes to culture, almost like they’re time capsules. Seriously, riding the Segway up those famous Lisbon hills felt almost effortless, that is when usually it is more of a challenging workout, that’s for certain. So the upside to the Segway wasn’t only the hills it had some extra pep and get me from one spot to the next, very useful for jamming in plenty within those three hours.

Very key spots included the Lisbon Cathedral. Construction started way back in the 12th century. You know, a very nice blend of architectural styles telling many a story. Oh, and then there’s the São Vicente de Fora Monastery. It has to be mentioned as one of the amazing highlights of Lisbon with its astonishing rooftop view looking out over the old Alfama district. Each area has a bit of something that gives insight regarding Lisbon’s historical journey.

The Good Guide: Personality and the Impact on the Tour

There are times when the make-or-break component with stuff like these tour choices rests totally on the guide, you know? Thankfully, ours was awesome. Very fluent in English and super familiar with every nook and cranny of Lisbon, that, I was able to tell for certain. He had a lot of information up his sleeve that actually added quite a bit when it came to my trip. A personable approach he had, made us comfortable to ask loads of questions, changing the tour into almost more of an exploring journey than a straightforward tour kind of gig.

Our guide didn’t merely echo a rehearsed script. He almost shared with us the stories behind those aged structures and plazas, pretty much taking us deeper in Lisbon’s history than just any usual postcard scene can convey. That passion he had for that particular city had made all the difference for us because his enthusiasm became pretty infectious, adding layers of true quality regarding what we’d have picked up otherwise if we had simply passed those points all on our own.

What’s To Possibly Look Out For and Final Thoughts

Truthfully, I did feel like there were tiny parts during the trip when things weren’t 100% smooth sailing. That means those stone streets. So, I found out real fast that while a Segway seriously cuts down any pain felt from traveling up steeper roads, very uneven ground can make the whole thing feel a bit rocky. If you or the folks you are looking at sharing the tour with happen to be really sensitive about any physical discomfort, it probably makes plenty of sense to make that point top-of-mind.

One other thing you may want to keep in the front of your mind is that not every single nook of every single neighborhood can accommodate any kind of Segway. It’s very wise to chat about exactly what it is you can see during the tour and have reasonable thoughts on this subject ahead of time. That way, that element comes off as something manageable as opposed to potentially coming away with disappointments. Also, since I am kind of a photo nut, it felt bad when I discovered just how hard it can be to get good action photos while you’re keeping yourself steady up on a Segway. Snapping memories isn’t quite a point-and-shoot operation and this can mean you miss taking pictures of great spontaneous street captures.

In this final analysis, this Segway tour? Very worth considering should you be searching to explore many of Lisbon’s main historic districts and bypass painful climbs of some pretty steep ascents. You know, having your own private tour absolutely adds to the custom quality, letting your group tailor a tour so that things go at whatever speed suits you perfectly, which makes every euro spent justified. The tour pushes forth to deliver on time efficiency in order to give folks cool views of some great locations. Then you top all that off, getting assistance by just a knowledgeable local guide. That ends up elevating the experience beyond just normal sightseeing. Now, if some minor potholes on some paths and photographic constraints would seem like the trip breakers? Those may be things to think over some more. However? For anyone else searching for memorable sightseeing experiences to partake in through Lisbon? I feel comfortable suggesting this selection.

• Easy Booking: Tour scheduling felt simple, right from first click.
• Personal Tour Options: Small groups offer better exploring ability on trips.
• Amazing Tour Guide: The guide may turn standard trips directly into something much richer based on sheer amounts of historical insight.
• Could Cause Discomfort: Potholes and just shaky terrain potentially may negatively affect some guests when thinking physically.