Gifts can be much more than physical objects, especially when it comes to travelling experiences. Offering unforgettable moments can strengthen bonds, create lasting memories and provide unique adventures. Whether for couples looking for romantic getaways, families wanting shared moments or friends exploring new horizons together, travel experience gifts are an exceptional way to celebrate special connections.

Discover some captivating options for every group.

For adventurous and curious couples

Experience gifts can be a very creative way to surprise your loved one and enjoy special moments together.

A romantic sailboat trip with dinner is a good option, enjoying the magic of the Lisbon sunset on the splendid Tagus River. You can also take a Valentine's Day cruise on the Douro River, with a romantic all-inclusive dinner and live music, soaking up the beauty of Porto's nightlife.

You also have the chance to sail with your loved one along the Ria de Aveiro on board a traditional boat. This way, you can get to know Portuguese Venice from a Moliceiro, discovering impressive examples of Art Nouveau and curious traditions.

How about surprising your loved one with a high-flying adventure? A hot air balloon flight is a unique and unforgettable experience that allows you to appreciate the beauty of Portugal from a different perspective, in different regions of the country, such as the Alentejo, the Douro, the Algarve, among others.

If your special someone is adventurous and likes an adrenaline rush, a helicopter ride in Lisbon might surprise them, allowing them to see the Tower of Belém, one of the city's landmarks, from the sky in a cultural experience.

And because a gastronomic experience is indispensable, you could consider a pastel de nata workshop as a gift, a different challenge that will allow you to prepare this delicious gastronomic delicacy for your family and friends.

What's more, a visit to one of the country's many wine estates, with a wine tasting and gourmet experience, is an excellent choice for wine-loving couples.

For Families: Celebrating the bonds that unite us

If your desire is to give your family different, out-of-the-box moments, experience gifts are perfect for celebrating and strengthening family ties.

For Parents

You can surprise your parents with a range of ideas to escape routine and encourage romance.

A cruise on the Douro River can be a pleasant treat, giving you the opportunity to discover one of Portugal's main treasures, the Douro Valley, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with breathtaking landscapes.

And because Sintra is full of romance, you can also offer your parents a trip to Sintra, a region with unique natural and cultural beauty, with magical attractions such as Quinta da Regaleira and Pena Palace, also classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

If your parents are fans of history and exploring Portugal's culture, a Tuk Tuk tour of Guimarães, the cradle of Portugal, is a must, allowing them to discover the atmosphere of this medieval city with a rich cultural legacy.

What about the chance to discover the Peneda-Gerês Park? In what is Portugal's only protected area classified as a National Park, give your parents the perfect setting to explore their true passion for nature.

What's more, if your parents like adventure, treat them to a hot air balloon ride over the Alentejo or a day of hiking in the breathtaking landscapes of the Azores.

If your parents are passionate about gastronomy, how about offering them a cookery class? There are various cookery courses and workshops in Portugal that teach you how to prepare typical, regional, international, vegetarian and vegan dishes, among others.

An excursion to Porto with wine tasting will give you the chance to explore the essence of this charismatic city by seeing the best buildings, monuments and landscapes and tasting some of the best Port wines.

For children

If you want to surprise your children with enriching experiences, there's no shortage of fantastic family activities.

You can offer the little ones a radical adventure at Park Pena Aventura, enjoying a day of pure fun in one of Portugal's largest outdoor activity and radical parks.

In addition, you can offer your children an indoor skydiving experience in Porto or Lisbon, enjoying an intense explosion of adrenaline and emotion.

On the other hand, with Portugal's beautiful beaches, a surf lesson is an excellent opportunity for children to learn something new and exciting!

For a family optical illusion adventure, you can treat yourself to a ticket to the 3D Fun Art Museum in Portimão, exploring around 40 different scenarios full of 3D images. Don't forget your camera!

If your children are football fans, there's nothing better than a visit to the stadium and museum of Porto, Benfica or Sporting. In this experience, you'll have access to the stands, the visiting dressing room, the press room and much more!

What child doesn't like animals? A visit to the zoo is an experience that appeals to kids and adults alike, and allows you to get to know and observe, as a family, different species of animals from different habitats and continents.

A memorable activity for the little ones is dolphin and whale watching on the island of São Miguel, taking advantage of a marvellous boat trip. They can observe the natural habitat of dolphins and other marine species. An experience the little ones will love!

For Friends: Sharing Adventures

Enjoying activities with friends is one of the most comforting feelings there is. To do this, you can explore experience gifts to surprise your friends.

For your friend who enjoys tranquillity away from the hustle and bustle of the city, a group surf lesson in Costa da Caparica could be the ideal surprise! Learn to surf on one of the most beautiful beaches in the south of Portugal.

If your friends like an adrenaline rush, a gyrocopter ride in the Algarve could be just the thing. Enjoy incredible views of the Algarve in a panoramic setting. Isn't that irresistibly tempting?

What about a land and sky tour in Braga? If you have a friend who's always up for an adventure, this Tuk Tuk, Funicular and Avioneta tour might surprise you! Get to know Braga's Bom Jesus, classified as a World Cultural Heritage Site by UNESCO.

If your friends like mystery and a challenge, how about offering them an escape room game? An escape room is an activity that consists of a challenge starting in a themed room and trying to get out of it in less than an hour, solving riddles, clues and puzzles that test the participants' logic, creativity and teamwork.

A buggy experience in Porto with friends will allow you to discover the true interior of the Porto district in a radical and adrenaline-fuelled way.

And to give your friends an exciting adventure in contact with nature, a diving baptism in the Algarve is an attractive option. This class in a pool, where you can dive up to 12 metres with an instructor, may surprise you with the variety of marine species around you.

A gastronomic experience, whether it's a traditional cookery class or a cheese and wine tasting, is always a delicious gift to share with friends!

Gifts of experience go beyond offering temporary moments: they build bonds and enrich relationships. When choosing a gift of this type, take into account the interests, personalities and desires of the group, providing a memorable and meaningful experience. Whether for couples, families or friends, the true essence of these gifts lies in the shared journey and the memories that last forever.

Make the most of it and find out more about experiential travel. And discover more gifts - experiences to surprise your family or friends.

Visit Living Tours for more travel experiences in Portugal and Spain. And explore more travel ideas on the Living Magazine Blog.