DAY 1

Arrival Lisbon

Upon arrival, transfer privately to your hotel and enjoy the remainder of the day at leisure.

Just a short walk from your hotel is the traditional restaurant Solar dos Presuntos where you will enjoy this evening’s dinner. Specialties include ham, seafood and grills and is popular  with the locals. The walls are hung with photographs and a fine collection of watercolors drawings and paintings. The atmosphere is relaxed and informal with charming service.

Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz

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DAY 2

Lisbon

Spend the morning discovering the best known sights of Portugal’s capital.  The enchanting hilltop district of the Alfama, little changed since Moorish times and crowned by the castle of St George and with superb views over the city and Tagus Estuary.  Then through the 18th century Baijo which was rebuilt after the catastrophic earthquake of 1755 on to the riverside Jeronimos Monastery, an amazing example of the exuberant “Manueline” gothic architecture that is unique to Portugal and containing the tomb of the great explorer Vasco da Gama.  Close by is the fascinating little Torre de Belem fortress, surrounded by water; and the Bandeirantes Memorial to the Portuguese seafarers who over the centuries created the furthest flung and longest lasting of the great European empires.

This afternoon there is time to relax and soak up the atmosphere of this remarkable city, perhaps stroll and maybe shop in the fascinating Bairro Alto district;  or join your expert guides on an optional sightseeing tour to discover more of the treasures Lisbon has to offer.  

OPTION 1: Museums of Lisbon
Time to discover some of the most interesting museums which Lisbon has to offer.  First and foremost the superb museum created by the eccentric Armenian oil millionaire Calouste Gulbenkian who gave to Lisbon his amazing collections of art ranging from early Babylonian pottery to Rembrandt to Lalique glass. Or the enchanting Museu de Arte Antiga, filled with paintings by medieval and Renaissance Portuguese artists. Also not be missed by art lovers is the recently created Museo de Oriente, which not only chronicles Portugal’s nearly 600 years’ presence in the Far East but is quite possibly the most brilliant display of Oriental art anywhere in Europe.  And perhaps combine all this culture with a ride on a 100 year tram?

OPTION 2: Arrábida Natural Park
This afternoon travel to the nearby Arrábida Natural Park for time exploring independently. You may wish to take a short hike through the Serra da Arrabida, which stretches up along the coast between Setúbal and Sesimbra.  It sits on the northern slope of the Sado River estuary in Portugal. The park was founded in 1976 and covers 41.7 square miles. The highest point is marked by the Serra da Arrábida, 1637 ft high. These chalky hills have the only surviving example of primitive Mediterranean vegetation.  Tucked away in the heart of Arrábida's Natural Park, the formation goes back 180 million years. The soil and mild climatic features, considered the best in Portugal, have produced a lush vegetation rich in species. Two of the park’s beaches are popular among the inhabitants of Lisbon and Setúbal. Those beaches are Portinho da Arrábida and Figueirinha. The first one, on a small bay, and with a little island off the shore, is especially famous, being a regular feature on Portuguese TV commercials.

This evening enjoy a memorable private dinner at the Palacio dos Marqueses da Fronteira, once a country manor house and dating in its entirety from the 17th century. It is surrounded by the finest formal garden in Portugal, and the terrace is perfect for pre-dinner cocktails. Inside there are two principal rooms; the family dining room which can be used for cocktails in the unlikely event of wet weather and music, has a magnificent chandelier and fine paintings; the other, the grand “Sala de Batallas” with a superb plasterwork ceiling, fine chandeliers and azulejos depicting the Portuguese victories over the Spaniards in the 17th century makes for a memorable setting for dinner. 

Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz

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DAY 3

Lisbon

Today you travel out of Lisbon to discover the delightful town of Sintra, long the residence of Kings and aristocrats not just from Portugal but in the 18th century the home of English “milords” like the poet Byron.  The Palacio Nacional in the center of the town was for centuries the royal palace. It is a fascinating combination of medieval fortifications, Royal apartments and gardens decorated with tiles and fountains.  Nearby is another extraordinary royal residence, the hilltop Palacio de Pena built in the late 19th century by the German consort of the Portuguese queen in a style reminiscent of the castles of “mad” King Ludwig of Bavaria.  

After lunch and time to shop in some of Sintra’s boutiques, handicraft and antiques stores, the road takes you down to the coast to the delightful resort of Cascais.  Once just a fishing port and then the preferred summer refuge of Lisbon society, Cascais retains a charm all of its own.  Return to your hotel at the end of the afternoon.

This evening drive out to the beautiful family owned estate half an hour northwest of Lisbon, Quinta Sant’Ana. The estate mainly produces wine but also livestock.  Dinner here, which can either be in the old wine cellar, in another part of the cellar or in the main dining room, might include the local specialty of a whole roast pig. There is considerable space for a really fun party, entertainment of all kinds, including country dancing by the local villagers and perhaps ending with pulsating Brazilian music from one of the best bands in Lisbon.  

We can also offer a selection of alternative dinner venues such as ‘A Trevessa’ in the Old District of the city or the ‘SILK - Club’, offering an informal atmosphere in the Bairro Alto area and enjoying spectacular views.

Overnight: Four Seasons Hotel Ritz

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DAY 4

Departure Lisbon

Today clients will be transferred privately to Lisbon airport.

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