Lisbon

Discover the city from the ground up in this exhilarating tour from the sidecar of a motorcycle, driven by an experienced rider. Ascend through the narrow cobbled streets and atmospheric surrounds of the ancient Alfama quarter to the breathtaking views of the city as seen from the reconstructed ramparts of Castelo São Jorge (Castle of St George). Descend to the historical vastness of Belém.

Designed by Frank Pennink, the Aroeira I course skilfully blends the needs of a championship golf course with the harmonious surroundings of a natural landscape. Described as the "Wentworth of Lisbon,” the similarities between Aroeira I and this famous London club are striking.

Lisbon Zoo makes learning fun! This special day trip enables young animal lovers to get hands on with the zoo’s inhabitants, join backstage tours and work as little helpers to gain a fascinating insight into many rare and unusual species. Start the day with a personal tour of some of the Zoo’s most exciting residents. Get up close with cute meerkats and cheeky lemurs; help the exotic bird trainer tend to his colorful parrots and macaws; then head backstage for a very special encounter with the cuddly koalas. After a picnic lunch, settle down for the highly entertaining dolphin and sea lion acrobatics in Dolphins’ Bay—one of the Zoo’s biggest attractions. teh day ends with a cable car ride over the hippos, tigers and lions, go back to Jurassic times in Reptile Land, and spend time interacting with the animals in The Little Farm.

Learn specifics of Portuguese bullfighting - known as Corrida de Touros or Tauromaquia. It differs hugely from its Spanish counterpart and is a ‘bloodless fight’, meaning the bull is not killed in the ring. In Portugal it comprises three distinct phases that range from the elegant art of the cavaleiros to the courageous insanity of the forcados (who challenge the bull without either weapons or protection). A unique and unmissable experience that delves deep into the heart of Portugal's rural cultural heritage.

Lisbon is blessed with a mild, year-round climate and a breathtaking coastline that runs into many hundreds of kilometres. It was from here that pioneering explorers first set sail in the 15th century to discover the world, planting the seeds of Portugal’s unrivalled seafaring legacy. Embark on your own marine odyssey along the north shore of the Tagus River from Praça do Comércio (the original maritime entry to Lisbon) to Belém (the point from which Vasco da Gama departed for India in 1497). Let the experienced crew teach you how to sail or sit back and soak up the sights, sounds and sunshine of Lisbon’s historic shoreline.

Known as the ‘Dream Coast’ a haven for surfers and kite-surfers of all ages and abilities. Mornings tend to bring lighter winds and calmer seas, optimum conditions for surfers.  Start in the shallow whitewater, our experts will teach you all you need to know, from where to place your board to how to get airborne! We’ll supply you with the best board for your height, weight and riding style and guide you till you’re happily chasing the breaks yourself.

During this incredible tour, you’ll be blindfolded and led on a fascinating journey through the sounds, smells, tastes,
textures and twists of the atmospheric alleyways of Alfama, the city’s oldest quarter. Your guide? A blind volunteer from ACAPO (The Portuguese Association for the Visually Impaired).  Please note, proceeds from this activity are donated to ACAPO. In addition to your guide from ACAPO, other guides will be present to set the historical context of the tour and help you through this fantastic and humbling challenge: a lesson to us all to open our senses to the world around us. Once completed, you are also invited to enjoy the tour with your eyes open.

Creating picture perfect memories on a Motor-side car tour discover the city from the ground up in this exhilarating tour from the sidecar of a motorcycle, driven by an experienced rider. Team up with locally based professional photographer Harold Naaijer on this insider’s-eye tour of Lisbon’s top photographic hotspots—as experienced from the sidecar of a motorcycle. After a quick briefing and check of your photographic equipment, embark on a thrilling ride through winding streets and leafy squares.

For the art and history lovers amongst us we suggest you start your cultural promenade here at the Hotel. With over 600 pieces the Hotel is a true museum. We present a sequence of significant works that make up one of the country’s most important collections of mid-century Portuguese art.  We can also arrange a private viewing of each of the following three specialist venues:  

Fundação Ricardo Espírito Santo Silva dedicated to this day to the study and protection of decorative arts and traditional crafts. Don’t miss the rare collections of gold and metalwork, tiles and carpets, as well as the shop selling traditionally crafted reproductions created in the Foundation’s workshops. 

Coleccao Berardo The Berardo Museum pays tribute to more than 800 original pieces of art ranging between Picasso, Miró, Dalì, Francis Bacon, Warhol,Tàpies, Vieira da Silva, Paula Rego and Gilbert& George. 

Palácio da Fronteira (Fronteira’s Palace) one of the city’s most striking properties, with a superb decoration, stunning azulejos (some of the finest in the city), contemporary furniture and 17th and 18th century oil paintings. The breathtaking formal gardens include a terraced walk, topiary garden and mesmerising fountains.