Lisbon & Madeira

Start your luxurious short break in Lisbon by enjoying a complimentary chauffeur-driven ride to the airport and exclusive airport lounge access before your flight to Portugal. On arrival we will arrange a private transfer to your hotel, the Tivoli Avenida Liberdade, one of Lisbon’s landmark properties. Step outside this sleek hotel to find yourself on bustling Avenida de Liberdade, with its fashionable haunts and hip boutiques. A short stroll will bring you to many of Lisbon’s main sights as well, along with typical Portuguese neighbourhoods for you to explore.

Spend your day immersing yourself in Lisbon. The hotel Experience Team can arrange anything from a street art tour to a photo safari. We suggest starting though with a guided tour of the historic Downtown area, Baixa-Chiado, in order to uncover the story behind the catastrophic earthquake of 1755 and Lisbon’s resurgence since then. As you explore, your guide will lead you on a culinary journey as well, stopping to try the best Portuguese tapas, or petiscos, in town. Perhaps you’ll sample pastel de bacalhau (salt cod), Portuguese chorizo or local goat’s cheese. Later, climb into the Lisbon hills to stroll through the old medieval neighbourhoods of Graca, Castel and Alfama, where you’ll get a sense of Lisbon’s past. On your return to the hotel, hunt out the hidden swimming pool surrounded by century-old botanical trees. Arrange a massage or slip into the spa for a tailored treatment. In the evening, settle into the Cervejaria Liberdade for a celebration of all things Portuguese, from fish and seafood to beer. Maybe you’ll then lose yourself in traditional fado music while enjoying a performance of Portuguese song at a traditional Casa de Fados; ask us about arranging backstage access as well.

Escape from Lisbon by letting us take you to explore the bucolic Estoril coast. A private driver will lead you to the delightful fishing village of Cascais, where you will be able to amble along the quay, soak up the port’s atmosphere and admire some of the finest beaches in the area. A short drive through the lush forest will bring you to the secret some-time summer retreat of the Portuguese royal family. The town of Sintra is a magical stop, now recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site. Walk slowly through the sunny alleyways and stumble on pretty squares and superb examples of Moorish architecture. Once you’ve drunk in the atmosphere, we will whisk you to one of the most westerly vineyards in Europe where a leading wine producer will guide you through a tasting session. On your return to the hotel, consider treating yourself to a gourmet experience at Terraco, the Tivoli’s renowned restaurant. Afterwards, ascend to the hotel’s much-raved about rooftop Sky Bar for cocktails and people watching among Portugal’s hip crowd.

Swap the Portuguese mainland for the laid-back island of Madeira and, after a short flight from Lisbon to Funchal, experience five nights of unabashed luxury in your next base, Belmond Reid’s Palace. Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and set among tropical gardens, Reid’s Palace is one of Europe’s grande dame hotels. Follow in the footstep’s of more than a century of European royalty and aristocracy and settle yourself into this stylish property, awash with old-school elegance and impeccable service.

During your stay, discover that there’s more to Madeira than meets the eye. We suggest that you spend your days exploring. Enjoy a guided botanical tour of the hotel’s subtropical gardens with an expert horticulturalist. Set out from Reid’s Place to explore Funchal on a guided tour, taking in the sights and smells of the Workers’ Market. Visit the picturesque village of Camara de Lobos, once a favourite haunt of Winston Churchill and climb to the Skywalk Lookout Point for unprecedented panoramic views of the island. Trek into the hills and to walk Madeira’s famous levadas. Take a cable car ride to Monte Palace tropical gardens and pilot a traditional wicker toboggan back down the hill. Ask us about borrowing one of the hotel’s boats so that you can explore the hidden coves of the coast. Back at the hotel, sign up for a dance class with a seasoned professional ahead of the weekly dinner dance. Take afternoon tea on the black and white marble terrace with the Atlantic laid out below you and spoil yourself with a delicious glass of champagne. In the evening, dress for dinner and mingle with fellow guests in the glitzy bar for perfectly prepared cocktails. Dine at the hotel’s main, Michelin-starred restaurant or, one evening, ask us to arrange an intimate supper for just the two of you on your private terrace or balcony, under indigo skies and with the ocean before you. Satiated, sip a digestif and drink in the views, or carry on into the night with an evening of traditional fado music in Funchal.

Finally, we’ll arrange a private transfer from Reid’s Palace to the airport for the return flight from Funchal to London.