Penha Longa Resort

Penha Longa Resort occupies a 14th-century royal monastery and its surrounding estate within the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, 25 kilometres west of central Lisbon. Part of the Ritz-Carlton portfolio, the property blends the original monastery's cloisters and chapel — still intact and accessible to guests — with purpose-built hotel wings housing 194 rooms and suites, plus a collection of residence-style suites set among the Atlantic pines.

The estate covers roughly 540 hectares of forested hillside and includes two 18-hole golf courses: the Mosteiro Course, which winds through the old monastic gardens, and the Atlantic Championship Course, ranked among Portugal's most technically demanding tracks. The Longevity Spa & Wellness Centre is among the largest hotel spas in Portugal, with a 1,200 m² treatment floor, indoor and outdoor heated pools, a thermal circuit, and an extensive menu of holistic and therapeutic treatments.

Several restaurants are distributed across the property, ranging from formal dining in the monastery's vaulted rooms to a casual poolside grill and a tapas terrace. Breakfast — included in select rate packages — is served as a broad buffet with regional cheeses, local pastries, and made-to-order hot options.

A dedicated children's programme and a separate kids' pool make the resort particularly suited to families. The concierge arranges excursions to Sintra's palaces (Palácio da Pena is 15 minutes by car), wine tours in the Colares region, and surf lessons at Guincho beach. Guests without a car should pre-arrange hotel transfers from Lisbon, as the estate's size and distance from rail links make the taxi or rideshare the most practical option for local transfers.