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As you may know, I plan to move my family to Portugal very soon. I cannot wait to be a part of the local culture, and enjoying everyday life in this beautiful country.
Famous for its pristine beaches, delicious cuisine, and Port wine, the country of Portugal has so much to offer.
For those after a relaxing getaway, it’s also one of the best destinations in Europe, thanks to its laid-back atmosphere. One of my goals is to slow down, dramatically. Stress management is an important factor in wellness, and my mental health is now my priority over my 9-5.
I intend to visit as many wellness retreats as I can on an annual basis–monthly would also be nice!
And, if you’re after a wellness retreat in Portugal too, you’re in luck. There are dozens of luxury resorts found throughout the country, each one offering something different. I’m all about experiences, and these havens offer just that!
Below I’ll take you through the best options, so you can pick the right resort for you.
1. Six Senses Douro Valley Hotel and Spa
This is truly number one on my list. It is an absolutely dreamy, decadent luxury wellness experience. The larger brand, Six Senses, has an incredible mission.
Six Senses CEO Neil Jacobs said, “Of course hospitality is never just about a place to stay. We want our places and spaces to help you reconnect and explore what it means to be mentally, physically, spiritually and emotionally happy.”
I don’t know about you, but that is what I literally crave in my life.
The Six Senses Douro Valley Hotel and Spa, as the name suggests, is a breathtaking hotel is in the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Douro Valley. The accommodations are set in a stunning 19th-century manor house and is surrounded by the Douro River and terraced vineyards.
Six Senses Douro Valley Hotel and Spa covers an area of almost 20 acres and is known for its wellness and yoga programs, offering some fantastic therapeutic spa retreats.
You’ll find several open-air areas for meditation on-site. There’s also a gym that offers professional guidance, which is great for those interested in weight loss or who want to improve their fitness.
The Spa itself is over 23,700 square feet, with 10 treatment rooms, and a heated indoor pool.
The beauty of the this place is only complimented by its rich history.
Your stay comes with a GEM, a Guest Experience Maker, who can arrange a number of different experiences such as, visits to historical wineries, excursions to nearby rock art sites and ancient castles.
A highlight of staying at this property is the outdoor infinity pool which offers jaw-dropping views, and the Wine Library, where you can enjoy wine tastings.
2. Palácio Estoril Hotel
Palacio Estoril Golf & Spa Hotel is located in the coastal town of Cascais. Set just a short distance from the Atlantic Ocean, it’s undeniably one of the best wellness resorts in Portugal.
This gorgeous hotel puts a huge emphasis on its guest’s wellness, offering them complimentary access to the spa’s Turkish bath, hot tub, and indoor pool. There’s also a sauna and fitness center on-site.
It doesn’t stop there, this wellness resort has a Hammam and sensation showers that take your energy levels to new heights.
Guests can enjoy massage and beauty treatments while staying here, or indulge in the hotel’s culinary scene, as there are several dining options to choose from. There’s even an 18-hole golf course that boasts striking sea views.
In addition to the wellness features, it is home to Banyan Tree Spa, which is an award winning, luxury spa brand that is known for combining serenity and Asian traditions.
I stayed in a Banyan Tree Hotel and Spa in Macau, and it was one of my favorite travel experiences!
I am so happy to have one be local to me!
Palácio Estoril Hotel also offers several wellness retreats including a holistic de-stress program, Wellness Immersion, Slimming Program and Pilates and Yoga Retreats.
3. Aqua Natura Bay, Madeira
Nestled in a prime location, the Aqua Natura Bay Hotel is the perfect gateway for embracing the wonders of nature in the Laurissilva Forest, a proud titleholder of UNESCO’s Natural Heritage of Humanity award.
Aqua Natura Bay is located on the North Coast of the island of Madeira, which is known for its natural beauty.
Madeira is also well known as the Hawaii of Europe.
Boasting majestic panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounding mountains, this hotel is the perfect place to de-stress and find your inner peace.
Aqua Natura Bay is more than just a luxurious place to rest your head; it’s a sanctuary of wellness and health. The Hotel’s Wellness and Healthy Center offer guests an array of offerings designed to complement their well-being journey.
The hotel has an outdoor heated swimming pool, with stunning views of the Atlantic Ocean. There is also an indoor swimming pool, sauna, Jacuzzi, and Turkish bath, and Solarium!
The spa menu includes a diverse array of massage treatments and fish therapy skin treatments.
I’m not sure what those are, but I’ll try anything in the name of relaxation and wellness–ok not anything.
The hotel also offers professional and personalized nutritional guidance to its guests, ensuring that optimal health is a priority.
The Aqua Natura Bay is also the ultimate haven for adventure lovers.
The hotel has a Madeira Nature Experience, which offers year-round activities, for guests, including, a dive into the Madeira Aquarium! Diving with sharks sounds thrilling and terrifying.
Another reason to stay at Aqua Natura Bay is its proximity to nearby attractions, including the natural swimming pools of Porto Moniz.
4. Vilalara Thalassa Resort
Vilalara Thalassa Resort is certainly the best luxury algarve wellness retreat in Portugal thanks to its breathtaking location in the Algarve Region and excellent amenities.
There’s something about stepping onto a golden sand beach, feeling the warm grains slip between your toes and the gentle hum of the sea in your ears, that just whispers tranquility. And at Vilalara, this is just the beginning.
Every single detail is designed for my, and your, total comfort.
I am talking about a perfect blend with the surrounding serene hills and mesmerizing cliff tops that work together to create a truly harmonious and peaceful escape.
This hotel is dedicated to the well-being of its guests and offers a fantastic wellness center. The on-site Vilalara Longevity Thalassa Medical Spa focuses on every aspect of well-being, ranging from self-care to anti-aging solutions.
Now, you might be scratching your head, wondering, “What on earth is Thalassa?” Thalassa, or Thalassotherapy, harnesses the healing powers of seawater. The word itself comes from the Greek ‘thalassa’ meaning sea and ‘therapeia’ meaning healing.
It’s an age-old practice that believes in the sea’s restorative properties. We’re talking about the mineral-rich water, the invigorating sea air, the calming mud, and even the algae – they all play a part in helping to rejuvenate the body and calm the mind.
At Vilalara, they’ve taken this ancient concept and turned it into an immersive, luxurious experience. The spa offers various programs that help you reconnect with yourself, reduce stress levels, and release emotional energy.
With a 40 page treatment menu, you will definitely be able to find an experience that boosts a number of health benefits.
While staying at Vilalara Thalassa Resort, you can enjoy the hotel’s over 27 acres of seaside gardens, five swimming pools, and three tennis courts. This place even offers yoga classes for ultimate relaxation.
Better yet, Vilalara Thalassa Resort offers direct access to Praia das Gaivotas Beach.
5. Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort
You may not think of a family friendly beach resort as a luxury wellness resort, but I do. Let me tell you why. Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort is like a dream for parents, meticulously crafted for families with an eye for style and a craving for luxury.
One of the things I struggle with most is getting in activities while also taking care of my kids. This place has everything a parent focused on wellness could ever need.
First, there is luxury at every turn. Every nook and corner of Martinhal Sagres screams sophistication. It’s a place that effortlessly marries style with substance, delivering an exceptional beach holiday experience for families.
Imagine luxe accommodations that are not just family-friendly, but also high-class, echoing refinement at every step. Yes, please, thank you.
If you want to maintain your healthy lifestyle while on vacation, the resort has a wide array of restaurants and bars. And trust me, the mouthwatering delicacies served here cater to everyone’s taste— from the pickiest little eaters to the most adventurous foodies in your tribe. There is also a wide variety of vegetarian and vegan options.
But it’s not all just about relaxation and luxury. The resort offers a plethora of kids services and leisure activities, ensuring each family member, regardless of age, will find something to love.
This place truly understands the essence of a family vacation, a harmonious blend of relaxation, fun, and memorable moments.
For me, when my kids are happy and occupied with fun activities, I can relax and destress. I don’t have to worry about planning every moment of their day. That is truly a mental health benefit and reduces the mental load that I carry.
But you don’t have to just take my word for it – Martinhal Sagres’s excellence has been recognized with prestigious awards such as Portugal’s Leading Family Resort and Portugal’s Leading Villa Resort. That’s a testament right there to their unwavering commitment to providing families with a unique and nourishing travel experience.
These are all my reasons why Martinhal Sagres is not just a resort – it’s a holistic wellness experience for the entire family, a place where your well-being comes first, and every minute is a testament to a memorable, health-infused holiday.
6. Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel, Alvor
Next up is the complete opposite of Martinhal. The Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel, an adults-only hotel located in Alvor. It’s the perfect destination if you’re after a luxury retreat with no children, especially as this hotel is the ultimate health and well-being destination.
The hotel offers a huge variation of invigorating health and wellness programs tailored to your needs.
There is a Longevity Clinic that offers services such as high-impact detox treatments and aesthetic facial harmonization procedures!
Accommodation isn’t just four walls at this hotel; instead, the elegant rooms and suites are sanctuaries of tranquility and comfort that cradle you into blissful rest.
The hotel’s restaurant that serves meticulously prepared nutritious meals.
This hotel believes that food is medicine and adopted an anti-inflammatory and functional culinary approach.
Functional medicine is a holistic approach to health that focuses on identifying and addressing the root cause of illness rather than just treating symptoms. Functional medicine has become a big part of my life after having children. It is important to me that while I am away, I can have access to healthy food.
As well as a state-of-the-art fitness center, you’ll find a spa and wellness center on-site. There’s even an indoor heated pool and an outdoor infinity pool, which overlooks Alvor Bay.
Unlike many other wellness resorts, this hotel also offers daily group activities. These include yoga classes, walks, and pilates classes.
Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel isn’t just a place to stay, it’s a lifestyle, an experience, and a journey towards optimal health.
7. PortoBay Falesia, Algarve
If you’re after a luxury wellness retreat in Portugal, check out PortoBay Falesia.
Another popular option in the Algarve Region, this hotel overlooks the Atlantic Ocean and offers direct access to Praia da Falésia Beach, which is considered the best beach in the world in 2024 by Trip Advisor!
The hotel’s on-site spa offers a variety of spa treatments, including massages, body scrubs, and facials. It also features a jacuzzi, sauna, and Turkish bath, so has all the amenities you need to improve your well-being.
PortoBay Falesia boasts an outdoor pool and lounge area, an indoor pool, tennis courts, and a putting green so you won’t be short of relaxation opportunities.
Not only that, but this hotel features several bars and restaurants, so you can indulge in delicious cuisine and a cocktail or two as you watch the sun go down!
8. Hotel Rural Vale Do Rio, Aveiro
One of the more rural retreats in this guide, Hotel Rural Vale Do Rio is set in the Aveiro Province. It’s beautifully designed with the concept being inspired by the elements. If you’re looking for sustainable wellbeing and sustainable tourism, this is the perfect place for you.
This eco-hotel prioritizes sustainability by harnessing renewable energies, including hydro and wind.
The hotel has been given the “Green Key” award for the second consecutive year.
The “Green Key” program is an international award given to establishments that are “helping make a difference for the environment.”
On-site, there’s a rejuvenating spa circuit, which features a heated indoor pool, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, and fitness center. It aims to awaken the senses and relax your mind. Alternatively, you can enjoy a massage or spa treatment.
As well as relaxing in the gardens, you can spend plenty of time outdoors thanks to Hotel Rural Vale Do Rio’s location.
In the surrounding area, you’ll find lots of walking and cycling routes where you can take in the fresh air.
9. Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Country House & Spa, Alentejo
This place is truly one of Portugal’s hidden gems located in the Alentejo region. The Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Country House & Spa is nestled in Albernoa, Beja, in the heart of Baixo Alentejo. This charming place stretches over 1500 acres of pure beauty.
Here, time has a unique rhythm—it slows down, allowing history to permeate every corner of its endless landscapes. Amidst this, the tranquil and silent daily life offers an inviting haven, providing privacy, harmony, and security.
In other words, it offers you the exact opposite experience of scrolling on your phone.
The Herdade da Malhadinha Nova is where nature meets luxury—an oasis of modernity, uniqueness, charm, and refinement. The accommodations include six housing units.
According to the website, “PRIVACY, EXCLUSIVITY, AND LUXURY ARE THE KEYWORDS THAT CONNECT THE DIFFERENT SPACES.” (The caps were included in the quote).
The wellness potential of this place is simply amazing. The hotel offers incredibly unique thematic packages. These are unlike any offerings that I’ve ever seen in a hotel.
Imagine a balloon ride or a skydive, or a lazy canoe ride down the Guadiana River.
Perhaps a romantic picnic amidst vineyards tickles your fancy, or a fun-filled day with family; baking bread, chasing treasures with children, or savouring a chocolate tasting session at the day’s end. You even have the opportunity to learn artisanal techniques and play the Campaniça viola—a traditional Portuguese string instrument.
The hotel also includes the M Wellness Spa, which divides treatments into two unique experiences – IGNAE & nature-inspired body therapies. The IGNAE sessions focus on bespoke facial products, designed to rejuvenate your skin and give it a fresh, youthful glow.
IGNAE is essentially a high-end skin care line originating from the pristine environment of the Azores Islands.
What makes IGNAE stand out is its commitment to using natural, sustainably sourced ingredients packed with the restorative powers of nature. These ingredients undergo cutting-edge scientific research to extract their full potential, ensuring that your skin receives nothing but the best.
M Wellness Spa also offers a comprehensive wellness package that is a unique blend of physical and spiritual therapies.
A visit to the Herdade da Malhadinha Nova Country House & Spa isn’t just a holiday; it’s a journey into wellness. It’s a chance to connect with nature, engage in unique experiences, and realign with your inner peace and well-being.
10. Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort
If you’re a big golfer, then Praia D’El Rey Marriott Golf & Beach Resort may be the place for you. Found in Western Portugal (under an hour’s drive from Lisbon), this hotel is home to Praia D’El Rey, one of Europe’s most beautiful golf courses.
Not only that, but you can enjoy pristine golden beaches, stay in a stunning oceanfront suite, and indulge in the hotel’s delicious cuisine, with there being several restaurants and bars to choose from.
If you’re after a relaxing getaway, then there’s an on-site spa and health club, which offers the perfect opportunity to de-stress. As well as treatments, take advantage of the heated indoor pool, whirlpool, fitness center, and outdoor pool.
This hotel also offers seven tennis courts (and on-site tennis coaches).
11. Vila Vita Parc, Algarve
For those who want to stay in the Algarve, Vila Vita Parc is a superb option. Set in Alporchinhos, you’ll find this hotel located on a cliff-top overlooking the ocean.
If your way to relax is through indulging in delicious food, then Vila Vita Parc is the place to be! There are several bars and restaurants to choose from, serving everything from Japanese cuisine to Mediterranean dishes.
Of course, this property also offers a state-of-the-art spa, where you can enjoy a range of treatments. Other wellness facilities include a yoga pavilion, fitness center, and tennis court.
If you stay at Vila Vita Parc, you’ll also have direct access to Tremoços Beach, which is perfect for sunbathing. During the summer, canoeing, scuba diving, and stand-up paddleboarding are all popular activities here.
12. Penha Longa, Sintra – Cascais Natural Park
In the heart of Sintra-Cascais Natural Park, you’ll find Penha Longa. This world-class resort is set amongst lush rolling hills and is surrounded by forests. Not only is the scenery stunning, but this amazing hotel has so much to offer.
Firstly, there are plenty of recreational facilities on-site to help you relax, including indoor and outdoor swimming pools, tennis and squash courts, and a fitness center. You can also opt to have a spa treatment at the spa.
Additionally, there are 8 dining options on-site, two of which hold Michelin stars!
For foodies, there are several culinary experiences available too including chocolate and wine workshops.
Finally, there’s a 27-hole golf course at this resort. The facilities here are extensive, offering the ultimate relaxing vacation.
13. L’AND Vineyards, Alentejo
Last but certainly not least there’s L’AND Vineyards. This exclusive wine retreat is nestled in the heart of the Alentejo countryside and is one of the most unique options on this list.
Their manifesto speaks to my soul, and is about “regaining perspective,” and “simplicity and slowness,” among other things. I crave simplicity and slowness!
Walking through the doors of the L’AND Vineyards is akin to stepping into a wellness sanctuary.
Tucked away from the humdrum of city life, this haven of tranquility is so much more than a boutique hotel. It’s a retreat.
With 37 luxurious Suites and Deluxe Villas, ranging from two to four bedrooms, L’AND Vineyards offers a holistic experience that seamlessly blends modern architecture with nature’s splendor.
Cradled in a gentle south-facing valley and majestically welcoming the skyline of the medieval Montemor castle, the L’AND Vineyards is an ode to serene luxury, natural beauty, and tranquility.
As if stolen from a landscape painter’s easel, the view stars lush vineyards, sprawling oak and olive orchards, all mingling effortlessly with the breathtaking architectural project by Promontório.
Stepping inside, you’ll find an oasis of calm where strikingly designed interiors by Márcio Kogan coalesce with the ethereal artwork by Michael Biberstein. Each element curated meticulously, harmoniously merging to create a soothing ambiance that reinvigorates the soul.
Although you’ll be staying in nature, you’ll have access to excellent wellness facilities including an indoor heated pool, sauna, outdoor pool, and tennis courts.
Your stay also includes bicycle rental so you can explore the nearby area at your leisure.
You’ll enjoy the on-site restaurant too, where all dishes are made using locally sourced ingredients. The dishes are then paired with wines produced in the in-house winery!
Treat Yourself
If you want to embrace your personal growth through a holistic approach, then any of these retreats are a fantastic option. Which luxury wellness retreat in Portugal will you choose?
