Plan For A Luxury Stay At Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort Outside Lisbon
We planned a luxury stay at Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa when we returned to Lisbon and looked for a treat.
The resort was located out of town, close to the charming town of Sintra. We found so many amazing experiences on the resort. And even with a 6 day stay, we did not enjoy everything the resort offered.
We hated to leave the resort. But we did not want to miss a first visit to the stunning castles of Sintra. And we were delighted when we returned to Sintra on a very special excursion from the resort.
A luxury and pampering stay was an amazing way to start our return visit to Portugal.
Heading To Penha Longa Area Outside Sintra
We had a lovely cruise from Barcelona to Lisbon. Our ship did an overnight in Lisbon and we just enjoyed being back in a city we loved. When we finally disembarked, we grabbed an Uber and headed out of town.
The Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort was located on a massive property in the countryside. It was close to the small town of Sintra. And a quick and cheap Uber ride was perfect when we visited Sintra for the first time.
We visited Ritz-Carlton properties in many other places around the world. We knew the customer service would be unparalleled. So when we booked the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort for our first stay in Portugal, we knew it would set a very high bar for this trip.
The Uber took us through the gated entry and along the long winding road. We were delighted with our first view of the isolated paradise we planned to enjoy for 6 days.
In Ritz-Carlton fashion, the hotel reached out ahead of our arrival and confirmed any special requirements. At the front desk we met Carolina for the first time. And at every point during our stay, Carolina was there and ensured our experience was exceptional.
A Grand Suite With A View
We left the cruise ship before 9am so we arrived very early for check-in at the Penha Longa Resort. Our room was not yet ready. But with a glass of champagne in hand we settled into a quiet spot in the elegant lobby.
Before noon Carolina came with our key and walked us to our sweet suite upgrade. One of the great benefits of Marriott Bonvoy elite status was the opportunity for suite upgrades. We were more than delighted that we got an amazing one bedroom suite for our stay. Even with a busy schedule for our 6 day stay, it was great to have space to spread out when we finally made it back to our room.
We slowly walked through our suite. And were drawn out to the large balcony. We had a lovely view out over one of the fairways on the 27 hole golf course on the resort. In the morning we got sunshine and enjoyed this relaxing spot.
When we walked to our suite, we met the world renowned chocolatier Chef Francisco Siopa. David expressed delight that the hotel had developed its own custom line of chocolates. But we were surprised when a box of chocolates showed up as a special treat. It was the first but not last reminder of the Ritz-Carlton ethos. This team definitely listened to clients and then delivered on unasked desires. Always a way to ensure customer delight.
Our room was the first treat on our luxury stay at Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort outside Lisbon.
A Busy Luxury Stay At Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa
We found so many things to see and do on our visit to the Penha Longa Resort. It soon became very obvious that we needed to create a calendar.
The resort was located in the Sintra-Cascais Natural Park so we were surrounded by countryside and scenic outdoor views. The “long rock” (or Penha Longa) that this region was named for stood high on the horizon and was visible as we moved around the property. There was even a hiking path that went up to the rock.
If you were a golf enthusiast there was a 27 hole golf course with a putting green. And even mini-putt for us non-golfers. It was a good thing we were not golfers and did not have to squeeze golf sessions into our calendar.
The weather was a bit up and down during our 6 day stay at Penha Longa. But when we got a chance we wandered on the property. There were many hiking paths of different lengths and we explored all the great sights around the property.
We were fascinated when we learned that the Monastery of São Jerónimo de Penha Longa was on the property. This was once the weekend residence of King Manuel and other royalty. A tour of the monastery grounds was one thing we did not miss on our visit.
It was soon clear that we would not get to everything on one luxury stay at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort outside Lisbon.
Culinary Treats For Every Meal
The Penha Longa Resort was in the middle of the countryside. But we never worried about going hungry on our stay at the resort. There were many different restaurants that offered a wide range of cuisines and dining experiences.
The breakfast buffet at Marcatto started our day with wide selection and some great local treats. And the B Lounge was the spot for a quick snack through the day. Or for a taste of the custom Penha Longa chocolate treats. We were amused when we saw the chocolate golf balls and the chocolate Portuguese tiles. For a casual meal, lunch was served by the pool. And for one day we had a great selection of tapas for lunch at Arola.
To sample a wide range of delicacies, on the weekend the resort offered a Pan Asian buffet at Spices and an Italian buffet at Mercatto. Through the week we also sampled the a la carte menus.
For real foodies, there were two Michelin rated restaurants on-site. Chef Sergi Arola created two very different Michelin experiences – Midori and LAB. On this visit to Penha Longa, we missed the chance to try this up-scale dining experience. But as destination restaurants, these are great choices for a culinary delight.
On a luxury stay at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort we ate well at every meal.
Food And Drink Experiences Tempted Us
We wanted to try all the special food and drink experiences offered at the Penha Longa Resort. The first thing we booked was Afternoon Tea. We sampled treat after treat with tea and champagne. Custom boxes held even more tasty selections. And the last box even had more of the custom Penha Longa chocolate!
We started in the B Lounge with Frederico for our Gin Tasting eduction. There was much to learn about gin and how to make the perfect gin and tonic. And I was delighted when I found a perfect new choice with Brockmans gin and just a small amount of Mediterranean Fever Tree tonic water. This was garnished with two raspberries and a slice of orange.
The last special food and drink experience we wanted to do was a wine tasting with a special local charcuterie tray. But we simply ran out of time. The helpful restaurant staff made sure we had several great Portuguese wine selections with our meals.
Amazing food and drink experiences made our luxury stay at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort even more special.
We Even Left The Resort And Explored Sintra
With so many great things to see on do on the Penha Longa Resort, we really did not want to leave. But even after our last visit to Portugal for 4 weeks, we missed a visit to the castles of Sintra. So that experience was close to the top of the list for this visit.
We easily got an Uber from the resort for our first visit to see Sintra palaces. We took the Uber to the highest point at the Pena Palace gate and then kept walking up until we reached the palace for our tour. Inside and outside at Pena Palace was a treat.
From Pena Palace, we set off along the road to the Moorish Castle. Again we hiked up through the grounds until we were below the castle walls. Walking around on the Moorish Castle walls provide amazing views of this spot and the local countryside.
From the Moorish Castle we took a tuk tuk into the small town of Sintra for lunch. After we were rested we headed out again for the walk to the Quinta da Regaleira and the famous well.. This last delight finished our first visit to Sintra.
There were several other places we wanted to see around Sintra. And we really did not spend enough time in the charming town itself. But we know we will return one day and explore more of Sintra. When we planned to leave a luxury stay at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort, a day exploring the castles of Sintra was the perfect choice.
Customer Delight At Every Turn
We have always been spoiled with exceptional customer service on other Ritz-Carlton stays. The customer service at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort exceeded all expectations of what customer service excellence looked like. It was clear that the focus on customer delighted started with leadership and was delivered at every touch point.
We met so many of the Penha Longa team who stopped to introduce themselves and welcome us by name to the resort. The customer experience team was attentive to every minor detail of our stay. They made sure we enjoyed the many great experiences the resort offered.
After we had a great tour of the Monastery of São Jerónimo de Penha Longa with Maria, she sent a special book on the monastery history to our room with even more detail. She made sure all questions we had were answered!
Every restaurant encounter was a delight. Nuno started us every day with great local Portuguese treats. And before we finished one meal the team made sure our next one was booked!
The Penha Longa team made us feel welcome and special every day. We were truly delighted when Sara made a special treat to welcome us. She sure learned a lot about our love of travel! And when Sara heard we planned to visit Sintra, she even got us a souvenir. At every turn the staff listened and acted!
One day we got another special treat. Carolina and Chef Siopa took us out for a morning trip back to Sintra. Our visit started with a few of the chef’s favourite spots for Portuguese sweet treats. And then we were picked up in a tuk tuk for a special drive around Sintra to some special viewpoints. It was such a treat for us.
It would be impossible to detail every time our customer service expectations were exceeded. But after a luxury stay at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort we really never wanted to leave!
So Glad We Planned A Luxury Stay At Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort Outside Lisbon
We were so glad we planned a luxury stay at Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort. The hotel was a lovely spot to explore. We enjoyed so many amazing experiences on the property. The customer service excellence delighted us and set a high bar for our stay in Portugal.
Even with a wonderful six day stay, we were not ready to leave. But it was time we headed south to the Algarve.
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What a fantastic hotel! If I would stay there I would probably just reserve 2 or 3 days just to explore the property – it looks huge! I love that they developed their own range of chocolate – and that you found a box as a welcome gift in your room. How amazing is that! The food in the restaurants looks delicious as well. The afternoon tea even more, I’d definitely choose it as well.
We were glad we booked a longer stay and could enjoy all this hotel had to offer. And so much great food!
We love Ritz Carlton properties and this location looks absolutely stunning! The food looks incredible and I love the attention to detail. Portugal is on my bucket list so we might have to stay here!
You should absolutely add the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa to your Portugal list. A great spot to relax and enjoy the property. And a good base to visit Sintra too.
There’s nothing like being right in Sintra and also in a historic hotel that really stands out and is quite spectacular. I would have easily spent a few more days and enjoyed so many more of Sintra’s amazing historic sites to visit.
I must admit it was hard to leave the Penha Longa Resort. But it was great to be so close to Sintra to explore the treats there too.
What an interesting read! You really had a great and relaxing time at the Ritz Carlton Penha Longa. And this custom line of chocolates by chocolatier Francisco Siopa really looks divine. We visited the birth place of Caesar Ritz in Switzerland last year. They have an informative museum about the life of the founder of the Ritz Hotels there, which got me interested in the Ritz Carlton Hotels.
We always love our splurges at Ritz-Carlton properties. Penha Longa was a perfect example of the quality of service we have come to expect. And so many tasty experiences in a lovely rural spot.
You guys always stay at lovely hotels! I like the Ritz Carlton and know their hotels well. The small touches like the chocolate makes you always remember it. As usual, I want to eat and drink everything you tried here! I’ll remember this hotel when I’m next in Lisbon.
I hope you do get to stay at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa when you next get to Portugal. This was certainly a hotel we will return to over and over again.
All the food looks delicious. I’m not sure if I can eat them all. So I think it’s a good idea to explore outside the resort between every meal to prepare room in your stomach. Hehe… The chocolates look so tasty and how wonderful that they sent you a box of chocolate for a special treat.
We were sure glad there was lots to do around the resort to wear off all that great food!
I LOVE Sintra, and I had no idea there was a Ritz Carlton nearby. It looks like such a beautiful place to stay, but that’s what that brand is known for, I guess. So lovely!
The Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa was a great spot to stay close to Sintra. So much to do on the resort that it was hard to leave.
Wow. It does seem like a luxury resort. I can see the shine on the floor in the lobby from the photo. And those candies look to magical to eat!
The resort really was a luxury treat in every aspect.
Wow! This is indeed a luxurious stay. Your room looks wonderful. It’s awesome that you got an upgrade. Happy to know there are so many things to do. My husband would be happy to know that he can still play golf there. Food looks delicious too. Thank you for sharing your wonderful experience.
There was something to do for everyone. Great to keep busy and burn off all that tasty food.
Your stay at Ritz Carlton Penha Longa resort looks quite an exciting one as you got to enjoy the cozy interiors of the property surrounding the fairytale like Sintra palace, the Moorish castle.And it’s wonderful that you got to enjoy the delectable Portuguese treats and a world class customer service.
The Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa was indeed a great spot to enjoy all the resort had to offer and to give us a base to explore the amazing palaces of Sintra.
The Ritz looks amazing, and it sounds like great exploring in Sintra. I know all Ritzes have a great reputation, but delivering chocolate to you? That would have won me over right away 🙂
We loved the great variety in the tasty chocolate created onsite. Great designs and flavours. For us chocoholics, that was definitely a real treat.
I’m not normally a fan of chain hotels but I confess I do love the Ritz Carltons. And what a great location – love Sintra. And one thing I really miss from my time in Portugal are those pastel de nata.
We sure do miss the pastel de nana as well. Great to be introduced to some new local treats when we stayed at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort. A great luxury experience.
Thank you for your honest review of Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort, would be epic stay there one day!
Our stay at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort was indeed an epic one. We would happily go back!
Oh my goodness look at all that food! What an incredible place to stay! Visiting Sintra would be great wherever you stay, but staying at the Ritz Carlton looks like a whole different level of luxury!
Good for you for treating yourself!
We were happy we booked an amazing stay to start our visit to Portugal. But it sure set a high bar that was hard for every stay that followed! It was hard to leave the resort but we were happy we finally made it to the Sintra palaces.
You had me at the food experiences! And, they were plenty. I too would love the surprise gift of chocolates, and how unique that the Ritz has developed their own line. Were you star struck when you met chocolatier Chef Francisco Siopa? I would be! You expect nothing less from the Ritz in terms of service, experience, amenities and food. They earn their stars. Great recommendation for lux stay for touring Pena Palace.
We loved all the great experiences at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort. It was lovely to spend some time with Chef Siopa and try lots of the tasty chocolates. A great luxury treat for sure.
I would like to give myself a bit of luxury and stay in this Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort for a few days. The environment looks like a fairy tale. The apartments are so spacious, elegant, and comfortable that I would like to rest in them. But what tempts me the most as a foodie are two Michelin-rated restaurants on-site.
There were so many amazing reasons to love our stay at the Ritz-Carlon Penha Longa Resort. Every moment was a treat for sure. And foodies would be delighted!
What an amazing place to stay! I’ll be in Sintra again next week for a few days. Can’t get enough of its beauty!
We were so glad we finally got to Sintra on this trip. Great to stay close by so we could do a long day trip.
Staying at a Ritz has been a lifetime dream of mine… I’d love to visit here..the food esp. looks amazing.
There is nothing quite like a Ritz-Carlton experience. A great one to have on your wish list.
Wow! The property is absolutely beautiful and the food especially looks delicious. Thank you for sharing your experience!
We were so happy we planned our stay around Sintra at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort. Every part of our experience was perfect.
Sintra is one of the nicest places in Portugal and always brings back nice memories! This resort looks incredible! I never heard about Penha Long before, but it looks great to explore the area
We were glad we booked a stay at the Penha Longa Resort so close to Sintra so we could enjoy the resort and do our day trips too. We will definitely be back.
Wow, what a hotel! I have never stayed in a Ritz-Carlton property before because I target other brands but this one is a beautiful one! I particularly love the Japanese inspired afternoon tea.
We have always had amazing experiences at Ritz-Carlton hotels. The experience sure does spoil us. We loved all the great experiences this resort had to offer.
This hotel sounds like a dream. It looks beautiful, and along with the food and the hiking trails I’d be in heaven. It’s great to hear the staff listened to you as well, the chocolates were a lovely touch. Thank you for sharing, I hope to make it to this area someday!
I hope you do make it to this area one day. The Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa is a great resort to splurge. The great food is truly a treat. And the property offers so many things to wear those great calories off!
What a spectacular stay! The food and views look amazing! I would love to stay at a Ritz-Carlton property one day, and the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa is now at the top of my list. Thanks for sharing!
The Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort was a lovely stay outside of Lisbon for sure. An awesome way to begin our long stay in Portugal.
Ahh, those chocolates! This definitely looks like quite the stay and all the food looks amazing! Glad you had an amazing stay there + so convenient that there’s so much to do/explore right at the resort!
We love when a resort offers so much to see and do. And when the food is amazing, it sure does make it hard to leave.
Wow! This looks like an awesome trip, and somewhere we’ve been planning to visit. Thanks so much for the tips, and the Ritz Carlton Penha Longa looks amazing! This will definitely help us plan our own trip in the next few months.
We were so happy to get back to Portugal. And the Penha Longa Resort was the perfect spot to start our trip.
I stayed at a Ritz Carlton once years ago in Florida. It was an amazing experience! I loved how every time I came back from being out they welcomed me by name. This Ritz Carlton looks beautiful. I love all the little special touches with the food. Would definitely want to stay here if I go to Portugal!
We too have had some amazing Ritz-Carlton customer service. The Penha Longa Resort was a real treat on our visit to Portugal.
That sure looks like top notch luxury, Linda. That golf course seems gigantic. Love it that they have a rock, a hiking path, and an ancient monastery on the premises and the food looks just out of this world. What a way to stay..
Our stay at the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa was a real treat. We sure did not expect to be was busy as we were with resort activities and great food.
Ritz-Carltons are certainly the epitome of luxury, but how cool that the setting for this one is in a National Park and has a monastery! What a treat for your family.
We loved the unique spot that was the Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort. It truly exceeded all expectations. A great spot for activities and food for families of all ages.
I’m headed to Lisbon next month and am still on the fence about going out to Sintra since I’ve already been once before. But this blog post is definitely pushing me in the direction of visiting again! The Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort looks so serene and green! I’d love to stay in a one-bedroom suite that has a wide open view of the beautiful lawn. The culinary and drink experiences here also sound unparalleled! I love a carefully crafted gin and tonic and would definitely try one here.
We had a very busy day at Sintra and did not see everything we wanted. So we will definitely go back for another visit. And the Penha Longa Resort will definitely be our spot to stay.
I remember coming across this resort when I was doing research for our Lisbon and Sintra trip. I really enjoyed reading about your experience staying here!
The Ritz-Carlton Penha Longa Resort was a good choice for a luxury splurge. So much to do on the resort. And an easy trip into Sintra to see the town and the palaces.
What a lovely place to stay and spoil yourself a little. Beautiful!
The Penha Longa Resort was definitely an amazing spot to be spoiled.