Penha Longa Hotel & Golf Resort

Getting away from the heat of Lisbon was a relief. This hotel is situated in a forested area close to Sintra. You feel like you are in the midst of nature. The Ritz name doesn’t figure at all when you are there, other than the name plate at the front entrance, but they certainly live up to Ritz reputation for luxury, service, cleanliness and overall vibe. We stayed three nights. The room was well organized and spacious enough. There was a great patio. All amenities that you would expect. The fitness room was awesome. Large and spacious with all the weights and machines you would expect to find in a city gym. We had dinner at Midori which was excellent (although a little on the “Sterile” side) and the tapas restaurant which was livelier and had excellent food too. Breakfast is a real treat. The buffet is huge and you can order à la carte. Great service. In fact, the entire hotel was well serviced including drinks at the pool. We did have one “complaint” or note to make, though. This resort caters to families, especially with younger children. They are all over the place (which is fine, except if you are looking for a more romantic and less hectic setting). They had a room with games and a bouncy castle. There is mini golf, trampolines, playground equipment, people dressed as animals at the breakfast restaurant. The pool was overrun with kids (there is an adult pool though). Overall, great for families and less great for couples. I’m not sure we would come back, but that is because we have seen what the Sintra area has to offer. If we did return we would likely come back at a time when kids are in school. Overall, great value for the money.

Penha Longa Resort in Sintra is nothing short of magical, and after five unforgettable nights, we’re already counting down until our return. From the moment we arrived, the setting captivated us: rooms with breathtaking forest views, a location that puts Sintra town, Cascais, and Lisbon all within easy reach, and facilities so comprehensive we genuinely never wanted to leave. What elevated this stay from beautiful to truly special was the staff. Matilde, who manages the breakfast area, deserves particular recognition. Every single morning she greeted us by name, asked about our plans for the day, and offered wonderfully bespoke recommendations for our trips to Cascais, Sintra town, and Lisbon. On our final morning, she surprised us with a thoughtful parting gift, pastéis de nata and chives from her own garden, and it was lovely to hear about her passion for gardening. Her warmth and genuine interest in our experience made every breakfast a highlight. Alexander, who handled our bags and showed us to our room, was equally impressive. He took real care walking us through the room’s features and the hotel’s facilities, going well beyond what was expected. He mentioned he’s pursuing a Marriott management course, and we have no doubt he’ll excel. The B Lounge team also stood out, especially given how busy things were with the World Cup in full swing. Julia P was a standout, remembering our names and orders instantly and always asking about our day trips with genuine curiosity. Balthazar brought great energy and sharp World Cup insights, clearly a natural in hospitality. We also briefly met Anton, the manager, whose humor and warmth left a strong impression. One piece of feedback we feel compelled to share, only because it contrasted so sharply with everything else: a reception team member (we believe his name was Viktor) didn’t acknowledge my Marriott Titanium status or the benefits tied to our booking through a Marriott STARS agent at check-in. More concerning, on our second-to-last night, he called our room at 2am asking us to move a car we didn’t have, then hung up without apology when we clarified the mix-up. It was a small blemish on an otherwise flawless stay, but worth flagging given the exceptional standard set by everyone else. This trip came together last minute, but Penha Longa has firmly secured a spot on our return list. Between the setting, the facilities, and a team that made us feel genuinely cared for, this is luxury hospitality done right.

My husband and I stayed at this resort for two nights. The property is gorgeous and very family oriented. We ate at Arola one night for dinner. The restaurant service was great, the food was wonderful and it was nice to spend a night enjoying this beautiful hotel. We loved our room. We had a junior suite. The room was huge. The morning breakfast had so many things to choose from and one of my favorite breakfasts in Portugal. If you are looking for a resort style stay this is your hotel. My only complaint was I wish the resort stores were open earlier. I saw a pair of flip flops I wanted and was unable to get them because the store opened late afternoon. We were moving on to our next stop.