10 wellness experiences to reset

Goodbye, stress! The compass points towards nirvana. Take your first steps in Lisbon with a kind of 'amuse-bouche' for body and mind. Visit a spa where you can enjoy a relaxing massage, a skin treatment or a therapy that dissolves the inner chaos caused by the voracious routine. The city of the seven hills has an endless number of offers, namely the Wellness Experience at Bairro Alto Hotel and the 'Inner Balance' experience. Two moments that will invigorate you and restore your inner balance, in the heart of Lisbon.

A holistic discipline created by the Israeli Ido Portal and brought to Portugal by Tiago Martins, the first Movement teacher in the country, it challenges you to free your body and spirit from the constraints of daily life. Let yourself go with a mixture of contemporary dance, capoeira steps, gymnastic exercises, martial arts, breakdance and movements that reproduce animal locomotion, promoting a permanent contact with the ground. More than body expression, Movement is a philosophy of life.

Location: Largo Vitorino Damásio, nº 4

Start Sunday morning with the sun salutation in one of Lisbon's many gardens. Quinta das Conchas opens the door to meditation to the sound of nature in a yoga class guided by João Genial. All you need is comfortable clothes and a mat (or a large towel) for a happy practice. Align your chakras and, at the end, say 'namaste' for the time you have invested in your physical and mental well-being.

Location: Quinta das Conchas e dos Lilases Park

Have you ever practiced immersive cycling? A unique experience awaits you! Cycle by candlelight (without the temptation to look at your neighbour's bike and focusing solely on yourself), set your own pace and choose the music playlist that best suits your mood. With the motto 'fitness is boring, we deserve better', Studio Rise offers you everything but yawning on a static bike. In fact, fun and good vibes are part of this stage of the Lisbon tour. The hand-picked instructors will help you sprint towards good energy. After the effort, the reward: a hot shower in a lovely bathhouse with lots of pampering.

Location: Rua Correia Teles, 18

Healthy, tasty and sustainable: the three 's' of a meal that nourishes body and spirit. Delight in new interpretations of traditional Portuguese flavours that will get your mouth watering. Lisbon will take you by the stomach!

With restaurants in LX Factory and Alvalade, The Therapist invites you to enjoy a menu without sugars, without harmful ingredients and without dairy products. The ingredients come directly from nature to the table and the options are based on four fundamental pillars: immunity, detox, strength and mental energy. All in the name of a functional cuisine created from local and, preferably, organic produce. Try the Earth and Sea risotto and enjoy the best of both worlds.

Location: LX Factory - Rua Rodrigues Faria, 103

Alvalade - Rua José D’Esaguy, 11 C

It started out as a grocery store, but success led to expansion into a cosy bistro. Awaken your palate with a cheese board and Portuguese flavours, with 100% plant-based products, accompanied by a smooth rosé wine, which will open the way to the main course. A creamy 'chouriço' and chestnut rice that will leave you surrendered to vegan cuisine with a gourmet touch. A sensorial explosion watered with the good energy of the staff. This is Pistácio Bistro, a vegan restaurant where you can feel Portugal.

Location: Rua D. Luís I, 19

Visiting Lisbon and not eating a "pastel de nata” is like going to Rome and not seeing the Pope. Can't resist the sin of gluttony? Then you must taste the 'rock star' of Lisbon sweets with the VeganNata signature: the first brand of vegan custard tarts in Portugal. Lactose-free and with reduced sugar content, its creaminess and crispy pastry come to life when accompanied by a good expresso, that you can bring with you in an edible biscuit cup, because VeganNata is 'plastic free'. Now also in the heart of Lisbon, near one of the city's most emblematic squares.

Location: Chiado - Rua da Misericórdia, 9 

Campo de Ourique - Rua 4 de Infantaria, 29B

Oops, the phone stayed in the hotel! Even better. Take advantage of this 'wellness travel' to go on a digital detox. Resist the temptation to make technology an extension of your body and make the most of the experiences in the idyllic settings that embrace the Portuguese capital.

It is one of the 'ex libris' of the most romantic village in Portugal and one of the hundred most sustainable destinations in the world. Sintra's century-old tram will be your cicerone through breathtaking landscapes, on a journey lasting 45 minutes. This railway line connects the mountains with the imposing Atlantic Ocean. There are approximately 11km of harmonious union between Sintra and Maçãs beach.

Wrap yourself in a true Impressionist painting and capture in your mind the charm and mysticism of this village, to which it is impossible to remain indifferent.

A few kilometers from Lisbon, at Quinta Ponte Caia, between Moita and Montijo, there's a therapeutic experience calling out to you. Imagine yourself riding a horse along the Gaio-Rosário beach with the Tagus river as the scenery. For about 1h30, you will have the opportunity to contemplate the beauty of the area and go 'offline', in a singular communion with nature, in peace and freedom.

Location: Quinta Ponte Caia, Rua 1.º de Maio