After 10 years of helping teams plan retreats in Portugal, we’ve learned there’s a perfect spot for everyone. Whether your team’s into surfing, historic towns, or just great food and views, this guide will help you find the right place within Portugal to make your next retreat unforgettable.
Choosing Portugal for your corporate retreat? Great decision! Now comes the tricky part: picking the perfect spot. With so many breath-taking corporate retreat locations in Portugal, from golden beaches to charming fishermen towns, it’s not an easy task.
To make life easier, we’re sharing our favourite locations and why you should choose them for your corporate retreat in Portugal. After 10 years of organising retreats all over Portugal, we know that the country has a different perfect location for what you’re looking for.
P.S. You’ll find it hard to go wrong here 😉
Portugal’s charming capital—a city where sunny weather meets a booming tech and innovation scene. Lisbon offers a dynamic mix of rich culture, contemporary energy, and endless opportunities for exploration, making it a top choice for corporate retreat locations in Portugal.
And for food lovers? Lisbon doesn’t disappoint. Whether it’s indulging in a flaky Pastel de Nata, savouring traditional Bacalhau, or exploring the vegan scene, there’s something for every palate.
🔹Explore Alfama
Wander through the historic Alfama district, Lisbon’s oldest and arguably most charming neighbourhood. Its narrow streets and vibrant atmosphere make it perfect for team bonding activities like guided walking tours.
🔹Take in the Views
Lisbon’s iconic viewpoints (miradouros) are a must. Climb to Miradouro da Graça, Portas do Sol, or Nossa Senhora do Monte for breathtaking views. It’s an excellent setting for group discussions or just relaxing with colleagues with a glass of wine after a productive day.
🔹Well-Connected City
Lisbon is one of the most connected European airports with direct flights to 6 American cities, 12 South American cities and many more within Europe. With the airport located just outside of the city, it makes a very convenient location for those traveling from afar.
🔹Coastal Access
Take your team to the beach! A short ride will get you to Carcavelos, a popular surf spot, or Costa da Caparica, known for its long coastline and water activities.
Lisbon enjoys a sunny, mild climate year-round. Spring and autumn are ideal for retreats, offering warm days with occasional rain and plenty of sunshine. Summers, especially from July to October, are consistently hot, while evenings remain cool—perfect for outdoor dinners or rooftop gatherings. Thanks to the climate, the nights cool down for a good night’s sleep.
Pack for the Hills: Lisbon is famously built on seven hills, and its cobbled streets can be a challenge. Encourage your team to bring comfortable walking shoes to avoid slipping.
Budget wisely: Lisbon’s growing popularity has brought a rise in prices, particularly for accommodations. Book off-season (from mid-September to end of February) to get better deals. However, local restaurants, beer, and wine remain reasonably priced—great for team dinners and casual outings.
Ericeira, a small town close to Lisbon used to be a traditional fisherman village. Today, it has turned into a laid back surfers paradise and has a ‘bohemian’, yet still Portuguese vibe. The fact that it is on top of various beautiful beaches makes it a popular location for corporate retreats in Portugal.
🔹Fresh Seafood
Amazing seafood restaurants along the coastline for big team feasts. Pristine coastline and beautiful beaches (and a lot of surfing!)
🔹Cozy Village Vibe
you can get around the town easily on foot and meet your colleagues on the street. You don’t get that dispersed as a team as can happen in Lisbon. Traditional town centre with cobbled streets with white washed cottages, with great coffee places, a local market and cute boutiques.
🔹Proximity to Airport
Ericeira is only a 45 drive from Lisbon Airport, which has great flight connections
Ericeira offers sunshine and warm weather from May to September, but being on the Atlantic coast, it’s wise to pack layers for those occasional cool breezes. The ocean here is refreshing, so don’t expect tropical water temperatures—but that’s part of the charm!
Book private transfers for your entire stay: Public transport options from Lisbon airport are limited, so plan ahead with private transfers or group shuttles to ensure your team arrives hassle-free.
Reserve hotels in advance: as it is a small town, there is a limited number of hotels, especially larger ones, so we highly recommend booking at least 1 year in advance to get the best corporate retreat venues.
They say in Alentejo the time stands still. And it really does. Amongst cork trees, endless farms and small cottages, one sees life’s pressures differently. Alentejo is where our personal retreat journey started 10 years ago. With activities like river beaches, cliff hikes and mountain meditations, we couldn’t resist but using this as our very first location. Here’s why:
🔹Where Portuguese Go on Holiday
🔹Historic Towns
A walking tour through Évora is always a highlight on our company retreats. It’s more than just history—it’s a UNESCO World Heritage site filled with Roman ruins, medieval streets, and an impressive chapel made of bones!
🔹Authentic Food
Alentejo’s cuisine is all about simplicity and flavour. For example açorda (a hearty bread soup) or freshly caught fish grilled to perfection. Pair it with the region’s famous olive oil and wines, and you have an unforgettable team dining experience.
150 kilometres of coastline bring a lot of amazing beaches, small ones, big ones, secret ones. Surfing, kiting and other water sports make for an active company retreat agenda.
Alentejo is Portugal’s hottest and driest region, with scorching summers and pleasantly warm winters. For corporate retreats in winter (Nov-Mar), Alentejo is unbeatable. It stays warmer than Lisbon and sees less rain, offering an opportunity to create an outdoor retreat agenda that is more likely to succeed.
Book Restaurants Early: Restaurants in Alentejo fill up fast, especially in summer when tourists pour in. Reserve months in advance to secure group spots for your team.
Mind the Travel Time: Alentejo is at least 2-hour drive from both Faro and Lisbon airport. It’s best suited for corporate retreats with teams already based in Europe to minimize long travel times.
Algarve is a symbol of Portuguese tourism and is well known for its beaches with giant sand rocks. It’s airport (Faro) is well-connected and it has a range of hotels (especially for larger groups).
As a place that is truly made for summer tourism, Algarve has a lot of natural beauty to offer. But beware: the Algarve region is not suitable for all sorts of retreats.
🔹Golden Beaches and Cliffs
From Praia da Marinha to Benagil Cave, the Algarve’s coastline is one of Europe’s most stunning. Perfect for team-building activities like kayaking, paddleboarding, or simply relaxing by the sea.
🔹THE Place for Seafood
Treat your team to freshly-caught fish and seafood delicacies in on of Algarve’s countless beachside restaurants. Don’t miss the iconic Cataplana, a flavourful local dish.
🔹Tavira’s Timeless Charm
Tavira is one of the Algarve’s most picturesque and most authentic towns (we have some nice retreat venues available here!). It’s an ideal spot for cultural activities and quieter, reflective moments with the team.
The Algarve boasts hot, dry summers with average temperatures around 30°C (86°F). Spring and autumn offer mild, pleasant weather, typically ranging between 17-25°C (63-77°F). Winters are cooler, averaging 12-15°C (54-59°F), with some unpredictable rainy days, but still warmer than most of Europe—perfect for a quieter corporate retreat.
Plan Beyond the Tourist Trail: The Algarve is a popular destination, and its charm can sometimes be overshadowed by its reputation as a tourist hotspot. You’ll often find English breakfasts on menus where traditional Portuguese dishes should be shining. To get a more authentic experience, seek out local, family-run restaurants (or just choose a different part of Portugal).
Avoid Peak Season Crowds: Summers in the Algarve can be very busy, with beaches and towns filled to capacity. For a more relaxed corporate retreat, consider planning your visit in spring or autumn (March and November) when the crowds thin out, and the weather is still beautiful.
Faro Airport: Keep in mind that despite being well-connected during summer, Faro airport has much less connections than Lisbon. There might not be a direct connection for everyone on your team.
Holiday vibe: If your goal is to combine work, activities and play, Algarve might not be the perfect spot for your company offsite. With it’s summer holiday vibe, it invites more to relaxation than work.
Pick these locations in Portugal for your corporate retreat if:
Lisbon: You’re looking for an energetic and cultural vibe, lots of opportunities for entertainment, restaurants, or want to come during Lisbon’s famous festivities (June).
Ericeira: You’re looking for something more quiet, a more community focused retreat, or if you’re looking for easier access to the beach and water sport activities.
Alentejo: You’re looking for a more calm, authentic Portuguese and nature-based experience and have no problem to travel for another 2 hours after arriving to an airport.
Algarve: You’re looking for a summer holiday vibe retreat, beautiful beaches, nature and seafood, and you’re not expecting to have a tough work schedule or a wide entertainment offering.
And don’t forget – all corporate retreat locations mentioned will offer an amazing home for your next retreat – it’s just about finding the one that matches your vibe.
Once you’ve chosen your area, read our full guide on activities and example programmes in Portugal here.
Most offsite organisers have two major challenges when it comes to organisation:
That’s why we built Lá Fora – to make offsite organisation pain free. With one of our expert retreat planners at your side, you’ll get exclusive venues, top agendas, smooth logistics and most importantly – quick responses. We’d love for you to give it a try.
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