Portugal

The Algarve offers a more established coastal resort scene with surf-wellness options, while Alentejo provides a quieter, rural countryside alternative - the choice depends on whether you want sea or countryside as your backdrop.

Surf-wellness pairs surf lessons or sessions with yoga and spa treatments, and Portugal's consistent Atlantic swell and long coastline make it one of Europe's better-suited destinations for this combination.

Portugal's Atlantic coast tends to be more rugged and less built-up than much of Spain's Mediterranean coastline, giving its wellness retreats a wilder, more natural character.

Generally, yes - Portugal often offers comparable Mediterranean-adjacent weather and coastline at a somewhat lower cost than similar options in Spain.

Yes - particularly in the Douro Valley or Alentejo, both known wine regions, where several retreats sit within reach of vineyards worth visiting alongside your wellness programme.

Portuguese cuisine leans on fresh fish, olive oil and seasonal vegetables, broadly Mediterranean in spirit, and most retreats adapt this into lighter, wellness-focused menus.

Many visitors pair a short stay in Lisbon for culture with time at a coastal or countryside retreat, given how straightforward travel is between the capital and most of the country.

Around 2.5–3 hours from most UK airports, comparable to Spain, making it realistic for a shorter retreat of 5–7 nights.

Yes - Portugal's boutique retreat scene and generally relaxed, welcoming pace make it a comfortable choice for solo travellers.

Alentejo is one of Portugal's quietest, least-developed regions - rolling plains, cork forests and slow rural pace - making it well suited to a genuinely unhurried countryside retreat away from coastal crowds.