Hello, Lisbon 🌸

Get yourselves into a stunning Airbnb or boutique hotel in Príncipe Real — Lisbon's chicest neighbourhood. Cobbled streets, bougainvillea everywhere, and walking distance to everything. Drop the bags, crack the first bottle of vinho verde, and get the group chat going.

Park Bar is *the* rooftop spot in Lisbon — built on top of a car park (yes, really), with sweeping views over the city and the Tagus. Perfect for aperitivo hour. Order a round of Aperol Spritzes or local ginjinha shots and let the holiday officially begin.

Head down to Alfama for a long, leisurely dinner. Think grilled seafood, bacalhau, pastel de nata for dessert, and enough wine to last the whole trip. The narrow streets, candlelit restaurants and live music drifting through the air make this the perfect first night dinner.

End the first night with an authentic Fado experience — Portugal's soulful, melancholy music that genuinely gives you chills. Mesa de Frades is a former chapel turned intimate music venue, perfect for a special night. Drinks included, musicians are extraordinary.

A lazy, gorgeous brunch to ease into the big day. Pastéis de nata, eggs, fresh juice, and excellent coffee. Wear your sashes, order too much food, and take about 400 photos before you've even left the table.

A private group cooking class is the perfect hen do activity — you'll learn to make traditional Portuguese dishes (think açorda, croquetas, the classics), drink wines along the way, and end up with a meal you actually eat together. Usually runs 3 hours and includes all food and wine. Great fun, no competition, just vibes.

A couple of hours free for shopping, wandering, or a cheeky spa treatment. Chiado has brilliant boutiques, concept stores and the famous Livraria Bertrand (world's oldest bookshop). Príncipe Real has antique markets and beautiful gardens. Split up, explore, regroup refreshed.

Grab drinks from a kiosk and head to one of Lisbon's famous miradouros (viewpoints) for golden hour. The city turns amber and rose as the sun sets over the Tagus — it's genuinely one of the most beautiful things you'll see. Bring a bottle of local fizz and make it a moment.

The main event dinner. Time Out Market is a food hall with Lisbon's best chefs all under one roof — great if the group has different tastes. Or go for Prado, an incredible farm-to-table restaurant with long sharing tables and exceptional food. Dress up, order everything, take your time.

Lisbon's nightlife is legendary and totally underrated. Pink Street is a pedestrianised bar strip literally painted pink — it's chaotic, brilliant, and perfect for a hen do. Bars spill onto the street, music is everywhere. From there, Bairro Alto is a labyrinth of tiny bars that go til dawn. No need for a club — just wander and let the night happen.

Take it slow. Find a sunny terrace, order eggs and strong coffee, debrief the night before, and quietly die laughing. Lisbon Sundays are made for this. Nobody is in a rush.

If flights allow, a few hours in Sintra is utterly magical — fairytale palaces perched on forested hills, pastel de feijoa from the local bakeries, and photos that look like Disney. The train runs every 20 mins and costs about €5 return. Worth it if you have an evening flight.

Head to the airport glowing, slightly sunburned, definitely a bit tired, and absolutely full of memories. Duty free ginjinha is mandatory. The bride-to-be gets carried through the terminal.