From cruising Italy’s Lake Iseo in a vintage Riva Aquarama boat and sampling the famous sparkling wines of the Franciacorta region to picking produce in a Versailles garden for a cooking demonstration at the Michelin-starred restaurant Le George, Four Seasons gives you insider access to some of the most exclusive European experiences. Travellers to Europe are increasingly seeking experiential activities, and these six exclusive experiences – curated by Four Seasons and led by experts – will take you off the beaten path and invite you to see Europe from a different perspective.
Let Lisbon inspire your creativity
Winding streets, iconic trolleys and azulejo-studded buildings make Lisbon one of Europe’s most photogenic destinations; it’s hard to walk a block without seeing a traveller capturing images for Instagram. From Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon, venture across the Praça do Comércio to feel the city’s energy or take in its stunning architecture. Your nose might lead you to the nearest bakery offering traditional pastries like a pastel de nata (cinnamon-dusted egg custard tarts). Take in the sweetness while listening to the nostalgic, soulful sounds of Fado playing from a neighbourhood café.
Such an awakening of the senses might inspire you to explore your own artistic side. Discover the tradition of Portuguese tile painting during an exclusive experience at Viúva Lamego, a renowned tile-making factory about 30 minutes from Lisbon. Tour the factory and learn about its history and original production of its world-famous tiles. Here you can meet experienced local artisans; then, with the guidance of an instructor, you can try painting your own azulejo as a souvenir.
Concierge Tip: Have the Concierge arrange for a luxury car to take you to Viúva Lamego so you can sit back and enjoy the views of jagged hills, opulent palaces, castle ruins and 19th-century villas along the way.
Uncover your artistic side in Lisbon
Follow the scenic roads of the French Riviera
Marvel over the same views of the Mediterranean Sea that once captivated Hollywood royalty from the palatial Grand-Hôtel du Cap-Ferrat, A Four Seasons Hotel. For more than a century, this Hotel has welcomed notable guests like Winston Churchill and Elizabeth Taylor, offering opulent rooms with views from Nice to Monaco. Delectable Michelin-starred dining at Le Cap and luxurious dips in a heated saltwater swimming pool over the French Riviera are just a couple of reasons you may never want to leave.
But when you do venture out, you can do so in style. Cruise the countryside in a vintage convertible or supercar. The Concierge can help you customize an itinerary with the perfect balance of shopping, sightseeing and gourmet dining along the Mediterranean coastline. Prolong your seaside drive with stops to stroll around a medieval village, wander through a royal castle or browse a local market.
Concierge Tip: Be sure to save time – and your appetite – for a leisurely gastronomic experience at one of several Michelin-starred bistros overlooking the sea. Let the Concierge know what you’re in the mood for, and they can point you in the right direction.
Indulge your senses in Cap-Ferrat
Enjoy a secret dinner alongside the Duomo in Florence
This Florentine dining experience is so exclusive that the Concierge at Four Seasons Hotel Firenze can’t even divulge the name of the Renaissance palazzo where the evening takes place. We can, however, reveal that it’s a 15th-century residence designed by Medici confidant Giuliano da Sangallo. Like the nobles who own the property – and greet you at the front door – you’ll enjoy unparalleled city views from a balcony while sipping champagne or a classic Italian negroni. In a room with elegant Renaissance-style furnishings and a panoramic window that frames the Duomo, the dinner table is adorned with artful flower arrangements, centuries-old crystal and bottles of wine from the owner’s Tuscan family estates. Dive into seasonal plates such as cavatelli cacio e pepe and marinated scampi as the candles flicker.
Concierge Tip: “Mimicking noble Renaissance family traditions, we can arrange hand-painted menus or even have Florentine flag-wavers welcoming you,” says Catering Manager Alessia Magni.
Keep a delicious secret in Florence
Gather in the garden with a Michelin-recognized chef in Paris
This unforgettable cooking and dining experience begins at Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, where Chef Simone Zanoni from Michelin-starred restaurant Le George greets you. He’ll then drive you to the Kitchen Garden in Versailles in an electric Porsche Panamera Turbo S E-Hybrid. After touring the garden and harvesting seasonal fruits and vegetables, you will have the unique opportunity to prepare an authentic Italian meal with Chef Zanoni in an outdoor kitchen. While sharing the traditional cooking techniques that he learned from his grandmother, he will guide you in transforming the day’s harvest into an unforgettable meal meant to be shared in the midst of this idyllic French garden.
Concierge Tip: Have award-winning sommelier Francesco Cosci – crowned Best Sommelier of Italy in 2023 – help pair your meal with the perfect Italian wines. His in-depth knowledge is rooted in his lifelong passion for French and Italian varietals. Indulge in a one-of-a-kind experience and learn about sought-after vintages, as well as unfamiliar labels, lesser-known indigenous grape varieties and locally produced wines that he will present with emotion and delight.
A true garden-to-table experience in Paris
Sip your way through the Italian countryside
With its frescoed churches and renowned fashion houses, Milan is an alluring city that beckons those with sophisticated tastes. And Four Seasons Hotel Milan, a 15th-century convent turned garden retreat, puts you right in the centre of the city’s fashion district. Once you’ve explored this bustling metropolis of art and design, let the Concierge arrange a trip to the countryside to see a different side of Italy. Explore the Franciacorta region and Lake Iseo, where you can learn about the region’s famous sparkling wines while touring its most notable cellars. Feel in-the-know as you sample world-class bottles filled with rich fruit flavours from this under-the-radar wine region. Afterwards, board one of the most iconic motorboats in the world – an original Riva Aquarama – to cruise around Lake Iseo. After enjoying a scenic lunch in Monte Isola, considered one of the most beautiful villages in Italy, you’ll return to Milan via private transfer feeling sated and refreshed.
Concierge Tip: For the best views of Lake Iseo, dock at one of the towns bordering it and head to the mountaintops. Or have the Concierge get you a lakeview seating at a table on the terrace of the Ristorante Panoramico and take it all in over a glass of Franciacorta wine.
Explore Italy’s beautiful regions
Find your Zen in the French Alps
No matter the season, the French Alps offer some of the most beautiful mountain scenery in the world. For a stay filled with distinct French character and pure Alpine tradition, Four Seasons Hotel Megève is an intimate mountain retreat that’s hard to beat. While world-class skiing and snowboarding lure visitors in the winter, summertime offers a chance to experience the Alps differently.
Find balance as you activate your chakras during a private yoga session enhanced with exceptional panoramic views of the Alps. Whether you practice outside in the fresh mountain air or in the open-air geodesic dome, you’re sure to feel relaxed and renewed.
Concierge Tip: Unwind in total harmony with a full moon ceremonial session in the Hotel’s geodesic dome. Harness the energy of the full moon and immerse yourself completely in the present through a unique sensory journey in the heart of the Alps. Spa Director Charlotte Ginolin has devised a cocoa ceremony to revive the body and soothe the spirit. The intoxicating aroma of cocoa stimulates your body and calms your mind as you focus on the moon’s energy to relax and reconnect with your inner self.
Find balance in Megève
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