Day 1: Arrival & Strategy Kickoff
Aligning on goals and priorities
- 14:00–18:00Airport transfers and hotel check-in
- 18:00–19:30Company strategy and retreat objectives session
- 20:00–22:00Welcome dinner in central Lisbon
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1000+
Offsites organized
10
Years of experience
200+
Retreat locations
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Why organize a work retreat?
A work retreat, also known as a work offsite, gives your team dedicated time to focus on important work without the distractions of day-to-day operations. Whether you're planning a strategy workshop, innovation sprint, product roadmap, or cross-functional project, stepping away from the office creates space for deeper thinking, faster decision-making, and meaningful progress.
Unlike company retreats, which focus on team building and company culture, work retreats are designed to achieve specific business goals. By bringing the right people together in one place, teams can collaborate more effectively, solve complex challenges, and accomplish weeks of work in just a few days.
Whether you're planning a retreat for a single department or an entire company, Surf Office takes care of the accommodation, meeting spaces, activities, and logistics - so your team can focus on the work that matters.
What is the purpose of a work retreat?
The activities on a work retreat can range from team bonding to business-oriented goal-setting and presentations. There are many benefits to hosting a retreat, including:
Focus on strategic priorities
Advance key business projects
Solve complex challenges
Strengthen team collaboration
Build stronger working relationships
Boost motivation and engagement
Organize your next work retreat with Surf Office
1000+ retreats organized ● 10 years of experience ● 200+ retreat locations
Get a quoteSample Retreat Itinerary in Lisbon
Work retreats give teams dedicated time to focus on projects, develop new ideas, and work on long-term priorities without the distractions of day-to-day operations. Here's an example of a 5-day work retreat in Lisbon based on a real retreat organized for Elbstack.
Recent retreats organized by Surf Office
Best retreat locations
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Organize your next work retreat with Surf Office
1000+ retreats organized ● 10 years of experience ● 200+ retreat locations
Get a quoteWork retreat activity ideas
A productive work retreat balances focused work sessions with time to unwind together. Shared experiences outside the meeting room help strengthen working relationships, encourage informal conversations, and keep the team energized throughout the retreat.
Here are some of the most popular activities at Surf Office destinations:
Head to the beach
Workday, a people analytics company, hosted its company retreat in Barcelona. The team spent at the beach with activities like stand up paddle, swimming, and a surfing lesson. A beach trip is good for big groups because everyone can do what they want. Some can swim, some can play beach volleyball, and some can veg in the sun.
Take a hike
Get away from the noise and hustle of the city and bring your team for a nature hike. Our destinations in the Catskill Mountains, Zion national park, and Gran Canaria are perfect for bringing your team on a hike for some fresh air.
Treasure hunt
Break up your larger group in small teams and take a walk through the historic streets of Lisbon, for instance. See famous monuments, hidden gems, and learn about the culture of the city on a scavenger hunt. Get to know the city and each other in a fun way.
Host a speaker or Ted Talk
Invite a local expert to speak about something out-of-the-box. Or, have your employees volunteer to give informal Ted Talk-style presentations about something they’re passionate about. This approach leverages internal resources, uplifts individual interests, and shows your support for skills beyond work roles.
Share a meal
EVBox is a company focused on providing charging solutions for electric vehicles. Their group of 200 people joined Surf Office for a company retreat. In the process, we hosted a special dining experience in Lisbon with traditional dishes and drinks. Organizing meals can be a challenge for large groups: read what we’ve learned about making restaurant reservations.
Hackathon
If you want to keep your team bonding business-focused, host a hackathon. Divide the large group up into small teams and work on a project. A traditional hackathon focuses on creative problem-solving – emphasis on “creative.” Don’t be afraid to make the hackathon open-ended to foster innovation.
FAQs about work retreats
What is a work retreat?
A work retreat is an offsite event where employees come together outside the office to focus on strategic planning, collaboration, problem-solving, and project work. Unlike traditional team-building retreats, work retreats are primarily designed to achieve specific business goals.
Why do companies organize work retreats?
Companies organize work retreats to create dedicated time for planning, brainstorming, innovation, and collaboration. By stepping away from daily distractions, teams can focus on important projects and long-term objectives.
How is a work retreat different from a company retreat?
While company retreats often focus on culture, team bonding, and company-wide alignment, work retreats place greater emphasis on productivity, strategic discussions, workshops, and achieving measurable business outcomes.
What should be included in a work retreat agenda?
A successful work retreat agenda typically includes strategy sessions, brainstorming workshops, project planning, collaborative work time, presentations, and team-building activities. The best agendas balance focused work with opportunities to relax and connect.
How long should a work retreat be?
Most work retreats last between 3 and 5 days, although some teams choose longer retreats for larger projects, hackathons, or annual planning sessions.
What are the benefits of a work retreat?
Work retreats can improve collaboration, accelerate decision-making, generate new ideas, strengthen team relationships, and help teams make meaningful progress on important projects.
Are work retreats productive?
Yes. Many companies use work retreats to tackle projects that are difficult to complete during normal work weeks. By reducing interruptions and bringing people together in one place, teams can focus more deeply on their goals.
What activities work best during a work retreat?
Popular work retreat activities include brainstorming workshops, hackathons, design sprints, strategy sessions, team challenges, cooking classes, city tours, and outdoor experiences. The best activities complement the retreat's business objectives.
What are the best locations for a work retreat?
The best work retreat locations combine productive workspaces with inspiring surroundings and convenient travel connections. Popular destinations include Lisbon, Berlin, Amsterdam, Madeira, Boulder, and Singapore.
How do you plan a productive work retreat?
Planning a productive work retreat starts with defining clear goals and outcomes. Once you know what you want to achieve, choose a location that supports focused work, create an agenda that balances collaboration and deep work, and schedule activities that complement your objectives. Many companies work with retreat planning specialists to handle logistics, accommodation, meeting spaces, and team activities.
💛 Wall of love 💛
We recently worked with Surf Office to plan an offsite for our team in Sintra, Portugal and the experience was excellent. Elke went above and beyond throughout the entire process, even driving to visit the location herself to ensure everything was perfect. She was instrumental in securing a restaurant that opened exclusively for our group, making the experience truly special. The hotel was lovely, with breathtaking views that provided the ideal backdrop for both work and relaxation. The space was perfect for connecting, brainstorming, and fostering team collaboration. Every detail was thoughtfully managed. We would wholeheartedly recommend Surf Office to others looking to host memorable and productive retreats!
Romane LeBrec-Foulatier was a fantastic partner in planning this event. She did a wonderful job of introducing the planning project via Coda and then was extremely helpful and conscientious in helping us plan toward the event. I always felt that I could depend on her follow-up and she was clear and articulate in her guidance. She was also proactive in flagging items that needed extra consideration or in raising potential issues with the schedule or venue or planning. We really loved the Coda site that she created to for planning and also the Coda dashboard that we shared with the team; the team found it very helpful as well. Lastly, Romane was critical in helping on our last day in France when the taxi drivers were on strike - she very quickly implemented a contingency plan and helped us communicate it to the team through the Coda site. Similarly. Álvaro Pérez-Segnini was very helpful in helping us choose the Chantilly location. He understood the parameters of the offsite and got back to us with multiple proposals in a limited time frame. He helped us understand which option would be the best for us and he helped us negotiate the best space and the best price.
Great offer - hotel did fit perfectly with our expectations. Danielle who took care about our company did a great job, was super available before the event and was a great help to accommodate with every impediment and change we faced and find the best solution for us. Also during the event, she was always available to make our stay a awesome moment.
We had such a fantastic experience working with SurfOffice! It was our very first time getting external support for our company retreat – and we couldn’t have asked for a better partner. From the very beginning, we felt incredibly well taken care of. The regular check-ins helped us go through every detail and made sure nothing was overlooked. And in the end, everything turned out exactly as we had hoped! The implementation was seamless, and the SurfOffice team was always there to support us – even during the retreat itself. A huge thank you for your time, effort, and amazing support. You truly made our retreat an unforgettable experience. We can’t wait to work with you again next year!
We had an amazing experience! Everything was perfectly organized from A to Z. As a vegan company, it’s usually quite difficult to find places that can fully accommodate our needs — but the Surf Office team handled everything with ease. They weren’t afraid of any request, preference, or extra thing we asked for. The communication was smooth, fast, and friendly throughout the entire process. We truly appreciated the attention to detail and how flexible and supportive the team was. We can’t recommend them enough!
I have just wrapped up my fourth annual retreat with Surf Office, this time hosted in Mallorca, and as always they created the perfect experience for myself and my team. Our sales representative Giselle was brilliant, she listened to what we needed and came back with venue options that were perfect for our budget and vibe. Romane was my main contact throughout for the logistics. We had some last-minute changes and she managed everything like a pro, even securing us refunds when we had a cancellation. This is why I keep coming back to Surf Office for our annual event. They actually care about making the retreat something special. It's that personal touch that makes all the difference.
We recently worked with Surf Office to plan an off-site retreat for 105 people, and the experience from start to finish was absolutely seamless. From the initial proposal stage, through planning, to on site support, everything went perfectly, and we honestly couldn’t have done it without them. A special thanks to Alvaro and Elke. Alvaro was our initial intro to Surf Office, and working with him on proposals for the retreat was a pleasure. He understood our needs and helped shape the retreat options. Once the planning stage began, Elke took over as our retreat planner. She made everything feel completely in hand and ensured that every detail was looked after. Nothing was ever too much to ask. On site, Fernanda and Bibi were fantastic. With their support, everything ran super smoothly, and we had all the help we could possibly need. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, everyone LOVED the trip! A huge well done to the whole team. We couldn’t recommend them enough.
Our team had an amazing experience working with Surf Office. From the very first conversation, their team was incredibly communicative, organized, and attentive to every detail. They made the entire retreat-planning process smooth and stress-free from venue coordination to activities and logistics, everything was handled with care and professionalism. What really stood out was their responsiveness and ability to anticipate our needs before we even mentioned them. It’s clear they truly understand what makes a company retreat successful. If you’re looking for a partner who combines efficiency, great communication, and genuine hospitality, look no further than Surf Office. We couldn’t recommend them more!
I had a wonderful experience working with the SurOffice team. I’d like to specifically highlight Raquel and Giselle, who have been incredibly supportive from day one. They were always proactive in checking in, handling last-minute requests, and doing so with the utmost professionalism and politeness. This was my second time working with the team, and it was an absolute pleasure. I would definitely look forward to collaborating with them again in the future.
Organize your next work retreat with Surf Office
Get a quoteHow does it work?
1. Tell us more about your plans
We would like to hear more about your plans and how we can make your next work retreat a success.
Do you have an office in one location or is your team distributed? Can employees bring their partners? Is your priority strategic planning, innovation, product development, or cross-functional collaboration?
2. Planning with your dedicated project manager
Even finding and booking one single restaurant for the dinner can be a painful project. Is the food going to be good? Is the price fair? How many of our team members have diet restrictions?
Each retreat is a combination of multiple smaller projects and with a large group the complexity might be scary.
But no worries, we mastered this process and made it fun and easy.
Our experienced project manager dedicated to you will help you with the whole organisation from searching for flights to crafting unique surprise activities for your team.
We will be your one-stop-shop for all of the logistics of your retreat. The Retreat Planner assigned to your group will work with you to book and coordinate everything from A-Z, providing you with peace-of-mind and a guarantee of quality and reliability from our local partners at the best possible prices.
According to our repeat clients and our first-time clients who have previous experience in organizing retreats in-house, this is the greatest value that we bring to them.
3. Detailed plan and schedule of your work retreat
At the end of the planning process you will end up with the bullet-proof schedule. There is no room for improvisation with a large group.
Everything must work perfectly, all the activities and transfers must be just-on-time.
Sounds like a dream end, right? That's how we work.
You are ready for your epic work retreat.
Tips for a great work offsite
There are a few ways to make sure your work offsite is a success.
First, it’s a good idea to take your team to a remote location.
Head to the countryside to decrease the distractions of city life. Surf Office runs work retreats in the charming, remote fishing village of Ericeira. We also recommend the Catskill Mountains, Zion national park, and Gran Canaria, or one of our remote villas close to Barcelona or Valencia. Click here to see all our locations.
After you have your location, work on the agenda ahead of time.
Ask your team members what problems they would like to solve. Brainstorm which areas of the business you would like to improve. Then, organize a hackathon or design sprint to work on your project in groups.
We’ve also found it’s important to balance work and play.
Leave some free time every day for your team; otherwise, people are going to be exhausted.
Prioritize which ideas you want to work on.
Don’t try to do too much in one retreat! Focus on brainstorming ideas, creating quick concepts/prototypes, and feedbacking them. You can test your concepts in the real world once you are back from the retreat.
Not sure where to focus?
Before the retreat, ask your team what projects they would work on with a budget of US$10,000, and what projects they would choose with a budget of US$1 million. We did this exercise during our Surf Office retreat in Prague. Then we brainstormed and worked on the best ideas. You might realize that many “one million dollar ideas” you can actually develop with a much lower budget.
Lastly, make sure you’re equipped with the right environment and tools.
Book an office or workspace and make sure it has enough whiteboards or presentation tools.
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Choose from hundreds of retreat locations in Europe, America, Asia-Pacific, and Africa.
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