Visit Portugal with Kids: 11 Things to Do (2023)
11 Things To Do in Portugal with kids
Expats who move to Portugal and vacationers planning a Portugal trip alike look for family-friendly attractions and activities to do with their children. There is a wealth of things to do with kids all over this amazing country making it great for family travel.
In general, the Portuguese people looooooove kids, so it makes the adjustment of moving here or planning a visit to Portugal with kids that much easier. They can run around at outdoor cafes, enjoy the beautiful beaches and water parks, and take advantage of many kid-friendly museums, palaces, and other family-friendly activities.
Keep reading for some of the best best things to do when you visit Portugal with kids on a Portugal family holiday.
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Castelo do Óbidos
Castle walls of Castelo do Óbidos surrounding the fairytale town
1. Climb the city walls of Óbidos
Young and old alike will love a day trip to Óbidos Portugal. This place has many narrow cobbled streets with amazing views of the village and valley below locked in a castle wall that is perfect for you and your kids to explore. There are also many great restaurants and shops here that are sure to wow everyone in the group.
Indulge in some local Ginja, a popular sour cherry liqueur served in a chocolate cup. Some shops even have kid-friendly versions. Take one of several staircases up to the top of the walls to see the town from above. There are no railings, so be mindful that children should be well supervised!
Walking along the main street is wonderful, with its old pottery shop, old-fashioned toys, cute jewelry shops, and tiny coffeehouses. The street is lined with potted flowers hanging from the window frames and the general feeling is that this is where time stopped. Óbidos offers visitors a glimpse of what used to be.
A day trip from Lisbon to Óbidos is a great way to see the sights and get history at the same time.
Harry Potter Library in Porto, Portugal
The library that inspired J.K. Rowlin’gs Harry Potter books
2. Visit the Harry Potter Library in Porto - Livraria Lello
Livraria Lello is a must-see if you are visiting with kids or even on your own as it is incredibly impressive. If you have kids with you who are Harry Potter fans, they’ve struck gold! This old library is 100 years old and is believed to have inspired J.K. Rowling's books, as she lived in the city from 1991 to 1993 and visited regularly.
Another advantage if you take children with you is that if one of them is under three years old, you can avoid the long queues that form during the day and go directly to the priority area, which is also reserved for pregnant women and people with disabilities. Keep in mind that you will have to buy a €5 ticket, but you won't have to wait for hours, wow!
There are tons of historical tours of Porto to choose from, but this tour of Porto ends at the library and is a great way to explore all the best Porto has to offer. Our kids also loved riding a double-decker hop-on hop-off bus. Spoiler: We never actually get off the bus. We just ride around taking in the sites from the top level. It’s a great way to cover a lot of ground with littles.
If you’re looking for a beautiful hotel in Porto, look no further than the perfectly located Pestana Vintage World Heritage Hotel. Their gorgeous rooms overlook the Douro Riverfront, plus they have family suites with room for all.
3. Take a Tuk-Tuk Tour
Tuk-Tuks are a great way to discover the fun and frolic in Portugal. Kids love to travel in these vehicles and the tour we took was using 100% electric vehicles with no noise or pollution.
A tuk-tuk tour is a great way to explore the best sights of Lisbon, Porto, Sintra, Albufeira, and more, especially with little ones. These vehicles arrived in Portugal not long ago and are definitely here to stay! It can be fun to take a tour and hear the guides tell stories about each neighborhood you pass. There are many companies and plenty of unique routes to choose from and guides are oftentimes locals who have lived there their whole lives.
Make sure you check the minimum age for children, as some companies require kids to be older due to their own insurance obligations. But we’ve taken tuk-tuk rides in several cities in Portugal with our youngest at two and three years old.
Tuk-Tuk Tour Through Albufeira, Portugal in the Algarve
Stopping in the Albufeira marina during a tuk-tuk tour with the grands
Tram Car
Traditional tram car in Porto, Portugal
4. Explore the Tram Museum in Porto
Museu do Carro Electrico, as it is known in Portugal, is a charming museum dedicated to the restoration of historic trams. This Porto tram is one of the gems that usually stays off the radar of city visitors, but is definitely worth a visit, especially if you have car-obsessed kids.
The museum shows the birth of the tram system in Porto, from horse-drawn carriages to electric trams, and lets your children's imagination run wild as they see different costumes of tram drivers displayed among many interesting artifacts. You'll also see pictures of abandoned streetcars. More so, the museum consists of several restored old streetcars dating back to 1872.
After visiting the museum, your kids will definitely want to ride on a tram. Score this 3-in-1 low-priced ticket to get access to the Hop-On Hop-Off Bus, Tram Tour, and Guindais Funicular. Fun for the whole family!
Douro River Cruise
River cruise boat on the Douro River
5. cruise the Douro River
Immerse yourself in the heart of the Douro Valley with a family cruise where you will discover the Golden River. Taking a Douro River cruise with the young ones will take your whole family into the heart of Portuguese culture among isolated villages, on lush green hills surrounded by endless vineyards.
Check out my top Douro Valley tours!
Parents will enjoy sips of Portugal’s famous Port wine and bites of local cheeses, while Folkloric nights with Fado songs and flamenco dances will delight even the youngest passengers on board; so when you leave this heritage-listed valley, you'll certainly want to come back.
Quinta da Regaleira Initiation Well (Poço Iniciático)
Quinta da Regaleira Gardens in Sintra, Portugal
6. Explore the gardens of Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra
This is another must-see site for those looking for family attractions in Portugal. Medieval and mythological symbols beautify this place; while the initiation well and the secret caves offer ample opportunities for kids to run around and explore.
Discovering Quinta da Regaleira in Sintra is a journey into the wonderful world of symbols and metaphors. Nothing is what it seems in this place, but it is always a sign of something more intense and mysterious. This is one of the most amazing parks to explore for those with children! Secret passages and stone lead to the waterfall, and the young ones will be happy to spend time at one of the most amazing monuments in Sintra.
A day trip to Sintra is an excellent way to discover Quinta da Regaleira along with the many other castles and palaces in the area. The magical Pena Palace is an excellent addition to your itinerary. This tour will take you to explore both! Afterward, grab a meal in town and at Tasca Saloia, one of our favorite places to eat in Sintra after a long day of exploring the majestic hills.
Fonte Fria Water Staircase
Mata Nacional do Boçaco north of Coimbra, Portugal
7. Trek through the most beautiful forest in Portugal
The Mata Nacional do Boçaco, also known as the Bossaco Forest, is a 259-acre forest in central Portugal, northeast of Coimbra. The forest has a walled area and the trees and wildlife date back over 600 years!
This is a friendly activity if you and your kids are nature and history lovers. Wander through and don't be too surprised and forget to take a relaxing picnic in this beautiful forest to make the moment unforgettable. Here, we walk on old trails, navigate the lookouts, and take beautiful pictures near the water staircase called Fonte Fria. Woohoo, a beautiful day in nature!
Sunfish at Lisbon Oceanarium
One of the 450 species to see at the Lisbon Oceanarium
8. Visit an Aquarium
Sea life Porto
Immerse yourself in an underground world and see ocean creatures and features close to you at Sealife Porto. This 700,000-litter aquarium includes an underwater tunnel, rock pools, and an outdoor children's playground with a picnic area.
Sealife Porto is divided into 12 different areas and contains 32 aquariums. Aquatic organisms live in different habitats, from the freshwater region to the Atlantic and tropical oceans and the rugged environment of tropical animals. It's a great way for kids to get to know and interact with some of the ocean's most vibrant inhabitants. You can see turtles, sharks, octopuses, sea urchins, penguins, and a variety of aquatic creatures.
Snag this deal that includes entrance to Sea Life Porto, a hop-on hop-off bus ticket, and a Six Bridges river cruise along with tons of other extras for 10% off the total if booked separately!
Lisbon Oceanarium
The Lisbon Oceanarium is located in Parque de Naçōes overlooking the Tejo River and is the world’s largest salt-water oceanarium in Europe. The central cylindrical tank holds 5 million liters of water, is kept at a temperature that accommodates tropical and temperate fish, and contains 100 different species, including our favorite, the Sunfish.
Watch the otters swim, the penguins waddle on ice, and the sharks roam the inner tank. And don’t miss the art inside and out made of recycled plastic from the ocean. Kids are sure to have a good time! If you’re waiting around for your entry time, take a few minutes to ride the Telecabine just outside the oceanarium for a great view of the Vasco da Gama Bridge. Next door is the Pavilion of Knowledge, another fun place for kids and grown-ups alike. It’s an interactive science museum for kids and a great addition to an already fun outing at the Oceanarium!
Fish Mural in Graça
Street art in Graça neighborhood of Lisbon, Portugal
9. Hunt Street Art
For the Portuguese, art is not just a way of life, but life itself, as it is found everywhere, from fine art galleries to street drawings. Walking the Portuguese streets is an adventure itself, one of a kind as you will be surrounded by giant paintings, trespassing street walls, and cobblestone walkways.
Walking the streets of Porto and Lisbon on the way to dinner at a restaurant was fun for me and the kids because of the cool street art. There is a lot of color in Portugal and children will be delighted to discover all these wonderful works of art. We have our favorites, like the Graça neighborhood in Lisbon, but you'll surely enjoy exploring and finding your own.
On a rainy day, instead of walking around hunting for art outdoors, head to the 3D Fun Art & Museum for 40 out-of-this-world illusions perfect for the ‘gram.
10. Enjoy a Family Beach Day
Lastly, the best thing to do with the family in Portugal is to head to one of the many beautiful beaches in the country. Portugal has amazing beaches from top to bottom, but some of our faves are located in Cascais, Sintra, Ericeira, and the Algarve.
We live in Cascais and rarely travel further than 10 minutes by car to enjoy some of the best family-friendly beaches around.
A warm beach for relaxation or a day of surfing is a prerequisite for many tourists on holiday in Portugal.
Fortunately, Portugal has many stunning beaches on offer along its 600 miles of coastline, making it a must-visit for summer holidays and winter sun. In fact, 431 beaches in Portugal are rated as Blue Flag beaches and are therefore perfect for families.
Slide & Splash
Slide & Splash water park in the Algarve, Portugal
11. Slip & Slide at a Water Park
Peppered throughout Portugal, particularly prevalent in the southern Algarve area, are many water parks. Some cater more toward aquatic exhibitions like shows and swimming with dolphins, while others are all about the water slides. No matter your tastes, there’s certainly a water park for you and your family.
Slide & Splash
We visited one of the best-reviewed parks called Slide and Splash last summer and absolutely loved it. The grounds include several large grassy areas where you can stake your umbrella and lay your blanket for the day. Many people bring picnics, drinks, and snacks and spend the whole day going back and forth between the fun and relaxing on the grass. There’s also a snack bar with pizza, hot dogs, etc. plus slushies and alcoholic beverages if you’re into that 😜. It was a highlight of our trip south and we plan to go back again this summer!
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Portugal with kids is fun for the whole family
In conclusion, whether you’re starting a new life in Portugal or just visiting for a few days or weeks, Portugal can be family friendly fun and excitment for kids and parents. Porto, Lisbon, and the Algarve consist of many family attractions that reflect the history and culture of the country. From family-friendly outings to parks and museums, exploring castles and palaces, and taking advantage of the many water-focused activities, there are plenty of amazing family-friendly attractions in Portugal. And because Portugal is so kid-friendly, even the wineries can be fun, and needed for the adults 😉.
Need help moving to Portugal? We got you! Check out these articles for info about the D7 passive income visa, D8 digital nomad visa, and Golden Visa.
Where to Stay in Portugal
Pestana Hotel Group
The Pestana Group is Portugal’s largest international tourism and leisure group and one of the largest in Europe. Pestana hotels are among the best in Portugal, and a visit to Portugal during the holidays wouldn’t be complete without staying in one of their magnificent properties.
Below are three of my favorites!
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