It’s a query I’m requested on a regular basis: the place’s your favorite place you’ve visited? By no means simple to slender down however on the subject of cities, Lisbon all the time makes the highest two – and with loads of issues to do in Lisbon with youngsters, it’s positively one to maintain on your loved ones journey radar.
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With hilly cobbled streets, it’s finest saved till after the infant years, however with some nice points of interest alongside the historical past, close by seashores and even enjoyable transport, the one query is what to do in Lisbon first?
So when you’re planning a Lisbon metropolis break, listed below are a few of my high issues to do in Lisbon for teenagers.
Conquer the fort
Castelo de Sao Jorge sits on the hilltop within the Alfama, a commanding Moorish fort excessive above the twisting slender medieval streets.
Good for letting imaginations run wild as you wander the fort partitions and simply nearly as good for having fun with some spectacular views over the town. It’s also possible to get an in depth up within the Black Chamber with the digicam obscura, giving a 360 diploma take a look at the town in actual time, from the monuments to the individuals.
There are additionally archaeological finds from the positioning in a everlasting exhibition, the stays of the royal palace which as soon as stood right here earlier than being broken within the 1755 Lisbon earthquake, plus household actions with knights and archers at sure instances.
Hold a watch out for the peacocks too – get a style with my quick video of a go to to Lisbon’s fort.
Purchase skip-the-line tickets to Castelo Sao Jorge Lisbon by clicking right here.
Be a part of a strolling tour of Lisbon
Probably the greatest methods to discover Lisbon is on foot, though with a number of totally different areas to find, it pays to begin with a strolling tour of Lisbon with youngsters to get your bearings.
There are some nice family-friendly excursions to select from too. This four-hour Important Lisbon tour from Little Lisbon is a superb place to begin, or the three-hour Real Lisbon household tour. is one other good introduction, as is that this non-public household tour of Lisbon from Withlocals.
Should you’ve obtained one thing particular in thoughts, you possibly can even e book a neighborhood information and tailor your personal tour. Or when you favor to go at your personal tempo, do this self-guided tour of Bairro Alto and Bica, fixing a sequence of riddles as you discover the town’s slender streets and grand squares.
Take a sightseeing tour of Lisbon
Don’t fancy strolling? There’s a enjoyable 90-minute tuk tuk tour, plus this longer eco tuk tuk tour to cowl extra floor – each much more enjoyable than you’re normal tour.
Should you’re visiting Lisbon with older youngsters, this Sitway tour of Belem (assume a sit-down model of a Segway) introduces you to a different aspect of the town.
You’ll additionally discover hop-on hop-off bus excursions of Lisbon if these are a success together with your youngsters (additionally nice for giving little legs a break). The Lisbon Sightseeing tour has 24h, 48h and 72h tickets, whereas Yellow Bus Excursions has a one-day and a two-day possibility.
You could find some enjoyable mixed tickets too, comparable to this classic tram, open-top bus and River Tagus sightseeing cruise deal. Or this hop-on hop-off boat tour features a ticket for different public transportation, together with the trams and lifts.
Get pleasure from a meals tour
I all the time discover meals excursions an effective way to discover, as you be taught in regards to the metropolis and its historical past and tradition by the meals – plus you get to pattern all of the specialities alongside the way in which.
If you’re travelling with youngsters, it makes an enormous distinction having your personal non-public tour, particularly when you possibly can personalise it to swimsuit everybody’s tastebuds (significantly for pickier little ones) and stamina ranges on Lisbon’s hilly streets.
Having a neighborhood skilled main it’s an added bonus too: the Withlocals web site has a really tempting Lisbon meals tour that simply deserves to be on the record of most enjoyable issues to do in Lisbon with youngsters.
Not solely do you get to attempt six various kinds of meals, which may embrace the town’s well-known pasteis de nata, bifana sandwiches and alheira sausages, all the corporate’s excursions and actions are led by Lisboetas to provide an additional perception as you discover, they’re non-public so it’s simply your loved ones and the information, and you’ll even ask to have them customised to swimsuit you.
For a foodie tour with a distinction, be part of a cooking workshop from Cooking Lisbon, beginning with a market tour then whipping up your personal three-course lunch – try my overview of the Lisbon cooking class with youngsters.
Attempt to make time for a cease within the Mercado da Ribeira (also called the Time Out Market) too. It’s choice to seize lunch, in addition to being enjoyable to wander round, with an enormous string of meals stalls so there’ll be one thing the entire household will get pleasure from consuming.
Be taught Lisbon’s story
The interactive Lisbon Story Centre transports you thru the historical past of the Portuguese capital, with a 60-minute audio information speaking you thru Lisbon’s origins as much as fashionable instances as you wander from room to room.
Every part is split like a chapter, from the town’s earliest days, with the audioguide mechanically narrating the part you’re taking a look at (often, at the very least!) as you wander by the historical past of Lisbon.
It’s additionally an amazing spot to be taught extra in regards to the 1755 Lisbon earthquake which remodeled the town, with a dramatic video to observe – among the scenes could also be just a little distressing for youthful youngsters, though there’s nothing too graphic.
An amazing introduction to the town if it’s your first time in Lisbon as nicely.
E book your ticket prematurely to skip the traces, it’s additionally included with the Lisboa card.
Dive into the aquarium
With greater than 8,000 sea creatures and 500 totally different species, the Lisbon aquarium – or Oceanario Lisboa – is among the most spectacular and largest in Europe, and preferrred if you’re visiting Lisbon with toddlers or are on the lookout for issues to do in Lisbon within the rain (not that that occurs typically).
Learn my full overview of a time out at Oceanario with youngsters
Set within the Parque das Nacoes, additionally dwelling to a number of different household pleasant locations to go in Lisbon, you possibly can spot the one sea otters in Europe, together with sharks and coral reefs, in 4 marine habitats crammed with a whopping 5 million litres of seawater all set spherical an enormous central tank.
To not point out an entire fascinating string of different marine life contained in the huge Lisbon Oceanarium. Permit loads of time to discover, that is simply among the best aquariums in Europe, if not the world!
Purchase skip-the-line tickets with free cancellation or you can even get a joint ticket with the hop on hop off Lisbon tour which helps you to skip the road – it’s an amazing one to mix with a Telecabine cable automotive experience too.
Journey the trams
The trams make up a part of the general public transport system within the metropolis, so you possibly can simply use them to get round – purchase a cross or ticket for every journey, comparable to for journeys from Lisbon to Belem, or to skip the hill as much as Alfama if in case you have younger youngsters.
However the 28 tram Lisbon route is just a little totally different, performing extra like a tour route with the added fashion of these conventional little yellow trams.
Heading from Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique, the tram line passes by the favored vacationer districts of Graca, Alfama, Baixa and Estrela alongside the way in which and it’s a unbelievable strategy to see Lisbon.
A number of phrases of warning: as a result of it’s so standard, count on to queue in order for you a seat (or to be squished in standing if not). It’s additionally well-known, sadly, as a hang-out of pickpockets so control your baggage.
Should you purchase a ticket on board, it’ll additionally value much more than choosing it up prematurely at a metro station – a day cross prices roughly double a single ticket purchased on board, and you need to use that for limitless journeys throughout 24 hours.
If you’re travelling with a mini tram fan, add in a cease on the tram museum – the Museu Carris is on a number of tram routes itself in addition to buses, and prices just a few Euros, free for underneath sixes.
Take a look at my full information to Portugal with youngsters right here
Use the elevator (and funiculars)
It’s not simply trams that are a transport attraction in Lisbon – with so many steep hills, the town has needed to get artistic with its transportation, together with little funiculars and lifts. All a part of the primary transport community, they’ll work with normal public transport passes and it’s a enjoyable strategy to give little legs a break.
The Ascensor da Glória takes you to Bairro Alto or attempt the picturesque Ascensor da Bica, though the best-known is the Elevador de Santa Justa, or Santa Justa elevate. Sure it’s touristy and you may simply stroll up the hill, however there’s one thing very enjoyable about hopping into the ornamental 19th century elevate.
Head there early or late to keep away from the worst queues as it’s a standard vacationer attraction, and make time to cease and benefit from the views from the small viewing platform too.
The 24h public transport ticket covers this too (though not the higher viewing platform) and prices lots lower than shopping for a single from the ticket workplace. Journey and the viewing platform are additionally included within the Lisboa card.
The higher viewing platform is presently closed, though you possibly can nonetheless see the views as you exit the elevate.
Fly over the Tagus river within the cable automotive
Soar over the water within the Lisbon Cable Automobile, or Telecabine Lisboa, which was constructed for the World Expo within the 90s and runs for round a mile alongside the river at Parque das Nações.
You may choose it up close to the Oceanario aquarium and there are some nice views of the Vasco Da Gama bridge as you cruise alongside for the ten minute journey.
Youngsters aged two and underneath journey free, in any other case from 5,50 Euros, whereas a spherical journey will set adults again 9,50 Euros, with a reduction for Lisboa card holders. The cable automotive doesn’t actually take you wherever (besides the opposite finish of the Park of Nations) nevertheless it’s nonetheless price doing for the distinctive view of Lisbon.
It’s also possible to purchase joint tickets for the Telecabine and Oceánario de Lisboa.
Get a style with this quick video of a spherical journey in Lisbon’s cable automotive
Go to Belem
That is my very own private should do in Lisbon – and never simply because it’s the spot the place the unique pasteis de nata custard tarts had been made (and are nonetheless made, so do cease by and seize a field).
It’s additionally full of historic websites, together with the Monument to the Discoveries (Padrão dos Descobrimentos) paying tribute to 33 of Portugal’s most essential explorers, which you see as you wander alongside the waterfront.
A bit of additional alongside is the Torre de Belem, designed to defend the coast though it all the time appears to be like extra like a relatively intricate large chess piece to me. Look out for the stays of the carved stone rhino, together with gargoyles and the dungeons inside – you possibly can climb to the highest of this Unesco World Heritage web site too.
The world can be dwelling to the astonishingly intricate Jerónimos Monastery: if in case you have a Lisboa card, Lisbon’s metropolis cross, you may get in without cost or you should buy tickets to skip the road, in addition to for the Belém Tower.
With youthful youngsters, I’d head to the shade of the gardens by the river as an alternative. It’s a tram experience from the centre, on route 15 – there’s a mixture of the smaller conventional trams (enjoyable however they’ll get crowded) and extra fashionable trams. Count on lengthy traces throughout the summer time months particularly.
For concepts of extra issues to do in Belem with youngsters, try my high picks
Get pleasure from a Hippotrip
Should you’ve come throughout Duck excursions earlier than, you’ll have already got an thought of what Lisbon’s Hippotrip amphibious car entails – after a tour on land within the metropolis centre, you trundle out to Belem and drive straight into the River Tagus.
The excursions final round 90 minutes and a few third of that’s cruising alongside within the water.
Alongside the way in which you’ll see among the metropolis’s key areas together with Praca do Comercio and Avenida da Liberdade, in addition to the Belem Tower and Monument to the Discoveries.
Take a look at my Hippotrip overview and purchase your ticket prematurely right here.
Meet Lisbon’s seafarers on the Maritime Museum
If the explorers on the Monument to the Discoveries have whetted your urge for food, be sure to go to the Museu de Marinha, or Maritime Museum, additionally in Belem.
Following Portugal’s seafaring historical past from the Age of Discoveries within the 1500s by to the current, you possibly can see gadgets belonging to Vasco Da Gama himself in addition to royal barges and entire armadas of mannequin boats amongst round 2,500 gadgets within the everlasting exhibition.
Set in a wing of the Jeronimos Monastery in Belem, you’ll want a separate ticket to get in.
See stars in Lisbon’s Planetarium
Lisbon’s Planetarium – the Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium, also called the Navy Planetarium – can be positioned in Belem, subsequent to the Maritime Museum, designed to venture greater than 9,000 stars onto its dome throughout reveals taking you thru the universe.
There are performances in English and it’s preferrred when you’re visiting Lisbon with youngsters aged 4 or older. One other nice possibility for a wet day in Lisbon too.
You should purchase tickets for the Planetarium alone, or mixed tickets for the Maritime Museum and Planetarium.
Broaden your information on the Science Museum
The Pavilion of Information is Lisbon’s science museum, the Pavilhao do Conhecimento, not removed from the Oceanario aquarium within the Parque das Nacoes.
Removed from a dry dusty museum, it’s dwelling to the Circus of Science Expertise with experiments and video games, together with how excessive you possibly can climb up a sticky frog tongue.
There’s additionally an exhibition on pets and artwork designed to encourage exploration – excellent for a time out with youngsters in Lisbon, particularly if you end up visiting Lisbon within the rain.
Go gorilla recognizing at Lisbon zoo
Getting the possibility to see animals is bound to be a success for teenagers in Lisbon, particularly with uncommon white tigers and majestic mountain gorillas on the Jardim Zoologico.
A part of a world conservation venture, the Lisbon Zoo is an ideal strategy to see the world through its animals, from the rainforest to the African Savannah, lemurs from Madagascar, South American birdlife and dolphins, in addition to smaller livestock that are nice when you’re visiting Lisbon with a child.
There are often reveals all through the day plus a cable automotive by the forest cover and zoo prepare which takes you previous the reptile home.
Get a reduction on tickets to Lisbon Zoo when you purchase utilizing my hyperlink and code MUMMYTRAVELS6
Hit the seaside
Lower than half an hour away from the town, you could find among the finest seashores close to Lisbon so as to add a twist to your metropolis break.
Each Cascais and Estoril are a simple journey, and you’ll take the quick prepare experience alongside the seafront – the previous is dwelling to Gelados Santini, probably the most well-known locations to purchase ice cream in Portugal.
Minnie opted for chocolate and mango once we visited, and even managed to eat a lot of the huge scoops earlier than it melted – there’s additionally a department in Lisbon itself, not removed from Rossio Sq., so that you don’t should miss out although!
There are quieter sections of coast and even surf too, so that you received’t be in need of lovely seashores to tempt you out of the town. Should you’ve obtained a protracted weekend, it’s very tempting to profit from the solar and spend one among your three days in Lisbon lounging by the seafront.
For extra locations to benefit from the sand close to the town, try One Tiny Leap’s information to the finest seashores in Lisbon.
Go dolphin recognizing on a ship tour
A ship journey to identify dolphins may not be the very first thing you’d affiliate with a European metropolis break, however Lisbon’s place on the River Tagus means you possibly can simply head out onto the water to attempt your luck.
This dolphin-spotting tour from Belem guarantees a 95% probability of seeing wild dolphins, whereas this three-hour boat tour takes you on a sightseeing tour alongside the coast, with a marine biologist on board as nicely for any dolphin sightings.
There may be additionally a swim cease in-built, however except you’re travelling in peak summer time or a mini heatwave, keep in mind the Atlantic can get fairly chilly!
Should you’re after a extra enjoyable expertise, there’s additionally this two-hour sundown cruise on the River Tagus (plus a daytime possibility) in addition to a boat cruise on the River Tagus with brunch – you may not get to see dolphins except you’re fortunate, however you do get to get pleasure from views of the town from the water.
Uncover inexperienced Lisbon
Should you’re on the lookout for out of doors actions in Lisbon, it’s arduous to beat the Jardim da Estrela, one among Lisbon’s greatest parks in entrance of the Basilica da Estrela. In addition to a playground and duck ponds, there’s a café – internet hosting child-friendly actions throughout the summer time – and also you’ll typically discover stay music or different occasions going down.
Or head to the Estufa Fria, Lisbon’s Greenhouse in Edward VII Park, round a 10-minute stroll from the Marques de Pombal metro.
The backyard is split up into a chilly home, tropical vegetation within the hothouse and the cacti and succulents of the ‘candy home’, the park is a stunning inexperienced house in addition to an amazing possibility on a wet day in Lisbon. There’s a small entrance cost.
It’s also possible to discover Lisbon’s official Botanical Backyard, the Jardim Botanico, by the Pure Historical past Museum and never removed from Avenida da Liberdade.
Have an journey on the Journey Park
If the town’s hills haven’t burned off all of your youngsters’s vitality, right here’s one other enjoyable strategy to attempt in Lisbon for households. The Journey Park on the Jamor Nationwide Sports activities Centre, simply past Belem, options an impediment route within the bushes designed for teenagers.
Clamber alongside rope bridges, whizz down a 200m slide and crawl by tunnels as you discover your approach between picket platforms within the treetops.
It’s also possible to discover a playground for youthful youngsters and mini golf close by when you’re on the lookout for one thing rather less adrenaline-fuelled.
Expertise an earthquake at Quake
Lisbon has a number of quirky little museums to contemplate throughout your go to, particularly if it’s not your first time within the Portuguese capital. And whereas Quake: Lisbon Earthquake Centre received’t enchantment to everybody, it’s a singular strategy to be transported again to the disastrous 1755 earthquake.
In addition to data on the science behind earthquakes, there are a string of interactive reveals that will help you to think about what the medieval metropolis should have been like and the way the earthquake remodeled the face of Lisbon.
Together with 10 themed rooms and 4D immersive expertise, essentially the most memorable half is the 2 earthquake simulators.
Unsurprisingly it’s not appropriate for teenagers underneath the age of 6 – youngsters aged 4-5 can enter however can’t go on the earthquake simulators, however because it’s a 90-minute expertise that you simply observe from begin to end (there’s no strategy to depart early), it’s not one for youthful youngsters.
Time out from Lisbon: Go to Sintra
For an additional day journey from Lisbon with youngsters, don’t miss Sintra, which is simply over an hour away by prepare – catch it on the station close to Rossio Sq., the Estação de Rossio.
Should you’ve solely obtained someday in Sintra with youngsters throughout your loved ones vacation, you possibly can nonetheless match lots in though households will wrestle to see all the things in someday.
The Pena Palace is the largest attraction in Sintra, and this fairytale palace is unmissable with its vibrant towers and complex ornament.
Considered one of my very own favourites is the Castelo dos Mouros, the ruined Moorish Citadel which as soon as defended the world and nonetheless clings to the hillside – excellent for sparking the creativeness.
The identical goes for Quinta da Regaleira: constructed initially of the twentieth century, its gardens are filled with grottos, caves, ruins and twisting paths, to not point out the well-known Initiation Nicely. However you may additionally go to the Palacio Nacional amongst different sights – try my suggestions for all the things you must now about visiting Sintra with youngsters.
On the lookout for one of the best locations to remain in Lisbon with youngsters? Take a look at my Plum Information overview of our nice self-catering condo close to Praca do Comercio and the Arco da Rua Augusta
*first revealed 2019, up to date 2023*
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Citadel/Alfama road/Santa Justa elevate/cable automotive/Belem Tower/seaside copyright MummyTravels, all different pictures courtesy Depositphotos
