In a nutshell
- Lisbon is a great destination for a family trip. There are amazing things to do for kids of all ages in Lisbon.
- In this article, we give you a suggested itinerary for 3 days in Lisbon with kids – including lots of personal tips such as playgrounds and places to eat.
- Our favorite things to do in Lisbon with kids are the Science Museum, the Oceanarium and the cable car in Parque das Nações.
- If you are looking for a place to stay in Lisbon with kids, we recommend the boutique hotel The Felix 10 – the rooftop is simply awesome!
Is it Worth Traveling to Lisbon with Kids?
After over a week exploring Lisbon with the whole family, we can definitely say: Lisbon with kids is an absolute blast!
To be honest, we were a bit unsure about whether Lisbon would be a good place to take the kids. With all the hills to climb, the summer heat, and trams rattling through the streets, it seemed like a bit of a challenge.
The locals are incredibly welcoming to children, and there are so many cool things to see and do that will have all kids excited – from toddlers to teenagers.
In this article, we share our best tips and itinerary for things to do in Lisbon with kids.
Where to Stay in Lisbon with Kids?
There are plenty of places to stay in Lisbon that are super family-friendly. Most hotels are cool with little guests, but here are some that we especially recommend.
The Felix 10
It’s not a typical kid-friendly hotel, but it’s still our favorite! There are family rooms with two big beds in two separate rooms and the staff is awesome with kids. In the evening, parents can chill on the roof terrace with a glass of wine.
It’s in a quiet area close to the center. Tram line 25E stops just around the corner, so you can always start your day with a ride on one of the old trams.
Martinhal Lisbon Chiado
This place is right in the center and totally kid-friendly. They have spacious family rooms and the best part: there’s a Kids Club. Your kids can play there and even get looked after by experienced staff if you want to explore Lisbon on your own.
With the Baby Concierge extra service, you can also ask for anything you need from the hotel. Need some baby food, a new pack of diapers or a potty? No problem, this hotel has it all.
Book Hotel Martinhal Lisbon Chiado
Moxy Lisbon City
The Moxy is a stylish hotel in the city center that also has family rooms. There’s a pool on the roof terrace – a good choice for families with slightly older children.
The Homeboat Company Parque das Nações
Do you want to stay somewhere really special with your kids? How about a houseboat? There is one on the former Expo grounds, and there’s room for up to 6 people.
The only downside is that you’re not right in the center of Lisbon, but it is only 30 minutes by metro.
To The Homeboat Company Parque das Nações
Itinerary for 3 Days in Lisbon with Kids
We now show you the best things to do in Lisbon with kids in 3 days. Before we start with our itinerary, we have written down the coolest activities in Lisbon for a family trip to Lisbon on a list.
- Up and down on the Elevator
- Discover the city with an old tram
- Playground Jardim do Estrela
- Boat tour on the Tagus River
- Trip to the beach
- Science Museum
- Oceanarium
- Cable car in Parque das Nações
If you are traveling to Lisbon with older kids, and you mainly want to do classic sightseeing, read our article about Lisbon in 3 days.
Here we continue with cool things to do in Lisbon with kids and not the main attractions.
Day 1: Lisbon City Center
Things to do in Lisbon on day 1
- Up and down on the Elevator
- Discover the city with an old tram
- Playground Jardim do Estrela
Up and down on the Elevator
The elevators and funiculars are one of the top attractions in Lisbon. To tackle the steep inclines in the old town, there are several of these elevators.
While older kids may not find this as exciting, younger children can certainly be enthralled by a funicular ride.
We recommend taking a trip on the Elevador da Bica or the Elevador da Glória. By the way, you can also use the Navegante card for these rides.
Discover the city with an Old Tram
Taking a tram was seriously one of the biggest highlights for our little ones. They were super fascinated by the old, rickety trams!
Sure, the most famous one is tram line 28E, which winds its way through the narrow streets of Alfama. But the 28E is always super packed, which isn’t the best when you’ve got kids with you.
So, we suggest hopping on at the end station Campo Ourique (Prazeres) to score a guaranteed seat. At the other terminus, Martim Moniz, you’ll often find a long line of tourists, making it way more difficult.
As another option, you can try lines 12E and 25E. They also use the old-school trams, but they’re usually less crowded. Plus, let’s be honest, the kids probably don’t care which route they take.
Jardim do Estrela: the most beautiful playground in Lisbon
Playgrounds are hard to come by in downtown Lisbon. That’s because the city is packed with buildings and there’s not much open space. A really big and nice playground is in Jardim Da Estrela.
The Jardim do Estrela is one of our favorite hidden gems in Lisbon. This park isn’t just gorgeous, but it’s also awesome for kids.
There’s a pond where you can check out ducks and turtles, and it’s got the biggest and coolest playground near the center.
You’ll also find restrooms and a couple of bistros, so you’ve got everything you need for a chill afternoon with the family. The 28E tram stops directly in front of the main entrance. Therefore, you can combine these two things to do in Lisbon with kids perfectly with each other.
Most other playgrounds in Lisbon are usually tiny and only have 1-2 things to play on. For example, there’s one right next to the Time Out Market – a great spot to eat in Lisbon, by the way.
Day 2: Onto the water
Things to do in Lisbon on day 2
- Boat tour on the Tagus River
- Trip to the beach
Boat trip on the Tagus River
Taking a boat ride in Lisbon is always a great idea, and it’s a memorable experience for kids of all ages.
An affordable option is the ferry ride to Cacilhas. You can simply use your Navegante card to check in, and the crossing takes just around 10 minutes. This trip is particularly suitable for very young children, as you can sit inside the ferry, protecting them from the sun.
For older kids, a sailboat trip across the Tagus River is an amazing experience. These boat tours last between 1 and 3 hours and offer fantastic views of the city and the impressive suspension bridge, Ponte 25 de Abril.
Plus, when else do kids get the chance to ride on a real sailboat?
Book a sailboat tour in Lisbon
Trip to the beach
Are your kids tired of the city? Then it’s time to go to the beach. Especially if you are for more than 3 days in Lisbon, it’s worth it.
Lisbon is just a stone’s throw away from the ocean. In only about 20 minutes, you can reach some fantastic Atlantic beaches by train, where you can spend the afternoon with your children.
A great beach is Praia do Tamariz near Cascais. The water here is relatively calm and great for children. Even closer to Lisbon is the Praia de Carcavelos
Read more about the most beautiful beaches in Lisbon
Day 3: Modern Lisbon
Things to do in Lisbon on day 3
- Science Museum
- Oceanarium
- Cable Car in Parque das Nações
Science Museum: Pavilhão do Conhecimento
Let’s start with the Pavilhão do Conhecimento, the science museum in Lisbon. It might sound kind of boring at first, but for us it was the absolute top highlight for kids.
The museum is made just for kids and it’s awesome! Plan plenty of time to visit, your kids will love the museum.
The science museum is totally interactive. Instead of simple exhibits, it’s all about participation. Everywhere, kids can try things out, push buttons, or do small experiments.
The museum is just as exciting for toddlers ages 3 and up as it is for older kids to teens.
Older kids can play with robots or build circuits, and toddlers have a great room with lots of interactive games. Our highlight there was the construction site, where only kids from 3-6 years can go and control a crane or load a train.
When we asked our 3-year-old son after our Lisbon trip what he liked best about the city, he said, “the construction site!”
How to get there
The Science Museum is located outside of downtown on the former Expo site. You should plan for a good half hour for the trip. Take the metro to Oriente station, from there it’s about a 10-minute walk.
Or you can take the bus 728, which runs from Cais do Sodré station, among others, right to the door of the science museum in 30 minutes.
Oceanarium
Located right next to the Science Museum in Lisbon is the Oceanário de Lisboa, a fantastic destination for kids.
This massive aquarium, the largest in Europe, offers an exciting experience for children of all ages. At the heart of the building lies a massive main tank housing sharks, rays, and vibrant schools of fish.
Additionally, there are smaller tanks featuring reptiles, jellyfish, and seahorses, as well as penguins and sea lions.
Expect to spend about 2-3 hours exploring the aquarium. Inside, there’s a sizable restaurant offering delicious, reasonably-priced food, including many kid-friendly options.
Upon entering, you’ll likely see a large crowd gathered around the main tank. Don’t worry, just keep walking – there’s a circular path around the aquarium with plenty of spots to enjoy the fish without interruption.
Our tip: Make sure to buy your tickets online in advance. When we got there, there was quite a long line at the ticket counters. With our online tickets, we breezed right past it and got straight into the aquarium. The price is the same as on-site.
To the ticket for the Oceanarium
Cable car in Parque das Nações
Our third attraction for kids in Modern Lisbon is also situated on the former Expo site. Right behind the aquarium, there’s a cable car that takes you and your little ones soaring above the Expo’s modern structures.
The Teleférico do Parque das Nações stretches over 1,230 meters and takes around 5 minutes to ride. It’s a great addition to a visit to the Oceanarium.
You can choose between a one-way or round-trip ticket, and while you can purchase them online, during our visit we didn’t encounter a long queue at the ticket office.
To the tickets for the cable car Lisbon
General Tips for a Family Trip to Lisbon
Here are some helpful tips to make your Lisbon family trip to Lisbon a breeze.
Lisbon with baby
Lisbon is great to visit with a baby. But you might want to skip the stroller, because there are a lot of steep hills in the city.
You can still use one, but it’s kind of a hassle. A baby carrier is definitely the better option.
Breastfeeding in public is totally fine in Lisbon and nobody bats an eye.
You can get diapers, baby food and whatever else you need at the supermarket. The Pingo Doce supermarkets have pretty much everything. But there aren’t that many supermarkets downtown.
If you need some kids’ stuff, check out the streets around Jardim da Parada in Campo de Ourique (there’s also a playground there). They have lots of shops with kids’ clothes, toys and other things for the little ones.
Getting around Lisbon with kids
Lisbon boasts a fantastic public transport system, complete with subways, trams, and buses that’ll whisk you and your little ones to your desired destination in no time and at a low cost – even to Lisbon Airport.
Children under 3 can travel for free on public transport, so you won’t need to purchase an extra ticket for your toddler. However, once they reach 4 years of age, they’ll require their own ticket and must pay the full fare.
If you plan on taking regional trains like the ones that go to the beach or Sintra, children between 4 and 12 can enjoy a 50% discount on Comboios de Portugal (CP) trains.
Our recommendation: Purchase a Navegante card for you and your kids.
This card can be loaded with credit and easily scanned at the reader every time you use a bus or train. It’s a hassle-free and economical option.
A good alternative to public transport are the hop-on hop-off buses in Lisbon. You can find more information on this in a separate article.
Eating and Drinking in Lisbon with Kids
Lisbon restaurants are typically very accommodating to families. Children’s chairs are usually available everywhere.
One excellent spot for dining with kids is the Time Out Market, where you’ll find a vast array of food stalls in a massive hall, ensuring that there’s something to suit every taste. Whether your children crave pizza and burgers or you’re in the mood for traditional Portuguese fare, the Time Out Market has got you covered.
Bear in mind, however, that the place is always crowded, which may not be to every child’s liking.
One treat your kids are bound to relish is the scrumptious Pasteis de Nata, little custard-filled pastries available on every street corner. During our stay, we indulged in at least one every day – after all, vacations are a time to let loose.
Do you have any tips for Lisbon with kids?
These were our tips and experiences for a city trip to Lisbon with kids. Have you been to Lisbon with your family? Do you have any tips for us or any questions? We’d love to hear from you in the comments!