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Lisbon is a city of color, light, and adventure, which, for a child, looks like a storybook come to life. But for parents, planning a city break with little ones requires balancing fun with logistics. We have compiled the ultimate list of activities with everything you need to know about visiting Lisbon with kids, including how to handle the city’s famous hills without the heavy lifting.
Is Lisbon a Good Destination for Families?
Yes, Lisbon is an incredibly welcoming destination for families. The Portuguese culture is deeply family-oriented, and you’ll find that children are embraced almost everywhere you go. With a safe atmosphere, year-round sunshine, and endless kid-friendly activities, it ticks almost every box for a perfect family holiday.
However, Lisbon is famous for its steep hills and slippery cobblestone pavements, which can be a nightmare for strollers or toddlers just learning to walk. If you are traveling with an infant, opt for a sturdy baby carrier. If you rely heavily on a stroller, you might find the terrain exhausting, so consider waiting until the kids are sure-footed enough to tackle the hills themselves.
Managing Luggage when Travelling with Children in Lisbon
If there’s one thing to avoid when visiting Lisbon with kids, it's dragging your luggage around the city. The terrain is too steep and the sidewalks too narrow to manage suitcases and children safely at the same time. Instead, use LUGGit to bridge the gap between your flight and check-in (or check-out and your flight home).
How LUGGit’s Luggage Pick-Up and Delivery Service Works
A LUGGit Keeper picks up your bags from wherever you are (like the airport or your accommodation) and delivers them later in the day to your scheduled time and location. It gives you a full extra day of sightseeing without the burden of heavy gear. You can book via the website or app (iOS or Android).
Use code BLOG10 for 10% off your LUGGit booking in Lisbon
What to Do in Lisbon with Kids
1. Oceanário de Lisboa (Oceanarium)
Lisbon’s Oceanarium is often the number one recommendation for family activities in Lisbon, and for good reason. It’s consistently voted the world's best aquarium, with a massive central tank, viewable from two levels, housing sharks, rays, and sunfish that mesmerizingly circle visitors.
If you want to avoid the largest crowds and queues, visit on a weekday morning.
2. Pavilhão do Conhecimento (Science Museum)
Located just a short walk from the Oceanarium, Pavilhão do Conhecimento is an interactive science museum. Unlike traditional museums, where you have to say "don't touch" constantly, here the rule is "please touch everything."
The main attraction is the Circus of Science Experience, a permanent exhibition designed like a circus where kids learn physics through play. The museum is best for ages 3 to 12.
3. Castelo de São Jorge
Castelo de São Jorge is an 11th-century hilltop castle that offers the best views of the city and plenty of space for kids to run. While the history is fascinating for adults, children love climbing the cannons and spotting the resident peacocks that roam the gardens.
4. Telecabine Lisboa (Cable Car)
For a bird’s-eye view of the Tagus River and the Vasco da Gama Bridge, take this calm cable car ride in Parque das Nações, right next to the Oceanarium and Pavilhão do Conhecimento. It’s a relaxing 10-minute break that gives little legs a rest while keeping them entertained.
5. Pastéis de Belém
You cannot visit Lisbon without trying a Pastel de Belém. While lines at the original factory in Belém can look daunting, they move fast, and you’ll get a warm, custard-filled tart that is a guaranteed hit with children (and parents!).
Once you have your tarts, you can visit the large garden directly across the street and let your toddlers run around, walk 2 minutes to the Tropical Botanical Garden, or stroll down to the waterfront to see the Belém Tower.
6. Hippotrip (Bus Boat)
Why choose between a bus tour and a boat tour when you can do both? The Hippotrip is an amphibious vehicle that starts by driving through the city streets, and then drives straight off a ramp and plunges into the Tagus River with a massive splash.
The tour is led by high-energy animators who share fun facts, tell jokes, and encourage plenty of audience participation. It is loud, interactive, and incredibly fun for families.
7. Quake - Lisbon Earthquake Center
A relatively new attraction, Quake is an immersive museum that recreates the 1755 earthquake that destroyed Lisbon. It’s educational but intense, featuring simulator platforms that shake. The museum is recommended for kids over 6 years old due to the intensity of the simulation.
8. Jardim Zoológico (Lisbon Zoo)
One of the oldest zoos in Europe, the Lisbon Zoo has been modernized with cageless habitats. Your ticket includes a unique cable car ride that glides directly over the animal enclosures (you literally dangle above the lions and tigers!), as well as a petting farm and a dolphin presentation. It is located at the Sete Rios transport hub, making it very accessible by metro.
9. Adventure Park
For a break from the city heat, head to Adventure Park, a treetop obstacle course located in Jamor, just outside the city center. It offers circuits for various ages that range from ground-level fun to heights of 14 meters. While the highlight is undoubtedly the 200-meter zip line, the park also offers canoeing, laser tag, and orienteering challenges.
10. The "Red Tram" (Hills Tram Tour)
While the famous yellow Tram 28 is iconic, it is often too crowded to be safe or comfortable with children. The "Red Tram" is a hop-on-hop-off vintage tram dedicated to tourists. It follows a similar scenic route through Castle Hill, Alfama, and Graça, but it guarantees a seat, making it a stress-free alternative for families.
11. Jardim da Estrela
This park is a favorite of local Lisbon families. It features a large duck pond, a playground for children, and a cafe where parents can sip coffee while watching their kids play. It’s located right across from the Basilica da Estrela.
12. Tuktuk Tour
If the hills seem too daunting for your children, a Tuk Tuk tour is a great way to see Lisbon. These small vehicles can navigate the narrowest streets of the old neighborhoods (like Alfama and Mouraria) without you breaking a sweat. Most drivers are excellent guides who will tailor the tour to be engaging for younger passengers.
13. Estufa Fria (The Greenhouse)
Hidden in Parque Eduardo VII, this massive greenhouse feels like a Jurassic Park jungle. It’s cool even on hot summer days, filled with waterfalls and exotic plants that make for a perfect exploration game. Kids will also love the ponds filled with turtles and koi fish.
14. LX Factory
LX Factory is an industrial complex under the bridge, filled with street art, funky shops, and the famous Ler Devagar bookstore, which features a flying bicycle sculpture. It’s ideally suited for teens or older kids.
15. Day Trip to Sintra
Technically just outside Lisbon, Sintra is a must for families. It is a real-life fairy-tale town packed with palaces and misty forests. Highlights include:
- Pena Palace: With its bright yellow and red towers, it looks like a Lego castle come to life.
- Quinta da Regaleira: Older kids will be obsessed with the "Initiation Well", a spiral staircase that leads deep underground into secret tunnels.
FAQs: Visiting Lisbon with Kids
Is Lisbon stroller-friendly?
Lisbon is challenging for strollers. While riverfront areas like Belém and Parque das Nações are flat and paved, the historic center (Alfama, Chiado) features steep hills and uneven cobblestones.
Can kids enter Fado restaurants?
Yes, but Fado performances require silence. Some restaurants offer "Fado Vadio" (amateur/casual), which is more relaxed, but generally, traditional Fado houses may not be suitable for restless toddlers.
Are diapers and baby food easy to find in Lisbon
Yes. Supermarkets like Pingo Doce and Continente stock all major international brands. Look for "Dodot" (the local name for Pampers) and "Aptamil" or "NAN" for formula.
What are some free things to do in Lisbon with kids?
Some museums, like The Money Museum, where kids can touch a real gold bar, are free. For outdoor fun, you can visit Jardim da Estrela, the interactive water fountains at Parque das Nações, or explore the street art at LX Factory.
Ready to explore Lisbon hands-free?
Don't let heavy bags ruin your first day of family fun. Use LUGGit to have your luggage collected and delivered, giving you the freedom to enjoy the Oceanarium or a pastel de nata without the heavy lifting.
Use code BLOG10 for 10% off your LUGGit booking in Lisbon
