Lisbon: Best things to do with kids

From wide open spaces to adventure parks and getting up close to animals, Lisbon has a wealth of options for all the family. We’ve got a few ideas for you of things to do with kids in Lisbon to help make your trip with your family work even better than you thought it might do.

Lisbon is a truly stunning city, and we have picked a few of the best things that you can do with kids there if you have 1 day in Lisbon to spend chilling out there. Take your pick from these ideas, and you’ll have loads of fun with the family. If you have more time, then do more. Easy.

Parques das Nações

With beautiful views over the River Tagus, the Parques das Nações offers something for a wide range of interests, from open spaces and contemporary architecture to restaurants and even a cable car! A highlight for families is the Oceanarium, which allows visitors to see sea-life up close, from rays and coral reefs to sharks and sea otters. The nearby Pavilion of Knowledge – Ciência Viva is an interactive science and technology museum with a range of interactive exhibits, perfect for younger visitors.

Museums

Lisbon is blessed with a great selection of museums. Highlights for children include:

• The Lisboa Story Centre, which tells the story of Lisbon from its foundation to the present day in a playful and interactive way. The audio guide system gives visitors 60 minutes of travel in time and space, including an immersive experience of the 1755 earthquake that no one will forget.
• The Interpretative Center of the History of Cod tells one of the most epic stories of Portugal the discovery of Terra Nova and the adventure in the frozen seas by fishing for cod. The interactive space combines the best of technology with tradition, history and stories.
• The Puppet Museum – Perfect for audiences of all ages, this fascinating museum shows puppets from all over the world in a journey through time, presenting the oldest traditions of masks, puppets and puppet theatre.

Pilar 7 Bridge Experience

This interactive attraction allows visitors to discover the 25 de Abril Bridge through a route between its exterior spaces and a sensory experience inside, culminating in an elevator ride to a panoramic viewpoint that gives unprecedented views of the city and the Tagus River and an immersive experience of inaccessible spaces on the bridge using Virtual Reality.

Nature and wildlife

The Tagus Estuary Nature Reserve is the largest wetland in Portugal and one of the most important in Europe. It serves as a habitat for countless fish, crustaceans and, above all, birds that stop here in their migratory process to the South. The nearby Sado Estuary is home to a group of 30 wild bottlenose dolphins that can be spotted all year round.

Hit the beach

For family-friendly beaches and a charming resort town atmosphere visitors should head to Cascais. Here, the shores of Santo Amaro, Oeiras and Cascavelos are all favoured amongst local Lisboetas and tourists alike. The bays of Ericeira are home to Europe’s first World Surfing Reserve and a great area for water sports including surfing, canoeing, windsurfing, diving and more.

Tram Rides

A great, nostalgic and fun way to explore Lisbon is to hop aboard one of the iconic, century-old yellow trams. The No 28 is the most popular and its sloping journey covers some of the city’s key sights, including the ancient Moorish district of Alfama and the city’s cathedral, the Se de Lisboa.

Sintra

This magical town in the hills above the city has UNESCO World Heritage status. The Sintra Myths and Legends Interpretative Centre is a multimedia and sensory journey into the

mysticism, secrets and romanticism of the town featuring holograms, augmented reality and 3D films.

River Adventures

A river cruise is a great way to discover the city from the mighty Tagus River. For something different, Hippotrip is an amphibious vehicle tour which allows to visitors explore Lisbon by land and water, all without leaving their seat.

Castles

Visiting one of its spectacular castles offers a great glimpse into Lisbon’s past. Castelo de São Jorge and Castle of the Moors were both built by the Moors and are not only stunning constructions but also offer breath-taking views. Castelo de São Jorge is perched upon the city ́s highest viewpoints providing views of the city and the River Tagus from its ramparts and the UNESCO-listed Castle of the Moors is located at the top of the Sintra hills, making it the perfect spot for a panoramic of this magical town.

Lisboa Card

The Lisboa Card is a great value way to discover Lisbon for all the family. Sold in Adult and Child versions, with 24, 48 and 72 hour options, it includes public transport and free entrance to 37 museums and monuments, and can be used to obtain 5% to 50% discounts at more than 60 locations.

For further information about Lisbon for families, visit https://www.visitlisboa.com/en/c/sightseeing-and-activities/lisboa-for-kids

We hope you like these ideas for travelling with kids in Lisbon, we do have loads of other travel ideas on the site, so do check these out too.

We hope that you like these ideas, and thanks for coming to visit us – feel free to sign up for our weekly newsletter for more thoughts and ideas for travel, activities and fun with the kids.

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