From a babymoon within the Azores to metropolis breaks in Lisbon and Porto, plus seashore holidays within the Algarve, Portugal is well one of many nations my daughter has visited most – no shock as from toddlers to teenagers, there’s a lot to tempt you to Portugal with children.
accommodates affiliate hyperlinks*
In case you’re on the lookout for countless wonderful stretches of sand, you’ll discover them right here. In case you’re on the lookout for family-friendly metropolis breaks, you’ll discover these too – do you know the nation is dwelling to a few of Europe’s oldest cities, together with Braga which dates again over 2,000 years to its founding by the Romans?
There’s the Douro river valley (with its vineyards for grown-ups), the little-explored Alentejo with its picturesque villages, in addition to the islands of Madeira and the Azores – I may go on! So this information to Portugal with children is designed to assist plan your subsequent household vacation in Portugal, from when to go to the place to remain and extra.
Sensible information
Attending to Portugal
Portugal has three worldwide airports; Lisbon (LIS), Porto (OPO), and Faro (FAO).
Lisbon Airport (Aeroporto Humberto Delgado) serves the capital metropolis and all of central Portugal. Porto Airport (Aeroporto Francisco Sá Carneiro) operates within the north of the nation and serves cities together with Porto, Braga, and Guimaraes. Faro Airport sits within the south of Portugal and supplies entry to the favored vacationer area of the Algarve.
The vast majority of European airways fly into all three of Portugal’s airports. You may then use public trains, buses, or taxis to get to your closing vacation spot throughout the nation.
In case you’re travelling from the US, some direct flights to Portugal can be found from a number of main cities, together with New York, Boston, Washington DC, and Miami. From different locations, you could want to attach by way of different US or European cities, resembling London or Paris.
When to go
The local weather in Portugal varies tremendously between the north and south of the nation.
Porto and northern Portugal have a comparatively delicate year-round local weather. In the course of the summer time months, temperatures can attain 25C with loads of sunshine. However through the winter, heavy wind and rain within the area could make it really feel fairly chilly. Most vacationers are inclined to keep away from winter in Porto.
Lisbon has a warmer year-round local weather than Porto and the north. Summer time temperatures can attain 30C+, whereas the winter cools right down to a nice 15-20C.
It’s finest to keep away from the height summer time months of July and August in Lisbon when excessive temperatures make exploring the town robust, and when you’ll be able to anticipate massive vacationer crowds and queues in any respect the primary landmarks. The shoulder months of April, Could, September, and October are a few of the finest months to go to the capital.
The Algarve area of southern Portugal can be identified for its year-round sunshine and heat Mediterranean local weather. Temperatures vary from 15C in winter to 30C+ in the summertime. This makes the Algarve a well-liked year-round seashore vacation spot.
There’s actually no unhealthy time to go to, though keep in mind the sturdy breezes off the ocean could make it appear cooler in shoulder season as properly.
Take a look at my full household vacation journey planner right here, together with packing lists and extra
What to see
From historic cities and grand castles to stunning seashores and gorgeous pure landscapes, there’s one thing to see and do in Portugal for each fashion of traveller, whether or not you’re on the lookout for a household seashore vacation in Portugal, exploring off the crushed observe or a metropolis break with children.
| Island | Highlights |
| Lisbon | Capital Metropolis, Historic Structure, Views, Saint George’s Fortress, Mercado da Ribeira, Aquarium, Trams, Fado Music |
| Porto | Historic Structure, Blue and White Azulejos Tiled Church buildings, Dom Luis I Bridge, Livraria Lello, Douro River, Port Wine Cellars |
| The Algarve | Golden Sand Seashores, Water Parks, Water Sports activities, Golf Programs, Luxurious Vacation Resorts |
| Belém | Torre de Belém, Jéronimos Monastery UNESCO World Heritage Web site, Pastel de Nata Delivery Place |
| Sintra | Vibrant Pena Palace and Nationwide Park, Quinta da Regaleira, Castelo dos Mouros |
| Douro Valley | Port Vineyards and Wineries, Surroundings, Walks, River Cruises |
| Braga | Mediaeval Streets, Gothic Structure, Bom Jesus do Monte Church, Oldest Portuguese Cathedral, Lovely Gardens |
| Guimarães | Former Capital of Portugal, UNESCO World Heritage Web site Metropolis Centre, Mediaeval Fortress |
| Estremadura and Ribatejo | Necessary Non secular Websites, Alcobaça Monastery, Convento de Cristo (former headquarters of the Knights Templar), Fortress of Leiria |
| The Azores | 9 Islands, Most Westerly Level of Europe, Volcanic Landscapes, Thermal Swimming pools, Tea Plantations, White Church buildings |
| Madeira | Sub-tropical Local weather, Volcanic Landscapes, Mountain climbing, Beautiful Surroundings, Funchal (Capital), Pebble Seashores, Wine |
Detailed articles
For extra recommendations on visiting Portugal with children, take a look at a few of my posts:
Six causes to go to Portugal with children
Portugal’s most uncommon points of interest – 5 quirky favourites
Lisbon & the encompassing space
The very best issues to do in Lisbon with children
Oceanario assessment – visiting Lisbon’s aquarium with children
Hippotrip assessment – Lisbon’s amphibious tour
A Lisbon cooking class with children
The very best issues to do in Belem with children
At some point in Sintra with children – the very best issues to do and see
The place to remain in Lisbon with children – my Plum information assessment
Porto & the north
The very best issues to do in Porto with children
15 unimaginable day journeys from Porto with children
Porto card assessment – is the Porto card price it?
Porto with children – my journey suggestions
The Algarve
The very best issues to do within the Algarve with children
Silves – the Algarve’s best-preserved fortress
Ramires restaurant – the place piri piri rooster was invented within the Algarve
The place to remain within the Algarve with children – James Villas assessment
Martinhal assessment – five-star household pleasant luxurious with a child
Journey suggestions: taking the Algarve’s toll street
The Azores
The Azores: the bump and the volcano – visiting the islands on a babymoon
Travelling inside Portugal
Portugal is an especially accessible nation to journey round
Within the bigger cities resembling Lisbon and Porto, public transport connects all the favored neighbourhoods and points of interest. The metro, buses, and trams are fast, inexpensive, and may get you anyplace you might want to go.
Portugal’s historic cities weren’t constructed for automobiles, so that they’re not notably simple to drive round. You may anticipate small winding roads, complicated one-way methods, and heavy site visitors. Keep away from driving throughout the cities if doable.
Most of wider Portugal can be properly linked by public transport, and travelling between completely different cities is straightforward by practice or bus.
You may also rent a automobile for a street journey across the nation, and should you’re staying for lower than six months many nationalities (together with guests from the UK and US) don’t want an Worldwide Driving Allow both.
There are toll roads throughout the nation, together with within the Algarve, so should you’re renting a automobile, most firms provide an choice to pay the tolls robotically for a charge – nonetheless a lot simpler than attempting to do it your self.
In case you’re travelling to the islands, there are direct flights from Lisbon to the Azores, in addition to direct flights from Lisbon and Porto to Madeira.
Flight assets
Skyscanner is the web site I have a tendency to start out with to check charges for my flights.
Cash-saving tip: Don’t enter any dates to scan the very best out there instances to go OR merely enter ‘Portugal’ as an alternative of a particular airport – you could get a less expensive flight!
For extra methods to save lots of for holidays and metropolis breaks with children, take a look at my prime suggestions
Lodging assets
After I plan a metropolis break in Portugal with children, I usually desire my very own condominium – and in addition to well-known favourites resembling AirBNB, I’m an enormous fan of Plumguide which has a spread of lodging that’s been individually vetted, together with our attractive PlumGuide condominium in Lisbon.
After I go to the Algarve, I usually desire to guide a villa to offer me loads of area whereas exploring this a part of Portugal with children, in addition to all of the amenities together with a kitchen and normally a non-public pool (usually unheated although).
Take a look at James Villas which have properties throughout Portugal, together with Madeira and the coast, as properly sa all through the Algarve, together with firms like High Villas.
For normal lodge stays, Reserving.com normally affords the very best offers, together with free cancellation.
Security suggestions
Portugal is an especially secure nation, particularly for vacationers. The nation has one of many world’s lowest crime charges.
As with most tourist-heavy locations, pickpocketing and petty theft do sometimes happen in busier cities and round well-liked landmarks. Take primary precautions and take care of your belongings, and don’t go away any valuables unattended on the seashore.
The nation can be vastly family-friendly, so that you’ll really feel very welcome just about anyplace should you’re visiting Portugal with children.
Cash-saving suggestions
Portugal is a superb vacation spot for travellers of all budgets. From inexpensive hostels in Lisbon and Porto to the luxurious seashore resorts of the Algarve, there’s one thing for everybody. If you’re visiting on a funds, there are many simple methods to economize in Portugal.
- Guide funds and self-catering lodging within the cities moderately than luxurious motels and resorts.
- Discover free strolling excursions to discover the cities (though do go away a small tip should you can).
- Take public transport moderately than taxis and personal transfers, and take a look at travelcards should you’re planning to make use of it so much. Save your Viva Viagem card in Lisbon, as it may be reloaded with tickets/credit score moderately than paying for a brand new one every time.
- Keep away from the vacationer traps in busy areas and round main landmarks. Eat and drink off the crushed path to economize. The lunchtime menu do dia set meal is usually a whole lot too.
- Watch the ‘couvert’ – in the beginning of the meal, you’ll get a plate of bread, olives, butter, possibly a number of extras like sardine pate, even cured meat and cheese. Remember that there’s a cost should you eat any of this (by legislation, you shouldn’t be charged should you don’t contact it however do verify the invoice), though it’s normally just a few euros.
- Seize native produce from the market, then pack a picnic and eat by the river or on the seashore.
- Hunt for all of the free viewpoints – Portugal has a great deal of them!
For extra recommendations on methods to save lots of on a metropolis break with children, together with metropolis passes and discovering low cost (or free) excursions, take a look at this publish.
Packing for Portugal
What to pack for Portugal will tremendously rely upon the place precisely you’re going and what time of 12 months you’re visiting – a February metropolis break in Porto shall be fairly completely different from a summer time vacation on the Algarve.
In the course of the scorching summer time months, don’t overlook your sunscreen, aftersun, water bottle, and solar hat – irrespective of the place within the nation you might be. Gentle and ethereal clothes shall be your finest good friend in Lisbon and the south.
Within the north of the nation, it’s finest to convey a number of layers and an umbrella or raincoat, even through the summer time. You by no means know when some drizzle may hit.
In case you’re travelling away from the cities and into extra rural components of Portugal, make sure you convey some comfy strolling sneakers and journey clothes for mountaineering.
Take a look at my full household vacation journey planner right here, together with packing lists and extra
Guide listing
Lonely Planet guides are all the time my favorite place to begin – in addition to the Lonely Planet Information to Portugal, there are additionally smaller Pocket guides together with Pocket Lisbon, Pocket Porto and Pocket Algarve
Or Expertise Portugal is one other nice choice from the Lonely Planet vary, a information guide with a distinction, centered on the experiences to have within the nation moderately than a guidelines of locations to go to.
Whereas there aren’t any information books to Portugal for teenagers particularly, in the event that they need to be taught extra, this guide of 60 Info about Portugal is a simple place to start out. In case you’re heading to the Algarve, it’s price grabbing a duplicate of I Spy on the Seaside to maintain them entertained on the seashore, one in all my household seashore necessities.
Covid assets
Earlier than making any journey reservations, make sure you verify the COVID restrictions presently in place in Portugal.
Disclosure: This publish accommodates affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I could obtain a small fee
Pictures: Lisbon view/Sintra courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
