5 Things to Do in Lisbon With Your Kids

October, 2018.

Famously built on 7 hills, walking around Lisbon is a challenge for little legs. And the cobbled streets can make pushing prams difficult for parents, too.

Not to worry. Hiring a car allows you to see everything the city has to offer, without the stress of bundling young children onto public transport.

Even better, Holiday Autos is here to make your life easier, with our guide to our favourite things to do in Lisbon with kids. So, you can start your trip as you mean to go on – peacefully and stress-free.

Top tips for travelling with kids in Lisbon

Remember to pack your sun cream!

One of the best things about Lisbon is its year-round warm weather. But your little ones’ skin is more sensitive to the sun’s rays. Buying sun protection in Lisbon can be more expensive, so make sure that you’ve packed enough to last the duration of your trip.

Leave your pram at home.

With the hilly landscape and cobbled streets of Lisbon, pushing your children around in a pram can be hard work.

For younger children that struggle with long distances, we recommend getting a carrier to make life easier for both you and your kids. Of course, hiring a car will ease your legs further, as you can drive to nearby car parks.

Make use of free water.

All cafes in and around Lisbon will offer free tap water that’s safe to drink. When walking around the towns in warm weather, it’s important to stay hydrated, particularly for young ones.

If you’re stopping off for coffees or ice creams, ask for a glass of tap water, or copo de agua to refuel before the next stop of the day.

Public toilets are scarce.

In the centre of the city, you may struggle to access public toilets. This can be an issue, particularly when travelling with kids.

Fear not. Most cafes around Lisbon have toilets on their premises, that you can use in emergencies. Either stop off for a drink and a snack or quickly dash in to use the loo and get straight back to exploring.

Enjoying Lisbon with your Kids

There are plenty of fun and exciting activities to do in Lisbon, that will be entertaining for both you and your kids.

Save yourselves from driving aimlessly around the city in search of places to go with our list of the best things to do in Lisbon for kids.

1. Oceanario Aquarium

Voted the best aquarium in the world by travellers on Trip Advisor in 2018, Oceanario Aquarium is a fun day out for the whole family. The waterside aquarium is just a short drive from Lisbon’s centre and is easily accessible for cars.

The aquarium’s design and layout centres around the main exhibit, a 5-million litre tank containing impressive ocean sea creatures. The large tank means the animals are comfortable and have plenty of room to swim.

You and your kids will love interacting with the many animals and sea creatures housed in the aquarium. Penguins, sea otters, sharks and rays are just some of the magnificent creatures you can see. Kids under 3 even go free, meaning you can have a fun day out for less.

Image by Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England, Oceanário de Lisboa. Lisbon aquarium (3814418056), CC BY 2.0 / Retouched

2. Monsanto Forest Park

A short 20-minute drive outside of the city lies the beautiful Monsanto Forest Park. Duarte Pacheco, Portuguese Secretary for Public Works, decided in 1934 that the erosion and deforestation of the area must come to an end. Prisoners from Monsanto Fort got to work replanting the forest and turning it into the impressive 900 hectares it is today.

The forest park offers a range of activities, suitable for adults and kids of all ages. Discover the beauty of the area on a mountain bike ride along one of the main trails or simply relax with your family in the sun. Load the car with picnic supplies and set up in one of the many Picnic Parks for a peaceful family lunch.

Image by Jrpinho, Parque Florestal de Monsanto (Lisboa), CC BY-SA 4.0/ Retouched

3. Lisbon Zoo

Travel around the world without even leaving the city with a trip to the spectacular Lisbon Zoo. Along the African route you can meet the gorillas and chimpanzees or watch the feeding pelicans between the African and Asian zone.

Amongst the 2,000 animals, you can expect to see tigers, lions, giraffes, elephants and many more! Take your kids to the children’s farm to meet and learn about the domestic animals, native to Portugal.

The cable car and zoo train allow you to quickly get around the zoo, without the littlest legs slowing you down. Open until 8pm from March-September, and 6pm for the rest of the year, you won’t run out of time exploring the zoo.

Image by Dmitrijs Kuzmins, Lisbon Zoo, Portugal -entrance-14Sept2010, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Retouched

4. Parque des Nações

Just down the river, within the Lisbon district, is the redeveloped area of Parque des Nações. Spend the day wandering around the impressive area, with plenty to do to keep you and the kids busy. Home to the Oceanario Aquarium, there are things to do for kids on every corner.

Take the cable car that runs along the edge of the Targus river to get a full, panoramic view of the town. The ¾ mile journey takes around 8 minutes and is perfect for both adults and children.

Image by William Robrecht, Parc des nations, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Retouched

5. Trips to the beach

Many people are surprised to learn that, just a short drive outside of the city centre, there are some beautiful beaches in Lisbon. Praia da Conceição, Praia do Tamariz or Praia de Carcavelos are just some of the best beaches for families to visit.

Lisbon’s beaches extend across four coastlines, ranging from secluded, unspoilt surfing beaches to calm, family-friendly beaches with plenty of fun things to do. Make the most of your trip to Lisbon and enjoy both exploring the city and relaxing by the sea.

Image by Elvis Boaventura, Praia do Meio e Praia da Conceição - panoramio, CC BY 3.0 / Retouched

Car hire in Lisbon

There’s no doubt about it – the best way to visit the hidden gems of Lisbon is by car. Holiday Autos car hire comparison site helps you find the best deals for your next trip to Lisbon.

We do the hard work of comparing car hire for you. Our car hire experts negotiate exclusive rates with top car hire brands to bring you the best deals. You can even filter by customer rating price and car type. Search and compare car hire brands at HolidayAutos.com to get the best car hire deal today!