What to do in Lisbon

Lisbon for families & kids

Lisbon makes for a great destination for families who are seeking a child-friendly city break location. There is a lot to do in terms of entertainment, and the Portuguese climate is ideal for little ones!

If you want to travel to Lisbon with your family and are looking for what to do, you can find here our recommendations of the best family and children friendly activities our city has to offer.

Visit the amazing Lisbon Oceanarium

One of the best things to do in Lisbon with your family and kids is visiting Lisbon’s Oceanarium, one of the world’s largest saltwater Oceanariums. Split across four huge habitats, you can find more than 450 different species of animals including penguins, sharks, moon fishes, giant stingrays, octopuses, seahorses, and even a family of lovely otters, who are the the Oceanarium’s ambassadors.

This is a fantastic opportunity to see the sea life as they would be in their own natural environments, and one of Lisbon’s best family-oriented tourist attractions that will surely delight both kids and adults!!

Tickets: You can buy them at the entrance or at the official website (FREE for kids up to 3 years old).

Take your children to the Lisbon Zoo

Are you in Lisbon on holidays with your kids? Why not to spend a nice and fun day at the Zoo. Lisbon’s zoo is the oldest zoological park in Europe. It hosts more than 2000 animals 300 different species, and has been located in the city center for more than 120 years!

This large and modern Zoo is a real paradise for children, in fact, beside the vast diversity of animals such as elephants, lions, gorillas, giraffes, lynxes and tropical birds, you will find beautiful gardens, and many other attractions and activities, such as the Dolphin’s, Tropical Bird’s and Reptile’s Shows! Your kid will love it, and appreciate the break from the hill climbing and sightseeing.

Tickets: You can buy them at the entrance or at the official website (FREE for kids up to 2 years old).

Rent a bike and explore the riverfront

Not sure what to do in Lisbon with your kids? On a sunny day, there is nothing better than being by the river in Lisbon riding a bike and enjoying the sun and fresh air!

Stop for ice cream, have lunch, play in one of the many playgrounds or just enjoy the fantastic views and monuments. Ride under the Lisbon Bridge, watch the sailing boats in Tejo River, check out the new and trendy MAAT museum, and explore the area surrounding the Bélem Tower. You will have a great time and your kids won’t forget this amazing and fun experience!!

Local Tip: If you like more adventure you can replace your bike with a Segway, Go-Kart or an Electric Scooter!

Visit the Pavilion of Knowledge

This interactive museum is the living proof that science can be fun. Activities such as pedaling a “suspended” bicycle or flying a hydrogen rocket are some of the options that kids and adults visiting this Pavilion can experience.

The idea is to impart scientific knowledge in a safe and practical way. Here, children can make new friends while taking part in games, solving puzzles and understanding scientific concepts and phenomena. The technology used is simple and very hands-on. There's even a 'Science Kidding' area for 3-6 year-olds!

Tickets: You can buy them at the entrance or at the official website (FREE for kids up to 2 years old)

Christmas fairs and markets

Wonderland Lisboa is undoubtedly one of Lisbon’s main Christmas attractions for families with kids. During December, Marquês de Pombal square is transformed into a true winter wonderland! Attractions include not only a traditional market, but also an ice skating rink, Santa’s village, a Ferris wheel, performances and plenty more. Wonderland Lisboa is the perfect place to go with kids, but adults will also enjoy the whimsical atmosphere.

Also in downtown Lisbon, you have Rossio Christmas Market. This is the place to go for authentic Portuguese treats, with stalls selling mulled wine, traditional sweets and various seasonal snacks.

Local Tip: If you have a car you can also visit the Óbidos Vila Natal, which is considered to be Portugal’s most magical holiday celebration (1 hour drive)

Enjoy a trip to Sintra

If you’re in Lisbon with your family, you can’t help but go to Sintra. Visiting Sintra with your kids means taking them to a fairytale corner of Portugal, visiting extravagant palaces, ruins of mysterious castles, and elaborate gardens with legendary wells. In short, it is a place worth discovering that both adults and kids can enjoy– and above all, just 30 minutes from Lisbon.

If you want to book a Tour to Sintra, you can do it directly with us. The tour will take you to all the famous places and you can spend as much time as you want in each as long as your return at the scheduled time.

If you want to book a Tour to Sintra, you can do it directly with us

Book now More experiencies

Surf lessons for kids

Are you one of those cool sporty families? Here is an excellent outdoor activity for you! You and your kids can learn how to surf. After all, where can you find a better place to learn, if not in the country with the highest recorded surfed wave in history? Now, don’t worry, you won’t start your first lesson on an 25 meter-high wave.

There are excellent surf schools just 20min away from Lisbon. Most famous surf beaches near Lisbon are Carcavelos, Costa da Caparica and Guincho. Classes are usually 1.5 – 2 hours long, and all equipment is included as well as insurance. and you get all the equipment, as well as insurance. Your child doesn’t need to know how to swim to take part in the experience.

Don’t expect to learn how to surf perfectly in one lesson, but this is definitely a well-spent couple of hours, enough to make you and your kids wanting for more!

If you want to book Surf Lessons, you can i directly with us

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Visit Fátima and nearby historical sites

Your visit to Portugal wouldn’t be complete without visiting the remarkable Fátima Sanctuary, one of the most famous centers of Catholic faith, where you get to feel the atmosphere that leads pilgrims from all over the world to visit it.

Fátima is one of the biggest sanctuaries in the world, with over 5 million visitors a year. The most important pilgrimages happen on May 13th and October 13th. One of the main attractions is the house of the three shepherds, to whom the Virgin Mary appeared.

On the trip you will get the opportunity to visit other impressive historical sites that will also appeal to kids and teenagers, such as Batalha Monastery, the impressive waves of Nazaré, or admire the pretty village of Óbidos, surrounded by medieval walls and whitewashed houses.

If you want to book a Tour to Fátima, you can do it directly with us

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Dolphin watching tour

If you and your kids love animals, you have to take them on a dolphin tour! This is one of the favourite activities for kids and can definitively be the highlight of their holidays!

Lisbon has a big group of dolphins living along its coast. Due to this, it is almost guaranteed that you will see them from one of these boat tours. During these tours, you will board a boat, which will be driven close to the coast, along the Arrábida Natural Park. You will get to see fortresses and historical sites on your way to the dolphin sites.

It is a magnificent experience, to see up close these amazing creatures, as they are living their everyday life in the wild. Experiencing dolphins in their own natural habitat is a “must”, especially if you are an animal lover.

Local Tip: Remember, you will be on a boat for hours; bring a hat and don’t forget your sun protection and water!

Chef At Home experience

Do you want to taste the best of Portuguese food? Do you want to be surprised, in the comfort of your home, by someone who has the experience of a lifetime in the kitchen?

This experience also has a social side, as this service is provided by 55+, a local social institution that values people aged over 55 and motivates them to do what they like most, giving them the opportunity to be active and fulfilled!!

This organization has the real experts of the typical Portuguese home-cooked food. You get to enjoy a complete meal (Starter, Main course, Wine, and Desert) without leaving the comfort of your home. This is a different and fun family experience that you and your kids will love! It also as the bonus that you will be helping the local community!!

To book this service please contact 55+ via the following email: info@55mais.pt

The Puppet Museum

If you’re a family with kids and are concerned they might get tired of all the hill climbing and sightseeing, a good morning activity can be a visit to Lisbon’s Puppet Museum.

This museum is dedicated to the universe and history of puppets. Its collections are made up of different types of masks and puppets, from different parts of the world and illustrative of the most varied forms of manipulation: puppets, masks, animations, and among others.

The museum also hosts exciting temporary exhibitions, such as the famous “Tim Burton – Animation of Puppets”, a tribute to some of the animation movies he created.

Local Tip: The museum also has a fun interactive area where adults and kids can create their own animations.

Tickets: You can buy them at the entrance or at the official website (FREE for children under 13 years old)

A day at the beach

It might come as a surprise to many visitors who are new to Lisbon, but there are many beautiful beaches just a few minutes from Lisbon. If you are a family with kids you can all enjoy a relaxing day at the beach, away from all the tourist crowds.

One of the nicest beaches, and easiest to reach from Lisbon city center, is Praia de Carcavelos. This beach boasts golden sands, clean sea waters, and excellent beach facilities. Other nearby and children-friendly beaches you can also visit are: Costa da Caparica Beaches, Guincho, or even Comporta and Arrabida Beaches.

To know more about the best beaches near Lisbon, see our full article.

Local Tip: You can access Carcavelos beach by Train, rental car, or we can also arrange a transfer service to drop you and pick you up to any of the beaches if you desire.

Take a tuk-tuk tour

If you want an easy and fun way to see Lisbon without your kids complaining about being tired of all the walking and hill climbing, Then hopping on a tuk-tuk is definitely something we recommend!

It is pretty easy to find them as they are all around Lisbon city center. They will take you around the historic neighborhoods, along the Tagus River, up to the city Castle, and some can take you as far as Belem, where you get to see the famous Monument of Discoveries, Belem Tower and Jerónimos Monastery. No family vacation in Lisbon is complete without a tuk-tuk ride!

Local Tip: Make sure you negotiate the price before you hop in and start your journey. Don’t accept the first offer to make a counteroffer on your tuk-tuk in Lisbon ride.