From a babymoon within the Azores to metropolis breaks in Lisbon and Porto, plus seaside 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.
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If you happen to’re searching for countless wonderful stretches of sand, you’ll discover them right here. If you happen to’re searching 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 data
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.
Nearly all of European airways fly into all three of Portugal’s airports. You’ll be able to then use public trains, buses, or taxis to get to your ultimate vacation spot inside the nation.
If you happen to’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 might want to attach by way of different US or European cities, resembling London or Paris.
When to go
The local weather in Portugal varies significantly 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 in the course of 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 season temperatures can attain 30C+, whereas the winter cools all the way down to a pleasing 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 town powerful, and when you possibly can count on giant vacationer crowds and queues in any respect the primary landmarks. The shoulder months of April, Might, September, and October are a number 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 seaside 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 model of traveller, whether or not you’re searching for a household seaside vacation in Portugal, exploring off the overwhelmed monitor or a metropolis break with children.
| Island | Highlights |
| Lisbon | Capital Metropolis, Historic Structure, Views, Saint George’s Fort, 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 Website, Pastel de Nata Beginning 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, Stunning Gardens |
| Guimarães | Former Capital of Portugal, UNESCO World Heritage Website Metropolis Centre, Mediaeval Fort |
| Estremadura and Ribatejo | Essential Spiritual Websites, Alcobaça Monastery, Convento de Cristo (former headquarters of the Knights Templar), Fort 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, Climbing, Gorgeous Surroundings, Funchal (Capital), Pebble Seashores, Wine |
Detailed articles
For extra recommendations on visiting Portugal with children, try a few of my posts:
Six causes to go to Portugal with children
Portugal’s most uncommon sights – 5 quirky favourites
Lisbon & the encircling space
The most effective issues to do in Lisbon with children
Oceanario overview – visiting Lisbon’s aquarium with children
Hippotrip overview – Lisbon’s amphibious tour
A Lisbon cooking class with children
The most effective issues to do in Belem with children
At some point in Sintra with children – the most effective issues to do and see
The place to remain in Lisbon with children – my Plum information overview
Porto & the north
The most effective issues to do in Porto with children
15 unimaginable day journeys from Porto with children
Porto card overview – is the Porto card value it?
Porto with children – my journey ideas
The Algarve
The most effective issues to do within the Algarve with children
Silves – the Algarve’s best-preserved citadel
Ramires restaurant – the place piri piri rooster was invented within the Algarve
The place to remain within the Algarve with children – James Villas overview
Martinhal overview – five-star household pleasant luxurious with a child
Journey ideas: taking the Algarve’s toll highway
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 sights. The metro, buses, and trams are fast, reasonably priced, and might get you anyplace it is advisable to go.
Portugal’s historic cities weren’t constructed for vehicles, in order that they’re not significantly simple to drive round. You’ll be able to count on small winding roads, complicated one-way programs, and heavy site visitors. Keep away from driving inside the cities if attainable.
Most of wider Portugal can be properly linked by public transport, and travelling between totally different cities is straightforward by practice or bus.
You can even rent a automotive for a highway journey across the nation, and if you happen to’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 if you happen to’re renting a automotive, most corporations provide an choice to pay the tolls mechanically for a charge – nonetheless a lot simpler than making an attempt to do it your self.
If you happen to’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 sources
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 most effective obtainable instances to go OR merely enter ‘Portugal’ as a substitute of a particular airport – you might get a less expensive flight!
For extra methods to save lots of for holidays and metropolis breaks with children, try my prime ideas
Lodging sources
After I plan a metropolis break in Portugal with children, I usually desire my very own residence – 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 beautiful PlumGuide residence in Lisbon.
After I go to the Algarve, I usually desire to ebook a villa to offer me loads of house whereas exploring this a part of Portugal with children, in addition to all of the amenities together with a kitchen and often 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 corporations like Prime Villas.
For traditional resort stays, Reserving.com often affords the most effective offers, together with free cancellation.
Security ideas
Portugal is an especially protected 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 often happen in busier cities and round widespread landmarks. Take primary precautions and take care of your belongings, and don’t depart any valuables unattended on the seaside.
The nation can be vastly family-friendly, so that you’ll really feel very welcome just about anyplace if you happen to’re visiting Portugal with children.
Cash-saving ideas
Portugal is a superb vacation spot for travellers of all budgets. From reasonably priced hostels in Lisbon and Porto to the posh seaside resorts of the Algarve, there’s one thing for everybody. In case you are visiting on a finances, there are many simple methods to economize in Portugal.
- E book finances and self-catering lodging within the cities relatively than luxurious lodges and resorts.
- Discover free strolling excursions to discover the cities (though do depart a small tip if you happen to can).
- Take public transport relatively than taxis and personal transfers, and take a look at travelcards if you happen to’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 relatively 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 overwhelmed path to economize. The lunchtime menu do dia set meal generally is a whole lot too.
- Watch the ‘couvert’ – initially of the meal, you’ll get a plate of bread, olives, butter, perhaps just a few extras like sardine pate, even cured meat and cheese. Bear in mind that there’s a cost if you happen to eat any of this (by regulation, you shouldn’t be charged if you happen to don’t contact it however do examine the invoice), though it’s often just a few euros.
- Seize native produce from the market, then pack a picnic and eat by the river or on the seaside.
- 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, try this publish.
Packing for Portugal
What to pack for Portugal will significantly rely upon the place precisely you’re going and what time of yr you’re visiting – a February metropolis break in Porto will probably be fairly totally different from a summer time vacation on the Algarve.
In the course of the sizzling summer time months, don’t overlook your sunscreen, aftersun, water bottle, and solar hat – regardless of the place within the nation you’re. Gentle and ethereal clothes will probably be your finest pal in Lisbon and the south.
Within the north of the nation, it’s finest to carry just a few layers and an umbrella or raincoat, even in the course of the summer time. You by no means know when some drizzle would possibly hit.
If you happen to’re travelling away from the cities and into extra rural components of Portugal, make sure to carry some comfy strolling sneakers and journey clothes for mountain climbing.
Take a look at my full household vacation journey planner right here, together with packing lists and extra
E book record
Lonely Planet guides are at all times 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 ebook with a distinction, centered on the experiences to have within the nation relatively than a guidelines of locations to go to.
Whereas there are not any information books to Portugal for youths particularly, in the event that they wish to be taught extra, this ebook of 60 Details about Portugal is a straightforward place to start out. If you happen to’re heading to the Algarve, it’s value grabbing a duplicate of I Spy on the Seaside to maintain them entertained on the seaside, considered one of my household seaside necessities.
Covid sources
Earlier than making any journey reservations, make sure to examine the COVID restrictions at present in place in Portugal.
Disclosure: This publish comprises affiliate hyperlinks – any purchases you make are unaffected however I’ll obtain a small fee
Photographs: Lisbon view/Sintra courtesy of Depositphotos, all others copyright MummyTravels
