Background
In summer of 2025, our family took a trip to Portugal! We loved spending a few days in Lisbon with some history and museums and then took the train down to Lagos and the Algarve area where we soaked in the sun and beach vibes. We love European travel as it always has family-friendly towns, easy navigating with trains and so much history and beauty. Traveling internationally with kids can be daunting but with a little preparation and research and tips from other travelers, we had a successful trip!
This post covers our days in Lisbon.
For more on our Portugal Adventure, see our posts here
- Summer Portugal Adventures with Kids- Lisbon and Algarve Itinerary and Logistics
- 3 day Lisbon Itinerary for Families
- 4 day Algarve Itinerary for Families
Arrival in Lisbon from Airport
We flew from Nashville to Lisbon with a long layover in Dublin, Ireland. There is a new non-stop and award tickets were really cheap. Usually arrivals from the US would be earlier in the morning, but we spent part of the day in Ireland and arrived to Lisbon late in the evening around 10p. We took an uber to our apartment.
Transportation in Lisbon
In Lisbon, we mostly did a lot of walking with a few uber trips. (Later in the trip, we learned that Bolt was a better option) We also took a few bus and train rides. We tapped our cards on the buses and at train turnstiles. We also took a longer train to Sintra and a ferry ride that both required tickets. At the end of our trip, we pre-purchased train tickets to Lagos, our next stop.
Hotel
While we generally are hotel people (yay Hyatt), the location and cost didn’t make sense for this visit. We found on airbnb an inexpensive apartment in Amalfa that allowed us to spread out a little. The kids had their own (small) room and we had ours as well. It was fine and met our needs but I wouldn’t recommend due to the small size and lack of air conditioning
Our 3 day itinerary in Lisbon
Day 1: Lisbon city walks and Belem sights
We slept in a little (like 9a) and then head out for adventure. We were staying in Amalfa and it was an easy walk on cobblestone paths to the coolest views
Miradouro de Santa Luzia Viewpoints and Castelo de Sao Jorge
We started our day with a short walk past some cool viewpoints and headed our way to the castle. We didn’t pre-buy tickets but they were reasonable priced (check for family prices) and we enjoyed climbing and exploring. The views were incredible and it was fun imagining how it would feel to be an archer or cannonballer. There were peacocks wandering and a very small museum and gift shop. While it was fun to explore, I wouldn’t count this as a must-do especially if you have the monastery or other palaces in your itinerary.
Midday Market and Lunch
We then walked towards the Feira da ladra flea market. This was a really quirky market with treasure and odd junk. It was fun to explore but I wouldn’t necessarily force it into your itinerary. It is only open on Tuesdays and Saturdays. Nearby, we had a wonderful authentic Portuguese lunch at Tabernita. The prices were very reasonable and the food was delicious. After lunch, we stopped at a grocery store for some snacks and drinks and headed back to the apartment for some down time. This is one of the biggest tips I have for traveling with kids. A midday break is perfect for kids to read or play video games, adults to do a short run (or play candy crush and watch a soul crushing kdrama-shoutout to when life gives you tangerines)
Praca do Comercio and Belem
When we visited there was a UEFA women’s fan festival tied to the big Arsenal Barcelona soccer match. The festival watch party had some cool little activities and food trucks but we just passed by for the vibes. We walked along the waterfront (and told the kids 700 times we weren’t buying a pineapple pina colada) and went to the train station to hop a tram to Belem. The tram was air conditioned, not one of the older ones. About 30 minutes away, we enjoyed seeing the exteriors of the Jeronimos Monastery and Belem Tower. We were too late to tour any sights and would have likely prioritized this higher. Definitely worth a full afternoon. We ate some pizza and pasta nearby on the waterfront and took the tram back. A long and fun day
Day 2: Parque das Nações Science Musem
Morning Pastries and trains to the Parque das Nações
We started our day the Lisbon way – with pastel de nata and coffee. This is an absolute must do. A delicious broiled custard tart, they are best fresh and go perfect with a small takeaway coffee. We took the train north to the riverside nacoes park area which is home to both the Aquarium and the Science museum.
We loved and explored every inch of the Pavilhão do Conhecimento, and it absolutely delivered for both kids. Highlights included:
- The explore room had some of the typical STEM learning hands-on module but with an artistic twist. Every section had a English translation and there was lots of cool things dealing with light and perception and how things work.
- A younger kids’ carnival-style play area with climbing, games, and soft play. We spent a good amount of time here just playing. So fun.
- A temporary (and amazing) Pixar animation exhibit downstairs with behind-the-scenes movie magic.
Brazilian BBQ break
We took a break at the Vasco da Gama Shopping Center, just a few minutes’ walk away, for a Brazilian steakhouse lunch. Endless grilled meat and a salad bar? Big hit. Ellie’s favorite part of the whole trip. LOL. We actually planned on going to the food court but got distracted by AYCE steak. We also explored some of the shops and bought some dresses and small snacks. We never go to malls in our hometown but I always love experiencing them in other places.
We then returned to the science museum to explore more exhibits and revisit the kids’ favorites. Ben went for a run and we made a quick McDonald’s pit stop and then took the train back to our Airbnb in Old Town.
Evening: Sunset Views
Tired but happy, we walked a few blocks to a nearby restaurant called Sol—an easygoing spot with a view. We ordered light snacks, drinks, and desserts, and it was the perfect way to wind down. As the sun set, the staff handed out blankets for everyone seated outdoors. We’d never experienced that before, and it made the evening feel extra cozy and memorable.
Day 3: Side trip to Sintra sights with evening ferry to Cacilhas
Morning train to Pena Palace
On our third day, we took a day trip from Lisbon out to Sintra. We caught a morning train to Sintra, about 45 minutes outside Lisbon. The ride is easy and scenic—perfect for kids to read a few chapters in their kindles.
We hopped off in Sintra and called an uber to take us to Pena Palace, which sits dramatically on a hilltop. There were options for buses and tuk tuks but the uber was the most econoical. Pro tip: Pre-book your palace tickets online. We didn’t, and by the time we arrived at 11a, the line was long and the only available slots were 5 hours later. We explored only the outside grounds, which were still magical. The kids loved the colorful, quirky architecture—even just viewing the palace from the terraces and garden paths felt worth the visit. It’s a whimsical mix of Gothic, Moorish, and Disney-like details. We read the rick steves description of the palace.
Afternoon walk towards lunch
From there, we walked downhill, passing by the Moorish Castle. It was very steep and rocky and a fun adventure. It took us about 30 minutes and was really fun and woodsy. We didn’t stop into the castle, but could see from the outside, the fortress walls snaking along the ridge looked epic.
The downhill path felt like we were going to get lost and there were a few spots where we just picked a direction and hoped for the best. And of course, about 10 minutes before the end, our 7 year old desperately needed a potty. We eventually made our way into town and stopped for lunch at a local brewery, where we enjoyed some small burgers beers and a relaxing sit-down after the steep walk.
Afternoon: Quinta da Regaleira = A Highlight
After lunch, we set off for what turned out to be one of our absolute trip highlights: Quinta da Regaleira.
This place feels like something out of a fantasy novel.
We explored secret tunnels, grottos, and spiral staircases,
waited (worth it!) to get our photo inside the iconic Initiation Well,
Wandered the lush, surreal gardens filled with hidden passageways and mossy towers.
I think Pena Palace and Quinta de Regaleira are the must does in Sintra After leaving Quinta da Regaleira, we grabbed some refreshing bubble teas, then slowly wandered through town toward the train station.
Evening:
After arriving back in Lisbon from our magical day in Sintra, we weren’t quite ready to call it a night. So we headed to Cais do Sodré, and caught the ferry to Cacilhas—a quick 8-minute ride across the Tagus River.
Cacilhas had been highly recommended in blogs and Instagram reels as a scenic dinner spot just outside the city, and while it definitely had its moments, it wasn’t quite as advertised.
Because of storms, the city closed pedestrian access to the waterfront promenade connecting the ferry to the restaurant areas. We had to take a long detour to get to our dinner spot. Most people aim for Ponto Final, the bright yellow-tablecloth restaurant you’ve probably seen on Instagram, but it was fully booked. Luckily, we snagged a reservation next door at Atira-te ao Rio, which turned out to be a hidden gem.
The outdoor tables face the water with stunning views of Lisbon’s skyline just across the river. Dinner was truly great though and we also took the Boca do Vento lift nearby for views and watched the sunset. We took the ferry back and headed back to our Airbnb to pack up for the next leg of the journey. To Lagos!
More Portugal Posts
For more on our Portugal Adventure, see our posts here
