10 Best Family Things to Do in Lisbon
What to Do for Fun in Lisbon with Your Kids?
Lisbon is a great city to visit with the whole family, as you’ll find a variety of activities everyone can enjoy from theme parks to museums and more. Certain attractions have something to offer for kids and adults alike, while others are specifically designed to give your little ones an absolutely unforgettable experience.
It’s easy to find things to do when visiting Lisbon, with some of the top family attractions located conveniently near each other whether you’re visiting a park or a castle. Take a look at the best family things to do in Lisbon.
1. Parque Florestal de Monsanto
Visit a forest in the city
Good for: Families, Adventure
Parque Florestal de Monsanto is a protected conservation park that contains a forest covering a massive area with walking trails and vibrant greenery. It’s enormous in size, covering an area of 1,000 hectares, making it one of the largest parks in the city.
When you and your family visit this park, you can enjoy both a relaxing and an educational experience. The welcoming ambience of the flora here is perfect for a hike, but you’ll also find insights into geology, the fauna and the climate, as the park strives to raise awareness about these issues. It’s located in the Monsanto hills just west of the city centre.
Location: Lisboa, Portugal
Open: 24/7
Phone: +351 21 762 8200
Parque Florestal de Monsanto
2. Jardim da Estrela
Enjoy a reprieve from the busy city
Good for: Families, Adventure
Jardim da Estrela is a popular park that’s notably quiet despite its location next to a major landmark where you and your family can enjoy tranquillity. This park is home to a duck pond and quite a few exotic plants among well-maintained gardens, so you’ll spot plenty of alluring sights during a stroll within.
When you visit the park in the summer, you may want to stop by the wrought-iron bandstand. Local musicians often play performances here, and they’re always family-friendly, though not always catered specifically to kids. It’s located near the Basílica da Estrela west of the city centre.
Location: Praça da Estrela 12, 1200-694 Lisboa, Portugal
Open: Daily from 7 am to midnight
Phone: +351 21 397 4818
Jardim da Estrela
3. Jamor Adventure Park
Find fun at an adventure park
Good for: Families, Adventure
Jamor Adventure Park is a fun-filled park that you and your family can enjoy with activities designed to offer unforgettable thrills with obstacles and zipper lines. The canopy section of the park will have you and your kids up in the trees traversing hanging bridges, nets, ropes and zipper lines.
You don’t have to worry about safety here, as all participants in the treetop course are always harnessed and accompanied by experienced instructors. There are separate sections for participants ages 6 to 12 as well as teenagers, along with a challenge for the whole family. It’s located about 15 minutes west of the city centre.
Location: Centro Desportivo Nacional do Jamor, 1495-751 Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
Open: Daily from 10 am to 1 pm, and 2 pm to 6 pm
Phone: +351 21 151 9400
Jamor Adventure Park
4. São Jorge Castle
Stop by a historic castle
Good for: Families, History
São Jorge Castle is a historic castle with the oldest fortifications dating back thousands of years where you and your family can take a tour. The castle hill has had human occupancy since the 8th century BCE, but fortifications here didn’t become substantial until the 1st century BCE.
Most of the castle as it is today was built during the Moorish period of Portugese history. When visiting, you can see numerous historic artifacts on display as well as take in the stunning panoramic view of Lisbon from the castle’s ramparts. You’ll find it in northwestern Alfama southeast of the city centre.
Location: R. de Santa Cruz do Castelo, 1100-129 Lisboa, Portugal
Open: Daily from 9 am to 6 pm
Phone: +351 21 880 0620
São Jorge Castle
5. LxFactory Lisbon
Visit an industrial-style art center
Good for: Families, Shoppers, Food
LxFactory Lisbon is an arts center that’s home to several fun shops and eateries that the whole family can enjoy among design-oriented surroundings. The shops and restaurants tend to be the main draw for families, with one-of-a-kind destinations you won’t find anywhere else in the city.
The center was adapted from an old industrial area, and the industrial style has been preserved in its current iteration with restaurants and shops having wide-open interior spaces and illumination from factory skylights. Some shops, like the book store, are even situated around the original factory equipment. See it between the city centre and Belém.
Location: R. Rodrigues de Faria 103, 1300-501 Lisboa, Portugal
Open: Daily from 9 am to 10.30 pm
LxFactory Lisbon
6. Pavilhão do Conhecimento
Find fun in a science playhouse
Good for: Families
Pavilhão do Conhecimento is a kid-oriented science center that offers numerous hands-on interactive exhibitions that are as fun as they are educational. Among the activities here, your little ones can enjoy launching their own hydrogen rocket, visiting the world of the dinosaurs and cooking up experiments in the kitchen lab.
This is a notably child-oriented exhibit, so it’s not strictly speaking a museum as much as it is an activity center. Its entire design is made to cultivate learning in young minds. Try it out in northern Cabo Ruivo northeast of the city centre.
Location: Largo José Mariano Gago nº1, 1990-073 Lisboa, Portugal
Open: Tuesday–Friday from 10 am to 6 pm, Saturday–Sunday from 10 am to 7 pm (closed on Mondays)
Phone: +351 21 891 7100
Pavilhão do Conhecimento
7. Parque das Nações
Explore a neighbourhood defined by futuristic architecture
Good for: Families
Parque das Nações is a stunning neighbourhood known for its futuristic architecture, parks and marina that kids and adults alike can enjoy. Among the buildings here, you’ll be able to see some of the largest towers and bridges in the city as well as sleek train stations and pavilions.
While the buildings may look futuristic in stark contrast to the rest of the city, you’ll be able to see contemporary artwork here as well, especially around the metro station. Don’t forget to check out the gardens near the waterfront too. It’s located on the east side of town near the Tagus riverbank and Vasco da Gama Bridge.
Location: Portugal
Parque das Nações
8. Praia da Figueirinha
Take a trip to the beach
Good for: Families, Adventure
Praia da Figueirinha is a stunning beach where you can enjoy brilliant natural features as well as welcoming waters that kids can swim in safely. The beach is situated along a sandbar, which forms a sort of sheltered lagoon. Because of this, your little ones can swim around without having to worry about waves or rip currents.
At this beach, you’ll find impressive natural features as well, with the Arrábida hills serving as an alluring backdrop to the beach’s golden sands. Convenient facilities are available here as well. It’s located a few miles south of the Lisbon city centre near Setúbal.
Location: Portugal
Praia da Figueirinha
9. Praia de Carcavelos
Visit a popular and active beach
Good for: Families, Shoppers, Food
Praia de Carcavelos is a beach the whole family can enjoy with blue waters and golden sands surrounded by shops and restaurants. The summer months are very popular here, with visitors just about every day flocking to the beach and the surrounding shops and eateries.
This beach, however, isn’t all that popular with swimmers because it has waves better suited for surfing. In fact, you’ll find several surf schools you can try with your kids if they’re old enough. It’s located south of Rebelva a few miles west of the city centre.
Location: Portugal
Praia de Carcavelos
10. TIL – Teatro Infantil de Lisboa
See a theater show
Good for: Families, Nightlife
TIL – Teatro Infantil de Lisboa is a local theater that’s dedicated to family-friendly performances with decades of experience. The goal of this theater is to show younger generations the importance of the performing arts and art in general for their own self-development and civic development for the culture.
When you visit this theater, you’ll find a variety of performances available, as they adapt old works by the greats like Shakespeare, Rossini and Rodrigues, but you’ll also find original productions. Just make sure you check the calendar first. It’s located in Bairro da Horta Nova northwest of the city centre.
Location: Estr. da Pontinha 7, 1600-584 Lisboa, Portugal
Phone: +351 21 715 4057
TIL – Teatro Infantil de Lisboa
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