Lisbon with Kids: The Best Family Things to Do

Lisbon is a fantastic city for families, as long as you plan around the hills! Kids love the yellow trams, the aquarium, the castle walls and the riverside, and Portuguese people are wonderfully warm with children. Here’s what to do, from a family that lives here.

Quick answer: don’t miss the Oceanarium, a tram ride, São Jorge Castle, pastries in Belém and the hands-on Pavilhão do Conhecimento science centre. Stay somewhere flat like Parque das Nações or Avenida da Liberdade, and bring a baby carrier rather than relying on a buggy.

Why Lisbon works for families

Lisbon is compact, safe by big-city standards and full of things children enjoy without trying: boats on the river, trams rattling past, castle walls and pastry shops on every corner. Distances are short, so you can mix one big sight with a park or the riverside each day. The main challenge is the steep, cobbled old town, so use public transport for the climbs.

Top things to do with kids

Oceanarium (Oceanário de Lisboa)

One of Europe’s best aquariums, with a giant central tank of sharks, rays and huge sunfish, plus sea otters and penguins. Adult tickets are about €25.50 to €29.90 depending on the time slot (late afternoon is cheapest), children aged 3 to 12 pay about €15.50 to €17.70, and under-3s go free. It’s usually open daily from 10am to 8pm, with last entry at 7pm. Check the official site for current prices. Allow two to three hours. Go early or late to avoid school groups. See our Oceanário guide.

Pavilhão do Conhecimento

A hands-on science centre a short walk from the Oceanarium, perfect for curious 5–11 year olds, and a lifesaver on rainy or very hot days. Children can push, pull and test almost everything. Plan on two hours or more. Adult tickets are usually about €11, with cheaper tickets for children, and it’s closed on Mondays.

Parque das Nações

The former Expo 98 site: flat riverside promenades for scooters and bikes, fountains, playgrounds and a cable car that glides along the river for about 1.2km, with views of the Vasco da Gama bridge. Expect about €10 for an adult one-way ticket and less for children. It’s easy to reach on the red metro line to Oriente.

Lisbon Zoo

About 300 species, a children’s farm, a dolphin and sea lion presentation and its own cable car over the enclosures. 2026 tickets are about €31 for adults and €19 for children aged 3 to 12, with under-3s free, and the zoo suggests buying online. The zoo sits right by Jardim Zoológico metro station on the blue line. Give it half a day.

São Jorge Castle

Real castle walls to climb, cannons, peacocks wandering the gardens and the best views in Lisbon. Hold little hands near the walls! The climb up through Alfama is steep, so take a tram or bus to the top and walk down. Adults pay €17 and under-12s go free. Allow about two hours. See our São Jorge Castle guide.

Trams and the ferry

A ride on a yellow tram is a highlight. Avoid the packed tram 28 at busy times and try quieter routes like 12 or 24 (check Carris for any temporary route changes). Kids also love the short ferry across the river to Cacilhas from Cais do Sodré. It takes about ten minutes and is a cheap way to see the city from the water. The Graça funicular reopened in April 2026, but the Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars and the Santa Justa lift have been closed since the September 2025 accident, so don’t plan around them.

Belém

Wide open spaces, gardens, the Monument to the Discoveries, the boats on the river and, of course, warm pastéis de Belém. Belém Tower reopened on 27 May 2026 with timed entry, so book a slot if your children want to climb it. The Planetário Calouste Gulbenkian next to the Navy Museum runs star shows, with sessions for children on some days. Check the programme before you go. Tram 15 from Praça da Figueira gets you there. See our Belém guide.

Parks and playgrounds

The Gulbenkian Garden (ducks, turtles and shade), the playgrounds of Jardim da Estrela, and the big green Monsanto park for picnics.

A simple family day

• Morning: the Oceanarium when it opens, then the playgrounds and fountains along the river at Parque das Nações.
• Lunch: the food courts and restaurants around Oriente are easy with children.
• Afternoon: the cable car, then the Pavilhão do Conhecimento if anyone still has energy (not on a Monday), or a rest back at your hotel.

Day trips families love

• Cascais: calm town beaches and a seaside promenade, about 40 minutes by train from Cais do Sodré. See our Cascais day trip.
• Sintra: palaces like real fairy-tale castles. Pena and the Moorish Castle are big hits. Private cars can’t drive up to Pena, so use the tourist bus or a taxi. See Sintra in one day.

Food kids enjoy

Portuguese food is simple and child-friendly. Grilled chicken, bitoque (steak with egg and chips), grilled fish with boiled potatoes and soup are on most menus. Bakeries sell pastéis de nata, bread rolls and fresh orange juice all day. Lunch is usually from about 12:30, and dinner rarely starts before 7:30pm, so carry snacks.

When to go

Spring (April to June) and autumn (September and October) are the most comfortable months, with warm days and fewer crowds. July and August can be very hot in the afternoons. In June the city fills with street parties for the Santo António festivities, which are fun in the early evening but loud late at night. Winter is mild but wetter, so lean on the indoor sights. See the best time to visit Lisbon.

Practical tips from parents

• Buggies: Lisbon’s hills, stairs and cobbles are hard work. A baby carrier is much easier in the old town, and a sturdy buggy works in Belém and Parque das Nações.
• Where to stay: flatter areas like Parque das Nações, Avenida da Liberdade, Belém or Cascais. See where to stay in Lisbon.
• Getting around: the metro has lifts at most stations. Uber and Bolt rarely have child seats, so pre-book transfers with seats from the airport. See our Lisbon airport guide.
• Priority queues: families with babies are legally entitled to priority service in shops and public services.
• Eating out: restaurants are very welcoming to children, and half portions are common.
• Sun and heat: plan indoor activities like the Oceanarium for summer afternoons, and bring hats and sun cream for the riverside.
• Museums: some big museums are closed for works, including the National Tile Museum and the National Museum of Ancient Art, with no confirmed reopening dates as of October 2026, so check before you promise a visit.

FAQ

Is Lisbon pushchair friendly?

Only in parts. Alfama, Graça and Bairro Alto are steep, cobbled and full of steps, so a baby carrier is easier there, while Belém, the riverside and Parque das Nações are flat and fine for a buggy.

Do children pay the Lisbon tourist tax?

No. Lisbon’s tourist tax is €4 per person per night for adults, and children under 13 are exempt. Your hotel or apartment usually collects it when you check in or out.

Do kids need a car seat in Portugal?

Children under 12 who are shorter than 135cm must travel in an approved child seat in the back. Babies can only sit in the front in a rear-facing seat with the airbag switched off. Book a transfer with seats, or bring your own.

What’s the easiest way from the airport with children?

The red metro line runs from the airport and has lifts, but changing lines with bags and a buggy is hard work. From 15 October 2026, taxis from the airport charge fixed fares that include luggage: about €16 or €19 by day depending on the area, and €20 or €23 at night and at weekends.

More family tips in our Portugal with kids guide.

See also: Sintra with kids, Parque das Nações, Lisbon on a rainy day, Lisbon trams, the Oceanário and science centre, the Estufa Fria greenhouses, Lisbon Zoo and Pillar 7.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.