Things To Do In Lisbon 

No matter what age you are, Lisbon is a fantastic place to visit. With good weather, excellent food, fascinating culture, and a rich history, there’s plenty to like about the Portuguese capital.

But if you’re traveling with the kids, you need to find attractions that will keep them from getting bored and also give you a good time. Luckily, Lisbon is a very family-friendly place to visit. More affordable than most other Western European capitals, the city has tons of family-friendly attractions that everyone can enjoy.

Drop off your unneeded luggage at a Lisbon luggage storage so you can try some of these great family-friendly activities for yourself. The lighter you travel, the easier it will be to get around and keep everyone entertained in the city.

Visit the Lisbon Zoo

The Lisbon Zoo is a great place to visit for families with kids of all ages. It has a wide variety of animals, including lions, tigers, elephants, monkeys, and many more. The zoo also has a playground and a petting zoo for children to enjoy. The zoo aims to teach visitors more about conservation while providing a pleasant home for these magnificent animals, so it’s a great place for both you and the kids to learn more about the world while having fun.

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Take a Ride on Tram 28

Tram 28 is a historic tram that runs through the streets of Lisbon, passing by many of the city’s famous landmarks. Although it’s not technically a tourist attraction and remains part of the city’s public transportation infrastructure, winding through the charming streets feels like a fun tour of the city. Just remember that for some Lisbon residents, this is how they get to work or go shopping, so be mindful of other people while you ride the tram.

Explore the Oceanario de Lisboa

The Oceanario de Lisboa is the largest indoor aquarium in Europe, with a wide variety of marine life on display. You can get up close to sharks, rays, turtles, seahorses, and other marine residents from around the world. You can even spend the night at the aquarium watching menacing sharks glide effortlessly through the water. This will be one Lisbon attraction the kids will never forget. 

Visit the Puppet Museum

The Puppet Museum is a fun and interactive place to visit for families with children. It has lots of puppets on display (as you might expect), including traditional Portuguese puppets, and also offers puppet-making workshops for kids. Puppetry has a long tradition in Portugal, and the focus here is on local theater. However, with more than 1,000 puppets in the collection, this museum also has marionettes from around the world, so you can learn about the universality of this art form.

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Take a Boat Ride on the Tagus River

A boat ride on the Tagus River is a great way to see the city from a different perspective. There are several boat tour operators that offer rides at different times of the day and with different routes, providing a fun and unique experience for the whole family. One of the most fun is the HIPPOtrip, which uses amphibious vehicles to provide a tour of both the land and the water. If you’ve never been on a bus that could drive right into the river, now is your chance, and the kids will love the experience of riding in these unusual vehicles. 

Have a Picnic in the Park

Lisbon has many beautiful parks and gardens, such as Eduardo VII Park, that are perfect for having a picnic. These spaces are free to visit and are a great way to relax and enjoy the outdoors with the family. This can also be a great way to stretch your budget. Visiting one of Lisbon’s lively food markets in the morning and then taking what you bought to a nearby park will often be cheaper than dining in another restaurant, and a lot more fun, too.

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Take a Ride on the Santa Justa Lift

The Santa Justa Lift is a historic elevator that connects the lower streets of Lisbon to the higher streets of the city. It’s a fun and unique way to get around and offers great views of the city from the top. It’s not every day you get a chance to ride an elevator in the middle of the city, so don’t miss this opportunity to take the trip on this iconic symbol of Lisbon. 

Visit the Lisbon Story Centre

Calling the Lisbon Story Centre a museum is massively selling it short. Instead, this is an interactive experience that tells the story of Lisbon through the ages. The Story Centre makes use of video, sound, and tactile exhibits so that you and your kids can immerse yourself in the long story of Lisbon. You’ll learn a lot, you’ll also have a lot of fun exploring the city’s history. 

Go to the Beach

Cascais is a town located just 30 minutes from Lisbon by train and has beautiful beaches, perfect for families to spend a day. Several beach clubs offer a variety of activities for kids, such as swimming and water sports. There are few better ways to let the kids burn off some energy than playing on the beach, and you’ll enjoy the beautiful scenery and relaxing vibe. Plus, chances are the kids will be so tired out that you can almost guarantee a good night’s sleep.

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Visit the Time Out Market

The Time Out Market is a food market that features a variety of traditional Portuguese foods, such as seafood and pastries. It’s a great place to visit for families with children who are interested in trying new foods and also has a variety of entertainment options for kids. This place gets pretty busy, so make sure you’re all keeping an eye on each other! 

Visit the National Museum of Natural History

Kids and museums don’t usually go together, but natural history museums are usually the exception to the rule. That’s certainly true in Lisbon . The National Museum of Natural History is a great place to visit for families with children who are interested in animals. The museum has a wide variety of specimens on display, including fossils, minerals, and live animals, and also offers interactive exhibits and activities for kids.

Conclusion

As you can see from this list, there is no shortage of great things to do in Lisbon with kids. And really, this list is just beginning. The city has so many family-friendly activities to enjoy that by the time your trip is over, your kids will already be asking when you’ll be coming back.