Best Things to Do in Lisbon With Kids

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Thanks to Yellow Bus, St. George’s Castle and Lisboa Story Centre for hosting our visits.  As always, all opinions are our own.

Lisbon is located on the northern bank of the Tagus River and known as the City of Seven Hills.  During our visit to Lisbon, we stepped back into the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries during the Age of Discovery when the Portuguese Empire was at its peak.  As we clocked thousands of steps each day, we also saw how Lisbon was affected by the devastating earthquake of 1755.  Portugal’s capital city was the perfect home base for exploring the country, and we loved our time exploring Lisbon with kids.

 

Things to Do in Lisbon With Kids

Yellow Boat River Boat Tour

Our favorite tour in Lisbon was the Yellow Boat River Tour, which was one of the Yellow Bus tours.  We embarked at the Commerce Square dock and took the marvelous one-hour trip to the Christ the King statue, under the 25th of April Bridge to the Monument of the Discoveries and finally, to the Belem Tower.   The Yellow Boat tour is a great way to get to see the Christ the King statue up close, especially because taxi fares are particularly high due to the cost of the tolls on the 25th of April Bridge.  It’s ideal to take advantage of the opportunity to get off at multiple stops and explore each area, but we were pressed for time and decided to disembark at the Belem Tower and take Tram 15 to the Time Out Market for lunch.

‘The views from the Yellow Boat are spectacular and gave us a new perspective of Lisbon.  Our tickets also included unlimited rides on local trams, funiculars and elevators.  We took the Yellow Boat River Tour on our last full day in Lisbon and weren’t able to take full advantage of the free local transportation because we had so many things on our to-do list.  But, using trams helped us get around quickly, and we finally took a ride on the Santa Justa Elevator, something that was on my Lisbon bucket list.

Tram 28

Trams have been a common mode of transportation since 1837 in Lisbon.  Tram 28 is a popular tourist attraction and a great way to get around Lisbon, too.  We rode on Tram 28 several times during our stay in Lisbon.  The Tram is notoriously crowded, particularly if you try to board in the city center.  Tram 28 passes by the Lisbon Cathedral and near St. George’s Castle, but make sure to ask the driver to point out the stop.  We missed it and had to double back.  We were able to use our Yellow Boat River Tour tickets to ride Tram 28, and it was definitely less crowded in the evening.

Portuguese Pavements

Lisbon is known for its Portuguese pavements, mosaic black and white cobbled pedestrian walkways.  The pavements are gorgeous works of art and a challenge for anyone wearing heels.  I rarely leave the house in flat shoes but was aware that sneakers were required in Portugal.  I did bring one pair of booties that I wore a few times on short trips out of our apartment and destroyed them in the process.  Practical, flat footwear is definitely required in Lisbon.

Tagus River Sunsets

I am a sucker for a beautiful sunset, and Lisbon seemed to have a dazzling display every evening.   Our taxi driver drove along the riverfront on our way from the airport at twilight, and I was wowed at the welcome to Lisbon.  We enjoyed spectacular sunset views from the riverbank near Commerce Square, the Belem Tower and St. Geroge’s Castle.  Other great options would be the viewing platforms at the Santa Justa Elevator, the Monument to the Discoveries or the Christ the King Statue.

My favorite view of the sunset was from the Belem Tower.

25th of April Bridge (Ponte 25 de Abril)

The 25th of April Bridge is a 1.5-mile suspension bridge over the Tagus River that resembles San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge.  The similarities in color and style are no accident – the 25th of April Bridge was constructed in 1966 by the American Bridge Company, the same company that built the Golden Gate Bridge.  The 25th of April Bridge, which is Europe’s largest suspension bridge, connects Lisbon and Almada.  It was originally called the Salazar Bridge to honor António de Oliveira Salazar, who was the Portuguese Prime Minister at the time of its construction.  Under Salazar’s dictatorship, Portugal remained neutral during World War II.  Decades later, the bridge was renamed to honor the Carnation Revolution, which occurred on April 25, 1974.

The Sanctuary of Christ the King Statue (Cristo Rei Statue)

The Sanctuary of Christ the King is a Catholic monument and shrine dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The 330-foot monument was inspired by the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janeiro.  This concrete statue is located in Almada, across the Tagus River from central Lisbon.  The statue was constructed as an expression of gratitude for Portugal being spared from any involvement in World War II, and construction was completed in 1959. We viewed the Christ the King statue from central Lisbon and our Yellow Boat River Tour, but it is also possible to visit the monument and shrine.

 

Things to Do in Baixa With Kids

Baixa is Lisbon’s lower town near the Tagus River.  This neighborhood was almost completely destroyed during the 1755 earthquake.  This neighborhood, which is now Lisbon’s main shopping area, was rebuilt by military engineers with uniform buildings constructed on a grid street plan.  Baixa includes three main squares: Commerce Square and Rossio Square, which both existed before the earthquake, and Figueira Square, which was part of the reconstruction.  The pedestrian-only streets that are lined with shops, cafes and restaurants are the perfect place for people watching.

Commerce Square (Praca do Commercio)

Commerce Square is a riverfront square that serves as the Gateway to Lisbon.  At the time of the 1755 earthquake, the Royal Ribeira Palace, Lisbon’s royal palace during the sixteenth, seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, occupied Commerce Square.  The Square is sometimes still referred to as the Palace Yard.  The Palace was completely destroyed by the earthquake and the tsunami that followed.  The rebuilt Square now features buildings with striking yellow facades and grand arcades and also the typical Portuguese pavements.  The equestrian statue in the Square’s center depicts Jose I, Portugal’s King at the time of the 1755 earthquake.  Following the earthquake, Jose I gave the Marques de Pombal control of the Portuguese government to lead the massive reconstruction efforts.  We watched as the enormous Christmas Tree was constructed at Commerce Square and then returned to visit the finished product several times.

Lisbon’s Rua Augusta Arch is a triumphal arch that was completed in the nineteenth century.  It includes statues of the Marques de Pombal and Vasco da Gama.

The buildings lining the Square are reminiscent of their royal past, but they have never been used as a palace.

Lisbon Story Centre (Lisboa Story Centre)

The Lisbon Story Centre is centrally located at Commerce Square.  This museum features a 60-minute multi-media presentation that provides an informative overview of Lisbon’s history.  We visited the Lisbon Story Centre on our first day in Lisbon, and the interactive presentations captivated my five, nine and eleven-year-old children.  We each received an audio guide, and the multimedia exhibits provided a great historical framework for the rest of our time in Lisbon.

The videos really helped us understand the devastation caused by the earthquake, particularly to Commerce Square, and my tech-savvy boys loved the built-in GPS devices that automatically streamed audio for the nearest display.

• Lisbon Story Centre Hours:  The Lisbon Story Centre is open daily from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
• Lisbon Story Center Tickets:  Tickets to the Lisbon Story Centre cost 7€ for adults, 5€ for seniors over age 65 and students over age 16 and 3€ for children ages 6-15.  Children under age 6 are free.   A family ticket for two adults and two children up to age 15 costs 18€.

Rua Augusta

Rua Augusta is Lisbon’s best-known shopping street.  Rua Augusta is easily accessible from Commerce Square by going through the Rua Augusta Arch.  In addition to shopping, there are also many cafes and restaurants with outdoor seating on this pedestrian-only street.  During our visit, the street was beautifully decorated with hanging lights for Christmas.

 

Rossio Square

Rossio Square is Baixa’s main square and dates back to the thirteenth century.  Like Piazza Navona in Rome, this area was used as a race track about 2,000 years ago and retains its oval shape.  Rossio features typical Portuguese pavements in a wave pattern.  Our favorite view of the entire Square is from the Santa Justa Elevator’s viewing platform.

Rossio Square is named for the adjacent Rossio Railway Station, which we used on our way to and from Sintra.  Rossio Station is an example of Neo-Manueline architecture.  The Station’s facade was constructed around 1900.

Our favorite ginjinha bar, A Ginjinja, is located around the corner from Rossio.  Ginjinha is delicious cherry brandy sold by the shot at many ginjinha bars around town.  I preferred to order my shot without berries while my husband ordered with berries.

 

Church of St. Dominic (Igreja de São Domingos)

The Church of St. Dominic was completed during the thirteenth century.  The Church was damaged during the 1531 earthquake and largely destroyed during the 1755 earthquake.  After it was rebuilt, it was again damaged by a 1959 fire and remained closed until renovations were completed in 1994.

Many signs of the 1959 fire are still visible.  The Church also includes a chapel to Fatima.

Figueira Square (Praça da Figueira)

Figueira Square is adjacent to Rossio Square and serves as one of Lisbon’s main transportation hubs for buses and trams.    The central statue features King João I on a horse.  We particularly enjoyed the views of St. George’s Castle.

 

Time Out Market (Mercado da Ribeira)

Time Out magazine transformed the nineteenth-century Ribeira Market and opened the Time Out Market in 2014.  It’s now a foodie’s wonderland with a mix of classic restaurants and Michelin-ranked chefs.

The Time Out Market features dozens of food stalls, and our family tried a handful and all gave our meal a thumbs up.

• Time Out Market Hours:  The Time Out Market is open daily from 12:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

 

Things to Do in Alfama With Kids

Alfama is Lisbon’s oldest neighborhood, which is located just east of Baixa.  Much of Alfama was spared from the 1755 earthquake, leaving the winding and narrow medieval streets intact.

St. George’s Castle (Castelo de Sao Jorge)

Our visit to St. George’s Castle was one of the highlights of our time in Lisbon.  The Castle is a National Monument that sits on the highest of Lisbon’s seven hills.  Our tour guide, Susana, described the castle’s history in great detail but also managed to keep the kids completely engaged.  St. George’s Castle has been occupied since the seventh century B.C., and the structure dates back to the fifth century A.D.  The castle was controlled by the Moors until 1147 when Dom Alfonso Henriques conquered the castle and drove the Moors out of Lisbon.  The Castle served as a royal residence until the sixteenth century when the royal family moved to Commerce Square.  It survived the earthquakes of 1531 and 1755 and has been open to the public since the 1940s.

While we love exploring ruins and had fun climbing up the castle walls, the archeological site was a real treat.  The archeological site was discovered when construction for a parking lot began.  The project had to be halted when artifacts were discovered, and parking for residents in the area remains an issue.

The site has been occupied since the seventh century B.C., and we were able to explore two houses from the Islamic period.  It was amazing to learn that homes in the seventh century B.C. had a kitchen with a fireplace and pottery.

Floating walls were added to give visitors a feel for the rooms without touching and potentially damaging the existing walls.  While I’ve toured many archeological sites, this was the first time I had seen floating walls, and they really helped me visualize what the original home would have looked like.

The archeological museum on the castle grounds had some unbelievable artifacts, including this largely reconstructed vessel.

There are great views of the Tagus River and Alfama from esplanade and castle, particularly at sunset.  We only wished the weather would have cooperated earlier in the day so that we could have spent more time exploring the Castle and taking the guided tours available throughout the day.

• St. George’s Castle Hours:  St. George’s Castle is open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from November to February and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from March to October.
• St. George’s Castle Tickets:  Tickets to St. George’s Castle cost 10€ for adults, 8.5€ for visitors over age 65 and 5€ for visitors ages 13-25.  Visitors age 0-12 are free.

Lisbon Cathedral (Sé de Lisboa)

The Lisbon Cathedral is a Gothic/Romanesque Cathedral that dates back to the twelfth century.  The Cathedral was built to commemorate the defeat of the Moors, and St. Anthony was baptized here in 1195.  It was damaged by the earthquakes of 1344 and 1755 but not destroyed.  It’s not surprising that it now features a fortress-like exterior.

 

Things to Do in Belem With Kids

Belém is where the Tagus River meets the Atlantic Ocean.  It’s about five miles from central Lisbon and easily reachable by Tram 15 or an Uber.  Belem played an important role in the Age of Discovery.  Explorers departed from Belem after spending the night praying at the Jeronimos Monastery.  Belem did not experience as much destruction from the 1755 earthquake as Baixa, so its buildings were spared.

 

Jeronimos Monastery

The Jeronimos Monastery is one of the UNESCO World Heritage sites named for the monks of the Order of St. Jerome.  These monks comforted sailors and prayed for the king’s soul.   The Monastery was originally constructed in Manueline style, an ornamental architectural style named for King Manuel, who ruled from 1495 to 1521, to commemorate Vasco da Gama’s voyage to India.  And, it was financed, in part, by the proceeds of the spice trade to celebrate Lisbon’s Golden Age.  Explorers spent the last night before their departure praying near this site.  The church’s exterior is constructed out of stunning white limestone.   The building incurred some damage in the 1755 earthquake but was largely preserved.

The tomb of Vasco da Gama is in the Church.  Vasco da Gama departed from Belem with four ships and 150 men on July 7, 1497 and became the first European explorer to reach India in 1498.  He returned to Lisbon in 1499.  Vasco da Gama returned to India two more times and died there in 1524.  His body was originally buried at St. Francis Church in Cochin, which we visited in 2016, but after 14 years, his body was returned to Lisbon.

Before heading to the Cloister, make sure not to miss the view of the entire church from the upper choir and check out the columns that look like palm trees.

The Monastery’s Cloister is probably the best example Manueline architecture and has been the site of treaty signings, including Portugal’s admittance to the European Union.

• Jeronimos Monastery Hours:  The Monastery is generally open Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from October to April and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from May to September.
• Jeronimos Monastery Tickets:  Tickets to the Jeronimos Monastery cost 10€ for all visitors over age 12.  Visitors age 0-12 are free. We read in several guidebooks that it was possible to purchase a combined pass for entry into the Jeronimos Monastery and the Tower of Belem, but when my husband inquired, we were told that no such combo ticket was available.  The website advertises a combination ticket for the Monastery and National Archeological Museum for 12€.

Belém Tower (Torre de Belem)

Belém Tower is also listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site and is considered a quintessential symbol of the Age of Discoveries.  This Manueline-style fortification was built in the early sixteenth century during the reign of King Manuel I.

Our travel guide suggested that the Belém Tower is best viewed from outside, but we loved exploring the inside with its winding staircases and phenomenal views.  We visited at sunset, which was ideal, and we lingered as long as we could.

• Tower of Belem Hours: The Tower of Belem is generally open on Tuesdays through Sundays from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. from October to April and from 10:00 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. from May to September.
• Tower of Belem Tickets:  The Tower of Belem tickets cost  6€ with discounts available for youth, families and seniors.

 

Monument to the Discoveries

The Monument to the Discoveries was originally built in 1940 for the World’s Fair and reconstructed in 1960 to honor the 500th anniversary of the death of Henry the Navigator.  The monument depicts a huge caravel ship in full sail and includes statues of Portugal’s most famous explorers and allies.

Henry the Navigator is the leader, but Vasco da Gama, Magellan, Pedro Cabra, King Manuel I, Luis de Camoes and Philippa of Lancaster, the mother of Henry the Navigator, are also depicted in this 170-foot structure.

 

Pastéis de Belém

Pastéis de Belém is a famous custard cream tart that dates back to 1837 when the monasteries were closed, and the monks turned to baking to make a living.  These pastries have been registered as “pasteis de Belem”, and all other similar pastries sold in Lisbon are called “pasteis de nata.”  Each pastry costs about 1€.

We stood in the takeout line that moved quickly to purchase our six-pack of pasteis, which we enjoyed in a nearby park.  The top of the pastry is slightly burned, but the pastry is quite exquisite.

Things to Do in Barrio Alto/Chiado With Kids

Chiado is the neighborhood west of Baixa, often considered the High Town.  It is a shopping district.

Church of St. Roque (Igreja de São Roque)

Church of St. Roque was constructed as one of Portugal’s first Jesuit churches in the late sixteenth century.  St. Roque is a protector from disease and plagues.  Its painted wood ceiling creates a false dome.  The John the Baptist chapel was assembled in Rome at a cost per square inch that is higher than any other chapel in Portugal.

We stayed right down the street from the Church of Saint Roque and had this view of the facade from our patio.

 

Carmo Convent (Convento do Carmo)

Carmo Convent is a former Convent that was constructed during the fourteenth century.  The Convent was destroyed in the 1755 earthquake and never reconstructed.  As a result, the skeletal Gothic arches are now open to the sky.  We tried several times to visit the Convent, but it was never open when we passed by.  We had to settle for the view from Rossio Square and the Santa Justa Elevator.

Santa Justa Elevator (Elevador de Santa Justa)

The Santa Justa Elevator was completed at the turn of the twentieth century by Raul Mesnier, one of Gustav Eiffel’s students, and connected the lower and upper parts of the city.  The wrought-iron Elevator is 150-feet tall and travels about seven stories.  The Neo-Gothic architectural style is reminiscent of the Eiffel Tower.  The Elevator, Lisbon’s only vertical street lift, is an easy way to travel between Baixa and Rua Carmo, a path we traveled often on foot, but it is now used largely by tourists rather than residents.

We rode the Santa Justa Elevator on our last day in Lisbon when the ride and access to the viewing platform was included in our Yellow Boat Rive Tour ticket.  Even during the low tourist season, we didn’t escape a long wait in Baixa.  The viewing platform was more exciting than the elevator ride itself.  If we realized that the line was much shorter at the top, we would have gone straight to the viewing platform and taken the ride down instead.

The view from the top was definitely worth the wait.  We enjoyed this vantage point for St. George’s Castle, Rossio Square and the surrounding area.

• Santa Justa Elevator Hours:  The Elevator is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. from April to October and from 7:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from November to April.  The Viewpoint is open daily from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. from April to October and 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. from November to March.
• Santa Justa Elevator Tickets:  Round trip tickets cost 5€.   Cardholders of Yellow Bus  or Lisboa Card tickets do not need to pay an entry fee.  Because the Santa Justa Elevator is part of Lisbon’s public transit system, a ride on the lift is included in a 24-hour transit ticket, which can be purchased at any Metro station for €6.40.

 

Armazens do Chiado

Armazens do Chiado is a stylish shopping center with dozens of stores.  We picked up food at the food court a few times, and Wok to Walk was our favorite.  It’s is a few minutes from the Elevator Santa Justa and also bridges the gap between Chiado and Baixa.

Camoes Square

Camoes Square may be eclipsed by the more well known Commerce, Rossio and Figueira Squares, but it was one of our favorites, and we visited daily during our time in Lisbon.  The main monument was a statue of the famous sixteenth-century Portuguese poet, Luis de Camões.

The Square was superbly decorated for Christmas, and we absolutely loved the enormous ornament.

 

Things to Do in Parque das Nações

The Park of Nations was developed to host Expo ’98, which honored the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama’s pivotal voyage to India.

Lisbon Aquarium (Lisbon Oceanario)

The Lisbon Aquarium is the largest indoor aquarium in Europe.  The building was designed to look like an aircraft carrier and is built on a pier.  I visited with my five-year-old daughter during our special Mother-Daughter day while my husband took our sons to a Benfica soccer game.

The Lisbon Aquarium was one of my daughter’s favorite sites in Portugal.  She’s visited aquariums in Clearwater, Cleveland, Pittsburgh and Columbus, but she was really wowed by the 180,000 cubic-foot tank with more than 100 species and also enjoyed watching the penguin feeding.

She was also a big fan of Vasco, the scuba diver mascot and made sure that I got a picture of her posing with her buddy each time she saw him.

• Lisbon Aquarium Hours:  The Lisbon Aquarium is generally open from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. during the winter months and 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. during the summer months.
• Lisbon Aquarium Tickets:  Lisbon Aquarium tickets cost 19€ for visitors age 13-64, 13€ for visitors age 4-12 and over 64.  Visitors age 0-3 are free.  Families with two adults and two children up to age 12 cost 50€, and additional children cost 6,70€.

 

Vasco da Gama Mall

Vasco da Gama Mall is Lisbon’s most popular mall.  It opened adjacent to Oriente Station in 1999 and features several outdoor terraces.  It was decorated for Christmas when we visited and very crowded.

 

Park of Nations (Parque das Nacoes)

The Park features flags of participating nations and the Telecabine Lisboa cable car.   We did not have a chance to spend much time exploring the park or riding the cable car, but would definitely enjoyed the view.

 

Things to Do in Northwest Lisbon

Benfica Game

Lisbon is home to two soccer teams – Benfica and Sporting CP.  Benfica is Lisbon’s best-known soccer team and plays in the Stadium of Light.  My husband took our sons to a Benfica game, which was the highlight of their time in Lisbon.  We purchased tickets at the Benfica Store on Rua Augusta.  Their seats were right near the field, and they all had a blast watching Benfica beat Maritimo with a final score of 4-0.

 

Why Visit Lisbon With Kids?

Lisbon is a magical city to visit with kids.  Lisbon is a very walkable city with so many different activities for families to enjoy together.  Lisbon had the attention of the world during the Age of Discovery and still holds many important historical landmarks as well as beautiful sunsets every evening.  Compared to other European capitals, Lisbon is extremely affordable and a wonderful city for families to explore.