Lisbon family holidays and breaks

One of the most laid-back and apparently timeless cities in Europe, Lisbon (Lisboa) is very family friendly and a great destination for short breaks before or after longer family holidays elsewhere in Portugal. Situated on the Atlantic coast, this westernmost city in continental Europe refuses to die – it's been the world's richest city twice, and following periods of decay it continues to reinvent itself. Life is good here, and Lisboetas know it.

More or less in the centre of the country, about 300km from the Algarve in the south and 400km from Spain to the north, Lisbon and surrounds offer beaches, countryside, mountains, areas of historical interest, and fascinating satellite towns and sights.

Flying Time	3 hours
Carbon Footprint	1.39 tonnes CO2
Timezone	GMT
Local Currency	Euro

What to Do

Eat grilled sardines in the Alfama district, gaze at seemingly endless views, marvel at the impossibly steep terrain and travel, as locals do, by metro, tram and funny funiculars.

Visit the Oceanarium, one of Europe's largest aquariums, and beside it the Knowledge Museum (Pavilhao Conhecimento), a hands-on attraction for all ages from 3, where you can moonwalk, barfly jump and blow bubbles. 

Seek out the haven that is Principe Real Gardens, with an overhanging canopy of ancient trees and a peaceful café that make this a great place to just hang out. Join the yummy mummies on a Saturday-morning shop before the organic farmers' market.

Check out Lisbon Zoo, with a mini-cable car-ride over the lion enclosure included in the admission price. 

Visit the beaches of Sintra. Little known by tourists, this area is well worth a short trip out of the city. Praia de Macas with its great bodyboarding is especially good for families, while Praia Grande is favoured by surfers. Lifeguards are on duty mid-June–mid Sept.

While you're in the area, take a trip to Azenhas do Mar ('Watermills of the Sea'), a whitewashed village trimmed with blue, built on the slopes of the cliff with a river cascading to the sea below and fascinating rock pools. Recently restored, the watermills are now home to a restaurant, bar and swimming pool.  

Where to Stay

Accommodation in Lisbon is very reasonably priced – expect to pay around €40 a night for a B&B. Self-catering options are a great option for family holidays – try the Santos River Apartments with our partners The Apartment Service, located on the River Tagus in the centre, next to a daily indoor market selling fresh fish, meat and other produce.

If you are lookign for something loacted out of the city centre, but close enough to visit, check out Penha Longa - a 500 acre resort in the Portuguese hills with plenty of activities to keep the whole family entertained.

See also the right-hand column of this page for more recommendations and deals.

When

Temperatures stay reasonably mild in Lisbon year round, with average minumums of 11/12°C in winter, making it ideal for year-round family breaks and holidays depending on what you plan to do.

Rainfall drops from April/May to September, with July and August averaging 28°C. The first thing you'll notice getting off the plane is the wonderful warm gusts of Atlantic wind.

How

Get reasonably priced flights from all over the UK to Lisbon, check out the latest deals on our flights page.

Perhaps combine with car hire during your stay in the Portuguese capital and see much more this area of Portugal.

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