It’s not always good weather to go outside, enjoy outdoor activities, go to the beach or terrace in Lisbon. And anyone who has children knows that it’s not easy to entertain them at home, they never stop for anything .
So these tips are for those who have run out of ideas of what to do to keep them busy, and also for those who are in Lisbon for the first time, so that the whole family can make the most of the city? stress-free.
Table Of Contents
- Vasco da Gama Aquarium
- Museums that children love
- Kidzania
- St. George's Castle
- Knowledge Pavilion
- Trampoline jumping
- Frigate D. Fernando II and Glória
- Riding the cable car
- Virtual experience at the Lisboa Story Centre
- Lisbon Oceanarium
- Indoor MiniGolf Lisbon
- Torel Garden
- Cold Greenhouse
- Marine Planetarium
- Going to the movies
- Sailing on the Tagus at Hippotrip
- Zoo
- Dino Parque Lourinhã
Vasco da Gama Aquarium
While we’re on the subject of the Portuguese Navy’s facilities, we have to highlight the Vasco da Gama Aquarium, one of the oldest in the world and which we’re sure the little ones will love.
The Vasco da Gama Aquarium is becoming increasingly modern. In addition to the tanks full of fish, the history and the museum areas, there is also an interactive area where the little ones can have lots of fun drawing their own versions of sea animals.
Address: Rua Direita do Dafundo (Cruz Quebrada)
Opening hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m
Tickets: from €2.5, on sale at Fever
Museums that children love
It’s one of our favorite lists of suggestions: museums in Lisbon that the children will love.
In these museums, children of all ages have a wide range of knowledge on offer. So choose the first one now and then keep going until you’ve completed the list.
Address: Several
Kidzania
We’ve been hearing about this theme park ever since we met. Stay at Shopping Resort UBBO and is widely used by families with children up to the age of 15.
KidZania is a kind of “mini-city” designed for the little ones so that they can “play grown-up”, where they can learn about more than 60 professions and have fun in various everyday spaces, such as stores, the theater, the police station, the fire station, the stadium, among many others.
Address: Avenida Cruzeiro Seixas 7, Loja 1054 (Shopping Resort UBBO, Amadora)
Hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 1st shift from 10am to 2pm and 2nd shift from 3pm to 7pm
Tickets: from €8 at website
St. George’s Castle
There is no doubt that St. George’s Castle is one of monuments the most important and oldest in the city, since its origins date back to the 11th century.
And don’t even think that the little ones won’t like it! After all, you’ ll be taking them inside a castle. What better experience to entertain children than this? And with a breathtaking view over Lisbon.
Address: Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo
Knowledge Pavilion
When we don’t know what to do with the kids at the weekend, the Knowledge Pavilion is usually the place of choice. You should know that on Children’s Day, admission is usually free until the age of 11.
There are always activities to entertain the kids, which we adults also end up doing, particularly to help the “little ones” overcome some of the numerous challenges that there are at this location Parque das Nações.
The last time we went there we went to the “Tcharam Circus of Experiences”, a pavilion full of funny things and lots of activities for children, who not only have fun but also learn.
Address: Largo José Mariano Gago 1 (Parque das Nações)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m
Tickets: from €8, at website
Trampoline jumping
If you want to entertain the children so that they come home at night and fall into bed “round and round”, then the best option is to take the little ones to a trampoline park. And in Lisbon, a new park recently opened.
It’s called JumpYard Lisboa and it offers a series of new trampolines and more radical amusements, which are sure to please the grown-ups too.
It opened this month in Alfragide and there you can jump, climb, play, roll and fly. Yes, you read that right, you can even fly in this park, in complete safety, of course.
For the little ones there is the Mini JumpYard and the possibility of renting a space for their next birthday party.
Address: Avenida dos Cavaleiros 35 (Alfragide-Carnaxide)
Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday, from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Fridays, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m
Tickets: from 3€, at website
Frigate D. Fernando II and Glória
Once restored, Frigate D. Fernando II and Glória it was the last ship to sail on the India Route and is now a real museum ship that shows you life on board a 19th century frigate.
This is another great idea for taking the little ones on a route that promises to keep them entertained for a while.
Address: Largo Alfredo Dinis (Almada)
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 1pm to 5pm
Tickets: at Fever
Riding the cable car
More than 20 years after it began operating, it is still known as the Expo Cable Car.
It offers a peaceful and panoramic walk, always with the Tagus as company, between the Oceanarium and Vasco da Gama Tower.
Address: Tágides Walk (North Station)
Hours: from March 11 to May 26, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; from May 27 to September 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; from September 11 to October 28, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; from October 29 to March 15, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m
Tickets: from €6.50, at website
Virtual experience at the Lisboa Story Centre
We can visit every nook and cranny of Lisbon, but this virtual reality experience took us to even more special places.
Can you imagine coming face to face with the Christ the King? Or fly over the Pena Palace in Sintra? Or even through the secret tunnels that take you to the far reaches of the city?
Address: Praça do Comércio 78 (Lisboa Story Center)
Hours: every day from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m
Tickets: at Fever
Lisbon Oceanarium
The Lisbon Oceanarium is one of the best places to entertain the little ones when you’re running out of ideas.
We’ve already talked about 10 reasons to choose this magical place as a place to visit with children, but the organization of this large marine life tank is always launching new programs to entertain the little ones.
Address: Esplanade Dom Carlos I (Parque das Nações)
Hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m
Tickets: at Fever
Indoor MiniGolf Lisbon
Here you go the most fun shots in Lisbon, in a space full of fun for the youngest and, of course, with plenty of attractions for the older ones too.
In Indoor MiniGolf Lisbon you’ll be able to have a great time on the 18 holes, play table football, Air Hockey, billiards or even plan your next birthday party.
Address: Calçada Ferragial 8 (Chiado/Corpo Santo)
Hours: every day from 12pm to 11pm
Tickets: at Fever
Torel Garden
Next to Campo dos Mártires da Pátria Square is the Torel Garden, one of our favorites in Lisbon.
There’s plenty of room for those with energy to spare – the little ones, of course! So much so that, next to the water tank that delights holidaymakers in summer, a playground has been installed with plenty of challenges to entertain all the children, and more, thanks to the ping pong table nearby.
In addition to the whole space, there is also a belvedere with a beautiful view over the city. And since children can get hungry at any time, there’s a kiosk right next to it (it’s not always open), in case you need to buy some water, juice or a snack.
Address: Rua Júlio de Andrade
Cold Greenhouse
For the little ones, entering the Cold Greenhouse feels like exploring a real forest.
The last time we were there, we saw a family with papers and pencils in hand, and children and adults trying to draw the plants in front of them. It’s a good idea, isn’t it?
By the way, do you know the difference between the different greenhouses: cold, hot and sweet?
Address: Edward VII Park
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m
Tickets: simple: 3.25€; students: 1.63€; pensioners: 1.63€; free admission for children under 6 (exclusive), “Lisboa card” holders, school groups with prior booking, disabled people with a degree of disability greater than 70% and accompanying person, and the general public on Sundays and public holidays until 2pm
Marine Planetarium
We still remember, as children, that the planetarium in Lisbon was one of our favorite places. We were completely overwhelmed by the space and the stars.
It’s time you did the same for your little ones! Take them to the Marine Planetarium, which is right next to the Marine Museum, which also has many other cultural offerings.
Inside you’ll find a large projector that recreates more than 9,000 stars, the Milky Way, the constellations and many interplanetary stories.
Address: Praça do Império (next to the Jerónimos Monastery in Belém)
Opening hours: Tuesdays to Sundays, 1pm to 5pm
Tickets: at Fever
Going to the movies
Come what may, the cinema is one of the favorite places to entertain children! And the parents are grateful, because they just have to stay there, close to them, until the movie is over.
In between, we know, there are those parents who take the opportunity to rest, and then there are those who cheer on their little ones, whatever animated movie they choose to watch.
If you don’t know which movie to see, we suggest one of the Cinema City theaters. They always have the best animated films and, of course, the most delicious popcorn in Lisbon.
Address: Several (see the rooms)
Timetable: various sessions
Tickets: at Fever
Sailing on the Tagus at Hippotrip
Hippo Hippo Hooray! Get the kids ready for this battle cry because there’s no shortage of excitement at HIPPOtrip parties.
It’ll be 60 minutes on land and almost 30 minutes in the middle of the Tagus, aboard an amphibious vehicle that all the children will love.
Address: Santo Amaro Dock, Hippotrip Building (Alcântara)
Times: every day from October to March at 10am, 12pm, 2.05pm, 4pm; and from April to September at 10am, 12pm, 2.05pm, 4pm, 6pm
Tickets: reservations on website
Zoo
Lisbon Zoo has always been a favorite place to entertain children . And, of course, parents will also appreciate a stroll through one of the city’s most iconic spaces, with thousands of animals.
Address: Marechal Humberto Delgado Square (Sete Rios)
Opening hours: every day from March 21 to September 20, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m.; from September 21 to March 20, between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m;
Tickets: from €16.15, on website
Dino Parque Lourinhã
O Dino Parque Lourinhã is one of those special and magical places that the little ones will never forget.
Composed of five different routes that allow visitors to see more than 180 full-scale models of dinosaur species, this theme park is one of the best ways to entertain children while they learn how the Earth was inhabited 65 million years ago.
Address: Rua Vale dos Dinossauros (Lourinhã)
Opening hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m
Tickets: free up to 4 years old; from 4 to 12 years old 10€; adults for 14€, at Fever
Jogos com materiais recicláveis para fazer (e brincar) em família