Now that the days are longer and milder, it’s time to enjoy outdoor activities, go to the beach or enjoy a terrace in Lisbon. And anyone with children knows that it’s not easy to entertain them at home, they never stop for anything.
That’s why these tips are for those who have run out of ideas of what to do to keep them occupied, as well as 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
- LU.CA Theater
- Vasco da Gama Aquarium
- Museums that children love
- Kidzania
- São Jorge Castle
- Pavilion of Knowledge
- Trampoline jumping
- Fragata D. Fernando II e Glória
- Riding the cable car
- Lisbon Oceanarium
- Indoor MiniGolf Lisbon
- Torel Garden
- Cold Greenhouse
- Marinha Planetarium
- Going to the movies
- Sailing on the Tagus at Hippotrip
- Lisbon Zoo
- Dino Park Lourinhã
- Music by candlelight
LU.CA Theater
If you’ve never taken them to the theater, there’s a place that’s perfect for the little ones: the Luís de Camões Municipal Theater, better known as LU.CA.
Dedicated to younger audiences, it has a year-round program of plays, parties, debates, exhibitions and lots of other entertainment that the little ones will love.
Address: Calçada da Ajuda 80 (Ajuda)
Opening hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tickets: on the website
Vasco da Gama Aquarium
While we’re on the subject of the Portuguese Navy, we have to highlight the Vasco da Gama Aquarium, one of the oldest in the world and one that 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, it has added an interactive area where the little ones can have lots of fun drawing their own versions of marine 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
This is one of our favorite lists: museums in Lisbon that children will love.
These museums offer children of all ages a wide range of knowledge. So pick the first one and then keep going until you’ve completed the list.
Address: Various
Kidzania
We’ve heard about this theme park ever since we met. It’s located in the UBBO Shopping Resort and is often 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)
Opening hours: Wednesday to Sunday, 1st shift from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 2nd shift from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Tickets: from €8 on the website
São Jorge Castle
There’s no doubt that São Jorge Castle is one of the city’s most important and oldest monuments, as 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 that? And with a breathtaking view over Lisbon to boot.
Address: Rua de Santa Cruz do Castelo
Pavilion of Knowledge
When you don’t know what to do with the kids at the weekend, the Pavilion of Knowledge 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, namely to help the “little ones” overcome some of the numerous challenges that exist in this place in Parque das Nações.
The last time we went there we were at 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, on the website
Trampoline jumping
If you want to entertain the kids so that they come home in the evening and fall into bed “round and round”, then the best option is to take them to a trampoline park. And in Lisbon, a new park has recently opened.
It ‘s called JumpYard Lisboa and it offers a range of new trampolines and more extreme rides that are sure to please the older kids too.
It opened this month in Alfragide and there you can jump, climb, play, roll and fly. Yes, you read that right, in this park you can even fly, in complete safety, of course.
For the little ones, there’s the Mini JumpYard and the possibility of renting a space for your next birthday party.
Address: Avenida dos Cavaleiros 35 (Alfragide-Carnaxide)
Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday, from 10am to 9pm; Fridays, from 10am to 10pm
Tickets: from €3, on the website
Fragata D. Fernando II e Glória
After being restored, the Fragata D. Fernando II e Glória was the last ship to sail on the India voyage 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 tour 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 ride, always with the Tagus as company, between the Oceanarium and the Vasco da Gama Tower.
Address: Passeio das Tágides (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, on the website
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 the kids, but the organization of this great tank of marine life is always launching new programs to entertain the little ones.
Address: Esplanada Dom Carlos I (Parque das Nações)
Opening hours: every day from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Tickets: at Fever
Indoor MiniGolf Lisbon
Here you’ll have the most fun in Lisbon, in a space full of fun for the little ones and, of course, with lots of attractions for the older ones too.
At Indoor MiniGolf Lisboa you can 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)
Opening hours: every day from 12pm to 11pm
Tickets: at Fever
Torel Garden
Next to Campo dos Mártires da Pátria Square is Jardim do Torel, one of our favorites in Lisbon.
It has plenty of space for those with energy to spare – the little ones, of course! So much so that, next to the water tank that delights holidaymakers in the summer, a playground has been installed with lots 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 viewpoint with a beautiful view over the city. And because children can get hungry at any time, there’ s a kiosk right next door (it’s not always open), in case you need to buy a water, juice or snack.
Address: Rua Júlio de Andrade
Cold Greenhouse
For the little ones, entering the Estufa Fria 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: Parque Eduardo VII
Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 7pm
Tickets: single: €3.25; students: €1.63; pensioners: €1.63; free entry 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.
Marinha Planetarium
We still remember, as children, that the planetarium in Lisbon was one of our favorite places. We were completely overwhelmed by space and the stars.
Well, it’s time you did the same for your little ones! Take them to the Navy Planetarium, which is right next to the Navy 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 parents are grateful, because all they have to do is 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 vibrate with the 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: Various (check the cinemas)
Times: various sessions
Tickets: at Fever
Sailing on the Tagus at Hippotrip
Hippo Hippo Hooray! Get the kids ready for this war 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: Doca de Santo Amaro, Edifício Hippotrip (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: book on the website
Lisbon Zoo
Lisbon Zoo has always been a favorite place to entertain children . And, of course, parents will also be grateful for the tour of one of the city’s most iconic spaces, with thousands of animals.
Address: Praça Marechal Humberto Delgado (Sete Rios)
Hours: every day, from March 21 to September 20, between 10am and 8pm; from September 21 to March 20, between 10am and 6pm;
Tickets: from €16.15, on the website
Dino Park Lourinhã
Dino Parque Lourinhã is one of those special and magical places that the little ones will never forget.
Comprising 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 €14, at Fever
Music by candlelight
But if you’re looking for something different, the Candlelight Lisbon concerts are great for a different family program. These candlelit concerts are proof that children are not too young to appreciate good music. At important venues in the capital, such as the Monastery of São Vicente de Fora, the Altis Grand Hotel and the Church of Santa Catarina, there’s sure to be a Candlelight concert ideal for the whole family.
The minimum recommended age for children is 8.
