Portugal with Kids Travel Guide
Traveling to Portugal was a bucket list item for our family and it is definitely a country we will visit again one day. It has so much to offer, from bustling colorful cities to quaint beach towns and meadows filled with sheep. This post has you covered with all the links for where we stayed, how we got around, and some of our favorite activities from our month-long trip! To be honest, Portugal wasn’t an immediate love affair for me like some of the other places we’ve visited. It took some time getting to know the country and moving away from the beaten path and general tourist areas to really fall for this special place. The places we least expected to love turned out to be exactly where we are dying to return. There are so many places we want to visit in the world, but I have no doubt we will be back here one day!
Where we went ///
We spent almost 30 days traveling all over the country. We started our trip with friends on the Island of Madeira. From there we met my family in Lisbon and then moved on to Porto, enjoying all that the city life had to offer for a few weeks. The middle of our trip was spent in our favorite location, Santa Cruz. We closed out the trip with more time enjoying the coastal regions of Arrifana Beach and Comporta!
Where we stayed///
Madeira: This Airbnb was so clean and spacious. It had a fantastic game room + was located close to both the airport and the city. 4.5/5 stars
Lisbon: It was a great location with AC and beautiful views. The shower at this place was terrible though and there were a lot of stairs. 3.5/5 stars
Porto: This spot was spacious and clean and had an elevator. The parking situation was expensive and there wasn’t a rail on the top bunk which made me nervous with the kids. The living room was also really bright at night! 4/5 stars
Santa Cruz: This was our favorite spot in Portugal. The rooms were very family- friendly and our kids loved the activities on the property. The only con is there is no central ac, but we didn’t need it for our trip in June. 5/5 stars
Arrifana Beach: We moved to this spot last after a bad Airbnb experience in Olhao. The view and the proximity to the beach are what made this place great. The interior was outdated, with many mosquitos and no central ac. 4/5 stars
Comporta: Very clean and a great deal for the area. Walking distance to everything and central AC. I can’t think of any negatives. 5/5 stars
If you want a closer look at our favorite spot, Noah Surf House, make sure to check out this reel on Instagram
How we got around///
We live on the East Coast, so we flew into Newark and spent a few hours in NYC before heading to JFK to catch our flight to Portugal. Our flight there had us landing at one of the most dangerous airports in the world. It was a little nerve-wracking, but we made it without any issues. Once in Portugal we did a mix of rental cars and walking. JD found this awesome service called Virtuo which allowed us to rent cars for a really great price and avoid long lines. We just unlocked the car with an app and were ready to go. The best car rental experience we’ve ever had!
Fun in Portugal with Kids///
Madeira Botanical Garden: These gardens were absolutely beautiful and had these fun toboggans to ride on + a cable car!
Cascata dos Anjos: This waterfall has been on my bucket list for a long time, and it did not disappoint. It was so breathtaking to see the waterfall over the side of the cliff onto the road.
McDonald's Imperial Praça da Liberdade: Apparently this is the most beautiful McDonald’s in the world. The kids will tell you this was their favorite meal of the trip.
Sao Jorge Castle: We hiked up to this castle that overlooks Lisbon. Lots of stairs, but the views paid off!
West Coast Lagos Hiking: JD and I were able to sneak away for the most amazing hiking adventure. It was an experience of a lifetime and one of my favorite parts of the trip. We did this as a date while my parents watched the kids, but there was a family on the excursion with us!
Douro Valley: We did a day trip out here and I’m so glad we made the time to experience this beautiful part of Portugal. It was about 1.5 drive from Porto and a great spot to escape from the hustle of the city. We found a few wineries and the kids enjoyed being able to play in the open spaces.
