As a travel writer, I keep up on travel news and trends. For several years I’ve been seeing Lisbon, Portugal, topping multiple travel lists: leading cruise port, best European destination, top city for families, Europe’s coolest capital, and more. Lisbon had never really been on my radar for a family vacation. I’m drawn more to places with sandy beaches, temperate climate, loads of activities to do with kids, history, culture, and exceptional cuisine. Then I found out that Lisbon and the surrounding areas have all of this, and more.
Portugal is a relatively small country—about the same size as Indiana—and can be explored easily. On a recent visit, my first to Portugal, I explored Lisbon, Cascais, and Sintra in five days. We had a full itinerary, but not overwhelming, and the quick visit felt like three vacations in one--the city, the beach, and the forests and mountains.
The city—Lisbon
Lisbon is Portugal’s capital city and is referred to as the city of seven hills for a reason—while the city is very easy to explore fully on foot, your legs will get an extreme workout. This can be tough, especially with kids in tow. Luckily there are trams and funiculars to help traverse the city. Another fun way to explore is to take a tuk-tuk tour. We stumbled upon a tuk-tuk tour on our third day in Lisbon and I wish we had done so on our first day, as it was an extremely helpful way to get a lay of the land. With Jao, a local, as our guide, we explored some of the top sites in Lisbon and were taken to several overlooks where we could see the city spread out before us. It was a wonderful way to learn about the history of Lisbon, get some advice on the best restaurants and sites, and give our legs a rest. Jao was also more than happy to help take photographs so that our whole party could be in the pictures. Lisbon is full of photo ops. It is a city rich in history and culture—from the very narrow, winding streets of the Moorish Alfama district with tiny shops and restaurants, even smaller homes and fado clubs, to the Chiado district with shopping and restaurants galore. Then from the Bairro Alto with tons of options for nightlife, to the most modern part of Lisbon—Parque das Nacoes—with apartment buildings, offices, and the massive aquarium and must-see for kids: Oceanario.
With the temperate climate—Portugal is known as the California of Europe—it’s easy to see why so many people also tour the waterfront of Lisbon by boat. The 16th-century Jeronimos Monastery, Belem Tower, Vasco da Gama Bridge, and the Monument to Maritime Explorers can all be seen and appreciated more fully by boat as the monuments, in particular, were built to be seen by people arriving via water.
It would be impossible to describe all of the things to do and see in Lisbon in a short article—my list of must-see places is well over twenty. A great guidebook is recommended reading before any trip to Lisbon. There is so much to explore and it is truly easy to do in just a few days if you plan ahead. The compact city and ease of travel within make a quick trip entirely doable. I will point out that my absolute favorite site was the haunting, yet moving, Carmo Convent and Archaeological Museum. The 1389 Carmo Convent is now a skeleton of its former self as an earthquake in 1755 left only part of the building intact. If you are lucky enough to visit at twilight, just as the skies turn from blue to black, you will be left breathless by the beauty.
In order to explore the small city of Lisbon in a few days, especially with family, a family-oriented, city-center hotel is perfect. We stayed as guests of Martinhal Chiado, right in the heart of the Chiado district. With their family apartments, kids club and adorable, kid-friendly on-site restaurant, it made for the perfect launch pad for our adventures in Lisbon.
The beach—Cascais
We took day trips to Cascais and Sintra, but if we were to visit again, we would stay at Martinhal Cascais family hotel in order to more fully explore these areas. Martinhal Cascais is also ultra family-friendly with large rooms and villas, a complimentary Kids Clubhouse, family activities, a playground, and three on-site pools.
Cascais is a short drive west of Lisbon, yet has an entirely different vibe. I felt like I was leaving a bustling city vacation behind and heading into a relaxing, beach getaway—relaxing, but far from boring. Cascais is a fishing village that sits on the coast and was the summer holiday home for King Luis I. Because of many years of royalty calling Cascais a second home, even today, the village boasts ornate mansions and villas. With gorgeous beaches, alfresco dining options, nightlife, and scenic walks, Cascais offers a delightful break from city life.
The forest and mountains—Sintra
Nearby Sintra sits in the forested foothills of the Sintra Mountains. It also takes on an entirely different vibe than Lisbon and Cascais. Arriving in Sintra feels like stepping into a fairytale. The woods are broken up by pastel-colored palaces and villas in a variety of architectural styles. From Pena Palace to the Castle of the Moors to Cabo da Roca, Sintra is whimsical, romantic, and downright mystical. Kids and adults will delight in a full day of exploring castles and palaces.
Whether your family is looking for a city, beach, or mountain getaway, Lisbon and the surrounding areas are the answer. I’ve never experienced such vastly different terrain in such a small geographical area. It’s easy to see why Lisbon and the surrounding areas of Portugal continue to receive top travel awards.
The writer was a guest of Martinhal for five nights to help facilitate this article.
