Discover Lisbon and its surroundings with your family
Visiting a big city with your family has several advantages, one of which is the wide range of options to suit all tastes, and Lisbon is no exception.
While you can create an itinerary that includes the best that a large urban centre has to offer – culture, leisure or art –, you can also discover true natural paradises that will make you forget where you are. But don’t forget that, regardless of where you visit, one of Portugal’s great assets is its gastronomy, and here too, the options are (almost) endless. Get the family together and plan a dream holiday, whether you’re travelling alone, with teenagers or children, and discover Lisbon and its surroundings!
Culture, Leisure and Art
The Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation is a must-see for anyone visiting the city, both for the approximately one thousand pieces in its collection (including Egyptian, Greco-Roman, Mesopotamian, Islamic Eastern, Armenian, Far Eastern and Western art), and for its cozy garden, classified as a National Monument. Also unmissable, but on the outskirts of the capital, is Sintra, a town that looks like something out of a fairy tale, and where you can visit, among parks and monuments, one of the most emblematic and photogenic places in the country: the Pena National Palace. The Quake Museum, on the other hand, tells a different story: the 1755 earthquake, one of the most tragic moments in the city's history, is presented here, but in an interactive way. A history lesson lasting approximately 1h30, which takes the museum experience to another level and will leave all the family's senses alert and "trembling", regardless of age. Football is a sport that brings strong emotions, especially to fans, and watching certain games from the stands can be as intense an experience as an earthquake. If this is a familiar feeling to you, and your children are always carrying a ball around with them, you will certainly have on your itinerary (if not a match) a visit to the Benfica Stadium and Museum – Cosme Damião, one of the biggest Portuguese clubs, home to legends such as Eusébio and Chalana, where you can get to know the nooks and crannies of the pitch, as well as its history, its origins and the future of this historic club.
Open Air
If you think of holidays as synonymous with the beach, Estoril is a destination that invites you to go swimming, and Praia do Tamariz, with its golden sands, is one of its highlights. Its fame dates back a long way, as it was the location chosen for the adventures of the world's most famous spy, James Bond, in the novel “Casino Royale” by Ian Fleming, and its glamour attracted many members of European royalty, especially during the Second World War. Here, in addition to taking a dip and sunbathing, you will be treated to a lively atmosphere at any time of day, with its bustling seafront, bars and restaurants. On the other side of the River Tagus, and with a hint of the Alentejo, Barreiro – formerly an industrial dormitory town – also invites you to swim on its pleasant river beach, with privileged views of Lisbon and a set of three windmills that dot the landscape. Just a short boat trip from Lisbon, it is still relatively uncrowded by tourists, with a genuine and unique atmosphere that will delight those seeking calmer waters. Another outdoor gem, on the other side of the Tagus River, is the Serra da Arrábida, where you can marvel at paradises such as Figueirinha, Galapos and Portinho da Arrábida beaches, or try extreme sports such as caving, diving and climbing, which will take you on a journey to discover its fauna and flora. With its incomparable beauty, it is a true international scientific treasure and a must-see for anyone who loves the green of nature!
Gastronomy
Another must-try “monuments” in Lisbon are its famous Pastéis de Belém, a delicacy that recently had a role in the Oscar-winning “Poor Creatures”, by Yorgos Lanthimos, and which delighted Emma Stone in the film. Warm and crispy, with or without cinnamon, they are a delight for those with a sweet tooth, with no age limit. In Lisbon, the most popular ones are in Belém, an area of great historical interest where you will find several museums, the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower, among other places rich in history. If you prefer savoury to sweet, in Bairro Alto, there is a diverse range of restaurants, where you can discover Portuguese cuisine, but also gastronomy from various parts of the world. It is one of the most emblematic spots in the city, culturally diverse and very popular, and it is also a perfect place to go shopping and end the night, listening to fado or the latest and trendiest alternative music.
Sports, culture, unique activities or unforgettable visits, you can find everything you are looking for in one place. All you have to do is choose!
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