Holidays with children: breaks before going back to school

Chocolate is always a good excuse for a quick break before going back to school. In addition to sweet dreams, a stay at the Fábrica do Chocolate Hotel will allow you to discover, with your family, the origin and history of cocoa. But don't end your break in Viana do Castelo here: pay a visit to the Ship Hospital Gil Eannes, which for decades supported the Portuguese cod fleet in Newfoundland and Greenland. It is currently an interesting museum space that will delight children.

A few kilometers from Porto is one of the mandatory summer getaways, which will delight all audiences. At Magikland, you'll discover a magical world full of water and land amusements – from the ferris wheel to the haunted house or a pirate ship in the middle of a pool –, which will make your day. But municipality highlights do not end there. A few kilometers from the park, the village of Quintandona takes you on a journey through time, on a rural center of unique beauty and architecture, in what is one of the region's ex-libris.

Do you want to take your children on long sightseeing walks without any complaints? Tell them that Porto was an inspiration to the writer of the Harry Potter saga, and get ready to be the exhausted one. Start at the Majestic Café, where J.K. is said to have written part of "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone", pass by São Bento Station where there is no platform 9 3/4 (like the reimagined King's Cross) and visit Lello Bookstore, similar to the sets of the School of Witchcraft. Take a break at the Rectory of the University of Porto and if you see several young people in black, white shirts and black capes, don't be alarmed! They are more likely to be college students than Hogwarts students! Do you want to continue the route? Click here.

Its very particular charm earned it the title of “The Most Portuguese Village in Portugal”. Located in Idanha-a-Nova, it is, without a doubt, a place to discover and perfect for your last summer days, before returning to school. With houses made of granite whose shapes, in many cases, adapt to the structure of the rocks, this is a place literally carved into the grandeur of the mountain and which merges with it. Get lost in its streets, climb up to the medieval castle (located at the highest point of this Aldeia Histórica - Historic Village) and feel like you are in a Portugal that barely exists.

Triceratops, Pterodactyl, Stegosaurus… has your knowledge of Paleontology increased significantly since the birth of your children? Then you should take them to Dino Parque da Lourinhã, a mandatory stop before going back to school for kids crazy about dinosaurs. It is the largest open-air museum in Portugal and has 200 models of dinosaurs and other animals (full scale and scientifically proven) on display, divided into the most important periods in Earth's history. In addition to the paleontological heritage recently discovered in the Lourinhã region, there are species that lived all over planet Earth. Get ready to sweat!

A visit to Tomar is a dive into the path and influence of the Order of the Knights of the Temple in this region. Go up to the Templar castle and discover the monumental work of the Convent of Christ, not missing details such as the Manueline Window of the Chapter Room, one of the most studied architectural elements in Portugal. Discover the legends, myths and secrets associated with the Templar heritage: was the Holy Grail hidden in these lands? Were there really tunnels in the city connecting the Church of Santa Maria dos Olivais and the Convent of Christ? Challenge your little ones' imagination while teaching them a history lesson.

It is one of those unmissable places that you should visit at least once in your life. Wrapped in magic and mystery, here nature and the hand of Man came together in such a harmonious way that it ended up earning the title of World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Start in the Historic Center, visit the Palácio da Vila – a holiday resort for many kings throughout history – and continue your visit to some of the icons of this town, such as the Palácio and Quinta daRegaleira, the Castelo dos Mouros, a witness to the Islamic presence in region, Monserrate Park, with all its exoticism, or the unmissable Palácio da Pena, one of the most romantic monuments in Portugal.

Have you ever imagined yourself on a kind of safari, in the heart of Alentejo? Located a few kilometers from Santiago do Cacém, Badoca Safari Park promises an adventure in a type of Alentejo savannah, where more than 200 animals live, including zebras, buffaloes, ostriches, impalas and wildebeests. If you love animals, take the opportunity to participate in exclusive activities, such as walking among herds of giraffes or interacting with lemurs. End your summer break, before going back to school and work, on a high note and indulge in Alentejo cuisine and a swim on the beaches of the incredible Vicentina Coast.

The turquoise blue of the sea, its ocher cliffs and soft sandy beaches invite you to take the last dives of summer and are an excellent reason for a break to Lagoa. But the city is also home to an adrenaline paradise: Slide & Splash Lagoa, one of the most popular water parks in the country. With entertainment for all tastes and ages, don't miss the extreme slides "Corckscrew" and "The Big Wave" or the "Tropical Paradise", ideal for the little ones and with interactive games. Try the jacuzzi, the “Aquafeeling – Massages” and the “Fish Spa” and end your vacation in a zen mood.

São Miguel is a paradise created by Mother Nature in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean and a more than perfect place to end our list of getaways and breaks. In addition to the breathtaking landscapes, such as Lagoa das Sete Cidades, the island promises other unique experiences. Like, for example, in Ponta da Ferraria where you will find, in the middle of the ocean, natural pools whose water can reach 30 degrees, thanks to two thermal springs. Or Parque Terra Nostra, a unique garden with rare species of flora and a relaxing volcanic thermal pool, which promises unforgettable dips with the family. In Furnas, your palate will be delighted with the typical stew, cooked in pots buried in the ground for five hours… by a dormant volcano!