Family Trip to Portugal – The Ultimate 10 Day Itinerary
Looking to book a family trip to Portugal?
Look no further than our ultimate guide to visiting Portugal with your family. We recently had an amazing time in Portugal on a 4-week family road trip with our 2-year-old and baby. We visit as a digital nomad family and loved it as Portugal. It is super family-friendly and there are loads of cool things to do and experiences for small children. Portugal, for us, is one of the best places for the whole family! We’ve put together an ultimate 10-day road trip itinerary so that you can plan your family trip to Portugal.
We’ll start by getting straight to our 10-day itinerary for you. Then later we’ll cover some top tips on visiting Portugal with kids on a family holiday. These will include getting around Portugal, when is the best time to visit, and much more. We hope you enjoy our perfect Portugal family itinerary!
Quick Guide to a Family Trip to Portugal
Where to start: Porto
Places to visit: Porto, Paiva Walkways, Aveiro, Douro Valley, Nazare, Fatima, Lisbon, Sintra, The Algarve, Lagos, Seven Hanging Valleys & Benagil Caves, plus lots more!
Where to finish: Faro
How to travel around Portugal: Rental car
Currency of Portugal: Euro, most places accept credit cards
Language of Portugal: Portuguese
10 Day Family Trip to Portugal
We’ve started the road trip in Porto. Then after there, we’ll head along the Atlantic Ocean coast to Nazaré and down to Lisbon. This means that you’ll get a chance to enjoy both major cities of Portugal. After spending some time in Lisbon you’ll head further south into The Algarve region. It’s the perfect place with lots of great outdoor activities and finish your adventure in Faro. You’ll hopefully love visiting Portugal with kids!
We’ve done it like this because it means that you can hire a rental car at Porto airport and then leave it at Faro airport. Both are busy international airports with lots of direct flights to other European cities and the US.
Day One – Explore Porto City Centre
Porto is a beautiful UNESCO World Heritage Site city on the Douro River in northern Portugal. You’ll want to spend a day exploring. The great thing is that there is loads for kids to see and do. For one day in the city centre we recommend the following as a fun day itinerary:
– Take a walk along the waterfront and enjoy some breakfast
– Hop onto a boat tour along the Douro River and under the 6 bridges
– Walk over the Dom Luis I Bridge over to Vila De Gaia for some amazing views from high up
– Have lunch in Villa de Gaia and visit a Port winery for a port wine tasting (well this is a family holiday for adults too!)
– Hitch a ride on the Teleferico de Gaia cable car up to the best views of Porto
– Visit Sao Bento train station which is the perfect place to see Portuguese azulejo tiles
– Enjoy a local Porto sandwich called a Francesinha at Cafe Santiago
Our son was only 2 years old on this trip. So to make it a little fun we added an electric tuk-tuk tour after visiting the Sao Bento train station. This made it a super busy day, however, he still to this day talks about the tuk-tuk!
Day Two – Hike the Paiva Walkways and Enjoy Aveiro
Paiva Walkways
One of the best things that we did in Portugal was to hike the Paiva Walkways trail. These are a set of wooden walkways along with a hike that takes you 8km along the Paiva River where you’ll pass stunning valley scenery. It’s best to head there early in the morning before it gets too warm. It’s a moderate hike lasting around 2-3 hours depending on how long it takes. Plan extra time if you have young children as they’ll want to have fun jumping down the steps. Also, don’t forget your swimming stuff, because there are some beautiful spots along the river where you can wild swim and a picnic too.
It’s best to start at Areinho as this is the easier walk. When you get to the end of the walk at Espiucna you can take a taxi back to your car. The taxi should cost around 15 euros. You’ll need to book your tickets as they only allow 2,500 on the route per day and it can get busy. If you’re into heights then you can cross the world’s longest suspension bridge. It is 516m long, and located at the start of the hike. You’ll need to book this in advance as you have to book in a time slot. If you’re not into heights then don’t worry, you don’t have to cross the suspension bridge!
Aveiro
In the afternoon there’s a scenic drive that will take your next stop which is Aveiro. Aveiro is famous for being the “Venice of Portugal”. The is because it has several waterways running through the city and on the water they have these beautiful boats called moliceiros (gondola-like boats) on the waterways. These colourful boats are a fantastic way to see Aveiro and learn about its history. After Aveiro you’ll return to Porto for the evening.
Day Three – Head out to the Douro Valley to Explore the Vineyards
In our minds, no visit to the Porto region would be complete without heading out to the Douro Valley to explore this famous wine region. Did you know that it’s so important that it’s been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
How to get to the Douro Valley on a Family Trip to Portugal
To make the most of visiting the region we’d recommend taking the train part of the way. You can take the train from Sao Bento all the way out to Pinhão, however, it would then mean a 6 hour round trip by train. We instead recommend driving out to Tua. Then from Tua hopping on a train from there as it’s then just over an hour to Pinhão. We loved the train ride as it takes you through the Douro Valley and you get to see some incredible scenery. Our eldest loved the experience of being on a classic train and chatting away with locals.
What to do in the Douro Valley on a Family Trip to Portugal
Once in Pinhão you should take a boat tour along the river. You’ll get to learn more about the local area on an audio guide. And you can even enjoy a cheeky glass of port as you cruise. There are lots of river cruises to choose from and they’re all pretty similar. Just an hour long, this boat ride is a perfect way to see the stunning scenery. Make sure to book in advance and arrive a few minutes early so that you can secure seats next to each other as seats are first come first served. We loved sitting outside on the front of the boat as it had the best views.
There are lots of places to stop for lunch. However, we took a picnic as there’s plenty of outdoor space. There’s a little play area near where the boats leave if you have young children who need to burn off some extra energy!
After lunch, you should head up to one of the wineries to explore a vineyard. And of course, take part in a wine tasting. You must book in advance, and we mean a week or more in advance because they are always fully booked and you don’t want to miss out. Once you’ve finished you’ll take the train back to Tua and then head on to Porto for the night.
Day Four – Historical Sites and Big Waves at Nazaré
On this day, you’ll drive from Porto down to the coastal town of Nazaré. Along the way you’ll take in a couple of cultural, geological and historical sites.
There are a lot of historical sites in the central part of Portugal. It’s probably best to select a couple you’d like to focus on before heading to Nazaré for the night. We’ve listed the main ones below:
– Coimbra – Home to the University of Coimbra which is one of the oldest universities in the world and the oldest in all of Portugal.
– Tomar – If you have an interest in the history of the secretive Knights Templar then a visit to the Convent of Christ in Tomar is a must-see
– Fatima – The Sanctuary of Fatima is one of the most important Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world
– Mira de Aire – Where there is a stunning natural cave structure that you can explore
– Batalha – Famous for its Monastery of the Dominicans of Batalha which was built in 1385
You’ll probably arrive in Nazaré in the late afternoon and this will give you plenty of time to explore the town and it’s beautiful beaches. We’d suggest your first stop is to head to the lighthouse. There you’ll find a cool museum where you learn more about the world record-breaking surf waves that come each winter and are what makes Nazaré so famous! Around the lighthouse, there are some fun street food vendors to try. It’s also a stunning location to watch the sunset whilst drinking a cold beer. Just because it’s a family trip to Portugal it doesn’t mean you can’t have a few beers, haha!
Day Five – Castles and Palaces in Sintra then sunset at Cabo d Roca
On your way to Lisbon you’ll make a day trip to Sintra to explore the incredible castles and palaces. This is one of the most popular day trips from Lisbon. This means that in peak season it can be incredibly busy. However, it is totally worth it, so with a little planning in advance you can have an amazing visit.
Pena Palace
You’ll have to head to Pena Palace during your visit to Sintra. This is because it is the picture-perfect colourful castle that Sintra is famous for. To visit you’ll need to book timed entry tickets in advance. Also, you’ll need to get there on time as they’re pretty strict on entry. However, if you have super small children with you (in carriers or a pram) then they let you queue jump so you can use your timed ticket to arrive anytime.
Quinta da Regaleira
One of the other popular places to visit is Quinta da Regaleira with its famous initiation wells. If you plan to head there (which we highly recommend) then you’ll want to arrive there early in the morning, so that you’re first in. This is because long queues (1-2 hours) start to form to walk the initiation well steps and you don’t want to lose time in your day queuing.
Moorish Castle
And finally, the other cool place for the entire family is to head to the Moorish Castle. We loved walking the ramparts and pretending to find dragons. It’s also got epic views over Sintra and to the Atlantic Ocean.
After a long day in Sintra the most perfect way to end your day is to head out to Cabo da Roca. Cabo de Roca is the western place in mainland Europe and Portugal. As well as stunning views out to the Atlantic Ocean there is also a lighthouse, cafe and beaches to explore. We love to end our day with a sunset, and this is a great place to enjoy one. After sunset, you’ll drive the short distance to Lisbon where you’ll spend the next few nights.
Top tip from a travel family: If you’re looking at which is the best area to stay for families then we’re recommend either Avenidas Novas or Belem.
Day Six – Take time to discover Lisbon
The great thing about Lisbon, the capital city, is that there is lots of fantastic public transport. You can use it to easily get around the city. The most famous of these is the Tram 28 that you can ride from Martim Moniz to Campo de Ourique. During the journey the tram line passes through the popular tourist districts of Graca, Alfama, Baixa and Estrela, making it a great way to see Lisbon.
There are lots of cool things to do in Lisbon with kids which makes it fun for the whole family. Like Porto, you’ll want to pick out a few cool places to see and make the most of those. OUr recommends day in Lisbon would look a little bit like this:
– Head straight for Tram 28 and take a ride to discover Lisbon. Jump off at Castelo de São Jorge
– Explore Castelo de São Jorge and enjoy some scenic views over the historic city
– Walk downhill through Alfama the oldest district of the city of Lisbon
– Enjoy lunch at Time Out Food Market. Don’t forget to try a pastel de nata if you have a sweet tooth (if you haven’t already!)
– After lunch head out to Belem on the Tagus River. You can visit sites such as the Belem Tower and the Jerónimos Monastery
– Head back to the centre of Lisbon and discover Bairro Alto with a ride up Elevador de Santa Justa
– In the evening take in a traditional Fado show over dinner
Top tip from a travel family: We’d recommend getting the Lisbon Card as it includes free access to the public transport. And, if you decide to head to any of the attractions and the interactive museums such as the Science Museum then they are either included or heavily discounted.
Day Seven – Cascais and then down to Lagos in the Algarve
Top tip from a travel family: If your children are into skate parks then you have to head to the one in Cascais, as it’s epic! We took Cameron and he loved his hour long skateboarding lesson and he still talks about Luiz his instructor!
After a morning relaxing you’ll head south towards The Algarve. For our perfect Portugal family itinerary in the Lagos area is the ideal place to start your Algarve adventures. This is because it is close to some of the fun activities that you’ll do over the next few days. It’s pretty central and has a great selection of family friendly resorts to choose from. The town of Lagos itself is a small town with some beautiful beaches nearby. We particularly loved heading there in the evening as from about 8pm they have some great evening entertainment in the form of buskers and acrobats.
Day Eight – The Seven Hanging Valleys, Benagil Caves and Sunset at Sagres
The Seven Hanging Valleys Trail and Benagil Caves
This trail is one of the most popular things to do in The Algarve as its a wonderful trail that goes along the cliffs of some of the best beaches. You’ll need to start early to avoid the crowds and the heat, we started around 8am. Even though it goes along the cliff edge it is, in our opinion, safe for small children.
We recommend that you start the walk at Praia da Marinha, one of the most beautiful beaches in the Algarve. The trail is 6km long and takes about 2 hours to complete, and longer if you stop at various beaches along the way like we did! You’ll need to bring plenty of water with you and hats as there isn’t any shade along the route. Plus, it can get very hot. Along the trail you’ll should stop at the small fishing beach at Carvoeiro because you can take a small boat tour out to the Benagil Caves, one of the most visited attractions in Portugal. At the end of the trial at Praia do Vale de Centianes you’ll be able to get a taxi back to Praia da Marinha.
Top tip from a travel family: You’ll need to book your boat tour from Carvoeiro to the Benagil Caves in advance as it gets busy during the summer season.
Sagres
After your walk we’d recommend heading to Sagres. With several of the best beaches in The Algarve for surf this is a great place if you want to have a surf lesson. And if surfing isn’t your thing then there are some cool beach bars and beaches to explore. At the end of the day, we’d really recommend going up to the lighthouse to watch the sunset, it does get busy, so you’ll want to get there early to bag a spot with a good view. We took our dinner up there to eat whilst we waited for the sunset.
Day Nine – Family fun day to a waterpark
When we family travel we always love to make sure that our sons have something fun for them as well – such as the skateboarding lesson we booked Cameron in Cascais. In the Algarve they have some pretty epic water parks that you should try. Some of them have some crazy fast slides and rides, some have zoos and some have theme parks! As we had young children we headed to ZooMarine because it had a great selection of smaller slides, theme park rides plus some shows that we could watch. There are several other waterparks to choose from such as Aquashow and Splash and Slide.
Top tip from a travel family: We opted to buy a two day ticket as it was just an extra 10 euro and meant we could go for a 2nd day later in the week.
After the waterpark, we’d really recommend heading to the Ramires in Guia as it serves the best piri piri chicken in the Algarve, as is literally 10 minutes drive away. It was such good food that we went there twice! A piri piri chicken meal consists of the bone in chicken, cut into pieces along with a plate of fries. You’ll also be offered the chance to order a tomato and onion salad to go with it which we did both times we visited. A whole chicken is €13.60 and you can also order half chicken size too.
Day 10 – Beaches, fishing villages and kayaking in The Algarve
As this is your last day, it is the perfect day to head off and see some of the best beaches and fishing villages that the Algarve has to offer. We’re huge fans of Burgau and it’s beach as it’s still undeveloped and has a really relaxing vibe. There’s loads of incredible sandy beaches to choose from, just be aware that some of them have stairs down to them, so if you have young children you might want to leave the pram in the car. If you’re staying close to Lagos then another two that we can recommend are Praia Dona Ana and Praia Do Camilo,
We love getting on the water every chance that we have, even at home you’ll often find us splashing around on our local river. If you’re like us and enjoy paddling then it’s really easy to hire kayaks or book onto kayaks tours. They’re a fantastic way to see the coastline, and if you’re lucky you might even spot some dolphins along the way.
When it the best time for a family trip to Portugal?
There is no wrong time to visit Portugal because the country offers a wide array of activities, attractions, and unique festivals year-round.
Summer:
School holidays attract thousands of visitors to Portugal’s main cities, famous attractions, beaches, and luxury hotels. This can inflate the price of things such as accommodation, when there is more demand and often less availability. Ideally you would want to consider planning your family trip to Portugal from late April to mid-June. You’ll get to enjoy nice weather and fewer tourists vying for accommodations, experienced tour guides, entry tickets, and beach spots.
Spring/Winter/Autumn:
Although Portugal is known for its miles of picture-perfect beaches, it doesn’t mean you cannot find fun things to do off-season. While the weather can become cooler and wetter in northern Portugal, the southern region remains pleasantly mild. Spring and autumn are lovely months to experience cultural attractions, museums, and outdoor areas. Families traveling with children will be pleased to learn that activities such as cycling, hiking, and kayaking can be done year-round in different regions.
FAQ’s for a Family Trip to Portugal
When we plan a family holiday we always check out how safe a country is before we visit. We always make sure to take to a common sense approach to safety precautions wherever we travel. The great thing about Portugal, is that is one of the safest places to visit and the Portuguese people love kids! The country is highly tourist-friendly and has very low crime rates, in fact, in the 2023 Global Peace Index, Portugal comes seventh out of 163 countries.
What is the best way to travel around Portugal?
We’d recommend either driving your own car to Portugal like we did (if you can) or hiring a rental car when you get there. It gives you a lot more flexibility to lead your own itinerary and to stop when you want and need to. This is especially important when you have younger children with you who might need regular toilet breaks. Car rental in Portugal is very reasonably priced and you can easily pick up a rental car in the airport when you arrive into Porto and leave it at the airport in Faro when you fly home from The Algarve.
We always think that the price of a country is relative to where you live. For us based in the UK, Portugal is less expensive. An example is that you can get a whole chicken with fries in Ramires for €13.60 however, in the UK you would expect to pay €19 without any sides.
Portuguese is the official language of Portugal.
Portugal is part of the EU and uses the Euro as its currency. It is around £0.85 or US$1.09 to a Euro. You can get Euros from your bank before you leave or from an ATM when you arrive. Most businesses, for example hotels and restaurants will accept credit cards, so you don’t need to carry a lot of cash. However, always make sure to have some Euros on hand for things such as tipping your servers in a restaurant or taking a taxi.
Final Thoughts on a Family Trip to Portugal
We had an amazing time on our family trip to Portugal. We’d highly recommend it everyone as it’s relatively inexpensive, super family-friendly, has great weather and delicious food. You’ll have an incredible trip to Portugal and it’s perfect for all of the family no matter their age as it just has to much to offer.
