Lisbon is great for a city break on its own or as part of a longer Portugal itinerary. The historic part of the city is really compact which makes it very walkable. Lisbon is one of the world's oldest cities, believed to pre-date Rome. Built on Seven Hills, it means there are plenty of viewing points to overlook the city. It also means that many of the roads are very steep and narrow in places which is one reason why the funicular trains and trams have become so popular. It is a colourful city with great weather, lots of museums, tiled buildings and of course the famous Pastéis de Nata. It is Europe's western most capital and has good weather year round. The summer months get very crowded, so for less crowds visit between March and May or September to October. We visited during February half term and had blue skies, and warm temperatures of 15 - 20 degrees with hardly a cloud in sight.

There are so many amazing things to do on a family holiday to Lisbon, we have chosen a few of our highlights here:

Go underwater at the Oceanário De Lisboa.

We generally always seek out the activities that are unique to the destination we are visiting and therefore thought twice about visiting the aquarium. However we are so glad we did decide to visit it. The aquarium, which is one of the largest in Europe, is a scientific research centre and by far the best we have visited. Spread over two floors the aquarium is centred around a large central tank containing sharks, stingrays, manta rays and other tropical fish.The aquarium has more than 8,000 sea creatures and 500 different species There is also a small children's educational centre that teaches the importance of looking after the oceans and how small people can do small things to play their part.

See the Vasco da Gama Bridge from up high.

After visiting the aquarium a ride in the cable car will give you spectacular views over the River Tagus and the Vasco da Gama Bridge. The ride lasts about 8 minutes and you can buy either a return or single trip. Originally built for the World Expo the cable car runs for about a mile along the river.

Ride the famous yellow No28 tram.

The yellow tram is an iconic feature of Lisbon. Still in operation today due to the narrow and steep nature of many of the streets in the city centre which are unsuitable for their modern day counterparts. The rickety ride and traditional wooden seats are what adds to their charm. The route of the No28 tram passes many of the must see sights of Lisbon and as such is always really busy. The charm and the view are a little lost if you don’t have a seat and can see out of the window. The No 24E and No12E are an alternative and take in some of the same sights. The funicular trams are also great to avoid little legs having to walk up some very steep hills. Although transport is generally quite reasonable in Lisbon the fare for the funicular can seem a little pricey for the distance you cover but is worth it for the novelty factor.

Visit the colourful Palaces of Sintra

if you are in Lisbon for more than a couple of days the Palaces of Sintra are a 40 minute train ride from the city centre and definitely worth a visit. Peña Palace with its bright yellow walls has become a National symbol of Portugal. It isn’t possible to see all of the Palaces in one day so choose a couple to make the most of your day. In our view a tuk tuk makes for the best transport option here as you are in control of where you go and when. They will also stop at viewpoints along the way to show you additional things you won’t get on a regular tour. On the way back to the train station the Sintra city centre, home to The National Palace, is a nice place to stop for a drink and wander round the shops at the end of the day. From here it is an easy 15 minute walk back to the station.

Conquer Castelo Sao Jorge

The Castle sits on the highest hill in Lisbon and gives some great views over the red tile roofs of the city. It was originally a small fortress built by the Visigoths during the fifth century. In it’s later years it was transformed into a Royal Palace. It is mainly ruins that are left of the castle today, which are lived in by some beautiful peacocks, but you are able to walk the passageways of the castle walls. The walk to the castle takes you through the really interesting neighbourhood of Alfama. The streets all have such interesting stories to tell. You can see the pictures of former residents outside each of the houses. The views of the city as the sun goes down are quite magical.

Elevador de Santa Justa

The Elevador de Santa Justa first opened in 1902 as a way to help locals climb to the top of Carmo Hill. You can still ride it’s original elevators today, however the queues are sometimes lengthy and you can enter the viewing platform on foot instead. Head up Carmo Hill for around 5 minutes until you reach Largo do Carmo and its Convent behind which you’ll find a passageway to the viewing platform. There are 3 other funiculars, each of them will give you that very authentic experience, but are maybe best used to go up the hill rather than come down.

Take a tuk tuk tour

The best tours are always given by the locals and the tuk tuk drivers know better than most the best places to visit in the city. The ride in the tuk tuk in itself is really novel for little ones, giving you the opportunity to enjoy the views. You can opt for a set tour, or make your own bespoke route. As the centre of Lisbon is so easy to navigate on its own, the tuk tuk tour can be the perfect way to explore the quieter neighbourhoods of Alfama, Graça, Bairro Alto or even further afield. In general, these are harder to explore on foot given the paved steep streets. The tuk tuk drivers will definitely know the best places to stop for photos or those things that you won’t find in the guidebook!

Be a seafarer in the Belem district

Belem is a laid back district in Lisbon with tree lined plazas, riverside walks and parks. The most visited sites here are the Monument to Explorers, the Jeronimos Monastery, the National Palace and the Tower. It was originally the shipyard and docks and allowed seafarers to discover the routes to East Africa, India and Brazil. You could easily spend a day of your trip exploring this area.

Praça do Comércio

This is the main square of Lisbon, you may have seen the famous image of the yellow buildings with the tram outside. It was the site of Portugal’s royal palace until the Great Earthquake of 1755. The Arco da Rua Augusta is an impressive Triumphal Arch which now stands there and was built to commemorate the city’s rebirth after the earthquake. It is a great place from which to visit the waterfront, enjoy the eateries and let little ones burn off some energy after a day of visiting the city.

Head to the beach

If you fancy a break from sightseeing during your trip, Lisbon has a collection of stunning beaches within easy reach. Many of them can be accessed by public transport within about 40 minutes. Many of the beaches have been awarded blue flag status and have a collection of restaurants close by, Cascais has some of the most family friendly beaches with golden sands, shallow waters and lifeguard supervision.

We know that making the most of your time on holiday is so important, to talk to us about designing the holiday that best suits your family you can call us on 0118 336 0363 or email us at info@littlepeoplebigadventures.com and we would be delighted to help you.

What to do in Lisbon with Children