10 Things to do with your children in Lisbon

Portugal is a very family orientated country where children and family life are celebrated. This makes it an ideal destination and its capital city, Lisbon, offers many different sights and attractions for all the family. As it’s an inexpensive place to visit, there will be no need to dip into your savings accounts to pay for a trip there. Outdoors Lisbon has many beautiful outdoor spaces that are ideal for all the family. The Parque das Nacoes is largely pedestrianised and offers lovely riverside walks as well as bike and cable-car rides, bowling and water gardens. There is also a playground called the Parque do Gil. The Edward VII Park is another place which will interest both children and adults. Two large greenhouses contain ponds and wonderful collections of exotic flora and fauna. You will also find some playgrounds in Estrela Gardens. One of Lisbon’s most famous sights is the quaint tram system which can take a family around the whole city. Some of the streets in Lisbon are very steep and the tram is a fun way to avoid having to climb them. The Belem Tower is a well-known and unusual attraction – it’s a lift that takes pedestrians from the lowest street level up to the highest points in the city. This is one of Lisbon’s most famous photo opportunities and always delights visitors. St George’s Castle is fascinating architecturally and has terraces and gardens for all the family to enjoy. Younger members of the party will particularly enjoy the free-roaming peacocks. Cultural Attractions Lisbon has several museums of special interest to children, whether they are very young or teenagers. The Paula Rego House gallery houses a fine collection of this local artist’s highly acclaimed work. The Coaches Museum holds a collection of fairy-tale vehicles that Cinderella would be proud of. This is sure to appeal to children and the whole family can admire the workmanship and fantastic designs. The Marionette Museum has a charming collection of puppets both modern and old and has some that date back to medieval times. The frequent puppet shows always attract enthusiastic responses from visitors. Lisbon Zoo is situated in uptown Lisbon and houses a collection of more than 2,000 animals. It also puts on a dolphin show which attracts large crowds. Although a shopping centre may sound a strange place to recommend for children, the Colombo Centre is a little different. While parents can indulge in some retail therapy, children can enjoy a go-kart track, bowling, video games and an indoor amusement park that includes a roller coaster.