Lisbon is a great city to visit for a quick city break. With its favourable climate and friendly people there is lots to see and do in Portugal’s capital and biggest city. Families will find Lisbon the perfect place to combine a beach holiday at the beautiful local beaches with lots to see and do with the little ones in the city.

Getting there and around
A quick 2 hour and 40 minute flight and you are in Lisbon. Lisbon’s transport system is known to be one of the best and most efficient in Europe. The city of Lisbon is serviced by an underground metro system, trams and buses. Delightful old trams and turn-of-the-century elevators explore the oldest quarters, and the modern subway lines are decorated with contemporary art (which keeps the little ones entertained!) and is a sight to see. Lisbon’s public transport company is called Carris and it covers buses, trams, metro and Lisbon's historic system of Elevators. Families can take advantage of the 7 Colinas Card - costing 50 p to buy which is added to your first ticket price. Each passenger needs one. Don't throw it away as you recharge it at the ticket machine at a lesser fare and it lasts a year if you're planning a return trip to Lisbon. This card is the best option for travelling around the city.

Central Lisbon is compact enough to explore on foot and by stroller but best to keep in mind, that Lisbon is a city that is set on 7 hills, to plenty uphill walking is on the cards. Taxis in Lisbon are relatively cheap and used often to make the steep streets accessible for strollers.

The best way to see the city with babies and little ones in tow is by the hop-on hop-off tour buses that run all over the city. The Hop on/off rides take you to all the main Lisbon Attractions and districts. Kids will love it and mum and dad will enjoy taking in the gorgeous city and river views. Keep in mind that Lisbon is sunny and bright so kids need hats and good sun protection in town and on the open buses.

Another fantastic way to take in the sights of Lisbon is by boat. Portugal had a rich seafaring past, and Lisbon is a city that will captivate the kids especially by water. Take a ferry ride from the Cais do Sodre boat terminal to Cacilhas where there is a fantastic maritime museum for the little ones to enjoy.

And nobody should leave Lisbon without the thrill of riding in one of the city’s Elevadores, the ancient funicular railways, a journey that guarantees breathtaking panoramic views from the top of the hill. It’s a must-do with the little ones!

Where to stay
Lisbon has lots of family friendly accommodation for you to choose from all over the city. Self catering options and serviced apartments are a fabulous option for families . A great company to use for apartments in Lisbon is Visting Portugal.com . This family-run company offer a range of different accommodation options to suit your family’s needs. They also offer a wide range of baby and toddlers items for hire while on your holiday.

If you want to stay in a hotel while visiting Lisbon, the Hotel Príncipe Lisboa is a fantastic option. This hotel is set in Lisbon's city centre. This hotel has family rooms available.

What to do and see in Lisbon
There is plenty to do and see to keep the little ones thoroughly entertained in Lisbon. Lisbon is made up of different districts that each offer something different. Its downtown, the Baixa, located around Rossio, Praça do Comércio; situated on the hill around St. George’s Castle, Alfama and Mouraria; Lisbon’s most traditional quarters with their typical streets, Bairro Alto and Madragoa, and set on Tagus River, Belém offer an unforgettable experience of city’s past at the present.

There are plenty fantastic sites to take in when in the historic Belem district which is Lisbon's most monumental and historical area. Here, mum and dad can see the magnificent Belem Tower and Palace or visit the many museums in the area and the kids can enjoy the medieval storytelling in the cloisters of Jeronimos Monastery before heading next door to the Maritime Museum which has a children's section along with wonderful model ships and an adjoining Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium that will tell them all they want to know of the stars above.

Take advantage of Lisbon’s fantastic parks and outdoor lifestyle. Visit the famous Estrella Gardens where the little one’s will enjoy the playground and duck pond or the Eduardo VII park on the hill which has a supervised kids play area with a pulley-swing that the adventurous kids will enjoy. They will also be amazed by the famous temperature changing glass houses in the park where they can run around and explore the log bridges and cascades.

The city zoo is also a must-do with little ones with over 2000 animals to be seen!. The dolphin shows and lion feedings are a treat and there is a cable car ride for a better view of the animals. Be sure to visit the "monkey village" and the elephant that rings a bell if you place a coin in its trunk. A trill for the kids! In Monsanto, the city’s forest, there is the Park of Indios where there play area where they can enjoy swings, slides and other amusements.

In the modern quarter of Parque das Nacoes- which offers plenty entertainment with several attractions to keep the kids happy is a must- is Lisbon’s best-loved attraction, it’s aquarium, the Oceanario de Lisboa. This attraction is free for the little ones (a plus!) and is the biggest aquarium in Europe. The massive, central tank inside that is home to many ocean species such as sharks, tuna and large groupers will captivate the kids. There are kiddies activities running all day.

Nearby is the Pavilhao Do Conhecimento, the Interactive Science Museum, which is a must! There are fun interactive displays and simulations, explaining the use of technology in everyday life at a little persons level.

A visit to the Marionette Museum is an absolute must! With beautiful puppets ranging from the medieval to the contemporary and frequent puppet shows it will thrill the kids to no end! Another museum that will delight the entire family is the Toy Museum in Sintra with it’s ancient and modern toys. While in Sintra visit the fairytale Pena Palace or the wonderful gardens of Monserrate Palace and take a horse and carriage ride.

In hot weather and just 15 minutes away are the beautiful Costa de Caprica beaches of Lisbon for the whole family to enjoy. Reached by bus from the capital, followed by a fun toy train ride, the wide plains of sand are perfect for building sand castles. Another option for a great day out is to go on a thrilling boat ride in and observe dolphins leaping in their natural habitat.

Where to eat
Portugal is known for it's delicious cuisine and Lisbon is the melting pot of tastes. With an emphasis on seafood and the usual spicy Portuguese fare, this country has a love of spices. When in Portugal long lazy lunches are the norm so dinners are much later in the evening.

For families, Lisbon's appeal is in the quality and affordability of the food. It's restaurant prices are practically the lowest in Western Europe. The Portuguese are known for their healthy home cooking with family sized dishes. The tradition is to order more as you eat and share dishes. Restaurants in Lisbon have children's portions even when they don't say on the menu, the restaurants are very accommodating and will warm up baby bottles and food.

There are plenty places to eat with your little ones. Make use of outdoor dining on traffic-free Rua Augusta, the delightful plaza off Rua Garrett (Chiado) and nearby outdoor restaurants in spacious Largo do Carmo(top of Sta Justa Elevator). Cais do Sodre ferry/train district has big indoor/outdoor riverside restaurants including Lisbon institution Portugalia. For lunches, Lisbon's parks have outdoor attractive cafes. Good food and lovely places to eat with kids where they can enjoy hot steak sandwiches and home-made burgers/salads. Head to the Belem area where kids will love the rooftop gardens and cafe with olive trees,amazing views and plenty space for them to play. Belem also has parkside terrace restaurants with Portuguese Food, Brazilian and fast food.

For the evenings head to the Doca de Santo Amaro area which faces the marina. There is a wide choice of resturaunts which have outdoor tables and attract families or head to the Parque das Nações area where you are spoilt for choice from food courts to riverside terraces; steak houses to floating restaurants. In the magical area of Sintra, try the Quinta da Regaleira with it's panoramic view over Serra de Sintra and large outdoor area and child-friendly menu, it's a must!

Remember to keep an eye out for a PRATOS DO DIA sign, which means Today's Dishes, these are the special of the day. The best value you can get!

Remember to indulge in the Portuguese pastries! Portugual is known for it's use of vanilla and cinnamon and the little ones will love the traditional little custard tarts, Pastel de Nata. A real treat!

Tips
When in Lisbon, keep in mind Portuguese drivers can be erratic so beware at pedestrian crossings with kids and hold their hands at all times.

Lisbon is a safe city in comparison to most European Capitals but you still need to keep your eyes on the kids when out and about.

Drug stores are called Farmacias and sell wide range of medicines and can advise.

Tap water is drinkable but bottled water will help avoid an upset stomach.

Happy travels...