Photo: Eurico Craveiro · CC BY-SA 4.03 Days in Lisbon with Kids: Castle, Tram 28 and Belem
Three days in Lisbon at a kid-friendly pace: Sao Jorge Castle and a Tram 28 ride through Alfama, a Belem day for the Jeronimos Monastery, the tower and warm pasteis de nata, and easy Baixa squares, arch views and garden breaks. The plan re-plans itself around how you travel, so you can slow the pace, swap in viewpoints or keep meals simple.
Pick a style, a budget and a pace — the route and days below re-plan themselves.
6 stops · 6 meals · 1 hotelThis is the editor’s pick.
3 days
Each day takes one part of Lisbon, kept close so you walk more than you ride. The map shows the whole route — pick a day to zoom in.
Ride the little yellow tram through Graca, Alfama, Baixa and Estrela on vintage cars. It rattles, squeezes and climbs, and for kids it is a ride, not just transport.
- The full route runs from Martim Moniz to Prazeres and takes 45 to 50 minutes.
Start the day at a sunny corner cafe with acai, pancakes, avocado toast and green juices. Breakfast is served all day, so no one has to rush.
- Breakfast is served all day; queues form after 11:30, so go early.
Watch pasteis de nata being made in the open kitchen on Rua Augusta, then eat one warm with cinnamon. This is the quick central fix when the Belem queue looks long.
- The tarts are baked in front of you in the open kitchen; eat them warm.
Let kids be knights on the ramparts of Lisbon's Moorish castle: eleven towers, ruins and the camera obscura in the Tower of Ulysses. The views run from Alfama to the Tagus.
- Admission is free for children 12 and under, and the ticket includes the camera obscura session.
Dine below the castle inside a circus school, on a lantern-lit patio or a veranda over Alfama's rooftops. Dinner here supports the school's youth programs.
- Stay below the castle for dinner at Chapito a Mesa. Castle ramparts by day, then a patio and veranda over Alfama's rooftops at night.
Stay in a landmark 1958 hotel on Praca Martim Moniz, ten minutes on foot from Praca do Comercio, with a rooftop restaurant overlooking the castle.
Lunch like Belem locals at this family-run tasca above the monuments: grilled sardines, seafood rice, octopus and bean stew, with homemade desserts and honest prices.
Walk the two-storey carved-stone cloister of Belem's Manueline masterpiece and stand by the tombs of Vasco da Gama and Camoes. This is the sight the Belem day is built around.
- It is closed on Mondays, so plan Belem for Tuesday to Sunday.
Walk out to the Manueline fortress standing in the Tagus, the ceremonial gateway for ships returning from the Indies. Kids get a real tower, right on the water.
- It is about a 15-minute walk west of the Jeronimos Monastery along the waterfront promenade.
Take a family-style lunch two minutes from the monastery, choosing from pizza, grilled fish and Portuguese classics. An easy fallback for mixed appetites.
Eat the original pastel de nata warm with cinnamon and sugar, in the tiled rooms of the 1837 bakery by the monastery. The line looks long and moves fast.
- The bakery is open daily from 8am to 10pm.
- Step out of the Jeronimos cloister and go straight for a warm pastel de nata next door. Monastery first, the original 1837 bakery second.
Stay put: ~37 min by taxi back from the Belem Tower tonight, 9 min walk to Sao Roque Church in the morning.
Eat grilled sardines, octopus and seafood rice at local prices in a boisterous old-school cervejaria. Expect shared tables at lunch and no bookings.
Slow down in a romantic garden in Principe Real, under a famous umbrella-shaped cedar that spans 20 metres. There is a terrace cafe, kiosks and space for kids to reset.
- Every Saturday the garden hosts a farmers' and organic market.
Do not judge this Jesuit church by its plain face. Inside are gilded chapels and the jewel-like Chapel of St John the Baptist, plus a small adjoining museum.
- Church entry is free; the adjoining museum is free on Sundays until 2pm.
- Walk from the Principe Real garden to Sao Roque Church nearby. Shade under the big cedar first, then the gilded chapels hidden behind a plain face.
Try Minho cooking at an institution open since 1974: roast kid, baked octopus and acorda with shrimp, under smoked hams in the window. Better for older kids who eat widely.
Stay put: 9 min walk back from Sao Roque Church tonight.
Where to stay in Lisbon
Ranked for family travelers on a comfortable budget. The places this plan sleeps in come first.
Hotel Mundial
Stay in a landmark 1958 hotel on Praca Martim Moniz, ten minutes on foot from Praca do Comercio, with a rooftop restaurant overlooking the castle.
Home Lisbon Hostel
Save money in a 200-year-old Baixa building with a lounge, guest kitchen and terrace. A practical central hostel base with free walking tours for guests.
1908 Lisboa Hotel
Sleep in a hand-tiled Art Nouveau building on Largo do Intendente, named Europe's Leading Design Hotel from 2018 to 2020, with art-filled rooms and a restaurant.
Flights to Lisbon
Fly into Lisbon (LIS)
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Land in Lisbon with data
Skip the airport SIM line. Install an eSIM before you fly and your phone is online the moment you land: maps, rides, and restaurant lookups from the gate.
Get an Airalo eSIMeSIM via Airalo. We may earn a commission on purchases.
Getting around Lisbon
How to actually move around the city — transit, rideshare, bikes, and taxis.
Public transit
Lisbon's metro, buses, trams, funiculars and elevadores use one fare system. Buy a navegante occasional card at any metro station and top it up with single tickets or a 24h pass. Contactless bank cards also work on metro gates.
- Metro Lisboa
Four metro lines run daily 6:30am to 1am and reach the airport, Oriente, Santa Apolonia and the center. A single metro trip costs about 1.92 euro by bank card or 1.90 euro on a Carris/Metro ticket.
Tip: Tap a contactless bank card on the gate validators to skip the ticket machines.
- Carris buses, trams and funiculars
Carris runs the city's buses, historic trams including Tram 28, funiculars and lifts such as Santa Justa. The same navegante card and fares as the metro apply.
Tip: The 24h Carris/Metro ticket at 7.25 euro pays off if you ride more than four times in a day.
Rideshare
Uber and Bolt both operate across Lisbon and are usually cheaper than taxis for longer hops. Compare both apps before booking, since surge pricing differs between them.
- Uber
Uber works in Lisbon with the same app and account as at home. Rides are metered upfront in the app and cars arrive within a few minutes in the center.
Tip: Avoid the scheduled-ride option at the airport pickup, since it adds a surcharge over an on-demand ride.
- Bolt
Bolt is Uber's main competitor in Lisbon and often quotes a lower fare for the same trip. The app shows the price before you confirm, and many drivers run both apps.
Tip: Check Bolt's quote in parallel with Uber; forum regulars report Uber lowers its fare when Bolt shows cheaper.
Bikes
Lisbon's hills make e-bikes the practical choice. Gira is the city's official bikeshare with docks across the center, and e-scooters are also available.
- Gira bike share
Gira is Lisbon's public bike-share system, operated by EMEL with stations across the city and e-bikes for the hills. The Gira app shows station locations and bike availability, and an ePark account works as the login.
Tip: Pick an e-bike for routes uphill to Graca or Alfama; regular bikes are fine along the flat riverfront.
Taxis
Lisbon's metered taxis are black and beige-green and can be hailed on the street or at ranks. FreeNow books licensed taxis in the app with upfront fares, useful at night or from the airport.
- FreeNow taxi app
FreeNow (formerly mytaxi) books licensed Lisbon taxis through its app across Lisbon and Porto, with upfront fare estimates and in-app payment. It is the main taxi-hailing app in the city.
Tip: Use the app at the airport to avoid the taxi queue and confirm the fare before the ride.
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