City Breaks with Kids: Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

Lisbon, with its colourful houses, red-tiled roofs and near constant blue skies, is the loveliest of cities. It makes the perfect destination for a long weekend but I’d recommend staying even longer. You’ll want to linger for a while in its cobbled streets, to eat more cakes and seafood in the delicious restaurants and fully explore the wonderful food markets and historic neighbourhoods.

There’s so much to see and do for all the family, from riding on the trams to exploring the castle and visiting the aquarium. Here’s my guide to the best activities in the city for families.

There are seven hills in Lisbon so expect steep streets and lots of steps. Public transport is relatively cheap, easy to work out - and lots of fun. The trams and elevators are a great way of travelling around the city and avoiding those steep hills. The number 28 tram goes through historic neighbourhoods so makes for a lovely tour of Lisbon on your first day. Your kids will love the excitement of the Santa Justa Lift and the Gloria Funicular. You can even get ferries across the Tagus River for great views over the city.

Get a green Viva Viagem card for each person travelling from newsagents or metro and train stations for €0.50. We found the easiest system was ‘Zapping’ where you top up your card with money. ...... (follow the instructions below for accessing the rest of this article).