Portugal with Kids
Our family spent 6 days in Portugal at the end of August 2021. We had no issues arriving in Lisbon via flight from Paris (read about our experience traveling from the U.S. to Paris during COVID here). Our passports and COVID vaccine cards were both checked in Paris. Therefore, we had no further screenings upon landing in Portugal, and we were ready to hit the beach! Here are the top 5 reasons we will return to Portugal:
1. Pace of life.
One reason we decided to embark on our trip around the world was to reset our pace of life. In America, between work and school and life we were living at a hectic pace that we needed to change. One of Ashley’s first observations in Santa Cruz was how fast we always want to go: she wasn’t even in a hurry, yet was walking much faster than everyone around her. We found coastal-town Portugal to epitomize the challenge of slowing down.
2. The beach.
The beach was a 10-minute walk from our Airbnb, and it was amazing. We did not expect an Atlantic Ocean beach to be so clean, clear, and spectacular. The beach had soft sand and was great for the kids to play. Much of the coast alternates between beach and cliffs, which makes for amazing views. One downside is that the water is quite cold even in the summer. We all played in the water as a refreshing respite from the heat of the sand, but Jon did wear a wetsuit for surfing. The waves overall were disappointing for the week, because it was an unusually low swell, but still allowed for a few great rides. Even during the times of bigger waves, it was possible to find smaller breaks for kids to surf.
3. Lisbon.
The city has an incredible history. Our family explored on foot and used our free Rick Steve’s walking tour app. We started in the main square and completed the first half of the tour. Afterward, we took a break at a park. We met some friends there, and the kids all joined a local futbol match. It was great to see all the kids, with different languages and ethnicities, playing, laughing, and enjoying time together. The park break helped our kids stay more engaged throughout the end of the tour. We’d encourage you to learn about Lisbon’s history, visit some amazing vantage points, try some delicious food and drink, and do it all with kids!
4. Cost.
Read about our cost for 6 days in Portugal here. The kids loved the food: ice cream every night and fresh baked goods every day. It was all extremely affordable at the grocery! We found that both beach lodging and overall transportation in Portugal were significantly cheaper than most places we have taken our kids.
5. Weather.
Yes, this changes during the seasons. However, during the end of August, the weather was phenomenal. The high reached around 80 F each day, and the sun was out most of the time, but it cooled to the low 60’s F in the evening. Our lodging did not have air conditioning, but open windows plus an ocean breeze at night was perfect for this time of year!
Portugal is an amazing country. We used most of our time to relax at the beach, and it was perfect. Between the cost, the weather, the people, the beach, and the history, make plans to visit Portugal with kids.
Portugal was one of our first stops during a year-long trip around the world! To see all our travel adventures, head over to our Instagram page.
If you have questions or tips for traveling to Portugal with kids, let us know!
