Portugal With Kids: Our 16-Day Family Itinerary
What an underrated country! We wish we had more than 16 days to explore this beautiful country.
Flying into Portugal [LIS]
Day 1: Traveling To & /Day 2: Arriving in Portugal
We flew out of JFK in New York, direct to Lisbon, Portugal via Delta Airlines. The flight departed at 7:45 p.m., and arrived in Lisbon at approximately 8:00 a.m., with a flight time scheduled for approximately 7 hours. It took less than that to get there, and we were shocked at how quick the flight was, around 6.5 hours. Keep in mind that New York is 5 hours behind Portugal (4 hours behind during Daylight Savings Time). We flew out on Friday night, and arrived on Saturday morning. Keep this in mind with a 3:00 p.m. check in as most hotels/AirBnBs have. Also remember that if you are taking a night flight, your hotel should be booked starting the next day in this case (unless you want to check in earlier in the morning and are booking the hotel from the night before).
Our Airport Experience at Arrival
This was one of the things we were very worried about. We heard a lot about the delays and long, long lines at the airport (more on this when we departed at the end of our trip). There were definitely lines when we got to Passport Control, but we were done in approximately 30 minutes. With two tired kids in tow, we were concerned, but it ended up working out just fine. While I don’t encourage rushing off of the plane, I definitely understand why some people were moving quickly to exit the plane and get on the line. There were some basic food options at that early time, including a Starbucks.
Nonetheless, we were done at the airport, picked up our baggage, and headed out to where we ordered a Bolt, Portugal’s version of Uber, for our ride. We followed the signs through the airport, which were well-marked for the most part, to the area below. There were many people doing the same, so it was a little hectic, but still fine as the taxis parked and you walked over to them.
Some tips that work for us:
We encouraged our girls to sleep as soon as possible on the plane. We wanted them to sleep overnight so we could try to get the most out of the day when we arrived.
If you take the PM flight as we did, remember that you can book your hotel starting from the following day (although keep in mind that you are arriving in Lisbon around 8:00 a.m., and even after going through Passport control, etc. it is still mid-morning, and check in for hotels is usually around 3:00 p.m. Plan accordingly.
Despite it being a night flight, we had lots of toys/entertainment for both kids to keep them occupied during the flight.
Download the BOLT app before leaving, and you can then compare costs by checking Uber and Bolt for your rides. There were promo codes for Bolt all over the airport, so be sure to add this to the app, as it only works for that first ride. It was 50% off which was great for a ride from the airport. Another tip is to remember this promo code, and if you are traveling with your significant other or someone else, they can use it for another first ride for all of you as well.
Pick-Up Area for Bolt/Uber
Day 2: ½ day sight-seeing in Portugal after arrival
We arrived in Lisbon, and took a Bolt to our hotel, which was approximately 20 minutes with a little bit of traffic. We stayed at the Hyatt Regency Lisbon (more on this hotel soon). Our girls slept about 5 hours on the plane, and we probably slept a few hours, so we were exhausted. We arrived at the hotel, and luckily our room was ready. We took a nap for about 4 hours and woke up to get ready to explore.
Exploring Lisbon
We took another Bolt from our hotel to main area in Lisbon. Our first stop was Praca do Comercio and the Baixa district. Praça do Comércio (Commerce Square) is one of Lisbon’s most iconic and beautiful public spaces. This grand, open square is located right on the Tagus River, at the edge of the Baixa district. It is framed on three sides by yellow Pombaline buildings, and it opens onto the river with a beautiful, coastal feel. At the center stands the equestrian statue of King Jose I. It is also anchored by the Arco da Rua Augusta, a monumental, triumphal arch that leads into the heart of Baixa.
Praça do Comércio
We walked through this entire area, exploring the shopping and eateries. The streets were just beautiful!
For dinner, we went to Bonjardim (more on this later, too).
Why this area is great for families or anyone looking to explore easily and get a feel for Lisbon:
It is flat and stroller-friendly - very easy to get around.
You can walk along the riverfront - we went back a second time at sunset and it was just stunning.
There are lots of cafes and options for eateries.
You can watch street performers, or just people-watch - this square is always full of life.
This is an easy starting or ending point for exploring Baixa, Alfama, Chiado, or hopping on Tram 28.
After dinner, we continued sight-seeing in this area. We then went to the Santa Justa Lift. This unique landmark built in 1902 is an iron elevator connecting the Baixa neighborhood to the higher Chiado/Carmo area. Designed by Raoul Mesnier du Ponsard, a Portuguese engineer influenced by Gustave Eiffel (yes, that Eiffel), this explains the ornate ironwork.
The elevator ride was short, less than a minute. At the top, there was a viewing platform with views of Baixa’s rooftops, Sao Jorge Castle, and the Tagus River. From the top, you can walk directly into Chiado, and near the Carmo Convent ruins.
We ended our night at Amorino for some gelato, followed by our 10-minute Bolt back to our hotel. We were back around 11:30 p.m., and the kids were able to keep up, of course, because of the jet lag. And that was a wrap on Day 2!
Days 3-16 Coming Soon!