Lisbon, the City of Seven Hills, has watched caravels depart for the unknown and artists tile its walls in azulejos. Rebuilt after the 1755 earthquake, it’s a place where grand squares meet steep lanes, trolley bells ring, and the Tagus River glows at sunset.

Families love Lisbon’s scale: compact neighborhoods, breezy viewpoints, pocket parks, and easy day trips to palaces and beaches. Expect hearty Portuguese cuisine—grilled fish, bifana pork sandwiches, and the pastel de nata that will win over even picky eaters.

Practical notes: Portuguese hospitality shines and English is widely spoken. The metro, trams, and ferries are simple with a reloadable Viva Viagem card; hills and cobbles mean good shoes or a sturdy stroller. Spring and fall bring mild weather; summer skies are clear but warm.

Lisbon

Lisbon blends Moorish alleys and Belle Époque elevators, tiled palaces and street art. Highlights include Alfama’s medieval maze, Chiado’s boutiques, Belém’s UNESCO gems, and Parque das Nações with Europe’s top aquariums. Trams, funiculars, and tuk tuks make the hills fun for kids.

• Top sights: São Jorge Castle, Lisbon Cathedral (Sé), Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, MAAT museum, LX Factory, Oceanário de Lisboa, Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
• Best day trips: Sintra’s Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira; coastal Cascais; Cabo da Roca cliffs.
• Food to try: Pastéis de nata (Manteigaria or Pastéis de Belém), bacalhau à Brás, piri‑piri chicken, caldo verde, and gelado at Santini.
• Fun fact: The Elevador de Santa Justa was designed by a student of Eiffel’s circle; the view over Baixa to the river is postcard-perfect.

Where to stay (family‑friendly to deluxe):

• Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites (apart‑hotel with kids’ club, kitchenettes; Chiado): Check availability
• Lisbon Destination Hostel (budget, playful vibe inside Rossio Station; private family rooms available): See rooms
• Olissippo Lapa Palace Hotel (classic riverside retreat with pool and gardens): View hotel
• Four Seasons Hotel Ritz Lisbon (elevated comfort, park views, indoor pool): View hotel
• Browse more stays on Hotels.com Lisbon or family‑sized apartments on VRBO Lisbon.

Getting there and around:

• Flights: Compare fares to Lisbon (LIS) on Omio. From the airport, metro to Baixa/Chiado in ~25–35 minutes; taxis/ride‑hail to central neighborhoods take ~20–30 minutes.
• Trains & buses (within Europe/Portugal): For intercity routes (e.g., Porto–Lisbon), search Omio Trains and Omio Buses.
• Local tips: Tram 15E to Belém (~20–25 minutes from Cais do Sodré). Ferry Cais do Sodré–Cacilhas (~10 minutes). Lisbon–Sintra commuter train ~40 minutes from Rossio; tickets are inexpensive and frequent.

Day 1: Arrival, Baixa & Chiado, and a Tuk Tuk Welcome

Afternoon: Check in and stretch your legs through Baixa’s grid to Praça do Comércio. Pop into Manteigaria for a still‑warm pastel de nata and an espresso; kids can try a galão (milkier). Ride the Elevador de Santa Justa for a quick city panorama, then peek into the roofless Carmo Convent—history kids love.

Evening: Graze at Time Out Market (Mercado da Ribeira)—handy with kids and varied budgets. Good stalls include O Prego da Peixaria (steak or tuna sandwiches), Marlene Vieira (seafood rice), and Manteigaria Silva (cheeses and cured ham). Cap with gelato at Santini (Chiado) and a relaxed orientation ride:

Welcome Tour to Lisbon in Private Eco Tuk Tuk

This 2‑hour private tour whisks you to Alfama’s lookouts, Chiado, and Bairro Alto—perfect early in the trip so little legs save energy and everyone gets the lay of the land.

Day 2: Belém’s Age‑of‑Discoveries Quarter

Morning: Tram 15E to Belém. Breakfast at Pastéis de Belém (the original since 1837; go early), then tour Jerónimos Monastery’s cloisters—kids spot sea creatures carved in stone. Walk the riverfront to the Monument to the Discoveries and snap the mosaic wind rose map.

Afternoon: Explore MAAT’s curvy rooftop for views and kid‑friendly exhibits. Picnic in Jardim da Praça do Império or grab quick, tasty pita/salad plates at Pão Pão Queijo Queijo. Finish at Belém Tower, a storybook fortress rising from the water; nearby playgrounds let kids burn energy.

Evening: Dinner ideas: O Frade (Alentejo comfort—migas, black pork secreto; book early), or Nunes Real Marisqueira for shared seafood. For a sweet finish, try nutty gelados at Gelato Davvero (Santos) on your way back.

Day 3: Tram 28, Graça Viewpoints, and Alfama’s Old Lisbon + Food Tour

Morning: Beat queues and hop Tram 28 from Martim Moniz to Graça. Coffee and croissants at Fábrica Coffee Roasters (Rua da Madalena), then the city’s grandest lookout: Miradouro da Senhora do Monte. Walk downhill to São Jorge Castle; kids love the battlements and peacocks.

Afternoon: Wander Alfama’s lanes to the Sé Cathedral and the tiny Museum of Fado. Lunch with a view at Chapitô à Mesa (grilled fish, kids’ pasta; terrace) or tuck into grilled sardines and potatoes at Santo António de Alfama. Try a sip of ginjinha (cherry liqueur) near Rossio for the grown‑ups.

Evening: Taste your way through local neighborhoods on an award‑winning small‑group food tour (four sit‑down stops—easy with kids who’ll nibble fries, croquettes, and custards):

Winner 2025 Undiscovered Lisbon Food & Wine Tour by Eating Europe

If you prefer a sit‑down dinner, Casa do Alentejo (near Rossio) serves rustic plates in a Moorish‑style palace that wows kids on sight.

Day 4: Sintra Palaces and Coastal Cascais (Day Trip)

Trade trams for turrets on a guided, family‑friendly day trip that fits a lot into one easy day—no need to juggle tickets or parking:

Sintra and Cascais Small-Group Day Trip from Lisbon

Expect Pena Palace’s candy‑colored towers, Quinta da Regaleira’s mysterious wells, breezy Cabo da Roca cliffs, and a Cascais stroll. Grab lunch in Sintra at Tascantiga (small plates) and don’t miss travesseiros (almond pillows) at Casa Piriquita. Back in Lisbon, an easy family dinner is Pizzeria ZeroZero (Parque das Nações) or grilled chicken from a local churrasqueira.

Independent option: If you DIY, trains from Rossio to Sintra run ~every 20 minutes; the ride is about 40 minutes each way. Search times on Omio Trains.

Day 5: Oceanário, Science Museum, and Cable Car at Parque das Nações

Morning: Metro to Oriente. Breakfast at Copenhagen Coffee Lab (Oriente) or Dear Breakfast (Bica, if you start central). Spend the morning at the Oceanário de Lisboa—otters, penguins, and a mesmerizing central tank keep all ages engaged.

Afternoon: Lunch at D’Bacalhau (four ways with cod; kids like the fritters) or Honest Greens (bowls and rotisserie). Hands‑on experiments await at the Pavilhão do Conhecimento science museum. Ride the Telecabine cable car over the riverfront for big views and little thrills.

Evening: Head back to town for an early dinner at Cervejaria Ramiro (order clams Bulhão Pato, scarlet prawns, and a prego steak sandwich for dessert—arrive before 6:30pm to avoid queues) or Tasca da Esquina (modern Portuguese small plates).

Day 6: LX Factory, Almada Riverside, and Sunset Sail

Morning: Explore LX Factory’s indie shops and street art. Brunch at Wish Slow Coffee House (pancakes, toasts) or Cantina LX (wood‑fired Portuguese plates). Kids love the towering shelves at Ler Devagar bookshop—watch the printing press in action.

Afternoon: From Cais do Sodré, ferry to Cacilhas (~10 minutes). Walk the river path to Atira‑te ao Rio or Ponto Final for a dreamy waterside lunch with the 25 de Abril Bridge as your backdrop; book ahead. Alternatively, taxi ~25 minutes to Costa da Caparica to run in Atlantic surf.

Evening: Toast the city from the water with a relaxed, family‑friendly cruise (snacks included, departures adjust to sunset):

Lisbon Sunset Sailing Tour with White or Rosé Wine and Snacks

After docking, dinner near Cais do Sodré: Sea Me – Peixaria Moderna (grill + sushi; high chairs available) or Pharmácia (playful petiscos in an old pharmacy, with a park across the street for pre‑meal wiggles).

Day 7: Principe Real Strolls, Last Bites, and Departure

Morning: Brunch at Fauna & Flora (pancakes, eggs, smoothie bowls) or The Mill (Aussie‑Portuguese cafe; excellent flat whites). Let kids loose at Jardim do Príncipe Real’s playground and browse Embaixada’s concept stores in a 19th‑century palace.

Afternoon: Grab takeaway bifanas at O Trevo (Largo do Carmo) or As Bifanas do Afonso near Rossio, plus a final pastel de nata for the road. Depart for the airport—metro or taxi depending on luggage and naps.

Evening: If your flight is late, ride the Bica funicular to Miradouro de Santa Catarina for one last river view and a lemonade from the kiosk.

Optional Add‑On: Short, Kid‑Approved City Tour

If you’d rather swap Day 1’s orientation or Day 3’s food walk for a zippy city overview with viewpoints, a tuk tuk is perfect for families (no long walks, big smiles). Another strong choice:

Lisbon Highlights: Private Tuk Tuk Tour Adventure Sightseeing

Budget & pacing tips: Lisbon suits a mid‑range budget (your “50/100”). Mix markets and tascas with a couple of sit‑down dinners; many attractions offer family tickets. Use day passes on public transport, take breaks at miradouros with kiosks, and schedule late dinners earlier than locals (7–8pm) for calmer dining rooms.

That’s a wrap on a week of castles, trams, and Atlantic light. You’ve tasted Lisbon’s neighborhoods, sailed her river, and day‑tripped to palaces older than fairy tales. Come back for a weekend just to revisit your favorite bakery—and to see what new view the city reveals.