Lisbon - where to stay and what to do?

[skyebear]

Struggling to decide where to go for the Christmas holidays, I chose Lisbon as never been but recall hearing good things about it. Me, my wife and six year old daughter going for a week.

Can anyone recommend good area to stay in and activities for a child? Softplays or trampoline parks will entertain her, I see there's a fairytale castle outside the city as well as dolphin boat tours. She likes science and art so any places that let kids get hands-on would be great.

Thanks!

[RammyMP]

We went in August and stayed at the Epic Sana Marques which was a great hotel and had a small indoor pool which would be good for your kid but it was a bit of a way out of the city centre. It had a rooftop pool as well but I’d have thought it would be too cold this time of year. Next time we go I’d stay closer to the centre, nearer the river.

Can’t help with kids activities but a tuk tuk tour is good to see a lot of the sights in a few hours.

[John D.]

We went earlier this year with our 8yr old. The aquarium is really good. Not normally my thing, but the building is really impressive on its own. Theres a fun cable car there too.

Other than that we did the usual site seeing, walking tour etc.

[Juan B]

If you fancy a spot with a view one night, Java rooftop is nice.

[raceboy]

Just here for the tips too, although will be avoiding anywhere appealing to kids.
Booked to go in March so hoping for pleasant weather and our usual 'goto' is 'unusual' art.

[blue_haddock]

We went a few years ago and really enjoyed it, i'm sure the kid will enjoy all the trams, funiculars and lifts where were very quirky and great fun.

We got the ferry over the river and walked up to the Christ the redeemer statue which gave great views over the town.

The time-out food court has some great options for eating.

Also head down to Belem for the best pastel nata's you will ever try!

[John D.]

We went to the Time Out food market on the first night. Seemed like just a horrible tourist trap to me.

[raceboy]

blue_haddock said:

We went a few years ago and really enjoyed it, i'm sure the kid will enjoy all the trams, funiculars and lifts where were very quirky and great fun.

You don't have to be a kid to enjoy a Funicular.

[Every day a journey]

I’m in Lisbon right now! Somehow after the utter st show that was LGW yesterday morning.

There’s a LOT to see and do in the city. Not sure how much will be open on Christmas Day but being Portugal it’s any excuse for a festa!

Can’t really recommend places to start as we always stay with my wife’s Aunt in the L’Arranjerias part of the city (near Benfica’s stadium)

Enjoy!

[MarkJS]

John D. said:

We went to the Time Out food market on the first night. Seemed like just a horrible tourist trap to me.

I agree. It’s almost always recommended but it’s actually pretty rubbish. Probably the most disappointing food market I’ve been to in Europe.


Can’t help with kid stuff but as already mentioned, take a trip to Balem and enjoy a Pastel De Nata at Pastéis de Belém. Have a wander along the river there too. Cascais which is a lovely town is just a short train ride out of the city too.

[Lotobear]

John D. said:

We went to the Time Out food market on the first night. Seemed like just a horrible tourist trap to me.

Agreed - we actually much prefer Porto to Lisbon and the food market there is so authentic and incredibly reasonable.

[dazmanultra]

We stayed at the Memmo Principe Real. Really nice location and a great hotel.

My favourite place we ate was Tapisco. (https://www.tapisco.pt/)

[skyebear]

Lotobear said:

John D. said:

We went to the Time Out food market on the first night. Seemed like just a horrible tourist trap to me.

Agreed - we actually much prefer Porto to Lisbon and the food market there is so authentic and incredibly reasonable.

Lol, so I've bought flights to the wrong Portuguese city!

[skyebear]

dazmanultra said:

We stayed at the Memmo Principe Real. Really nice location and a great hotel.

My favourite place we ate was Tapisco. (https://www.tapisco.pt/)

Thanks, tried that hotel but fully booked. Has helped narrow down area though. Will try that restaurant. Cheers.

[Alex Z]

We stayed at 138 Liberdade which was lovely and very convenient.

The earthquake experience is great for adults and kids who like science and history.
https://lisbonquake.com/en-GB

Edited by Alex Z on Saturday 21st December 07:53

[Lotobear]

skyebear said:

Lotobear said:

John D. said:

We went to the Time Out food market on the first night. Seemed like just a horrible tourist trap to me.

Agreed - we actually much prefer Porto to Lisbon and the food market there is so authentic and incredibly reasonable.

Lol, so I've bought flights to the wrong Portuguese city!

No, you've bought the correct ones, Lisbon is a great city - we enjoyed it but preferred Porto, just commenting - it's a discussion forum

[Peterpetrole]

If you're remotely interested in history, how we got here, who found and built stuff etc the maritime museum is fantastic.

[AmazingGrace]

skyebear said:

Lotobear said:

John D. said:

We went to the Time Out food market on the first night. Seemed like just a horrible tourist trap to me.

Agreed - we actually much prefer Porto to Lisbon and the food market there is so authentic and incredibly reasonable.

Lol, so I've bought flights to the wrong Portuguese city!

You haven’t. Lisbon is a brilliant city and plenty to see and do.
Caiscais is well worth a visit.
Dear Breakfast is a great little cafe.
Get a tour from one of the tuktuk drivers. They dont rip you off and you get an amusing tour around. Very relaxed and not pushy.

We got the train to sintra and explored that. The old house and gardens are amazing.

This just covers prob 1% of what there is to do!

[skyebear]

Thank you all for the recommendations. Arrived in Lisbon last night and staying just south of Parque Eduardo VII so fairly central. Park is hosting a Christmas market so that's tonight sorted.

Earthquake museum, Oceanarium and Sintra Park are on the to do list.

[skyebear]

Well we thoroughly enjoyed Lisbon as it's a very pleasant city, easy to get about either with Uber or walking. Seemed a safe city too with lots of people about even after midnight. Suppose that 12C and dry lends itself to late nights.

Altis Grand hotel just off Avenue Libertade was a great base with a decent indoor pool. Lots of restaurants nearby although we did visit Busan BBQ, a great Korean place, several times. Macao Dim Sum was bloody awful but Il Margherita Pizza kept our very fussy daughter sustained.

Hello Park just west of the centre was a great place for entertaining a six year old with both indoor and outdoor spaces to play. Oceanarium is well worth a visit and if you go onto the TAP Portugal airline site there's discount codes available.

Fireworks on New Year in Praca de Comercio were decent and the crowds were well behaved. Excellent Christmas markets too.

Sintra will need to wait for daughter to get a bit older.

Will definitely be back and having seen it now I wish we'd gone years ago as much better than some other European cities (Venice, I'm looking at you).

Immigration control was a stshow in both directions even though it wasn't particularly busy.