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Family outings

Family outings in Lisbon

With the ocean twenty minutes away and some of the most generous light in Europe, Lisbon is lived outdoors. Here are our addresses for children, from neighbourhood gardens to weekend getaways, with the official websites to check hours and bookings.

Verified on 30 October 2026

Parks and gardens

Lisbon has a giant green lung, Monsanto, and plenty of neighbourhood gardens with a kiosk café, playground and ducks. Welcome shade in summer, gentle sun in winter: you go all year round.

Good to know

  • Monsanto forest park, a few minutes from the centre, brings together trails, picnic areas, recreation parks and activities from birdwatching to model-making: it is the nearest nature outing for children. Source
  • Estrela garden is one of the liveliest places in town in the late afternoon and at weekends: playground, bandstand, pond and terrace cafés, opposite the basilica. Source
  • Most municipal gardens are free; the Tapada das Necessidades, with its ponds and large lawns, is one of the best spots for a quiet picnic. Source

Addresses

  • Parque Florestal de Monsanto

    Park

    Monsanto, Lisboa

    Huge urban forest with recreation parks and playgrounds, including Alvito; plan on a car or bus, distances are large.

    Website Source

  • Jardim da Estrela

    Park

    Largo da Estrela, Lisboa

    The family garden of Campo de Ourique and Estrela: playground, duck pond, bandstand and terraces.

    Website Source

  • Jardim Gulbenkian

    Park

    Avenida de Berna 45-A, 1067-001 Lisboa

    The Gulbenkian Foundation garden, free to enter: pond, ducks, turtles, lawns and an open-air amphitheatre, between two museums.

    Website Source

  • Tapada das Necessidades

    Park

    Largo das Necessidades, 1399-051 Lisboa

    Former royal park behind the Necessidades palace: ponds, exotic plants and large lawns, ideal for a picnic.

    Website Source

  • Jardim Botânico Tropical

    Park

    Largo dos Jerónimos, Belém, 1400-209 Lisboa

    Botanical garden created in 1906 next to the Jerónimos: palm-lined paths, glasshouses and ponds, a quiet spot close to the Belém crowds.

    Website Source

  • Estufa Fria, Parque Eduardo VII

    Park

    Parque Eduardo VII, 1070-099 Lisboa

    Lush glasshouses in the heart of Eduardo VII park: ferns, pools and walkways, a sheltered stroll on rainy days.

    Website Source

  • Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa

    Activity

    Praça Marechal Humberto Delgado, 1500-004 Lisboa

    The Sete Rios zoo, next to Jardim Zoológico metro: animals from around the world, a cable car above the enclosures and shows.

    Website Source

Go further

Museums

The ocean, science and the great voyages of discovery: Lisbon's museums speak to children. Belém and Parque das Nações hold the must-sees.

Good to know

  • The Oceanário, in Parque das Nações, shows some 8,000 marine creatures around a vast central tank: book online at weekends and during holidays. Source
  • The Pavilhão do Conhecimento, an interactive science museum, is open Tuesday to Friday 10:00 to 18:00 and at weekends and on public holidays 10:00 to 19:00; it is closed on Mondays. Source
  • The Gulbenkian Foundation offers a programme for the whole family: guided tours, stories for the youngest, workshops and concerts. Source

Addresses

  • Oceanário de Lisboa

    Museum

    Esplanada D. Carlos I, 1990-005 Lisboa

    One of Europe's finest aquariums: otters, rays, sharks and penguins, an outing that works at every age.

    Website Source

  • Pavilhão do Conhecimento, Ciência Viva

    Museum

    Largo José Mariano Gago 1, Parque das Nações, 1990-073 Lisboa

    Interactive science exhibitions, spaces for little ones and family activities at weekends.

    Website Source

  • Museu de Marinha

    Museum

    Praça do Império, 1400-206 Lisboa

    Caravels, maps, royal barges and seaplanes: the age of discovery told next to the Jerónimos.

    Website Source

  • Museu Nacional dos Coches

    Museum

    Avenida da Índia 136, 1300-300 Lisboa

    Gilded coaches, berlins and sedan chairs from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries: a real fairy tale for children.

    Website Source

  • Museu Calouste Gulbenkian

    Museum

    Avenida de Berna 45-A, 1067-001 Lisboa

    Art collections and a modern art centre in the middle of the garden, with stories, workshops and family tours.

    Website Source

  • MAAT, Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia

    Museum

    Avenida Brasília, 1300-598 Lisboa

    The wave-shaped building on the Tagus, whose roof you can walk on: art and technology exhibitions, a riverside stroll.

    Website Source

  • Museu da Carris

    Museum

    Rua 1º de Maio 101-103, 1300-472 Lisboa

    The museum of Lisbon's trams and buses, in a former Alcântara depot: you can climb aboard the old trams.

    Website Source

  • Museu de Lisboa, Palácio Pimenta

    Museum

    Campo Grande 245, 1700 Lisboa

    The city's history, from Roman Olisipo to the 1755 earthquake, with a large model of Lisbon and peacocks in the garden.

    Website Source

Libraries

For books in French, one address stands out: the media library of the Institut français du Portugal, next to the embassy. The municipal BLX network adds children's spaces across the city.

Good to know

  • The Institut français media library is open to everyone, on weekday afternoons and Saturday mornings, with a children's collection, audiobooks and DVDs, and access to Culturethèque, the digital library. Source
  • Its regular events for children: story time on Saturday mornings, an early-years session for ages 0 to 3 and, before Christmas, creative Wednesdays. Source
  • BLX municipal libraries lend free of charge and offer story times in Portuguese and children's spaces: a good way to bring the language home. Source

Addresses

  • Médiathèque de l'Institut français du Portugal

    Library

    Rua Santos-o-Velho 11, 1200-811 Lisboa

    Children's books, comics, picture books, DVDs and press in French; story time, 0-3 sessions and creative Wednesdays.

    Website Source

  • Biblioteca Palácio Galveias

    Library

    Campo Pequeno, Lisboa

    The large renovated municipal library at Campo Pequeno, with a children's space and a garden.

    Website Source

  • Biblioteca de Belém

    Library

    Rua da Junqueira 295, Lisboa

    Neighbourhood municipal library, handy for families in Belém and Restelo.

    Website Source

  • Biblioteca Orlando Ribeiro

    Library

    Telheiras, Lisboa

    Telheiras municipal library, open Monday to Saturday, with a children's collection; near Telheiras metro.

    Website Source

Go further

Activities and workshops

Shows, art and science workshops, stories in French: Lisbon's big cultural institutions programme a lot for families, often at weekends.

Good to know

  • The Fábrica das Artes at the Centro Cultural de Belém is dedicated to the performing arts for young audiences: shows and workshops for children, families and schools. Source
  • The Pavilhão do Conhecimento runs family activities, and the Gulbenkian Foundation workshops, stories and concerts for all ages; check the online calendars and book early. Source
  • To meet other French-speaking families, Lisbonne Accueil organises outings and meetups, and lepetitjournal.com keeps a list of French-speaking associations and groups in Portugal. Source

Addresses

  • Fábrica das Artes, Centro Cultural de Belém

    Activity

    Praça do Império, Belém, Lisboa

    Shows, concerts and workshops for children and families, often wordless or very visual: accessible before speaking Portuguese.

    Website Source

  • Fondation Calouste Gulbenkian, visites et activités

    Activity

    Avenida de Berna 45-A, 1067-001 Lisboa

    Stories, workshops, guided tours and concerts for the whole family, in the museum and the garden.

    Website Source

  • Pavilhão do Conhecimento, activités en famille

    Activity

    Largo José Mariano Gago 1, Parque das Nações, Lisboa

    Science workshops and experiments at weekends and during holidays, for accompanied children.

    Website Source

  • Médiathèque de l'Institut français, ateliers enfants

    Activity

    Rua Santos-o-Velho 11, 1200-811 Lisboa

    Story time, early-years sessions and creative Wednesdays, in French and Portuguese.

    Website Source

  • Lisbonne Accueil

    Activity

    Lisboa

    The welcome association for French speakers (FIAFE network): cultural outings, heritage discoveries and meetups for newcomers.

    Website Source

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Through the seasons

Mild, rainy winters, a flowering spring, very hot and bright summers: in Lisbon, the season decides between museum and beach. The festival calendar sets the rhythm.

Good to know

  • In June, the Festas de Lisboa and the Santos Populares fill the historic neighbourhoods: garlands, grilled sardines, the Saint Anthony's night parades (12 to 13 June), and plenty for children. Source
  • In October, the Festa do Cinema Francês, created in 2000 by the Institut français, screens French films at Cinema São Jorge and other venues, before touring the country; the 2026 edition ran from 1 to 11 October. Source
  • At Christmas, the walled village of Óbidos becomes Óbidos Vila Natal: Santa's house, market, carousel and puppet theatre, from 27 November 2026 to 3 January 2027. Source
  • In summer, the beaches of the Cascais line (Carcavelos, Parede, Cascais) and the Costa da Caparica are lifeguarded during the bathing season; the ocean stays cool and the waves can be strong, choose sheltered beaches with little ones. Source

Addresses

  • Festas de Lisboa

    Activity

    Alfama, Mouraria, Graça et avenida da Liberdade

    All of June in the historic neighbourhoods; on Saint Anthony's night, keep children close, the crowds are dense.

    Website Source

  • Festa do Cinema Francês

    Activity

    Cinema São Jorge, avenida da Liberdade, Lisboa

    The French film festival backed by the Institut français, every autumn: a chance to see films in French on the big screen.

    Website Source

  • Óbidos Vila Natal

    Activity

    Óbidos

    The children's Christmas village inside Óbidos's walls, an hour from Lisbon on the A8.

    Website Source

  • Plages de Cascais

    Activity

    Cascais

    The family beaches of the Cascais line, reachable by train from Cais do Sodré; lifeguarded swimming in summer.

    Website Source

Go further

Getaways under two hours

Fairy-tale palaces, walled villages, wild beaches and nature parks: around Lisbon, everything is under two hours away, and much of it by train.

Good to know

  • Sintra is reached by the Sintra line train from Rossio, Oriente or Entrecampos, then bus 434 up to Pena. Private cars cannot use the palace roads, and palace entry is booked for a fixed date and time. Source
  • Cascais and its beaches are at the end of the Cascais line, from Cais do Sodré, with the Tagus and then the ocean all along the way. Source
  • South of the Tagus, Arrábida nature park, close to Setúbal, lines up coves and calm-water beaches, perfect for little ones; in summer, car access to the beaches is often restricted. Source

Addresses

  • Sintra, parc et palais de la Pena

    Estrada da Pena, Sintra

    The colourful hilltop palace and its huge park, with family activities and a treasure hunt; bring a jumper, fog is common.

    Website Source

  • Cascais

    Cascais

    Bay, beaches, the seafront walk to Estoril and Marechal Carmona park: the perfect day trip by train.

    Website Source

  • Parque Natural da Arrábida

    N379-1, Setúbal

    Turquoise coves and calm water between Setúbal and Sesimbra, 45 minutes from Lisbon over the 25 de Abril bridge.

    Website Source

  • Palais national et Tapada de Mafra

    Terreiro D. João V, 2640-492 Mafra

    The giant palace-convent and its library, then the nearby Tapada, a deer and wild boar park with family walks.

    Website Source

  • Ericeira

    Ericeira, Mafra

    White and blue fishing village on the ocean, a world surfing reserve, 45 minutes north-west of Lisbon.

    Website Source

  • Óbidos

    Óbidos

    Medieval village inside its walls, which you can walk along (hand in hand with children, there are no railings).

    Website Source

  • Évora

    Évora

    UNESCO-listed city in the Alentejo, with a Roman temple and the Chapel of Bones, about an hour and a half by motorway or train.

    Website Source

Go further

A place has closed, something has changed? Tell us: the mums of Lisbon will thank you.

Sources for this page

The public pages these landmarks come from. The official website always prevails.

  1. 1 Visit Lisboa, office de tourisme de Lisbonne
  2. 2 Médiathèque de l'Institut français du Portugal
  3. 3 Pavilhão do Conhecimento, Ciência Viva
  4. 4 Fondation Calouste Gulbenkian, visites et activités
  5. 5 Parques de Sintra, palais de la Pena
  6. 6 Institut français du Portugal, Festa do Cinema Francês

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