Portugal is around the same size as the US state of Indiana and has a population of around 10 million people. What makes this an attractive destination for foreigners is that about 32% of the population speak and understand English.
Why is Portugal a great destination for families with kids?
The land of medieval castles, cobblestone villages, incredible food and golden beaches makes Portugal an incredible vacation option for families. The cities of Lisbon and Porto in particular are full of art (street art) and culture and so a vacation to Portugal should include these, as well as exploring the raw Atlantic coast and the stunning Algarve coastline.
This is an exceptional destination, its young fun, energetic, vibrant and over the past few years has been emerging into the spotlight. This territory still includes the Archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Beyond the sand of the Algarve, you will find picturesque villages, coastal cliffs, beautiful rivers and charming towns and fishing villages all rich in culture and diversity.
Must see places in Portugal
The list of places to see in Portugal should include some of the following:
a. Lisbon – Belem Tower, Castelo de São Jorge, Jerónimos monastery, Torre de Belém
b. Porto – Church of São Francisco, Palácio de Bolsa, Cais da Ribeira. Clerigos Tower
c. Sintra – Pena’s Palace, Monserrate Palace, Castle of the Moors
d. Braga – Braga Cathedral
e. Guimarães – Grand Dukes of Braganza Palace
f. Algarve – Faro, Lagos, Sagres, Vilamoura
g. Madeira – Orchid Garden, Laurissilva Forest
h. Azores – Mount Pico, Crater lake of Lagoa do Fogo
i. Cascais – Beaches and Boca do Inferno
j. Douro Valley – Quinta do Seixo vineyards
How long would you vacation in Portugal?
Ten days would enough time to allow you to visit the top three locations in Portugal – Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve. This would allow you to spend some time in the city experiencing Portuguese culture, visiting the cities to understand how the Portuguese live and then some relaxing time at the coast at the end of your vacation. For those who could stretch their time to 14 days we would include some time in the Douro Valley and some extra time outside of Porto (Braga and Guimarães) and the same with Lisbon (Cascais and Sintra)
Our top 10 reasons to visit Portugal
- The country is safe, stable and accessible.
- Family-friendly, warm locals
- Fabulous food and drink
- Excellent weather
- Pasteis de Nata (egg custard tart)
- Festivals
- Golden beaches
- Fado (songs accompanied by guitars and mandolins
- Vibrant villages
- Affordable
Top 10 things to do in Portugal with kids
Out top 10 things to do in Portugal with kids are in no particular order and presume that you are visiting the whole of Portugal. We have got fantastic feedback from our clients and friends after partaking in these.
- Spend some time touring Lisbon or Porto with a local
- Spend the day at the beach in Cascais
- Take a drive to Braga and Guimarães
- Go Whale Watching or swim with Dolphins off Madeira
- Have a wine tasting experience in the Douro Valley
- Go and visit the Pena Palace in Sintra
- Sail the Tagus River at sunset
- Explore the Benagil Caves in the Algarve by land or by sea
- Visit the fishing villages along the Algarve coastline
- Enjoy a live Fado performance in the evening
How can we help?
While we live in Europe we believe we are in the best position to speak about Portugal, to advise you and help you to plan a memorable vacation. Let us help you by taking advantage of our vacation consulting or itinerary development services. Working to your budget we’ll discuss the best locations, present you with the best family accommodations, family focused tours/excursion/activities and work out the logistics for you.
So if you are planning a vacation to Portugal and you need some help then just drop us a line and we’ll set up a time to call you and let you know how we might help.