Walkable, safe, and very welcoming to families, Lisbon is a great choice for a city break with kids. Portugal’s colorful capital is affordable too – and even more so when you buy a Lisbon City Card, which includes free entrance to up to 38 museums and attractions. The Lisbon city pass gives you unlimited free travel by bus, metro, tram, and the city’s famous elevadores so it’s easy to get around. And you’ll save time by not having to buy separate entrance tickets. Here’s your guide to the top attractions for families with the Lisbon City Card.
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Best for Little Kids
Travel with little kids is fun but it requires careful planning, patience, and toddler-friendly things to do. Lisbon’s National Coach Museum, with transport from horse-drawn carriages to sedan chairs, is an excellent choice for little kids.
Kings and Queens are always fascinating to little ones, and the glamorous gold coaches are bound to the entrance. There’s plenty of room to run (or toddle) around too. The National Coach Museum is a short bus ride from Jerónimos Monastery, also included in your Lisbon city pass. The National Ethnology Museum is another surefire hit with younger children. Its huge and diverse collection includes objects from more than 380 cultures, from African and Asian to Portuguese. This fascinating insight into cultures from around the world is bound to enthrall younger travelers.
Best for Teens
Lisbon’s Ponte 25 de Abril – 25th April Bridge – soars high above the city’s skyline. This elegant structure resembles San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, and it’s no surprise to learn that it was built by the same company. What is surprising is that this is one of the best attractions for teens included in the Lisbon City Card.
The bridge’s cutting-edge exhibition is bursting with innovative displays and interactive elements. Multimedia exhibits bring history to life in a way that even the most blasé of teens will find fascinating. The highlight of your visit is the trip by elevator to a glass-sided viewing platform. Here, panoramic views of Lisbon provide the perfect selfie background.
Best for Explorers
Not only does the Lisbon City Card include entry to up to 38 museums, but it also provides free public transport. Lisbon’s excellent bus services and (air-conditioned) Metro connect all the key sites and offer far the best way to get around the city with kids. The Lisbon city pass extends to more unusual travel options too. To fully experience the city’s unique transport options, take one of the iconic yellow trams. Tram 28’s heritage cars and route past many landmarks make it the perfect pick for visitors.
Explorers will also enjoy the Santa Justa Elevator, a 19th-century mechanical marvel also included in your Lisbon city pass. Neo-Gothic arches and stylishly fashioned wrought iron make this an artwork as much as it is a lift. And where else could you be whisked to 45 meters in a miracle of the industrial age?
Best for History Buffs
Lisbon’s Jerónimos Monastery is a masterpiece of 16th-century Gothic architecture. Such is its cultural significance that it’s a National Monument of Portugal and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It offers a glimpse into a past age, which history buffs are sure to love. Jerónimos Monastery is bursting with elaborate stonework and frescoed vaulted ceilings. Visit the cloister and former monks’ refectory; imagine the simple religious life lived amongst these magnificent surroundings. You can visit the monastery with a single entrance ticket but use a Lisbon city card to get great savings here and on many other top city attractions.
15 minutes stroll away on the seafront, Belém Tower is another attraction full of historical interest. This 16th-century fortification served as the gateway for Portuguese explorers. It’s a confection of arches, decorative windows, and fine stonework, and sits proudly isolated on the waterfront. For a fuller picture of history, make sure you visit the Museum Aljube – Resistance and Freedom. Museum Aljube documents resistance in favor of freedom and democracy, including in Portugal’s colonies – the source of much of Portugal’s ‘Age of Exploration’ wealth.
Best for Art Lovers
There are tiles galore on the churches, historic monuments, and significant buildings of Lisbon. The National Tile Museum is one of Portugal’s most important cultural institutions, and it’s a great choice for children who love art. Colorful patterned tiles from the 15th century to the modern day will entice decorative art lovers. The museum’s setting in the cloisters of the 16th-century Convento de Madre de Deus is glittering too.
The National Ancient Art Museum is another must-see for art aficionados. Its world-class collection ranges from sculpture and European painting to goldwork and textiles. You can buy separate entrance tickets but get a better deal with a Lisbon City Card, which also includes metro, bus, and tram travel in the city. Lisbon’s iconic yellow trams, family-friendly museums, and seafront location promise a trip that all the family can enjoy. And you can make it great value with the Lisbon city pass.
