4 Tips for Visiting Lisbon, Portugal, with a Toddler

Lisbon, Portugal, is a vibrant city, brimming with history, color, winding streets, and a rich food scene. Perched on the banks of the Tagus River, it is thought that Lisbon was founded sometime around 1200 BCE by the Phoenicians to serve as a trading port. The Tagus River is the longest river on the Iberian Peninsula, flowing from Spain across Portugal to Lisbon where it empties into the Atlantic Ocean. Today, the river still shapes the city as locals and visitors alike stroll its banks and gather at miradouros at sunset to watch the city transform into a sea of glittering lights across the bridges, boats, and buildings.

In recent years, Lisbon has become an extremely popular destination for travelers from around the world. In 2024, Portugal welcomed a record 31.6 million visitors. Part of its appeal is how welcoming it is to families. Families are invited to skip the line at various establishments (including Customs in the airport!) while babies and toddlers receive warm welcomes at hotels and restaurants. Staff are quick to fetch high chairs whenever needed and many places provide small gifts or art supplies to keep the little ones entertained. People of all ages and sexes gush and coo over babies and toddlers, playing “cuckcoo,” waving, and smiling.

If you’re looking for a European city that is approachable and fun for littles while also offering great history, sights, food, and drink for the adults, look no further than Lisbon, Portugal! Read on for a few tips to make your trip to Lisbon as smooth as possible.

Skip the Stroller

You might rely heavily on your stroller at home (I know I do!), however, Lisbon is no place for a stroller. The city’s steep, winding, narrow, cobblestone streets are immensely charming but far too treacherous for a stroller. What’s more, you’ll find stairs in nearly every block, meaning you’ll constantly be popping your baby out of the stroller or teaming up to carry your buggy up steep stone steps. Many stores and restaurants also have raised thresholds or steps down to enter, meaning you’ll have trouble entering most establishments in the city. 

Instead, opt for a hiking backpack or carrier, depending on the age of your child. We brought our beloved Deuter backpack and used it every day of our trip. Our daughter rode happily for hours, taking in the sights of the city and napping on the go.

Book a Family-Friendly Hotel

While most hotels in Portugal are happy to accommodate a little one, some truly go above and beyond. If you’re visiting Lisbon with your family, look no further than the Martinhal Lisbon Chiado. This family-focused hotel features spacious apartments with all the amenities of a hotel, including daily room service, a generous breakfast buffet, helpful staff, and an onsite restaurant and bar. In addition, you can pre-book complimentary baby gear, including cribs (aka cots), potties, bottle sterilizers, baby gates, and more.

In addition, the hotel also offers a family playroom full of toys and activities where you can pass the time with your little one. If you’d rather head out on an “adults only” adventure, you can make use of the onsite childcare for an extra fee: the créche for babies ages 6 to 35 months or the “raposinhos room” for children ages 3 to 9 years. Babysitting is also available with advance notice.

Parents know that staying in a hotel with a mobile toddler can be immensely challenging because the space is rarely child-proof - not the case at Martinhal Lisbon Chiado! We stayed in a 1-bedroom apartment and were very impressed by the stylish yet kid-friendly design. All the furniture had rounded corners or was made from soft textiles. The few hard corners were covered with silicone corner protectors. The room was equipped with a crib, a baby potty, a diaper pail, and a highchair, along with some sweet little gifts for our daughter.

Visit in the Off-Season

Fighting crowds and long lines is no fun for anyone and even less so with a toddler in tow. We visited Lisbon in February thinking it would mean we would have the city to ourselves. Instead, our hotel was bustling, the streets were full, and there were lines to enter the most popular sights and restaurants. From conversations with several locals, it sounds like a true “off-season” no longer exists in Lisbon. Do yourself, your toddler, and local residents a favor and avoid the chaos that is Europe in the summer. Instead, plan your visit during the winter when you’ll enjoy relatively mild weather (highs in the 60s and lows in the 40s), fewer tourists, and slightly lower prices.

Take a Walking Food Tour

In the past, I used to be hesitant about organized tours, worried they would feel too forced or formulaic. In recent years, however, I’ve come to find that they are often the most enriching part of my travel experiences.  If you do your research and find a reputable company, you’ll have the privilege of spending a few hours with a local, learning from them, and seeing their home through their eyes. And while your toddler might not be interested in a museum or gallery tour, an outdoor, walking food tour can be a great experience for the whole family! 

We booked a private “Undiscovered Lisbon” tour hosted by Eating Europe and enjoyed four hours exploring the city with our lovely guide, sampling traditional food and drink, meeting small business owners, and learning how Portugal’s history as a world power during the 15th and 16th centuries is still evident in their cuisine today. Booking a private tour allowed us plenty of flexibility and ensured our toddler didn’t complicate the experience for other visitors. Highlights included sampling Mozambican cuisine at Cantinho do Aziz and tasting excellent small bites and wine at Pata Gastrobar.

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