Portugal Family Road Trip: Porto, Lisbon & Alentejo - 11 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Porto, Family Food Tour

Welcome to Portugal! You'll land at Porto airport and be met by your driver, who will transfer you to your hotel in the city center. Porto is Portugal's second-largest city, with a history that dates back to the Roman Empire—which also makes it one of Europe's oldest cities. Once you've had time to get checked in and settled, start your adventure with a guided family food tour, sampling traditional foods like pastéis de nata (custard tarts), sardinhas assadas (grilled sardines), and dishes containing bacalhau (dried, salted cod). You'll have a chance to try some of these local favorites, as well as other foods specific to Portugal.

The tour takes you to small, authentic restaurants, cafés, and bars as you're welcomed by the business owners and their families. Taste a range of traditional dishes, local pastries, Portuguese wines for the adults, and maybe some sumol ananás for the kids (a fizzy pineapple soda that's one of Portugal's most popular drinks). And if the kids are picky eaters, don't worry. Since this is a private tour, it can be customized to accommodate any and all palates. Relax at your hotel tonight before continuing your exploration of the city tomorrow. 

Day 2: Porto for Kids, Tile-Painting Workshop

 Start your day with a guided introduction to the city's must-see attractions and historic sites, all with a kid-friendly focus. Walk among some of Porto's most important landmarks, including the medieval townhouses stacked along the Douro River and the historic town center. See the Dom Luís I Bridge, which traverses the river and towers at 147 feet (45 m), the Clérigos Church and its amazing bell tower (feel free to make the 30-minute climb if the family is feeling fit!), and the historic São Bento train station, which was once the site of a Benedictine monastery.

In the afternoon, the whole family will get the chance to flex their creative muscles during a two-hour tile-painting workshop. Portugal's tile-covered buildings are a beautiful and important part of the country's heritage. Most houses in Porto are decorated with small pieces of ceramic tile, which were painted by hand in the now-disappeared tile factories of the region. Paint one-of-a-kind azulejo tiles yourself using traditional techniques, and take home a cherished memory of your trip to this beautiful city.

Day 3: Culture & Hiking in Peneda-Gerês National Park

Let the kids burn off some energy today with an active trip to Peneda-Gerês National Park, a vast protected area of 436 square miles (703 sq km) near the Spanish border. Your trip among the park's wild mountain landscapes will include several shorter, accessible hikes that get you up into the best scenery of the park in a short time, with adaptable routes to meet your family's needs and your children's ages. Pass mountain panoramas and pause at waterfalls, where the kids can swim in crystal-clear pools and spot the plentiful local flora and fauna like wild Garrano horses, wild boar, wildcats, deer, and otters.

At one of the most iconic viewpoints, you'll sit down to a family picnic of traditional local food while admiring the gorgeous scenery. As you travel between the park's scenic highlights in a 4WD vehicle, your local guide will share numerous insights into the park and its inhabitants. You'll also get to see and experience the area's centuries-old villages, where ancient traditions have been preserved, and meet the villagers who help conserve the region's distinctive culture. Head back to Lisbon in the afternoon, where the kids are sure to sleep well after a day spent in the fresh mountain air.

Day 4: Transfer to Lisbon via Mira De Aire Caves

It's time to pack your bags and head south, meeting your driver for a transfer to Lisbon. The drive takes just over three hours, but you'll break up the journey with a stop at the impressive Grutas Mira de Aire. These are the largest underground caves in Portugal, formed during the Middle Jurassic Age more than 150 million years ago. The caves were discovered only in 1947 and, in 2010, were designated one of the "Seven Natural Wonders" of Portugal.

The visit starts with a short film explaining how this cave system was found. Then, follow your guide underground, descending 683 steps about 340 feet (110 m) into a fascinating world of mineral formations. Curious children will love spotting the stalagmites (which grow up from the cave floor) and stalactites (icicle-shaped mineral formations hanging down from the cave ceiling). After aspiring explorers have had their fill of this fascinating underground world, you'll continue to Lisbon and get settled into your hotel in the capital. 

Day 5: Explore Lisbon by Tuk-Tuk, Amphibious Boat Tour

Get to know Lisbon today on a couple of fun tours that are sure to keep the kids happy: one by tuk-tuk, the other by amphibious vehicle. Start on an electric tuk-tuk tour—a fun, eco-friendly mode of transport sure to delight all ages. Led by a knowledgeable guide, you'll zip through the capital's modern and historic districts, from the neoclassical avenues of Baixa to the cobblestone alleys of the bohemian Bairro Alto. Discover the city's fascinating history and hidden corners along the way, and stop at panoramic viewpoints like São Pedro de Alcântara, Parque Eduardo VII, Senhora do Monte, and Santa Luzia.

Once you've had a chance to regroup, take the kids out on a city tour that's sure to be unlike anything they've seen—via Hippotrip. These amphibious vehicles explore the heart of Portugal's capital by both land and river, allowing you to see some of its most notable sights without ever leaving the comfort of your own seat. Is it a bus? Is it a boat? It's both! Your family will board the bus and enjoy a land tour first, then you'll head to the Tagus River and drive straight into it for a sightseeing cruise.

Day 6: Day Trip to the Palaces & Forests of Sintra

Follow in the footsteps of kings and queens today with a guided exploration of magnificent Sintra. Experience the quiet of the dense and dewy forest and the charm of the many 19th-century palaces that dot the mountainside. Sintra is an essential day trip from Lisbon and the perfect adventure for families of every age—plus, there are challenges and fun activities for them along the way.

The kids will love running through secret passageways and climbing turrets in the gardens at Quinta da Regaleira. Hear about the legends and myths of Sintra and the real-life authors and artists who have left their marks here, including Lord Byron and Hans Christian Andersen. Wander through the Sintra historical village, stopping for a travesseiro—the traditional sweet of Sintra. Continue the adventure at the National Palace of Sintra, a hunting retreat and summer resort for the Portuguese monarchy and its court during the Middle Ages. See if the kids can guess what two giant triangular chimneys were used for!

Day 8: Alentejo Countryside 4WD Tour

Take a break from navigating today as you join a private driver for a guided exploration of the Alentejo countryside. Enjoy the slower rhythm amid the golden plains here; residents of the Alentejo region are more traditional than in other parts of Portugal, something you'll see reflected in their home-cooked cuisine and intricate handicrafts.

The kids will love bumping through forests of cork and holm oak trees, where Iberian black pigs snuffle for acorns and farmers harvest cork. Visit a tiny walled village to explore its hilltop medieval castle, then stop by a local olive oil farm and sit down to a relaxed lunch with the family. Afterward, you'll continue to nearby vineyards, where you'll learn about the production process, from vine to bottle, and hear about how the Alentejo region's clay-lime soils and climate combine to produce award-winning varieties. Adults can end the day sipping a glass or two of the finest reds while the kids play among the vines. 

Day 9: Alentejo Farm Activities: Archery, Horseback Riding & More

Today is free for you to create your own itinerary of activities at the estate. Arrange a bird-watching tour, book a beekeeper experience, or visit the vegetable gardens to help pick produce for dinner. Young animal lovers might want to take a riding lesson on well-trained, homebred Lusitano horses, or spend the afternoon meeting the resident animals, including indigenous black pigs, Alentejo cows, chickens, and peacocks.

For something more adventurous, challenge the family to an archery session, or set off on a guided treasure hunt, following clues to find a hidden prize. Aspiring bakers can even join a cookie-making workshop in the kitchens. When you've had your fill of exploring the vast acreage and unspoiled Alentejo nature, spend the rest of the afternoon around the pool or relaxing in your family villa.

Day 10: Drive to Lisbon, Free Afternoon to Explore

Make the most of your final morning in the countryside, letting the kids enjoy the outdoors before you pack up the car and head back to Lisbon. You can break up the drive again with another stop in Évora, or head straight to the capital to return your rental car, drop off your bags at the hotel, and grab some lunch.

Afterward, you'll have the rest of the afternoon free to enjoy the penultimate day of your trip. You could check out Castelo São Jorge, a commanding Moorish castle high above Lisbon's narrow medieval streets. Kids will love the family activities with knights and archers that take place periodically. Keep an eye out for the peacocks, too! Moving on from the castle, fly over the Tagus River with a ride on the Telecabine Lisboa (Lisbon Cable Car), which runs along the river at Parque das Nacoes for around a mile (2.2 km). 

Day 11: Depart Lisbon

Your epic 11-day family adventure across Portugal draws to a close today. When the time comes, a driver will pick you up and transfer you to the airport for your departing flight. Safe travels!

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