Over the past decade, Porto has changed dramatically and become a tourist destination like Lisbon, and some would say even more so, because it offers a few bonuses, like being close to the river and the Douro Valley, close to the border with Spain and to some interesting nature reserves in the north. Porto offers a wide range of attractions for a holiday with kids.
Porto the Municipality and Porto the City
When people talk about going to Porto, they mean the Porto district, especially the city of Porto (the district capital) and the smaller cities around it. You can’t really get to know Porto without the three cities around it: Matosinhos to the west, Maia to the northeast and Vila Nova de Gaia to the south. Each of them has something to see on a visit to Porto, especially with kids.
“The best way to get to know a city is to walk it”
Every traveler knows this saying, and it’s mostly true: to get a feel for what a city offers, you need to walk its streets and alleys and discover it.
Porto is fairly hard to walk with kids because it isn’t flat, and the ups and downs can be a challenge. The city and the towns around it make up for this with efficient public transport: the metro, buses, and Uber and Bolt rides at quite low prices.
When Is the Best Time to Visit?
Most visitors come between June and October, when the weather is pleasant and even very hot in the summer months. The other months are colder, rainier and cloudier, but even then the city draws visitors who find plenty to do.
In December the city celebrates Christmas in a big way, with markets and festivities. In the warm months the city hosts several major festivals, including a well-known jazz festival (in August).
How to Get Around the City with Kids
In general, as in many big cities, getting around by car isn’t very convenient (no parking and lots of traffic). So if you’re staying in the city, it’s best to use the metro or Uber and Bolt. If you’re staying in the towns next to Porto (Vila Nova de Gaia, Matosinhos and Maia), a rental car can be a good option for getting around in general, since there’s less traffic and more parking.
Uber and Bolt
These are the two main ride-hailing companies in Porto, and fares are relatively low. You download the app and enter your card details. You can order a 5-seat or 7-seat car, and in terms of price it can be cheaper than metro tickets for everyone.
Metro do Porto
Well spread out and frequent, and the ticket also lets you ride the buses. You can buy a ticket at the ticket office in some stations or at the machine in every station. You buy a reusable paper card (for a small fee) and top it up with rides according to zones.
Hop-On Hop-Off Bus
An efficient way to get to know the city with kids and fill some of your time. The bus passes most of the popular tourist sites, and you can hop on and off at the different stops.
If you’re planning to use public transport, consider buying a Porto Card. It gives you free use of the city’s public transport plus a range of discounts at attractions around the city.
Click here to buy a Porto Card
What Can You Do with Kids in Porto?
We’ve rounded up some activities and attractions especially suited to kids. If you want information on more attractions in Porto suited to adults (and some for kids), you can read about them here.
Beaches
The main beaches are in Matosinhos and Gaia, and they’re very beautiful and wide, and some have hundreds of beach tents. However, the water is cold even in summer (compared with the Mediterranean), so swimming is less pleasant. Kids can play in the sand, play ball, and the brave ones can take short dips.
SEA LIFE Porto
A large aquarium. It’s hard to say it has anything special you won’t find at similar places, including the one in Lisbon and in other cities, but it’s still a nice place to spend a few hours with the kids.
Click here to buy tickets for SEA LIFE.
Public Parks
Porto and its satellite cities have lots of parks where you can stroll in a natural atmosphere among lakes and lush vegetation. Some parks have picnic tables, and they’re pleasant places to spend a relaxed time playing ball, board games and walking.
The main parks are:
- parque de serralves
- park da cidade do porto
- Quinta do Covelo (which also has a playground with equipment for kids)
- Jardins do Palácio de Cristal (a large, impressive park with a path overlooking the Douro River)
Mini Golf
Porto has two mini golf venues. The first, fairly small and indoors (for rainy days), is called Minigolf Porto and is near Trindade metro station. The second, Clube de Minigolfe do Porto, is outdoors, large and a lot of fun (€2.50 per player). It’s near the mouth of the Douro River and also has a large park next to it and a seafront promenade all the way to the lighthouse.
Click here to book mini golf tickets
World of Discoveries
An interactive museum about the Age of Discovery, in which Portugal played a big part. The museum also offers a boat ride through different stations and other activities.
The Bridge and the Cable Car (Luís I Bridge)
One of Porto’s biggest attractions: a bridge over the Douro River named after King Luís I. The bridge has an upper deck for the metro and pedestrians and a lower deck for pedestrians. The view from the upper deck is spectacular and a must for photos.
On the south side of the bridge (already in Vila Nova de Gaia) there’s a cable car (Teleférico de Gaia) that kids will love. It takes you up and down to the riverbank (around €10 per adult and €5 per child round trip at the time of writing).
On the riverbank you can stroll along the promenade packed with restaurants and stalls selling all kinds of products, especially ones made of cork, a major Portuguese export.
Have you been to Porto with kids? Share your tips in the comments.