It feels like everyone is talking about Portugal these days – the beauty, the vibrant cities, the wine, the low-cost of travel. When we visited Portugal for 14 days last July, I thought it couldn’t possibly live up to the hype.
And, I was wrong. Portugal will live rent-free in my mind as the most magical two weeks, all sunbeams poking through bougainvillea, blue azure tiles, and a glasses of white Port on the banks of the Douro.
In this post, I lay out our trip itinerary at a birds-eye view. For context, this is from the lens of a family with young kids – we visited Portugal with our then three-year-old and nine-month-old. The pace of travel felt good for our novelty-loving selves, though this might be breakneck for some families.
We didn't go to two major destinations in Portugal: the Douro Valley or the Algarve. Instead we chose to spend more time in the larger cities and visit Portugal's gorgeous national park, Peneda-Gerês. I think with a limited time you have to make some hard choices. But, anything you miss is just an excuse to return.
A 14-day Portugal Itinerary with a Toddler and Baby
Day 1: Fly into Lisbon
We flew into Lisbon, Portugal's vibrant capital, spending four days exploring its narrow cobbled streets (complete with hidden playgrounds, wild peacocks, colorful graffiti and more).
We stayed at the Martinhal Chiado, a perfect stay for families with kids. (Read more here.)
Day 1: Bairro Alto, visit Pink Street, Time Out Market, and Principe Real
Day 2-5: Lisbon + Day Trip to Sintra
Day 2: Belem: Jerónimos Monastery, Jardim da Praça do Império, and Belém Tower
Day 3: Parque das Nações: Oceanário and Telecabine Lisboa
Day 4: Alfama District: Tram 28, Miradouro das Portas do Sol, São Jorge Castle
Day 5: Day trip to Sintra, visit Pena Palace and Castelo dos Mouros
You can read a deep-dive itinerary of Lisbon (with the best playgrounds) in my other post.
Day 6: Drive to Obidos
After a car-free stay in Lisbon, we rented a car and headed north. Our first stop was the charming medieval town of Obidos. Its medieval wall (that you can perilously walk) and colorful houses are the epitome of charming – even more charming after a few shots of the local cherry liqueur, Ginjinha.
Day 7-9: Drive along the cost to Aveiro (or swap for Nazaré)
After stopping for lunch in Peniche (many jokes were made), we drove up the coast to Aveiro, known as the "Venice of Portugal." While the town’s canals were picturesque, I wished we’d settled in Nazaré instead, a bit further south along the coast. Nazaré has a lovely beach, and there’s even a free kid’s library and play area on the beach! It’s perfect for families.
We do absolutely recommend the colorful fisherman's houses near Aveiro in Costa Nova – so bright and happy!
Day 9-11: Peneda-Gerês National Park
We headed east from Aveiro, stopping in Braga for lunch (and I was glad that was the extent of our Braga stay), and continuing on to Peneda-Gerês, Portugal's only national park. We stayed high up in the hills with a view of the Arado river valley. Our Airbnb was basically heaven, with free bread delivery, a pool and a tree house. In Peneda, we rested, spending time both on the rocky beach with inflatable play structures, and hiking up to see a waterfall and dip our toes in a crisp mountain stream.
Day 11-14: Porto
After a refreshing few days outside the city, we drove to Porto and dropped off our rental car. Our stay in Porto was HOT – it clocked in 90+ degrees every day. We foolishly booked an AirBNB without A/C, and had to jump ship after a few days for a hotel (the super-glorious Casa da Companhia).
A few of the sites of Porto included:
World of Discoveries: Museum. Fun and kitchsy – it's the It’s a Small World of Portuguese history.
Vila Nova de Gaia:Â When staying in Porto and looking across the river at the Port Caves, you're actually looking at a different city called Gaia. We dragged our kids to several caves. Pro tip: There's a playground here along the river: Something for them, something for us *sips port*.
Dom LuÃs I Bridge: It's fun to walk across the bottom part over to Gaia. Once there you can take a funicular up to the top part of the bridge and walk pack with a view and ice cream.
Rua das Flores: The "street of flowers" features lots of shops and cafes and street musicians for ambiance. Delightful for a stroll any time of day and to get tourist knick-knacks.
Day 15: Return to Lisbon
We took the train back to Lisbon, and stayed overnight in the Parque das Nações are before catching our flight in the morning. Just writing this post makes me want to go back to Portugal ASAP. So, pack your bags and let me live vicariously through you!