# Lisbon or Porto with kids?

Written 2026-10-10 by Play Day. Portugal's two cities for a family: Lisbon for the Oceanário, the Pavilhão do Conhecimento, the zoo and the Martinhal apartment hotels with a kids' club; Porto for a smaller, cheaper city with the Serralves treetop walk, the beach at the end of the tram and the river. Which to pick, and the three-hour train between them.

With kids under eight and one city, pick Lisbon. The Oceanário, one of the best aquariums in Europe, sits in Parque das Nações with the science museum and the cable car next door, plus a riverside playground, and the zoo is in town too. Porto suits a shorter trip with older kids, with a treetop walk and a beach at the end of a tram.

The train between them takes about three hours.

## Lisbon, for the aquarium and the apartments

### [Oceanário de Lisboa](https://ourplayday.com/places/oceanario-de-lisboa-lisbon)

City: Lisbon

The aquarium is step-free throughout, with ramps and elevators, and the middle of it is one huge tank with sharks and sunfish.

- Changing table: Yes
- Wheelchair access: Yes

### [Pavilhão do Conhecimento](https://ourplayday.com/places/pavilhao-do-conhecimento-lisbon)

City: Lisbon

An interactive science museum next to the Oceanário, with a hands-on area for the smallest kids and strollers to borrow. The ticket is good all day, and the two together are a full day without a hill.

- Wheelchair access: Yes

### [Jardim Zoológico de Lisboa](https://ourplayday.com/places/jardim-zoologico-de-lisboa-lisbon)

City: Lisbon

A big old zoo, open since 1884, with a cable car over the enclosures and a dolphin show. There's a metro station at the gate.

### [Telecabine Lisboa](https://ourplayday.com/places/telecabine-lisboa-lisbon)

City: Lisbon

A gondola at Parque das Nações that runs over the water between the aquarium and the far end of the park, and kids under three ride free.

### [Martinhal Lisbon Chiado](https://ourplayday.com/places/martinhal-lisbon-chiado-lisbon)

City: Lisbon

Apartments with a kitchenette, and in the two-bedroom the kids get a room of their own. There's a free crèche for ages six months to three years. For a family with a baby, the crèche tips it to Lisbon. The Lisbon family hotel guide has the rest.

- Kitchenette: Yes
- Kids' club: Yes

## Porto, for the river and the beach

### [Serralves Park and Treetop Walk](https://ourplayday.com/places/serralves-park-and-treetop-walk-porto)

City: Porto

Porto's best family day is this art park, with a museum and a farm with horses, donkeys and pigs. The treetop walk through the canopy is the highlight. Serralves is on the west side of the city.

### [Jardim do Passeio Alegre](https://ourplayday.com/places/jardim-do-passeio-alegre-porto)

City: Porto

A seaside garden with a fountain and a play area, at the end of the vintage tram line. The tram runs along the river from the center to the sea, and from the garden it's a walk to Praia do Homem do Leme, the city beach with a playground beside the sand.

### [World of Discoveries](https://ourplayday.com/places/world-of-discoveries-porto)

City: Porto

An interactive museum of Portuguese exploration with a boat ride through it, and a visit is about an hour. It's the indoor attraction in the center that's built for kids, near the river.

### [Jardins do Palácio de Cristal](https://ourplayday.com/places/jardins-do-palacio-de-cristal-porto)

City: Porto

The gardens above the river have peacocks and a playground with a climbing net and a slide. We think it's the city's best playground, and it has the best view of the Douro. It's free, and a walk from the center.

- Playground: Yes

### [Spot Family Suites](https://ourplayday.com/places/spot-family-suites-porto)

City: Porto

Porto's family apartment hotel, with kitchenettes and breakfast included. The master suite sleeps six in separate bedrooms.

- Kitchenette: Yes

Page: https://ourplayday.com/guides/portugal/lisbon/lisbon-or-porto-with-kids