Family holidays in Portugal
Spain’s neighbour on the Iberian peninsula, Portugal shares the same beautifully sunny climate and a fascinating imperial history. The country varies greatly from north to south, and coastal to inland, while Lisbon is a wonderful little world of its own. Less developed for tourism than Spain, Portugal is the perfect destination if you prefer stumbling across untarnished gems to following the camera-laden masses.
When to go
Summer can be very hot in the Algarve, and the good weather lasts all year until the deepest parts of winter.
Top tip
Remember to pack sun tan lotion if planning a holiday in the hot Portuguese sun.
Food
Much of Portuguese cuisine centres around fish, including grilled sardines and the hugely popular bacalhau (dry cod), for which seemingly endless recipes exist. Salad and vegetables are a little less prominent but, if you can find them, they’re often wonderfully fresh. Most restaurants will be happy to cook child-friendly meals for your younger companions, and children are usually welcomed.
Entertainment
Lisbon is not short of family entertainment, with the St. George Castle commanding a great view over the city, and the Gulbenkian Planetarium, the Vasco da Gama Aquarium and the botanical garden are all terrific for kids. The Algarve’s coastline is custom-made for beach holidays, water sports and horse-riding, while the interior offers great hiking and cycle rides.
Flying time
2.5 hours
Time difference
GMT
Transfer times
- Lisbon:
- Lisbon – approximately 20 mins
- Faro:
- Faro Airport (Algarve) – approximately 15 mins
