Portugal with Kids: A Family-Friendly Coastal Road Trip Through Portugal
In February 2020, Dave and I started planning our epic kiteboarding road trip along the coast of Portugal. Then March 2020 arrived, COVID shut down the world, and our dream adventure was suddenly on pause.
Fast forward a few years, one shelter-in-place later and two kids added to the mix, and we finally brought the Portugal road trip to life — this time with a much more family-friendly spin.
During maternity and paternity leave with our second child, we spent a month winding along Portugal’s coastline, soaking up the culture, incredible food, ocean views, and slower pace of life. While there was less kiteboarding than our original vision, Portugal turned out to be one of the easiest and most enjoyable places we’ve ever traveled with young kids.
If you’re dreaming of an adventurous international trip that still feels manageable with little ones, Portugal absolutely deserves a spot at the top of your list.
Why Portugal Is Perfect for Families
Affordable Airfare
Roundtrip flights from SFO to Lisbon were roughly the same price as flying to Hawaii, making Portugal feel surprisingly accessible for a longer trip.
Affordable Food
Spending a month abroad can sound intimidating financially, but once we arrived, Portugal felt incredibly budget-friendly. We regularly enjoyed full family dinners — steak dinners in Viana do Castelo and seafood feasts in Lisbon, complete with wine — for around $40.
Families Skip the Lines
One of our favorite unexpected perks: Portugal allows families with children under 2 years old to skip many museum and attraction lines. This was a game changer while traveling with an infant and toddler.
Outdoor Adventure Everywhere
Portugal made it easy to stay active with kids. Nearly every stop offered accessible beaches, scenic walks, hikes, playgrounds, and outdoor cafes.
The Park Culture Is Elite
Portugal’s parks deserve their own category. Many city parks featured playgrounds alongside kiosks or park cafés serving coffee, beer, and wine. Everyone gets to enjoy the outing.
Family-Friendly Dining Culture
Traveling with a toddler and infant means dinner is rarely peaceful. Despite the chaos, we never once felt rushed or unwelcome in Portuguese restaurants. Families are deeply woven into the culture there, and it shows.
Favorite Adventures in Portugal with Kids
Seven Hanging Valleys Trail (Algarve)
If you’re traveling with older kids (6+), I would absolutely recommend one of the famous Benagil Cave kayak tours. Since we were traveling with a 2.5-year-old and a 3-month-old, kayaking wasn’t realistic for us. Instead, we opted for the Seven Hanging Valleys Trail — and honestly, it was spectacular.
The hike follows dramatic limestone cliffs overlooking turquoise water and sea caves, including views directly above the famous Benagil Cave.
Trail Details
Drive Time from Lagos: ~40 minutes
Parking: Praia da Marinha parking lot
Distance: 3.7 miles one-way / 7.4 miles roundtrip
Duration: 3–6 hours
Best Nearby Town: Carvoeiro
Family Tip: Bring plenty of water and sun protection — shade is limited.
One of the highlights was looking down through the ceiling opening of the Benagil Sea Cave from above. You can’t enter the cave from the trail itself, but the perspective is incredible.
Paiva Walkways (Near Porto)
The Paiva Walkways ended up being one of the most memorable outdoor adventures of our entire trip.
This scenic boardwalk trail winds through a river canyon with suspension bridges, waterfalls, and endless staircases. Our 2.5-year-old managed much of the hike independently, though we definitely relied on the hiking backpack periodically.
For families with older kids or adventurous adults, you can also add the famous Arouca Suspension Bridge experience.
Important Shuttle Tip
The hike is not a loop. You’ll either need:
a shuttle,
taxi,
or pre-arranged transportation back to your car.
We are not a “watch the clock” hiking family, but definitely pay attention to shuttle timing so you don’t miss the last ride back.
Trail Details
Drive from Porto: ~1.5 hours
Best Starting Point: Areinho
Ending Point: Espiunca
Distance: ~5.5 miles
Duration: 3–3.5 hours
Entry Fee: Approximately $4/person
No Rental Car?
If you aren’t driving, consider booking a guided Paiva Walkways tour that includes transportation.
Duck Boat Tour in Porto
This was one of the best “easy win” activities we did with little kids.
Instead of attempting a long walking tour while carrying a baby and managing toddler meltdowns, we booked a duck boat tour through Porto. The kids loved it — especially the moment when the vehicle transitioned from land into the river.
The guides kept things interactive and fun, and kids even had an opportunity to “drive” the boat for a moment.
Highly recommend for families wanting to experience Porto without overextending little legs.
The Hotel We Never Wanted to Leave: FeelViana
FeelViana deserves its own section because it completely changed our trip.
Within 24 hours of arriving, we canceled our planned Douro Valley stop just so we could extend our stay in Viana do Castelo.
This hotel was magic for traveling families — especially active families.
Why We Loved It
Surf & Kiteboarding
On-site rentals and lessons made it easy to get back into the sports we originally planned the trip around.
Mountain Biking
The hotel offered both rentals and guided tours with direct access to incredible trails.
Kids Club & Babysitting
For children over 4 years old, the hotel offers activities and childcare options so parents can sneak away for surfing, biking, or even just a quiet dinner.
Beach Access
Beautiful walking trails stretched directly along the coastline, making morning and evening strolls effortless.
The Breakfast
The included breakfast spread deserves legendary status. We are still talking about it.
Final Thoughts
Portugal exceeded every expectation we had as a destination for family travel. It delivered adventure, affordability, incredible food, outdoor experiences, and one of the most family-welcoming cultures we’ve experienced anywhere.
Whether you’re planning:
a month-long slow travel adventure,
an active family vacation,
or a condensed 10-day Portugal itinerary,
Portugal offers a rare combination of accessibility and adventure that works beautifully with kids in tow.
And while our original kiteboarding road trip may have evolved into something completely different, it somehow became even better.
