Things to do with kids in Lisbon

Lisbon has many things for kids on holiday to see and do, including museums, planetariums, zoos and aquariums. There are also great shopping centres and amusement parks for families to enjoy while on holiday in Lisbon. Another plus is that the weather in Portugal is warm most of the year, and the local culture is family-oriented so the people are welcoming towards kids.

Lisbon Oceanarium photo

Lisbon Oceanarium

Marketed as the second best aquarium in the world, the world-class Lisbon Oceanarium is the most impressive achievement of EXPO '98, which used to be an abandoned waterfront. The c…

Lisbon Oceanarium

Marketed as the second best aquarium in the world, the world-class Lisbon Oceanarium is the most impressive achievement of EXPO '98, which used to be an abandoned waterfront. The centrepiece of the stone and glass building is the 1,3 million gallon (5 million litre) holding tank. The Oceanarium consists of four distinct ecosystems that replicate the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Antarctic oceans, each featuring the birds, amphibians and reptiles associated with those waters. Otters splash and dive in the warmer Pacific waters, while penguins shuffle around in their tuxedos in the Antarctic section.

Website www.oceanario.pt

Museu de Marinha (Maritime Museum) photo

Museu de Marinha (Maritime Museum)

The Navy Museum of Lisbon is dedicated to all aspects of the history of navigation in Portugal. It occupies a part of the neo-Manueline Western wing of the Jeronimos Monastery, tog…

Museu de Marinha (Maritime Museum)

The Navy Museum of Lisbon is dedicated to all aspects of the history of navigation in Portugal. It occupies a part of the neo-Manueline Western wing of the Jeronimos Monastery, together with the National Museum of Archaeology. With such maritime icons as Vasco de Gama and Bartolomeu Dias, it's no wonder that Portugal's Maritime Museum is one of the best in Europe. It evokes a sense of what it was like when the conquering Portuguese dominated the high seas. Visitors can marvel at the hundreds of models of 15th- to 19th-century sailing ships, merchant marine vessels, fishing boats and pleasure barges. as well as a full range of Portuguese naval uniforms.

Website www.museu.marinha.pt

Vasco da Gama Aquarium photo

Vasco da Gama Aquarium

The Vasco da Gama Aquarium is a great attraction for children in Lisbon. As well as its wonderful collection of live fish and sea life, there are also displays of preserved water b…

Vasco da Gama Aquarium

The Vasco da Gama Aquarium is a great attraction for children in Lisbon. As well as its wonderful collection of live fish and sea life, there are also displays of preserved water birds, fish and seals, alongside a collection of mammals from King Carlos' oceanographic expeditions. The building includes two different sections, the Museum and the Aquarium, complementing each other to give a better understanding of the aquatic world. Outside, there's a small garden with a lake full of carp, which children enjoy feeding. Children under 6 go free and between 6 and 17 benefit from reduced prices.

Website www.aquariovgama.marinha.pt

Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium photo

Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium

The 330-seat planetarium, adjacent to the Maritime Museum, offers an entertaining and educational insight into the mysteries of the universe. Visitors can tour the exhibitions befo…

Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium

The 330-seat planetarium, adjacent to the Maritime Museum, offers an entertaining and educational insight into the mysteries of the universe. Visitors can tour the exhibitions before marvelling at the astronomical shows projected onto the 25-meter diameter dome. Older kids are enthralled by a visit to the Calouste Gulbenkian Planetarium and are encouraged to explore its astronomical wonders. The planetarium hosts daily shows, offering an entertaining and educational experience for young minds. Ask the hotel concierge to check the times of the Portuguese, English and French shows before you visit.

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Website www.planetario.marinha.pt