10 Things to do in Porto with Kids

We all have our inner child, so when I think of the best things to do in Porto or any other city, I like to think of activities for the whole family. Of course, always with a curious adventurous spirit to explore the environment in a fun way.

In this post you will find a top list of activities to enjoy in Oporto with the little ones of the house: from creating a personalised puppet show, taking a walk through the treetops or watching the scenery for the most fanatical football fans. Don't miss out on any plans to share with your children in this wonderful city in the north of Portugal.

Nowadays, bookshops rarely make the list of top activities to do with children. In this case, it is impossible to resist visiting one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, the Lello Bookshop.

From a distance you will see the three large windows with a figure on each side as defenders of art and science on its façade. Inside, around an exquisite spiral staircase, you'll find an art gallery, a place for social gatherings, a space for the gems of the bookshop, a section dedicated to José Saramago and two special sections for children (one on each level), all decorated in the best Portuguese neo-Gothic style.

In Porto, the Lello Bookshop is an essential stop on the Harry Potter tour of Porto due to its reputation as a source of inspiration for the Harry Potter books. Although J.K Rowling stated in 2020 that Lello did not inspire her work, the Harry Potter spells enchanted the place and the children know it.

Details of interest

• Price: admission available from €5 and if you buy a book it is deducted from the price.
• Duration: Approximately 30 minutes.
• What you need to know: Hundreds of people queue daily at Rua das Carmelitas 144 to enjoy the atmosphere, events and variety of specimens on site. It opens its doors between 9am and 6.30pm.
• How to get there: You can easily get there by bus, the Guilherme Gomes Fernandes or Cordoaria bus stops - the same stop where the tourist bus would drop you off - are 100 metres from the bookshop. If you prefer the tram, the Carmo and Clérigos stops are 2 blocks away.

Book tickets for the FC Porto Museum and Dragão Stadium and explore the home of the Portuguese Premier League football team with the kids. It's a must-see for football fans.

The tour includes the main areas of the stadium and a walk to the impressive FC Porto Museum, which won the European Museum of the Year Award in 2016, thanks to its technological bet, avant-garde lighting, holograms of illustrious characters, interactive screens and innovation.

Here the smiles of the children (and not so children) are continuous, especially if they like sports. Everyone gets to know the history through the audio guide available in Spanish.

Interesting details

• Price: from 24 € you can book tickets for the FC Porto Museum and the Dragão stadium.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• What you need to know: You will find the FC Porto Museum on Via Futbol Clube do Porto and you can visit it from Friday to Wednesday, from 10am to 7pm and on Thursdays until 6pm.
• How to get there: you can get to FC Porto by metro, the Estádio do Dragão station drops you off in front of it.

Sail with the kids aboard a rabelo, old wine carriers, to get to know Porto. The kids will love this experience because of the particularity of the boat, reminiscent of pirate ships. When they see the boats anchored in the Douro River, they will want to get on board and.... How can you refuse?

The cruises on the only river that flows entirely in Portuguese territory start from two points: the Ribeira de Porto or crossing the D. Luiz I Bridge, from Vila Nova de Gaia just opposite the previous point. Every 30 minutes, starting at 10 a.m., you have the opportunity to take this cruise. This activity is interesting because it unites young and old in the curiosity of walking across the six bridges of the city:

• Don Enrique Bridge.
• The bridge of Maria Pia.
• The São João railway bridge.
• The Arrábida Bridge.
• The Freixo Bridge.
• The Luis I Bridge (starting point of the cruise).

The bridges are located far from the centre and, if we add to that the amusing stories with an audio guide in Spanish, a multicoloured landscape and the relaxation generated by the serenity of the sea, we have as a result a very pleasant family experience. Another option that the youngest members of the family will love is to book a cruise on the Douro.

Interesting details

• Price: from 15 € adults and children from 7 €.
• Duration: 50 minutes.
• What you should know: the rabelos are open from Monday to Sunday, from 10am to 6.30pm. Capacity: 50-60 people.
• How to get there: the tourist bus offers combined tickets with these 6-bridge cruises.

Buy your tickets for the World of Discoveries in Porto, a museum that shows children the regions of the world where Portuguese explorers arrived. If you book the Porto Card you can get a discount on your ticket.

The official description says it's an interactive museum, but I think sensory museum better describes the experience. I can tell you that all the children (and adults) want to repeat the boat ride. Let me explain what it consists of.

While you listen to the stories of Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco de Gama, Bartolomé Díaz and other emblematic characters with the audio guide in Spanish, you will move forward in a boat surrounded by the landscapes of China, Japan, Africa, as well as the tropical forests, perceiving the distinctive aromas of these areas. It lasts approximately 20 minutes.

Interesting details

• Price: From 15 €.
• Duration: 1 hour.
• What you should know: Rua de Miragaia, 106. You can visit from Tuesday to Friday, between 10am and 6pm; and on Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 7pm.
• How to get there: The Alfândega stop on tram line 1 is a two-minute walk from the museum.

Just a few metres from the Palacio da Bolsa, another of Porto's landmarks, you'll find another of the best things to do in Porto, the Puppet Museum, a space based on the work of João Paulo Seara Cardoso, former artistic director of the Porto Puppet Theatre, which invites families to tell stories with puppets.

Take your little ones from Wednesday to Sunday between 2pm and 6pm to Rua de Belomonte, 61 to see the various puppet exhibitions, specialised videos, seasonal exhibitions and everything related to this art.

At the end of the visit, you will be invited to create your own play using the puppets of your choice from the site. The dynamic is fun and allows you to explore emotions and express your thoughts in a creative way.

Details of interest

• Price: from €3.5 for adults and €2.5 for children.
• Duration: 1 to 2 hours.
• What you should know: two entertaining floors and I invite you to check their calendar of events.
• How to get there: You can get there by tourist bus from Palacio da Bolsa station, regular bus to Merc. Ferr. Borges or Ribeira stations, or by tram from Infante station.

Walking across a bridge through the treetops at a height of 15 metres is an ideal adventure to share with the little ones and in Porto you can make it happen with the Serralves Foundation.

They have been raising environmental awareness for over 30 years and the result is a real treat. You'll walk along a 260-metre long walkway with lateral protections on both sides while enjoying the beautiful scenery in an 18-hectare park. Check out this video to get an idea.

It's an immersive experience with Portuguese flora and fauna that's not short on fun. To join in the adventure, head to R. Dom João de Castro 210, where you'll also find Álvaro Siza's Museum of Contemporary Art, one of the best museums in Porto.

Interesting details

• Price: From 12 € for those over 12 years old.
• Duration: From 1 hour.
• What you should know: You can visit this park from Monday to Friday, from 10am to 7pm, or Saturdays and Sundays, from 10am to 8pm. You can buy tickets at the ticket office or book them inadvance.
• How to get there: the tourist bus stops at the park.

Trams are still an emblem of some cities. In particular, Porto's trams are an unmissable tourist attraction for adults and children. Travel on any of its three lines:

• Line 1 (Infante-Passeio Alegre): it winds its way between the centre and the Jardim do Passeio Alegre around the Douro River. This ride offers beautiful panoramic views and can be taken every day between 9.30am and 6pm.
• Line 18 (Massarelos-Carmo, Linha da Restauração): its route runs from Alameda Basílio Teles to the beaches of Foz do Douro and the Tramway Museum or Museum of Electrics. This tram operates between 9.15am and 7pm.
• Line 22 (Carmo-Guindais Batalha): perhaps the most popular tourist route, as it passes through the main churches and the historic centre. This tram runs between 10am and 7pm.

The ride crosses steep slopes and facades of old buildings. With the audio guide in Spanish about to end, you arrive at the Museum of Electrics where a dozen trams review the history of Porto's electric transport while capturing the attention of children.

The tram ticket costs from €2.5 if you buy it individually. However, you can combine it with the boat ride, sightseeing bus, funicular, discounts in restaurants and museums from €15 when you buy the combined Porto sightseeing bus tickets. Also, did I mention that children between 4 and 10 years old are half price and children between 0 and 3 years old travel free?

Interesting details

• Price: from 2,5 €.
• Duration: tram rides last between 20-30 minutes.
• What you should know: The museum is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10am to 6pm, and on Mondays from 2pm to 6pm. Combined tram, boat trip and tourist bus tickets can be used for 24 or 48 hours.

Sign up for one of the day trips from Porto, perfect for children, such as the Amarantes Water Park.

The water attractions on offer include: wave pools, Kamikaze slides, Lento river, labyrinth slides, adult pools, hydro tubes, soft pools and more. In addition, Amarantes Water Park boasts one of the most important water parks in Portugal.

This Portuguese land records a mild temperature all year round and if you travel between July and September Porto awaits you with its best summer activities. The kids will have a blast and everyone in the family will have fun. It's a sure bet for the season.

Interesting details

• Price: over 12 years old from 18,5 € and children between 5 and 11 years old from 9,9 €.
• Duration: 5 to 8 hours.
• What you should know: located at Rua do Tâmega, 2245, about 60 kilometres from the centre of Porto, it is open between July and September between 10am and 7pm.

It's time for an adventure! If you are looking for a place for younger children, the answer is Magikland, where they will find a ghost forest, swimming pools, lakes, Ferris wheel and many other attractions.

It is divided into five sections: medieval village, world of confusion, far west, Africa and pirate's haven. A paradise for children between 5 and 10 years old. Despite the park's recommendation (up to 12 years old), personal experience - and comments from other friends with children - I find that up to that age they are still surprised by the attractions available

If you are visiting the city for 4 days or more, hire your car or travel by train on the Oporto city line to the Penafiel exit and make a note to arrive at Magikland.

Interesting details

• Price: over 12s from £18.50, children between 4 and 12 from £12.50 onwards.
• Duration: daily pass.
• What you need to know: located at Rua de Santo André, No. 1279 - Penafiel, 35 kilometres from Porto, it is open between 10am and 5pm between May and September. Check its annual calendar.

A cable car ride is a great way to get a glimpse of Porto from above, plus the kids will get a taste for it as they watch the funiculars go by.

The Porto cable car is located in Gaia, on the other side of the Douro River, where most of the wine cellars are located. The ride is short, but the little ones will be amazed.

If by any chance you can't convince them to walk too far, you'll be thankful you took them on the cable car. The variety of shapes and multicoloured facades will be an irresistible attraction.

Interesting details

• Price: from €6.
• Duration: 5 minutes.
• What you need to know: it offers family vouchers and other discounts, however, they all seemed expensive to me until I found out about Gaia's 48-hour combined sightseeing bus, tram and cable car passes from €26 (and for under 13s from €13).