After staying in Lisbon for four days, my family’s next stop on our two week trip in Portugal was in Albufeira, located in the Algarve district along the southern coast of Portugal. The trip from Lisbon to the Algarve is about a three-hour drive south.
My family does better on long car rides if we split it up with well-timed breaks and stops. I knew a three-hour drive to Portugal’s Algarve district and beaches might be a little too long for my toddler and decided to research a place to stop and stretch our legs mid-drive. There are quite a few small towns lining the highway between Lisbon and the Algarve but I had trouble finding information online about any of them.
We decided to leave Lisbon around 10am and drive about an hour to the small town of Alcácer do Sal to stretch our legs and grab lunch and were glad we did.
Trip Purpose
Stop mid-way between Lisbon and Albufeira on a road trip to the Algarve in Portugal
DESTINATION: Alcácer do Sal, Portugal
AGE OF OUR KIDS: 2 years; 5 years
LENGTH OF STAY: 2-3+ hours
TIME OF YEAR: December
Before you go
- The trip from Lisbon to Alcácer do Sal takes about one hour by car.
- Parking is free throughout town but can be hard to find during lunch and dinner time.
What we packed
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Comfortable shoes, clothes, sunscreen, and hats
- Baby carrier
- Camera
BASE COST
- Tickets are €3,10 per person for the museum
Add-ons
- Food and snacks
What to do in Alcácer do Sal on your way to the Algarve with your kids
Take a stroll along the promenade
~20 min
The white buildings of the riverfront promenade reflect off the river as you walk by.
We enjoyed strolling along the river and taking pictures of this very pretty town. While walking down Rua da República and Avenida João Soares Branco we saw traditional shops selling olive oil, honey, and art, and a toy store.
I loved the architecture of the old buildings with chipping paint and rusting balconies.
Our kids played a game of who could spot the first pair of shorts drying from a clothes hanger outside a window.
2. Walk across the Sado River along the Ponte Pedonal de Alcácer do Sal
~30 minutes
Walk from the north side of the river to the south side to access the playground and park.
You can cross the river by walking across the pedestrian bridge on the west side of town. The walk is short, safe, and beautiful.
3. Visit the Parque do Sado and playground
~30 minutes
The Parque do Sado park and playground, located on the south side of the river, were great places to stretch our legs after lunch.
Our kiddos enjoyed the playground while my husband and I enjoyed the views of the town and castle of Alcácer do Sal.
4. See the castle and crypt
The Castelo Alcácer do Sal has a hotel and a Cripta Arqueológica museum with items dating back to the 7th century. The crypt and the remains of a Roman forum were discovered in the 1990’s during new castle renovation.
Although there wasn’t as much for our kids to do and see, they were patient while I marveled at seeing the remnants of 2,700 years of human occupation on this land, with layers upon layers of different structures and communities built right on top of each other. You see Medieval walls built on top of Roman walls, which were built on top of Iron Age walls, dating back all the way to the 7th century.
Tickets can be purchased at the entrance for €3,10 per person.
5. Grab lunch at a local riverfront restaurant
This small town had a very minimal online presence, even for its businesses.
We walked by a few restaurants along the promenade and chose to eat at O Poço because it had an outdoor patio. The menu ended up being entirely in Portuguese, so we were very dependent on our waitress to translate. She was honest and suggested a few things for us to try or skip.
Our kids enjoyed the caldo verde soup while my partner and I ordered a meat and fish dish that came with potatoes.
6. Ride the free merry-go-round
~20min
At the time of this writing, there was a carnival ride-like merry-go-round located on the riverfront of Alcácer do Sal.
The merry-go-round was within view of the restaurant, and our kids could not wait to go across the street to check it out. When we arrived, the unimpressed merry-go-round worker told us it was free, and said he was closing in ten minutes.
Our kids jumped from car to car and rode the merry-go-round a few times before the agent closed the ride for the day. They were beaming with joy.
Our family enjoyed visiting Alcácer do Sal as a short stop on our way from Lisbon to the Algarve. We got to stretch our legs, walk and play, visit a museum, ride a merry-go-round, and eat some food, all in just a few hours.
After tiring out our kiddos, they were much more tolerant of the 2-hour car ride to reach our final destination, and even took a nap.
I’m so glad we stopped in Alcácer do Sal on our way to the Algarve from Lisbon, and hope you do too!
This post is part of a series of posts about visiting Portugal with kids. Continue the adventure with us here:
Puerto Rican & Indigenous mama of two. Bay Area native. Salsa dancer. Backpacker. Doula. Angel (she/her/hers) is a co-founding member of the Beautiful Brown Adventures team. She has traveled to over 30 countries and loves to explore the world with her two daughters & partner - one ice cream shop at a time.
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