Evaly: One summer, our whole multi-ethnic extended family took a 10-day trip to Portugal. We had my nine-year-old twin daughters, my five-year-old son, and our six-month-old nephew, plus six adults. Needless to say there were a variety of abilities, travel preferences, dietary preferences, and nap schedules to consider!
Krista: Our family has taken annual trips together for the last seven years. It’s always been an amazing time to reconnect when there never seems to be enough time to sip wine and talk late into the night.
Evaly: Our family was coming from the Bay Area and flew into Lisbon where we rented a car and drove three hours to our first rental outside of Porto. My sister’s group and our parents were coming from the East Coast.
Krista: The plane ride was fairly uneventful which is amazing considering we were bringing a six-month-old. I had called the airlines as soon as I purchased my ticket to request the baby bassinet that was attached to the wall and got it. There are limited bassinets per flight so calling as early as possible helps your odds of getting one. After that, my son slept, occasionally fussed and ate. He was probably the best rested arriving in Portugal.
Evaly: After these really long flights we were looking for a comfortable place for us to deal with the jet lag for the first week.
Since our multi-family trip had to suit the age range of the group (infant to elder), we had a lot of planning to do.
Tips for the trip
Plan a few days to adjust to the time change.
Many buildings have beautiful tile floors that are slippery for little or older feet.
- Cobblestone roads are horrible for strollers and for anyone who uses a cane. The sidewalks often disappear quickly too!
- Are you chestfeeding? There are plenty of places to stop and nurse, and locals seem totally cool with it. Click here for our nursing essentials while traveling.
- Be prepared to adjust to the local eating schedule. We found that this usually meant eating dinner later than we do at home to accommodate for the larger lunch that is more typical. For the little ones this just means carry snacks and be prepared to hit up those little markets and cafes for extra fuel. Be aware that some restaurants close during the hours between lunch and dinner. Touristy areas will cater to the eating routines of non-locals, but that may not be the case if you leave the big cities.
- Getting Around: Lyft was easy to get in most places around the city. Riding a tuk tuk was also a fun way to get around but more expensive. Some drivers do not allow kids under five without a car seat.
What we packed
- Standard diaper bag essentials
- Airplane essentials for kids
- Bug spray – mosquitos can be a problem as most places do not have screens on their windows
- Baby carrier, stroller, or hiking backpack
- Grippy shoes or socks for slippery tile floors
- E-sim to avoid roaming charges
After flying into any of Portugal’s main airports (an ~11-hour non-stop flight from SFO), we recommend renting a car and/or taking the train to get to other destinations within the country.
After we flew into Lisbon, we rented a car and drove the three hours to our first rental in Porto. Our intention was to have the car if half of us wanted to go somewhere and rent an additional car if all 10 of us wanted to do something. This worked well and it was pretty easy to drive around with the maps on our phone for navigation.
We decided to take the train to Lisbon and return the rental car at the São Bento Train Station in Porto.
Although we arrived at the train station almost an hour ahead of time, the whole thing took so long that my husband was very close to missing the train, while most of the family was already on the train platform. and I was waiting in the car rental company’s office to speak to someone. The rental office had one person working there and was full of people waiting.
The car return area ended up being at a little building that was on the outer parking lot (not the parking garage that goes underground). I highly recommend investigating this the day before if you are returning a rental here!
Porto is the second-largest city in Portugal, and one of the oldest city centers in Europe – serving as a port city for the Roman Empire. It is known for its main export – Port Wine, cobblestone streets, and beautiful old buildings. It feels like you’re walking through history as you meander through the city.
Our favorites:
- Skipping through the iconic Sé Cathedral
- Exploring the historic and beautiful Paço Episcopal do Porto
- Climbing the Dom Luis I Bridge
- Hiking in the Senhora do Salto
- Visitng the remote Castelo de Santa Maria da Feira
- Getting food in Espinho
Read on about our five-day trip to Porto. Short on time? Check out the our recommendations for a two-day Porto trip with a toddler.
Portugal’s capital and largest city was our second stop on a 10-day Portugal trip with our extended family. Compared to our first leg in Porto, this was the city where it was the easiest for the group to find its own speed at activities during the day and come together in the evening for family suppers.
Second only to Athens as Europe’s oldest capital city, Lisbon exudes charm with its preserved history, and was a great destination for our multi-family trip!
Read our blog post about our Lisbon recommendations for your family trip.
Our favorites:
- Riding a Tuk-tuk
- Spending the afternoon at the Castelo de Saint Jorge
- Walking through the roofless Convento do Carmo
- Running from the sprinklers at the Estufa Fria
- Wandering through the Parque Edwardo VII
- Taking a day trip to Sintra and Quinta de la Regaleria
Tips for Traveling with Extended Family
Krista: When planning the trip there were some discussions that we had that I recommend everyone has, even if they are slightly uncomfortable.
- Budget considerations are a must. Different families might have different ideas, or realities, on what is do-able on vacation beyond travel and lodging.
- The speed of vacations. My partner and I were exhausted and content to see nothing other than the AirBnb that we were staying in, while my mom wanted to explore every side road she could find. It’s important to know this early on, so there isn’t a miscommunication or hurt feelings.
- How much cooking will happen. Cooking at home saves a ton of money, and eating out is an experience.
Discussing these issues prior to your trip will help everyone understand the values and needs of each family or family member, and be able to plan time to split up or stay together as necessary.
Even though we didn’t speak Portuguese, we didn’t have trouble getting around. Most people spoke English except in some of the less touristy areas. Lucky for us, my mother who joined us spoke Spanish fluently and could interpret most of the signs and also communicate with many of the locals
Krista: I was very concerned about staying out in Lisbon all day because at that time I was still breastfeeding every couple of hours. But there were so many small parks—and tiny cafes within parks—that it became super easy to walk a bit, get a coffee or drink and just breastfeed in the park. I never felt any judgment and I can’t remember anyone blinking an eye. There was even a late-night dinner where I gave my order to the waiter while breastfeeding and there was zero reaction.
Evaly: Whenever we travel I try to get my kids to do a few things: learn at least the basics of the local language and encourage them to speak it, and try new local foods. Now that they are older we also talk a little about the history of the places we are visiting and where the people have come from. I am so grateful that we have the ability to travel and see amazing sites and cultures and it is very important for my kids to know how special this is.
Any family-friendly sites in Lisbon or Porto you would recommend that we missed? Share in the comments below!
This post is part of a Portugal trip series. Continue the journey with Evaly and Krista’s family here:
Evaly L
I'm Evaly Long, a mixed-race (Mexican & White) mom to twin teenage daughters and a 7-year-old son. We love traveling and experiencing other cultures, lifestyles, and foods. I feel lucky to be able to travel to wonderful places far and near, and even luckier to sometimes go with our extended family.
Krista L
I’m Krista, a mixed-race (Mexican & White) mother of one toddler and am a expecting another. Traveling locally and internationally has always been a passion of mine fueled by what the local cuisine of the area is. Feeling like a more experienced parent has led me to exploring different areas with my family and learning where my children fit into a life of adventure. I will always stop at roadside fruit stands and eat riceballs.
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Two Days in Porto with Your Toddler: A Walkable Itinerary for Family Fun
How to visit Porto – Best Kid-Friendly Activities
How to Visit Lisbon – Best Kid-Friendly Activities
A Portugal Family Road Trip: 14-Day Itinerary of Kid-Friendly Wonders and Cultural Delights!
Sip and Smile: Port Wine Tasting in Gaia, Portugal with Family-Friendly Twists
We love traveling as a family, and one of our favorite things to do before the trip is read about where we are going. Here are some great kids books to get them excited about traveling to Portugal: http://storybooklists.com/country/storybooks-with-portugal/
Thank you for sharing your resources. We hope to add a section on recommended books to share with families for each of our destinations on the blog, soon!