Are you planning a family trip to Porto with kids and want to make the most of the city while keeping your little ones entertained? Porto is a must-visit location for anyone planning a trip to Portugal, including with baby, toddler, or kids.
In this blog, I’ve put together my list of top things to do in Porto with kids. This is written with parents and young kids in mind, so you both get to experience the best sights of this picturesque city.
Tips for navigating Porto with kids
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Plan your itinerary and accommodation with hills in mind. While Porto is quite compact, the roads up from the river are steep.
Navigating the hills of Porto with young kids: A front pack or carrier was essential for us and allowed us to explore more off the beaten path by taking cobbled streets and stairs.
Highchairs are reasonably common. We took our portable highchair but found we didn’t need it at restaurants we visited.
Supermarkets stock essentials for your little one. You’ll find nappies, wipes, formula, and baby food at larger supermarkets (Minipreco).
There are lots of good playgrounds and green spaces around Porto.
Most buildings are multi-storey and don’t always have elevators. If an elevator is essential for you, check your accommodation facilities before booking.
Stay central: If you want to avoid navigating the hills to get to the popular sites. We enjoyed our stay at H20 Porto Ribeira, a 2-bedroom apartment with an elevator and portacot available. The central location meant we could pop back for naps without needing to get taxis.
Porto with kids: Things to do in Porto with young kids
Explore Porto riverside
The Porto riverside is one of the most vibrant tourist areas of Porto, particularly on Cais de Ribeira between Luis Bridge and Praca Ribeira. During the day, markets and buskers line the river. As night falls, diners pour out onto the street to take in the river view lit by neon signs of port houses in neighbouring Vila Nova de Gaia. Many river cruises also leave from this area.
Porto with kids: Luis Bridge
From Cais de Ribeira, you can take in Luis Bridge, one of the most iconic views of Porto. If you want to head across to Vila Nova de Gaia, you can walk across the bridge.
Attempt a port tasting
I could not go to the home of port wine without doing a tasting. Understandably, your little one is probably not interested in sitting patiently while you try different ports, so the location you choose is key.
Our favourite spots were Calem Port House (Gaia side) and Bacchus Vini (Porto side). Both have port tastings on café-style tables by the river, and you don’t have to climb steep hills to get there. Our toddler happily watched the boats and buskers while we did the tasting.
Ride the Gaia cable car
The Gaia cable car was my favourite view of Porto and an absolute hit with our toddler. It also allows you to avoid scaling the hills, taking you from the riverside to the top of the Luis Bridge on the Gaia side.
Return tickets are €10 for adults, €5 for children 5-12, and under 5s are free.
Watch the sunset from Jardim do Morro
At the top of the cable car, you are close to Jardim do Morro. Locals and tourists gather here to watch the sunset across the river while listening to live music. At the back of the park, there’s a playground our toddler refused to leave. Jardim do Morro is also by a metro station if you need to rush back to your accommodation for your little one’s bedtime.
Indulge in pasteis de nata and cod cakes
Our toddler was a fan of two popular Portuguese treats: Cod cakes and pasteis de nata. One of our favourite spots for pasteis de nata was Castro. You can watch the pastry chefs prepare the tarts as you eat them.
Porto with kids: Explore Porto by tram
Porto has beautifully-restored trams which can take you around different parts of the city, including to the beaches of Foz. We were told the trams can be busy but found them far less crowded than in Lisbon.
Return tickets are €6 for an adult and children under 4 are free.
Check out Sao Bento Station
Sao Bento Station is not only a transport hub but has beautiful Azulejos (blue and white) tiles decorating the interior. We took in the art and architecture while our toddler watched the trains.
Livraria Lello, Clerigos Tower and Base bar and garden
I will start by saying we did not visit these places based on advice from others about visiting with a little one. However, for many people Livraria Lello and Clerigos Tower are essential stops on their Porto tour.
If you are travelling with a little one and want to visit Livraria Lello, book your tickets online for the timeslot you want to go and be prepared to wait in line. While the Clerigos Tower provides incredible views of the city, you need to climb lots of stairs to get to the top.
Between these two locations is Base: an outdoor café and bar set in park grounds. This is a perfect stop after so kids can run around while you enjoy a drink.
Explore the coast and beaches of Foz
If you’re visiting in summer, I highly recommend visiting the beaches of Foz. We did two separate trips to the coast during our stay.
Praia de Luz: Take tram line 1 from Infante to the end of the line and walk along the coast past the lighthouse and stunning beaches. Head for a meal or drinks at Restaurant Praia de Luz. This is an upmarket beachside restaurant, that was accommodating for our toddler.
Praia de Matosinhos: Take an uber or hire bikes to get to Praia de Matosinhos. Here you can enjoy a drink at Bar Praia Do Tita and your little one can enjoy the playground built into the sand. From there, take a five-minute walk to R. Herois de Franca, home to many delicious seafood restaurants. We had a divine seafood at Tito 2. The staff were excellent and provided a high chair and changing table.
I would not recommend beaches in Foz for swimming with young kids. The water is cold and the seas can be rough. There are tidal pools at Praia de Matosinhos if you are after a child-friendly swimming spot.