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 find myself leaning towards activities that the family can fully enjoy, always with a latent curious adventurous spirit to explore the environment in a fun way.

In this post you will find a top of activities with kids in Porto ranging from creating a personalised puppet show, a walk through the treetops, spaces for football fans, to rabelos rides. Don't miss out on anything to share with your little ones on this visit to Portugal's coastal land.

Buy your tickets for the World of Discoveries in Porto, a museum dedicated to teaching children about the regions of the world where Portuguese explorers arrived.

The official description says it's an interactive museum but I think sensory museum better describes the experience they deliver. Just be warned, every child (and adult) wants to repeat the boat ride. I tell you.

While listening to the stories of Ferdinand Magellan, Vasco de Gama, Bartolomé Díaz and other emblematic characters with the audio guide in Spanish, you move forward in a boat surrounded by the landscapes of China, Japan, Africa, as well as the South American rainforests, perceiving distinctive aromas of these areas to connect with them. Come on, the experience is fixed in the memory of the visitors, even though after the four exhibition rooms, the boat ride lasts 20 minutes.

Interesting details

• Price: From 15 €.
• Duration: 1 hour.
• What you should know: You can find them at Rua de Miragaia, 106. The Alfândega stop on tram line 1 is a 2-minute walk from the museum. You can visit from Tuesday-Friday between 10:00-18:00; Saturday-Sunday between 10:00 - 19:00.

Sail with the children aboard a rabelo, -old wine transporters-, to get to know Oporto. The kids love this experience because of the particularity of the boat. It is reminiscent of pirate ships. Once they see the boats anchored in the Douro River, they will start asking you for a ride on them and how can you refuse? You see them everywhere.

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 in front of the previous point.

Every 30 minutes from 10:00 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 6 bridges of the city, namely:

• Don Enrique Bridge.
• The bridge of Maria Pia.
• The railway bridge of São João.
• 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.

Interesting details

• Price: From 15 € adults and children from 7 €.
• Duration: 50 minutes.
• What you need to know: the rabelos are open Monday-Sunday between 10:00-18:30 hours. Capacity is 50-60 people so there are always people around and finally, the tour bus offers combined tickets with these 6-bridge cruises.

Walking across a bridge between the treetops at a height of 15 metres is an ideal adventure to share between parents and their children and, in Oporto, you can make it happen with theSerralves Foundation.

They have been creating environmental awareness for more than 30 years. The result is truly amazing. You walk along a 260-metre long walkway with lateral protections on both sides while appreciating the beautiful landscape in an 18-hectare park. Check out this video to get an idea.

This is an immersive experience with Portuguese flora and fauna that doesn't miss out on the fun. To join in the adventure go to R. Dom João de Castro 210, where you will also find the Álvaro Siza Museum of Contemporary Art, one of the best museums in Porto.

Interesting details

• Price: From 12 € for over 12 years old.
• Duration: From 1 hour.
• What you should know: You can visit this park from Monday to Friday between 10:00-19:00 hours, or Saturday-Sunday between 10:00-20:00 hours. The tourist bus has a stop at this park. You can buy tickets at the ticket office or book them inadvance.

Trams are still emblematic of some cities such as San Francisco and, Europe does not shy away from this attraction, Porto's trams are unmissable tourist attractions for adults and children.

Travel on any of its three lines:

• Line 1 (Infante-Passeio Alegre). It runs between the centre and the Jardim do Passeio Alegre around the Douro River. This walk offers beautiful panoramic views and can be taken every day between 9.30am and 6pm.
• Line 18 (Massarelos-Carmo, Linha da Restauração). It runs from Alameda Basílio Teles to the beaches of Foz do Douro and the Tramway Museum or Museum of Electrics. This tram operates between 9:15-19:00 hours.
• 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 10:00-19:00.

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 these transports around Porto while capturing the attention of the children.

Tram tickets start from €2.5 if you buy them individually, however, you can combine it with boat trips, Hop-on Hop-off tours, funicular, discounts in restaurants and museums from €15 when you buy the combined tickets of the Porto sightseeing bus. 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 Tuesday-Sunday between 10:00-18:00 and Monday between 14:00-18:00. Combined tram, boat trip and sightseeing bus tickets can be used for 24 or 48 hours.

Head toPorto' s Estadiodo Dragão and explore the home of Portuguese Premier League football team FC Porto with your little ones. This is a must-see for football fans.

The tour takes in the main areas of the stadium, and a walk to the impressive FC Porto Museum, by the way, 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 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 10 €, so buy in advance here.
• Duration: 2 hours.
• What you need to know: You find the FC Porto Museum on Via Futebol Clube do Porto and you can visit it Friday-Wednesday between 10:00-19:00 and Thursdays until 18:00. You can get to FC Porto

by metro, the Estádio do Dragão station leaves you in front of the stadium.

Sign up for at least one of the perfect day trips from Porto to enjoy with children. This day takes you into the water in an entertaining and safe space for the little ones at Amarantes Water Park.

Its varied offer of water attractions includes: wave pools, Kamikaze slides, Lento river, labyrinth slides, adult pools, hydro-tubes, soft pools and more.Amarantes Water Park boasts one of the most important water parks in Porto.

This Portuguese land has a mild temperature all year round and if you travel between July and September Porto awaits you with its best summer activities. The kids have a blast and everyone in the family has a great time, it's a safe bet for the season.

Interesting details

• Price: Over 12 years old from 18.5 €. Children between 5 and 11 from €9.9.
• Duration: 5-8 hours.
• What you should know: Open between July-September between 10:00-19:00. You can find them at Rua do Tâmega, nº 2245, about 60 kilometres from the centre of Porto.

It's time for an adventure! If you are looking for a place for younger children, this is the answer: Magikland.

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

Find Magikland at Rua de Santo André, No. 1279 - Penafiel, 35 kilometres from Porto. If you are visiting the city for 4 days or more, rent a car or travel by train on the Porto urban line to the Penafiel exit and make a note of this activity.

Interesting details

• Price: Over 12 years old from 18.5 €. Children between 4 and 12 from €12.5 onwards.
• Duration: Daily pass.
• What you should know: Open between 10am-5pm May-September (check their annual calendar).

A cable car ride is a great way to get a glimpse of Porto from above, plus the kids will be begging for the ride once they see the funiculars go by.

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

If by any chance you don't manage to convince them to walk long distances, you will be grateful you took them on the cable car, as the variety of shapes and multicoloured façades are irresistible attractions.

Interesting details

• Price: From €6.
• Duration: 5 minutes.
• What you should know: The Gaia cable car offers family vouchers and other discounts, however, they all seemed expensive to me due to the length of the trip, until I found out about the 48-hour combined tourist bus + tram + Gaia cable car passes from €26 (and under 13s from €13). I was convinced.

Nowadays, bookshops rarely make it onto the lists of top activities for children. In this case, it's impossible to resist visiting one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, the Lello Bookshop.

From a distance you can see the three large windows with a figurine on each side as defenders of art and science on its façade. Inside, around an exquisite spiral staircase, awaits its art gallery, a space for 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, theLello Bookshop is a regular visitor destination due to its fame as a source of inspiration for the Harry Potter books. Hundreds of people queue daily at Rua das Carmelitas 144, to enjoy the atmosphere, events and variety of books on offer.

On the other hand, if you are travelling with small children, are pregnant or have bought your tickets in advance and book, you have priority access. Although J.K Rowling stated in 2020 that Lello did not inspire her most famous work, the Harry Potter spells enchanted the place and the kids 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: It opens its doors between 9:00-18:30 hours. Access is easy, by bus, the Guilherme Gomes Fernandes or Cordoaria bus stops - the same stop where the tourist buswould drop you off **-**are 100 metres from the bookshop. If you prefer the tram, the Carmo and Clérigos stops are 2 blocks away.

Just a few metres from the Palacio da Bolsa - another of Porto's landmarks - you will find 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 14:00-18:00 to Rua de Belomonte 61 to see the various puppet exhibitions, specialised videos, seasonal exhibitions and everything related to this art form. At the end of the visit, you are invited to create your own play using the puppets of your choice on site. The dynamic is fun. It 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: 1-2 hours.
• What you should know: These are two entertaining floors, I invite you to check their calendar of events. You can get there by tourist bus from the station Palacio da Bolsa, regular bus to the stations Merc. Ferr. Borges or Ribeira stations or by tram from Infante station.