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 suggest 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 personalized puppet show, take a walk among the treetops or see scenarios for the most fanatical soccer fans. Don't miss any plan to share with your kids in this wonderful city in the north of Portugal.

Nowadays, bookstores rarely make the list of top activities for kids. In this case, it is impossible to resist visiting one of the most beautiful libraries in the world, the Lello Bookstore.

From a distance you will see the three large windows with a figure on each side as defenders of art and science on its facade. Inside, around an exquisite spiral staircase, awaits its art gallery, a place for gatherings, a space for the gems of the bookstore, 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 fame 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 kids know it.

Details of interest

• Price: admission available from 5 € and if you buy a book it is discounted from the amount.
• Duration: 30 minutes approximately.
• What you need to know: Every day hundreds of people queue at Rua das Carmelitas 144 to enjoy the atmosphere, events and variety of copies of the place. It opens its doors between 9 am and 6:30 pm.
• How to get there: You can easily get there by bus, the Guilherme Gomes Fernandes or Cordoaria bus stop, -same stop where the tourist bus would drop you off-, are 100 meters from the bookstore. If you prefer the streetcar, the Carmo and Clérigos stops are 2 blocks away.

Book tickets to the FC Porto Museum and Dragão Stadium and explore the home of the Portuguese First League soccer team with the little ones. It is an almost mandatory visit for soccer fans.

The tour covers 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 smile of children (and not so children) is 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 10 am to 7 pm and on Thursdays until 6 pm.
• How to get there: you can get to FC Porto by subway, the Estádio do Dragão station drops you off in front of it.

Sail with the kids aboard a "rabelo", old wine transporters, to get to know Porto. The kids love this experience because of the particularity of the boat, reminiscent of pirate ships. When they see the ships 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 leave 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, 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 Maria Pia Bridge.
• 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 center and, if we add to that the amusing stories with an audio guide in Spanish, a multicolored landscape and the rest generated by the serenity of the sea, we have as a result a very pleasant family experience. Another option that the little ones 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 need to know: the schedule of the rabelos is from Monday to Sunday, from 10 am to 6:30 pm. Its capacity is 50-60 people.
• How to get there: you should know that the tourist bus offers combined tickets with these 6-bridge cruises.

Buy your tickets for 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 is an interactive museum, but I think sensory museum better describes the experience. I can tell you that all the kids (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 advance in a boat surrounded by the landscapes of China, Japan, Africa, as well as tropical forests, perceiving the distinctive aromas of these areas. It lasts approximately 20 minutes.

Details of interest

• 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 streetcar line 1 is a two-minute walk from the museum.

A few meters from the Palacio da Bolsa, another emblem of Porto, you will find another of the best things to do in Porto, the Marionettes Museum, a space based on the work of João Paulo Seara Cardoso, former artistic director of the Teatro de Marionetas do Porto, 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, specialized 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 externalize thoughts in a creative way.

Details of interest

• Price: from 3,5 € for adults and 2,5 € for children.
• Duration: from 1 to 2 hours.
• What you should know: they are two entertaining plants and I invite you to check their calendar of events.
• How to get there: You can get there by tourist bus from the Palacio da Bolsa station, regular bus to the stations Merc. Ferr. Borges or Ribeira stations, or by streetcar through Infante station.

Walking across a bridge between the treetops at a height of 15 meters 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 creating environmental awareness for more than 30 years and the result is a real blast. You'll walk along a 260 meter long walkway with side protections on both sides while appreciating 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 doesn't miss out on the 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.

Details of interest

• 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 10 am to 7 pm, or Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 am to 8 pm. You can buy tickets at the ticket office or make a reservationin advance.
• How to get there: the tourist bus has a stop at this park.

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

• Line 1 (Infante-Passeio Alegre): makes its way between the center and Jardim do Passeio Alegre around the Douro River. This ride offers beautiful panoramic views and can be taken every day between 9:30 am and 6 pm.
• Line 18 (Massarelos-Carmo, Linha da Restauração): its route goes from Alameda Basílio Teles to the beaches of Foz do Douro and the Tramway Museum or Museum of Electrics. This streetcar provides service between 9:15 am and 7 pm.
• Line 22 (Carmo-Guindais Batalha): perhaps the most popular tourist route, as it passes through the main churches and the historic center. This streetcar runs between 10 am and 7 pm.

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 streetcars review the history of this Porto transport while capturing the attention of children.

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

Interesting details

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

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

The offer of water attractions includes: 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 is a safe 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, nº 2245, about 60 kilometers from downtown Porto, it opens its doors between July and September between 10 am and 7 pm.

It's time for an adventure! If you are looking for a place for younger children, the answer is Magikland, where they will find ghost forest, 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 refuge. 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 consider that up to that age they are still surprised with the attractions available

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

Details of interest

• Price: over 12 years old from 18,5 €, children between 4 and 12 years old from 12,5 € onwards.
• Duration: daily pass.
• What you should know: located at Rua de Santo André, No. 1279 - Penafiel, 35 kilometers from Oporto, it is open from 10 am to 5 pm between May and September. Consult its annual calendar.

A cable car ride is a great way to get a glimpse of Porto from above, plus the kids will be in for a treat 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 tour is short, but the kids will be amazed.

If by any chance you don't manage to convince them to walk much, you'll be thankful you took them on the cable car. The variety of shapes and multicolored facades will be an irresistible attraction.

Interesting details

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