Porto With A Baby Or Toddler – Portugal

I’ll never forget our sunset walks across the double-decker Dom Luis I Bridge, our scenic drives through the Douro Valley or the countless al fresco meals we shared in Porto. All with a 19-month-old in tow. Yes friends, it can (and should) be done! Family travel is certainly not easy, but these adventures are some of the most memorable and rewarding you’ll ever have. And while I’m a firm believer that babies and tots shouldn’t just be limited to “family friendly” destinations, I will admit that it makes life a whole lot easier when the place you’ve chosen to vacay is one…

So, what makes Porto family friendly? In my opinion, everything from its affordability to the ease of getting around with an Uber/stroller (although I’d be lying if I told you there were no hills). But topping the lengthy list of family-friendly attributes, are the easy-going locals. Bonus: they actually like kids which makes Porto a dream for anyone travelling with young children. Their generosity, patience and understanding truly made us feel welcomed, which in turn made us want to explore every inch of their beautiful city. And that we did! Here are 11 highlights we recommend if you’re heading over with the littles:

What To Do/See In Porto With A Baby Or Toddler

1. Walk Across The Dom Luis 1 Bridge (free)

Porto is packed with architectural gems and perhaps none is as famous as the Dom Luis 1 Bridge. Designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel (whose desk currently faces the bridge at Palácio da Bolsa), the bridge links the Ribeira district with the Port wine houses of Vila Nova de Gaia. Although pedestrians can access both levels, I highly recommend a stroll on the top level during sunset. The river, boats, trains and buskers will keep the kids entertained while you take in the spectacular views…

2. Hang With Locals At Crystal Palace Gardens (free)

If you’re looking for a place to let the kids run free, head straight to Palácio de Cristal. It’s not the largest park in the city, but in my opinion it’s the most visually interesting because of the diversity of the landscaping and plants. There’s also a large avenue within the gardens called Avenida das Tílias where many festivals, concerts and family activities take place. On our visit we mingled with local families, watched the kids chase birds, wandered through the hectares of luxe gardens with Little L in his stroller and admired the river views while he took a nap.

3. Take A Ride On Teleférico de Gaia

Little L’s eyes widened with excitement as we waited to board his very first cable car. We knew he’d love it — and that he did. This was actually an unplanned activity for us, but when we walked across the Dom Louis 1 Bridge during sunset, we were inspired to hop on the teleférico for a different perspective of Porto and Gaia. While L enjoyed the 5 min ride down to the riverside promenade, we had a chance to admire the narrow lanes, red rooftops, majestic river and famous Port houses from above. Rides for kids under five are free and adults are reasonably priced around €6 each way. I recommend hopping into the cable car during sunset. If you do this in low season like we did, it will be just before they close so you’ll also avoid lines!

4. Visit A Dreamy Bookstore: Livraria Lello

You’ll want to wear your baby carrier at this popular tourist spot as the bookstore gets really busy. In fact, they get over 5 000 visitors every day! That shouldn’t stop you from visiting though, the architecture is so stunning that it’s been officially recognized as one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. It’s even rumoured to have inspired J.K. Rowling’s depictions of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts. Snag an admission ticket (€5 which can be applied toward a book purchase) at Armazéns do Castelo shop down the street and store your travel stroller and other gear in the lockers there. If you visit on a weekday morning like we did, you may get lucky and avoid the lines. Nevertheless, this is by no means a relaxing experience as there will be dozens of people trying to snap photos inside. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Will you be annoyed? Probably. Don’t forget to visit the kids’ book section at the back. We bought L my favourite book: The Little Prince as a travel souvenir.

5. Tour Palácio da Bolsa

Visiting a former stock exchange building wasn’t really on my list when planning our trip to Porto, but some fellow travellers claimed it was one of the most interesting landmarks in the city so we decided to check it out. Definitely attempt to take a tour (it’s offered in English as well) since the building has so much history. If your little one acts up you can always leave — although they’re so nice that they may help keep them entertained. You’ll need the baby carrier again as there are stairs throughout the building. The Arab Room and Hall of Nations were the highlights for us…

6. Explore São Bento Railway Station (free)

If your kids are obsessed with trains, you won’t want to miss this spot. It’s one of the most beautiful railway stations I’ve ever seen!! Since it’s a busy transportation hub, the little people will be entertained as you admire the elaborate tile work (over 20 000 azulejo tin-glazed tiles) that depict Portugal’s past…

7. Dine Al Fresco At The Yeatman (Gaia)

If there’s one place you splurge on during your trip, it should be at The Yeatman. The Restaurant is the only restaurant in Porto to hold two Michelin Stars. But if you’re dining with a baby/toddler like us I recommend heading to Dick’s Bar so you can sit outside and not worry about noise levels and all the other joys that come with meal time with kids. The luxury wine hotel is the perfect spot to grab a drink or two, dine al fresco and watch the sun dip below the horizon. The views of the UNESCO World Heritage city and Douro River are truly spectacular…

8. Discover Carmelitas Church & Carmo Church (free)

I’ve actually never seen two churches built side-by-side so I found these architectural structures fascinating! Separated by what some say the narrowest house in the world (around 1 meter in width), each was built in a different century (Carmelitas in the 17th, Carmo in the 18th). Carmelitas has a simple facade whereas Carmo has an impressive tiled exterior — both are worth a visit.

9. Leisurely Afternoon At Base Porto

Sometimes it’s good to just hit pause and people watch when you’re in a foreign land. Base Porto is the perfect place to do this. It’s hip, it’s energized and it’s filled with locals grabbing a mid-day or after-work drink. Essentially a bar in a garden in the heart of Porto, it’s near the Clérigos Tower and Livraria Lello so it’s a great place to relax while sightseeing. We spotted lots of babies, toddlers and families in and around Base. There’s also a huge field we had a picnic on after a few drinks.

10. Day Trip To Douro Valley

While you won’t need a car to get around Porto (stroller walks and Uber rides were our preferred modes of transport), you may want to rent one for a day trip to the Douro Valley. You can certainly get there via train or river cruise, but driving gives you the flexibility and space you’ll need as a family. And if you like to spontaneously stop along the way like we do, I highly recommend driving since it’s such a scenic route. Hubs doesn’t drink so he was our DD and Little L was absolutely amazed by all the beautiful wineries that dot the valley. Quinta da Pacheca, Quinta das Carvalhas, Quinta do Crasto, Quinta do Panascal, Quinta Nova and Quinta da Roêda (our favourite) are a few you’ll want to visit…

11. Beach Day At Leça Da Palmeira

Family beach time is the best time — am I right, or am I right? I recommend heading to a beach with one of the largest stretches of sand in North Portugal: Leça da Palmeira. It’s where many locals go to soak up some rays and dip their toes in the Atlantic. But the biggest draw here? The Piscina das Marés which is a salt-water swimming pool. It’s a sight to be seen and has been declared a national monument! We sadly got there just a few weeks after it closed (which usually happens around mid-Sept), but I hope to return one day to swim here…

Tips Before You Explore Porto With A Baby/Toddler

-Stay at an Airbnb property. The hosts are beyond generous in Portugal, have all the things you’ll need for your little ones and will give you plenty of tips (and any assistance you may need)!

-The food in Porto is really affordable, the water is safe to drink (many prefer bottled because of the taste) and every single restaurant we dined at was genuinely happy that we brought Little L along.

-Definitely pack a good travel stroller & carrier with you. You will need to switch between the two so make sure your stroller folds up and is super light. I recommend this UPPAbaby MINU travel stroller…

-If you’re planning on taking Uber in Porto like we did, note that you’ll need your car seat and can install it via seatbelt. Some Ubers have them already, but it’s best just to take one along. Initially we were thinking of driving around with our rental car, but we opted to leave the car at our Airbnb while in Porto because it was a challenge to get in and out of our host’s parking spot!

-A rental car is a great option (especially if you’re taking a longer road trip across Portugal). You’ll already have the car seat installed, lots of storage space for all the food/snacks/gear and parking is not really that bad in Porto or the other cities we explored in Portugal. The roads are safe, quiet and clearly marked with signs. Oh, and locals are super helpful along the way if you get lost (or have car issues like we did).

-It’s all about mindset and flexibility when you travel with a baby/toddler so make sure to give yourself (and them) some grace. Enjoy the journey and remember the bumps along the way are normal for any type of travel. But I promise you the memories are worth it…