We spent 3 nights in Porto with our 2 year old daughter and absolutely fell in love with this city. While hilly, we found it incredibly walkable, much easier than in Lisbon and really walked almost the entire city. We did use the city bus on occasion to avoid some longer uphill walks, as well as the Gaia cable car which was both entertainment and transportation combined!

The mix of culture, history, food, and art make the city truly a hit for adults and kids alike. Here are a few of our favorite things we enjoyed in Porto with kids.

Want all the details on planning a stay in Porto? Check out our sister posts on where to stay in Porto with kids as well as our full itinerary on how we planned our days there.

Top Family Activities & Sightseeing in Porto with Kids

• Caves Cálem Port Tasting: Family-friendly Port cellar tour featuring interactive lights, history displays, and a dedicated grape juice tasting for young kids.

• Douro River 6 Bridges Boat Tour: 50 to 60-minute scenic wooden boat cruise under Porto’s famous bridges with covered seating and kid-free entry under age 6 for most tours.

• Gaia Cable Car Ride: A wonderful way to see the views of the Port cellars along the Douro river from a bird’s eye view. It’s a quick 5 minute ride but takes you 60 meters up hill (if you catch it from the Jardim do Morro station) – a nice way to avoid an uphill stroller walk along the riverbank.
  • Note only functions April-September. Confirm dates on the website.

• World of Discoveries: Interactive sensory museum and indoor boat ride highlighting Portuguese explorers.

• Livraria Lello: Visit the world-famous bookstore (pre-purchase priority vouchers online and bring a baby carrier inside).

• Bingo cards to keep kids engaged! Friendly plug for my digital bingo cards – it’s a favorite trip planning aspect for me and has become a tradition for all the trips we take!
  • Check them out in our Etsy shop

Historic Architecture & Tilework Stops 

These are great spots to admire while on a stroller walk. Interlace with ample playground/park time and snacks and you have a winning day planned for your family.

If you have older children, you can even consider a guided, walking Azulejo (tile) tour of the city.

• Estação São Bento & Church of Saint Ildefonso: Admire massive blue-and-white azulejo tile murals inside the station and on the church façade.

• Igreja do Carmo: Beautiful tiled exterior with a convenient public playground right outside.

• Porto Cathedral (Sé do Porto) & Clérigos Tower: We skipped going up to the top of the Clerigos tower because lines and stairs don’t mix well with toddlers, but did get to admire the architecture from the outside.

Parks, Gardens & Playgrounds for Kids in Porto

There is certainly no shortage of parks and playgrounds in Portugal. These are a few of the ones we saved but you can find playgrounds within most parks in the city.

• Jardins do Palácio de Cristal: Free-entry botanical gardens with wide paved stroller paths, sweeping river views, and free-roaming peacocks and ducks.

• Parque Infantil Jardim do Morro: Sunset viewpoint playground located right off the upper deck of the Dom Luís I Bridge.

• Parque Infantil das Fontainhas & Quinta do Covelo: Riverview neighborhood play areas and a massive wooden adventure playground.

• Serralves Park: Expansive 18 hectare grounds featuring a working farm, contemporary gardens, and an elevated treetop canopy walk that’s extremely stroller friendly.

Kid-Approved Food Halls, Cafes & Dining

While some of the local Portuguese food may not immediately appeal to pickier toddlers, there are plenty of options to keep them well fed. One tip when traveling with littles who may not want to try new things, is that we often stop in local grocery shops and pick up a few staples. Things like bread/cold cuts for easy sandwiches, fruits, crackers, etc.

Food halls are always a BIG win with kids, so adults and kids can both have options to choose from.

• Local Specialties: Try a traditional Francesinha sandwich and warm caldo verde (kale soup) at Casa Guedes.

• Casual Food Halls: Eat stress-free at Mercado do Bolhão or Mercado Beira-Rio in Gaia.

• Historic Cafes & Higher-End Dining: Arrive early at Majestic Café for breakfast, enjoy fine dining with river views in a family-friendly environment at Vinum (Graham’s Port Lodge), grab craft beers at Letra Brewery, and try warm pastéis de nata at Manteigaria.