Lagos is a lively town in Portugal’s western Algarve, and a new attraction there makes it especially appealing to family travelers. Lagos Ciência Viva Science Centre is filled with innovative hands-on activities centering around the science of navigation, and as kids (and parents) move through interactive exhibits, they also learn about an important part of the history of Lagos and the world.
Lagos was the departure port for many caravels that set out from Portugal to explore the world during the Age of Discoveries in the 15th and 16th centuries. The museum explores the science of navigation using 21st-century technology. Robots, 3-D printers, drones and an arena for chain reactions form a bridge for understanding the principles of physics, weather, ocean currents and the tools early navigators used to explore the world.
In the On-board Communication Room, kids can play a Morse Code game, assemble a radio and decode messages. The Life On-board exhibits explains the parts of a ship and what life was like for long-ago sailors. The whole family will enjoy learning to tie knots that were (and still are) used by sailors.
© Barbara Rogers
It’s not all about sailing ships and caravels; kids can go inside the control room of the Yellow Submarine to explore under the sea with its periscope. More exhibits are outside on the terrace overlooking the harbor. Here you’ll find a lighthouse and the Boat Garden. Model sailboats float in a wide pool with fans around its perimeter. Use the fans to create wind to send the boats in different directions.
Kids can’t resist climbing onto the replica caravel and trying to figure out how to open the treasure chest. Meanwhile, parents can sit on benches in the garden and enjoy the view over the harbor and Lagos Bay.
Tip: The museum is on a steep hill above the harbor, but you can avoid the long climb by entering the public market and taking the elevator to the top floor. At the top you’ll find an exit to the left that leads right to the museum’s door.
Read This Next
#WhereverFamily
Insta FeedHotels
Sep 3, 20263 Caribbean, Latin American Marriott Hotels for Multigen Trips
Multigenerational travel continues to grow in popularity, with family travelers moving away from traditional getaways for meaningful trips with family members of all ages. The Caribbean and Latin America are growing destinations of interest for this type of travel, and three Marriott properties offer opportunities for multigen families to create lifelong memories.
Sponsored Content
Best of Both Worlds
Enjoy the best of both worlds when you fly with TAP Air Portugal thanks to the Portugal Stopover program. With the program, TAP passengers, whether traveling for business, leisure or both, can stop in Portugal for up to 10 days at no additional airfare on the way to their final destination. What does this mean for travelers wishing to explore by both land and sea? It means after flying to Portugal with TAP and experiencing the country in an entirely new way, travelers can then embark on scenic river and ocean cruises from Portugal’s port cities, or fly with TAP to another European destination.
Travel Tips
Sep 1, 2026TikTok Revolutionizes Travel Planning and Inspiration
With an estimated 1.9 billion users worldwide, TikTok influences nearly every part of our lives, from food to fashion. The app so profoundly changed the way we travel, it now describes itself as a “modern-day travel agency, itinerary planner, and travel blog rolled into one.” Using TikTok to plan travel is so popular, the app recently launched TikTok Go to make booking even easier.
Hotels
Sep 1, 2026Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa to Welcome Return of Elf on the Shelf This Holiday Season
The magic of Christmas quickly approaches as summer comes to a close, and families can experience the holiday season in a unique way this year.
Sponsored Content
GET TO KNOW TAP FORBIZ
Unlock flexible, refined business travel with TAP Air Portugal’s program, TAP FORBIZ. Developed for small, medium and large Companies, with options for corporate events, TAP FORBIZ offers exclusive advantages adapted to each type of business.
Hotels
Sep 1, 2026This London Hotel Launches Little Londoners Family Package
Balance a city break in London with kid-friendly experiences at Sea Containers London, an upscale, riverside hotel. The property recently debuted the Little Londoners package, a thoughtfully designed offering that makes exploring London easier (and more fun) for both kids and parents.
ShareThis