Family Fun in Porto, Portugal

Porto, a family-friendly, 2,000-year-old Portuguese destination, is a fascinating and beautiful UNESCO World Heritage City, elected Best European Destination in 2012, 2014 and 2017. For the past three centuries, the city at the mouth of the Douro River, a.k.a. Oporto, is best known as home to British wine shippers who transport port through the rugged, verdant Douro Valley down-river to the Atlantic.

These days, a multitude of historic 18^th– and 19^th-century, center-city buildings have been restored and renovated (many into hotels with contemporary interiors) and both sides of the riverfront are inviting destinations for folks with some time to explore and enjoy.

There are multiple ways to get around the center city without hiring a car and driver. There’s a metro, buses, taxis, Uber, a Hop-On, Hop-Off bus and even tiny tuk tuks for transport. One fun experience is riding a vintage tram (No. 22). At the end of the ride, walk a bit along beautiful Avenida dos Aliados and Praca da Liberdade. See the Sao Bento Railway Station where the Beaux Arts interior is decorated with more than 20,000 hand-painted, Portuguese, blue-and-white tiles just to show your children functionality can be beautiful. The Funicular dos Guindais is an affordable and fun ascent from Ribeira to Batalha, on the winery warehouse side of the Douro. During your tour of the center city, the historic Lello bookstore is considered one of the most beautiful bookstores in the world. Climb its iconic red velvet and wooden stairway. Young readers appreciate that J.K. Rowling, who lived in Porto, was inspired by its fairy tale ambiance and used that inspiration for Harry Potter. (The entrance fee is refunded with a purchase.)

Energetic youngsters will love the stroll across the lower level of the bi-level Dom Luís Bridge, designed by Gustave Eiffel before he built his famous tower in Paris. The national monument, designated an International Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civic Engineers, stretches across the River Douro between Porto’s historic Ribeira section and Vila Nova de Gaia, where port warehouses dot the riverside. Wander along the riverbank, or go for the tour at Taylor’s, where kids of any age can visit the museum accompanied by a parent. Only those 18 and older can participate in a port tasting, according to law.

Dom Luis bridge and Douro river in Porto, Portugal © Artem Evdokimov | Dreamstime.com

Then, hop on the teleférico, the Gaia Cable Car—Teleferico de Gaia, an eco-friendly transport, which will carry you back to the bridge. Or, treat the family to a boat cruise, a fun catamaran trip or a daytrip on the Douro. FeelDouro, a charter company based in Oporto, offers catamaran cruises and has Greenline boats to charter (with and without skipper) to navigate exclusively the Douro River. 

A less costly option is to visit SEA LIFE PORTO, the aquarium, with its close-up views of colorful sea creatures — including octopus, rays, sharks and sea turtles — is one of the most interesting destinations for tweens interested in animal life. It’s a place to wander and learn about what’s swimming under the waves and in the waters.

One of the best lodging options in Porto is an actual spacious and gracious urban resort with an indoor swimming pool. The Yeatman, the luxurious, 5-star Relais & Chateaux affiliate, is an idyllic urban resort in Vila Nova de Gaia, on the south side of the River Douro.

Youngsters must be with an adult to swim in the fabulous heated indoor and outdoor pools, both of which boast magnificent views over the River Douro and UNESCO-classified Ribeira district of Porto. Parents love the spacious rooms, private terraces and the Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa. Spa treatments are available from baby massage to facials and for any aged child accompanied by an adult, though kids must be 16 or older to use the Roman bath, hamman, shower experiences and sauna area. The hotel welcomes families with a Kids Club (unsupervised); babysitter services can be arranged upon request and children’s books are available. The Orangerie restaurant also offers a children’s menu. And, for a special dinner, introduce gastronomy at Yeatman Restaurant where the Michelin-two-star chef Ricardo Costa prepares an extraordinary fixed price tasting menu.

Portuguese specialties delight wherever you choose to eat, from sausages and sardines to fresh seafood specialties. For dessert, pastel de nata, the famed yolk-rich custard pastry tarts, are essential. Thrifty nuns who used so many egg whites to starch their vestments developed these custard recipes to use the left-over yolks.

Young people appreciate the verdant parks; clean, sandy beaches located about a half hour from center city; the extended waterfront promenade; and nearby fishing villages. From Portugal’s capital city, Lisbon, Porto is a three-hour drive, a direct 2.5-hour train trip or just a short flight (TAP Air Portugal offers complimentary five-day stopovers).