3 Nights in Lisbon, Portugal with a Family of 5

My husband and I took our three children — aged 11, eight and five — to Lisbon for three nights after spending six nights in Prague and Salzburg. We stayed in the city center in a hotel called The Lisboans, essentially apartments but with the amenities of a hotel. We got a two-bedroom apartment on the third floor that had a small wraparound deck and a living area with a kitchenette and dining table. The space was great and it fit our family of 5 perfectly. One of the highlights was that they left a bag of locally sourced, fresh items on your door handle every morning for breakfast. It included fresh-squeezed juice and baked goods, each day different, from local shops. The pastels de nata were the best we had. A reputable restaurant, Prado, is downstairs, but unfortunately was closed while we were there. It is only open Thursday through Saturdays.

We were located in an area of Lisbon called Sao Nicolau, within walking distance of the Se de Lisboa (The Cathedral of Saint Mary Major), the Castle and Praia do Comercio.

Downtown Lisbon is only a 20-minute drive from the airport, and once we arrived, we checked into our hotel and got dressed for dinner. We walked from The Lisboans to Rocco Restaurant, and as one would find, Lisbon is known as "The City of Seven Hills" but our children managed the vibrant walk and loved our fancy first-night dinner in Lisbon.

Our first full day in Lisbon, we walked up to the Castle and took in the views of the city. I do not know that I would recommend this, as it is at the top of the hill and does have an entrance fee. There are plenty of free lookout spots throughout the city, and the castle is not much to see.

In the afternoon, we rented a tuk-tuk with a wonderful guide who drove us throughout the city and stopped at different spots along the way. We started at the Se de Lisboa and stopped at the Miradouro de Santa Luzia lookout, Igreja de Sao Roque — an unassuming church on the outside but with an ornate, breathtaking interior — the earliest Jesuit church in the Portuguese world. We took pictures in front of the Mural de Azulejos and drove around the Marques de Pombal Square and down the glamorous Avenida da Liberdade. We also stopped and walked through the Livraria Bertrand, the oldest bookstore in the world. Overall, having a guide explain to us the city and its history was a great first-day activity.

On our last day in Lisbon, we walked down to the Time Out Market for lunch. There was a small playground next door where our kids loved getting some wiggles out. On the way, we walked down Pink Street for a photo opportunity. Afterwards, we took an Uber to the Lisbon Oceanarium. If you’re adventurous, the bus is also an option.

Other restaurants of note include:

• Sala de Corte

• O Velho Eurico

• Canalha — about 30 minutes outside of the downtown area

• Cafe-Restaurante Martinho da Arcada — great location on Praca do Comercio — for lunch

Lisbon is hilly with lots of cobblestones. I would recommend hiring a tuk-tuk or renting scooters to get around. Uber is also a viable option and inexpensive. There are various funiculars throughout the city, so look for those. There is also an elevator up to the castle from Rua dos Fanqueiros to Rua da Madelena in Alfama. We made the mistake of walking it. The Santa Justa Lift is situated at the end of Rua de Santa Justa and connects the lower streets of the Baixa-Chiado with the higher Largo do Carmo and has a beautiful lookout from the top.

Like in other places in Europe, a lot of places are closed on Mondays, so check before making plans. Go to the most touristy spots in the mornings before the crowds. Embrace Siesta time and rest in the afternoons.

Finally, the Lisbon airport is very inefficient, so give yourself plenty of time when leaving the country. I would recommend getting there three hours in advance of an international flight.

There are lots of amazing place outside of Lisbon as well. I would love to plan your next vacation to Portugal.

This trip report is part of our ongoing series on travel to Lisbon. In need of further inspiration? Check out Erica Alexander’s guide, The Top 10 Things to Do Your First Time in Tokyo.