Portugal is rapidly becoming a more popular family vacation destination, especially in the summer. While there are so many things to see and do, you’ll also want to enjoy relaxing a bit – after all, it is vacation!
I’ve traveled to Portugal twice now and have stayed at seven different resorts and hotels. While some have more family amenities than others, they have all been very family-friendly. It’s essential to keep in mind, however, that many European hotels, including those in Portugal, only accommodate two guests. So, you may need to book two rooms to accommodate your family.
Here are some of the best resorts in Portugal for families. If traveling during the high season of the summer months, be sure to make your reservations early!
Disclosure: I visited Portugal at no cost on my first trip to tour the Martinhal Hotels. Our second trip was at our own expense. This post contains affiliate links and a purchase/click through one of these posts may result in a commission paid to us at no additional cost to you.
Best Resorts in Portugal for Families
InterContinental Porto – Palacio Das Cardosas
This beautiful historic hotel, part of the IHG family, was a site for sore eyes after a long red-eye flight ending in lost luggage. It’s located right in the center of the historic area of Porto, in the former Palacio das Cardosas, right by Avenida dos Aliados.
It has fantastic service. The concierge was helpful in tracking down our bags, and the front desk staff was so friendly. We also dined at the restaurant several times and always found everyone to be cheerful.
At this hotel, we had two adjoining rooms – one with a king bed and one with two twins. It is an extremely comfortable place to stay, with a fantastic hotel location, beautiful views, and luxurious rooms. While it isn’t necessarily billed as a child-friendly resort, it is a place where you’ll see plenty of kids.
Rooms include amenities such as coffee makers, marble bathrooms, luxurious linens, and beautiful views of Porto. We stayed there a total of four nights, and would absolutely stay there again when visiting Porto.
We definitely consider this location to be one of the best places to stay in Porto. We were able to take short walks to most of the attractions, including the Douro River waterfront.
Olissippo Lapa Palace
We only spent one night in this gorgeous Lisbon luxury hotel, but I wish I had more time. It’s located not too far from the Tagus River waterfront, and some rooms have gorgeous river views. Kids will especially love the beautiful outdoor pool, which is located within some gorgeous gardens behind the hotel.
We ended up spending most of our afternoon at the hotel enjoying the private pool area. It was the perfect opportunity to relax after a busy nine-day Adventures by Disney tour of Portugal. The area is so peaceful and beautiful that it doesn’t even feel like you are in a busy city. For this area alone, I think the Lapa Palace hotel is a great choice for the whole family.
The resort also offers a spa and fitness center, as well as a restaurant. We loved the buffet breakfast, which offers both indoor and outdoor seating. On our last morning in Portugal, it was nice to sit outside and enjoy coffee and breakfast before departing for the airport.
Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites
Looking to enjoy some more space on your family holiday? The Martinhal Chiado, the newest of the four Martinhal resorts, offers family-friendly apartments located in one of the most trendy neighborhoods of Lisbon.
Unlike other hotels, where you’ll need to book several rooms to accommodate your family, these apartments are specifically made for families. They are available in various configurations, including rooms with bunk beds, mini kitchenettes, and separate sleeping areas.
The hotel also offers family-friendly amenities, including a kids club, kids’ workshops, and a baby concierge. The location itself is an amenity – you’ll be located right in one of the most popular Lisbon neighborhoods.
Tivoli Avendida Liberdade Lisbon
During our Adventures by Disney trip, our group stayed at the Hotel Tivoli Avenida Liberdade, a five-star luxury hotel located along a very upscale street in Lisbon. There are more than one Tivolis in Lisbon, but this particular location is on Av. da Liberdade, steps from Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Gucci. I hadn’t stayed at a Tivoli property before, but we really thought they were some of the best luxury hotels we’d been to in Europe.
This is another hotel where we had to book two rooms to accommodate our family of four. We had connecting rooms, which we had to request be opened. While you probably won’t want to spend too much time at the hotel, there are several restaurants and bars right within the hotel.
We loved our dinner at the on-site restaurant, where we got great food and fantastic service. There’s also a trendy rooftop bar if you’d like to enjoy a cocktail. Kids were permitted over a certain age (we were told 14, but we recommend asking when you arrive). A dress code does apply. It’s got beautiful panoramic views of the city, so it’s worth going up there for a drink.
We were very busy in Lisbon, so we didn’t have a lot of time to explore the hotel. It does have an outdoor swimming pool, but we didn’t have time to experience it.
Tivoli Carvoeiro Algarve Resort
During your family vacation to Portugal, be sure to spend some time in the Algarve region, located in the south. This region is most popular for charming beach towns, gorgeous sea views, and unique caves.
We only had the opportunity to spend two nights at this hotel, but I wish we had spent more. We were immediately amazed upon entering our guest rooms and seeing the stunning ocean views. Many of the hotel rooms at the Tivoli Carvoeiro overlook the waterfront, with the Algarve Caves, coastline, water, and pool in view. It is truly magnificent.
Like the other Tivoli hotel, we had two connecting rooms at this resort. The rooms included hairdryers, plenty of outlets, complimentary WiFi, and beautiful balconies overlooking the view. This luxury resort offers several restaurants and bars, a spa, and more.
Want to golf on vacation? While there isn’t a golf course on the property, there is a Golf Desk that can help you arrange some time at the eight nearby golf courses.
If you’d like to take a walk to the town of Carvoeiro, it’s a short walk to get there. There are several sandy beaches nearby.
After our stay at the hotel, we had to return to Lisbon for an additional overnight and then our flight back to Lisbon. The resort concierge assisted us in setting up a private driver and car to take us door to door from the Tivoli Carvoeiro to our hotel in Lisbon.
Martinhal Sagres Beach Resort and Hotel
The original of the four Martinhal Resorts is the Martinhal Sagres, a luxurious family beach resort. This resort, from beginning to end, is created specifically with kids in mind. In addition to a fantastic location right on Martinhal Beach in Sagres (on the Atlantic Ocean), Martinhal Sagres offers so many family activities.
Amenities and activities include paddle and tennis courts, a game room, a pump track, five swimming pools (including one that is a combination outdoor and indoor pool), a spa, bike rentals, a health club, a water sports center, a spa, a gym, a teen club, and a kids’ club. You won’t even need to leave the resort because there is so much right there to enjoy.
The resort offers many different types of accommodations, including houses, apartments, villas, and standard hotel rooms. Like with the other Martinhal properties, if you are traveling with a baby, there is a baby concierge who can assist with prebooking baby products.
The Martinhal Sagres Resort is home to several restaurants including a seafood restaurant, a deli, and a pizza restaurant. All of the restaurants are family-friendly, and there are even baby puree options as well as high chairs. The pizza restaurant especially is a great place to get a casual meal.
If you are traveling with young children and want to stay in the Algarve, this luxury beach resort is one of the best family hotels to consider. However, it’s also great for older children, who will love the sports amenities and the teen club.
Not traveling with kids? Here are some fun wine hotels in Portugal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Like many cities, Lisbon is very easy to get around without a car. The roads are also steep and narrow, so navigating a car can be a challenge.
I’d recommend about three to four days (more if you want to do day trips from Lisbon). There’s a lot to see, but you’ll probably also want to see some of the other areas of Portugal, like the Algarve and Porto.
