Best family-friendly hotels in Lisbon, as recommended by parents

With beaches, parks, and all the culture and history you’d expect from a European capital city, Lisbon is a perfect choice for a family holiday with a difference. Situated on Portugal's Atlantic coast, the city has a warm climate throughout the summer, without being as sweltering as other European destinations.

There’s a friendly, welcoming atmosphere in the city, with families at the heart of Portuguese culture. We’ve turned to well-travelled Mumsnetters for their tried-and-tested recommendations for the best places to stay with kids in Lisbon.

What are the best family hotels in Lisbon?

• Best overall: Hotel da Baixa

• Best for budget breaks: Lisbon Family Hostel

• Best apartment: Graca House

• Best with a pool: Lux Lisboa Park

• Best boutique: Casa do Principe

1. Best overall hotel: Hotel da Baixa

Hotel da Baixa | Check availability

"Lisbon is great, it is quite compact but I'd stay in the Baixa near the Rossio. Public transport is easy, safe and cheap and it's worth doing the hop on hop off bus tours to get a feel for the city" - recommended by Mumsnet user, Costacoffeeplease

With its shiny green facade and stylish lobby, staying at the Hotel da Baixa is a magical experience from the get-go. Family rooms sleep four and are made up of two connected bedrooms with comfy beds and luxury toiletries in the bathroom. There’s a babysitting service for an extra charge, plus cots and extra beds are available on request.

Just nearby is the Santa Justa Lift, a 120-year-old gothic elevator offering stunning views across the city, as well as the quickest way to access the neighbouring Barrio Alto district.

Nearest airport: Lisbon Airport (4.5 miles)

2. Best cheap hotel: Lisbon Family Hostel

Lisbon Family Hostel | Check availability

"Lisbon Family Hostel in the quiet Alvalade area, around three kilometres from the airport. Rooms are simple but comfortable. Breakfast is included in the room rate. There’s a shared kitchen for guest use, as well as a communal BBQ area in the garden which also features a furnished terrace and a netted trampoline. There’s also a playroom and a TV room. Bikes can be hired on site" - recommended by Mumsnet user, Ricekrispie22

While more and more hostels now offer family-friendly private rooms, Lisbon has gone one better, with a family-oriented hostel. Rooms are cheerful and basic, with DVDs, books and games for kids provided. Breakfast and WiFi is included in the room rate, plus there’s a large garden and terrace, a trampoline and a shared kitchen so you can store food or rustle up a quick meal to feed the troops. The centre of Lisbon is just a short ride away on the metro, and there are restaurants and a market locally too.

Nearest airport: Lisbon Airport (1.5 miles)

3. Best boutique hotel: Casa do Principe

Casa do Principe | Check availability

"I have stayed here and it is lovely. Great location and public transport is so easy in Lisbon anyway" - recommended by Mumsnet user, midsomermurderess

Located opposite the Principe Real Garden public park, Casa do Principe is a grand but cosy B&B in the heart of Lisbon’s historic centre. Splash out on the Imperial Suite, with its ornate ceilings and balcony with views across the city. About a mile away is Sao Jorge Castle. Perched atop the highest of Lisbon’s many hills, it’s a vast fortress you’ll want to set aside a whole day to explore its 11 towers, grounds and museum.

Nearest airport: Lisbon Airport (4 miles)

4. Best city centre hotel: Eurostars das Letras

Eurostars das Letras | Check availability

"We went a couple of years back - me, dh and Dd (was 13). In Lisbon we stayed at Eurostars Das Letras Hotel. We liked the hotel and it was easy walking distance to everywhere though you could use taxis occasionally - they were pretty cheap" - recommended by Mumsnet user, Hulababy

Combining a central location with a peaceful atmosphere, Eurostars das Letras is set between Sao Jorge Castle and Lisbon’s Botanical Gardens. Rooms are smart, clean and minimalist, with extra beds and cots available on request. The beauty of compact Lisbon is that you can experience a capital city while having stunning natural beauty and countryside just a short trip away. Be sure to take a stroll along the banks of the Tagus River (Rio Tejo in Portuguese), which runs just a mile and a half’s walk away from the hotel.

Nearest airport: Lisbon Airport (4 miles)

5. Best hotel with a pool: Lux Lisboa Park

Lux Lisboa Park | Check availability

"I recently stayed at Lux Lisboa Park - it was really lovely, rooftop pool and beautiful rooftop bar. About a 25 minute walk though to the main areas. You many want to stay a bit closer but it was lovely to come back to those amenities after a day sightseeing" - recommended by Mumsnet user, victoriaaurora

As you’ll find in many historic European cities, space is at a premium, so a hotel in Lisbon with a pool is a rarity. Lux Lisboa Park has one on its roof, so you can enjoy the sunshine  from the comfortable loungers that line the pool all day long. Go for a deluxe family room and you’ll have a balcony, air conditioning and space to sleep four, with extra beds available on request. One thing to bear in mind is that the bathrooms in some of the rooms at Lux Lisboa Park are open plan, which might not suit everyone.

Nearest airport: Lisbon Airport (3.5 miles)

6. Best family-friendly apartment: Graca House

Graca House | Check availability

"We are just back from a weekend here. It was amazing! The view was to die for. Not in the centre of town but 5 min (flat) walk to the 28 tram which takes you everywhere, plus buses. Walk down hill to Martim Moniz for the metro. Some lovely local restaurants - Via Graca across the road for one - and view points. We did a tuk tuk tour" - recommended by Mumsnet user, MissAmbrosia

The owners of the Graca House don’t call it “The Most amazing View of Lisbon” for nothing. The views across the city and out to sea are pretty special from this 2-bed, 3-bathroom apartment. The interior is modern, stylish and clean, and Mumsnetters say the location is great, with easy links to the city centre and tourist hotspots. There’s a highchair in the kitchen, and a free cot is available on request.

Nearest airport: Lisbon Airport (4 miles)

7. Best hotel for babies and toddlers: Martinhal Lisbon Chiado

Martinhal Lisbon Chiado | Check availability

"You could stay in an apart-hotel. Then you have the option to stay in if the toddler isn't on restaurant form. But hopefully you still have some hotel facilities too" - recommended by Mumsnet user, trilbydoll

Striking the right balance between hotel luxury and Airbnb convenience, an aparthotel like Martinhal Chiado is a great choice if you’re holidaying with babies and toddlers in tow. Snacks at odd hours are a doddle when you have a fully-equipped kitchen, and the two-bedroom apartment also has a large living area, balcony, bathroom and kids’ bedroom with bunk beds to sleep four - plus space for playing. Everything you could need for young children is available on request - from buggies to stairgates.

Nearest airport: Lisbon Airport (5 miles)

8. Best hotel for teens: Hotel Mundial

Hotel Mundial | Check availability

"It’s lovely, compact but lots to see and do. The Hotel Mundial is in a great location, very central" - recommended by Mumsnet user, Costacoffeeplease

For a holiday with teens, Hotel Mundial offers a more grown-up place to stay than the others on our list. The hotel has triple rooms, perfect for a family of three, and extra beds can be added for a nightly charge. It’s worth noting that children under one are not allowed at the hotel.

Perfectly placed for exploring Lisbon, you’ll have the vibrant Barrio Alto district on your doorstep, and city tours pick up and drop off from right outside the lobby. Don’t miss the MUDE Fashion & Design museum, shopping in Chado and sampling traditional Portuguese delicacies in the local area.

Nearest airport: Lisbon Airport (4.5 miles)

Is Lisbon good for families?

Lisbon is very welcoming to families, and there are plenty of parks and green spaces in the city. A host of beautiful, unspoiled beaches are just a short trip outside the city, with Praia de Figueirinha rating highly for families.

One thing to bear in mind is that Lisbon is very hilly, so it’s worth taking advantage of the city’s easy-to-navigate public transport system, especially if you have younger children.

What’s the best area to stay in Lisbon?

Lisbon is small for a capital city, with great public transport options, so wherever you stay, you’ll be able to make the most of your holiday there. Mumsnetters’ most recommended area of Lisbon for families to stay is Baixa, an authentic, charming and central neighbourhood full of places to buy a pastel de nata (Portuguese custard tart) and with retro yellow trams rattling through every few minutes.

What’s the best family-friendly hotel in Lisbon?

Hotel da Baixa is the best family-friendly hotel in Lisbon. Its amazing facade, cosy but luxurious rooms and brilliant location get the thumbs up from Mumsnetters.

How we choose our recommendations

Recommendations by real parents

With over 10 million users per month, Mumsnet forums provide a wealth of real recommendations and reviews that we collected to create our initial list of the best family hotels in Lisbon.

Expert Guidance and traveller reviews

We then used industry experts like TripAdvisor, Expedia, Booking.com and Hotels.com to cross-reference and confirm that every hotel on our list is trustworthy, safe and family-friendly. We consider reviews, awards and expert opinions in our analysis.

Celebrated hotels

Once we’ve triple-checked every hotel, we have then created this honest guide to the best family hotels in Lisbon.

Why should you trust us?

Through our combination of forum recommendations and research through industry experts, we ensure that we provide unbiased advice that you can rely on. We do sometimes earn revenue through affiliate links (click-to-buy) in our articles. This helps us fund more informative articles like this one.