Family Holidays to Portugal

Best family friendly beaches in Portugal

Portugal is packed with beautiful beaches, but some are better suited to families than others.

• Praia da Rocha in the Algarve is a huge sandy beach with lifeguards and a promenade lined with plenty of cafés and restaurants. It’s a great all-rounder for families who like having everything close by.
• Meia Praia, also in the Algarve, is a long stretch of golden sand near Lagos. Make the most of the ample space with beach games and tons of family fun. The sea gently slopes allowing for plenty of paddling, and with the beach cafés nearby when tummies grumble, you’ve got good options.
• Praia de Alvor is a wide sandy beach backed by dunes and a peaceful estuary, where the sheltered waters are particularly good for younger children. The nearby boardwalks are also ideal for a family stroll.
• Praia do Ancao is situated within the Ria Formosa Natural Park so is ideal for those wanting a rural spot with sand dunes, wooden boardwalks and pine trees. There’s also a choice of restaurants serving fresh fish and a variety of watersports available.

Best family activities in Portugal

There’s much more to a family holiday in Portugal than beach days. From waterparks and wildlife to cable cars and boat trips, there are plenty of ways to keep everyone entertained.

• Enjoy a full day of family fun at Zoomarine, Algarve. With water attractions, pools and marine life including dolphins, seals, turtles and tropical fish to discover, it’s a full day of fun for everyone.
• Algarve has several waterparks with slides, wave pools, lazy rivers and splash areas for different ages. AquaShow and Aqualand are two popular choices and the perfect way to spend a day keeping cool.
• Head out on a dolphin-watching cruise from resorts like Lagos, Portimão or Alvor and keep your eyes peeled for the beautiful creatures swimming along the Algarve coast.
• Take to the skies for incredible views over Funchal and the surrounding coastline from the Funchal Cable Car – then, once you’re at the top explore the tropical gardens around Monte Palace.