Top FAQ Portugal Family Trip Planning

We have found Portugal to be extremely kid-friendly and welcoming to families! From the moment you get off the airplane, you are encouraged to go to the priority immigration lane (even when my youngest was 7!) and offered free strollers to use in the airport! Below are some Frequently Asked Questions I’ve received from friends who’ve visited.

FAQ Table of Contents Portugal Family Trip Guide

Money & Planning Questions (Car Rental, ATM, Tipping, Cash?)
Safety and Phones
Kids Questions (Strollers and Carseats)
Culture (Meal Times, Portuguese language)
Best Time to Visit and Weather

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Money Questions in Portugal

Should We Bring Cash?

Paying by Credit, Debit or ApplePay is very common here! I would get some (maybe €50 per week?) for some market stalls and public restrooms. I haven't been to a restaurant or store that didn’t take my US credit card.

Where Do You Get Euros?

Do not get euros at a Euronet ATM. These are found everywhere including the Lisbon Airport and hotels, etc. They have really bad exchange rates. Instead, find a Bank ATM or Mbway which will give you a better exchange rate. Reputable banks include Millenium BCP, Santander, Novobanco and Caixa Geral de Depósitos (state-owned).

Should you Rent a Car in Portugal?

With kids it's almost always a yes! My sister just rented a car for a week for 130 euros and more than made up the cost of public transportation (and public tantrums!) I wrote a whole blog post about our 6 experiences renting a car in Madeira, Lisbon and Porto here.

What to Pack for a Trip to Portugal?

I wrote a whole blog post with month-by-month packing tips on what to pack for a Portugal trip. And check out my separate blog post on Regional Packing and a full packing list for Portugal here!

Should You Tip In Portugal?

Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. We tip around 5-10% in restaurants. In cafés and bars, leaving the small change or rounding up the bill is a common way to tip, especially if you've received table service. More here from a Portuguese perspective.

What are the Best Family Hotels in Portugal

I wrote a whole blog post on the best family hotels in Portugal from Porto, Lisbon and the Algarve!

Safety and Phone Questions in Portugal

Is Portugal a Safe Country?

The Global Peace Index ranked Portugal 7th, behind only Iceland, New Zealand, Ireland, Denmark, Austria, and Singapore! We’ve felt very safe in Portugal! We keep our passports with us if there is not a safe in the hotel room. Be careful of pickpocketing in crowded tourist areas. I have heard of a couple of instances of pickpocketing in cities on the Expat Facebook groups.

How Can I Use My US Phone in Portugal?

Highly recommend purchasing an e-sim service to use your phones in Portugal. Our friends and family have used Simoptions.com and it's worked great. (not an affiliate just used many times and works great!) Currently, it's $4.50 for 7 days/1GB of data or $9.50 for 3GB/15 days in Portugal. You need to purchase and activate it in the US before your trip. They have a great FAQ section.

Kid's Questions in Portugal

Should We Bring a Stroller to Portugal?

I would bring a lightweight single stroller for the airport and some flat areas but also a baby carrier as most of Lisbon, Sintra, and the smaller towns have hills, cobblestones, and often no sidewalks. (!) See my 2 Day Itinerary for Lisbon here.

What are the laws about Carseats in Portugal? (Ubers, Taxis, Rentals)

In Portugal, local law requires that children under 12—or under 135 cm tall—be secured in an appropriate car seat in private vehicles. This means that ride‐hailing services like Uber (which operate as private cars, not taxis) are legally expected to use car seats for young children.

However, unlike in some U.S. cities where you can select an “Uber Car Seat” option directly in the app, in Portugal Uber doesn’t offer a standardized car seat option. In practice, many drivers may not have a car seat readily available unless you request one in advance. It’s a good idea to add a note in the app or contact your driver before confirming your ride to ensure they have the appropriate car seat for your child. We traveled with booster seats or rented them through the car rental company. Here are some options:

Buy a lightweight booster at a Portugese store Continente or Worten which vary from $10 - $50 euros.
Bring your own carseat and use a carseat bag to carry. We love this brand and it lasted many interaction flights.
We've used this MiFold Comfort Grab and Go Backless Booster in Ubers and it has worked well. This car seat is designed for kids aged 4 and up, 40-100 lbs., and 40 to 59 inches tall. They also make a Highback Adjustable Boosterwhich I have not used. It is for similar age and size kids but slightly larger.
I've also heard great things from parents about this RideSafer Lightweight, Compact, Portable Car Seat but I have not tried it myself. The small size is recommended to use 3 years and above and a weight between 30 lbs. and 60 lbs.

New mifold Comfort Grab-and-go Car Backless Booster Seat- 3X Thicker Cushion! Compact and Portable for Every Day, Carpooling, Travel, Compact for Every Day, Comfortable for Every Adventure, Ocean Blue

J.L. Childress Gate Check Bag for Car Seats - Car Seat Travel Bag - Fits All Car Seats, Infant Carriers & Booster Seats - Car Seat Bag for Air Travel

Cultural Questions about a Trip to Portugal

What Time Do People Eat in Portugal? What Time are Restaurants Open?

Lunch is around 1 PM to 3 PM and dinner begins around 7 PM. Always check the restaurant’s Google Map link for the opening times as it can vary from 12 PM to 2 PM starting for lunch or only open for dinners.

Someone asked me if you need to purchase something if using a restaurant’s bathroom and I confirmed when I was out with our Portuguese neighbors that it’s the polite thing to do to buy a coffee or water.

Is it Hard If You Don’t Speak Portuguese?

English is widely spoken in the larger cities and by younger generations, but as you leave the bigger cities, that is not always the case. I highly recommend learning some basic Portuguese phrases and definitely greet everyone from the waiter to the shopkeeper with a Bom Dia or Boa Tarde when you enter and leave the store!

Olá
Hello
A simple, friendly greeting that works anytime.
Bom dia
Good morning
Useful for greeting people during the early part of the day.
Boa tarde
Good afternoon
A standard greeting from noon until evening.
Por favor
Please
Always useful when making requests or asking for help.
Obrigado/Obrigada
Thank you
Use obrigado if you’re male and obrigada if you’re female.
Desculpe
Excuse me / I'm sorry
Handy for getting someone's attention or apologizing.
Fala inglês?
Do you speak English?
A quick way to find out if you can switch to English when needed.
Quanto custa?
How much is it?
Essential for shopping or when dealing with prices.
Onde é a casa de banho?
Where is the bathroom?
A crucial phrase for any traveler!
Pode ajudar-me, por favor?
Can you help me, please?
Perfect for asking locals for assistance with directions or recommendations.

Mom Tip! There are 2 options on Google Translate, Brazilian Portuguese and European Portuguese. Use the Google Translate App for their Camera Feature to auto-translate food packages, menus, or signs.

Weather and Best Time to Visit Portugal on Your Family Trip

Weather and Packing

Portugal enjoys a Mediterranean climate, with hot summers and mild winters. However, the north can be cooler and wetter in the winter and Cascais and Sintra can be a bit cooler than Lisbon. Pack in layers and always bring sunscreen.

I have blog posts for my favorite Baby and Kids Travel Essentials and for Traveling Women.

When is the Best Time To Visit Portugal as a Family?

We’ve now experienced all 4 seasons here outside Lisbon and I honestly don’t think there is a bad time to come! Below are some pros and cons for each:

Spring