Help with my Portugal Itinerary & General Advice!

I don’t know that it’s more common to rent a car in Portugal, especially if you will be traveling straight from Porto to Lisbon. With an infant, spending your extra time in Lisbon and doing day trips sounds better to me. It’s been a long time since I had an infant, but the idea of checking in and out of hotels repeatedly, would have added to the fatigue and stress. With your limited time, you can more than fill those extra days staying in Lisbon.

I don’t know that it’s more common to rent a car in Portugal, especially if you will be traveling straight from Porto to Lisbon. With an infant, spending your extra time in Lisbon and doing day trips sounds better to me. It’s been a long time since I had an infant, but the idea of checking in and out of hotels repeatedly, would have added to the fatigue and stress. With your limited time, you can more than fill those extra days staying in Lisbon.

Honestly, I mostly agree with you. I am just trying to make sure that my insisting on skipping Coimbra is not unnecessary. Some of the family really wants to stay there, so I am thinking that my wife, myself, and the baby, might skip Coimbra, go straight to Lisbon, and just meet them there at the hotel when they arrive.

I know that trains are pretty accessible for children in portugal. Do the high speed rails have spaces to store strollers? I know some trains i've been on have extra large storage areas at the front or back of cars. Is this true in Portugal?

Agree with Kathryn about spending most of your time in Lisbon after Douro/Porto. While I loved Coimbra, I think you have an excellent idea of splitting up for a night or two if the rest of the family wants to stop in Coimbra. This would give you and your wife some time alone with your newborn babe. Maybe a short day trip to Cascais would be nice. It’s a very cute and relaxing town and easy by short train ride from Lisbon.

Train travel in Portugal is very easy and convenient for the areas you are interested in. Yes, there are large luggage racks in the front and/or back of the train car where a stroller would be stored.

Wow, a wedding in the Douro - fantastic idea. Have fun.

I would take the train to Lisbon and get an apartment with outdoor area in Lisbon. Having traveled with children, you don’t want to be in a hotel room with a baby.

Look at the price difference between renting a van for your family and taking the train, even if buy the tickets at a discount ( 60 days prior to travel date) it will probably be more than renting the van for 10 people.
On the other hand you can relax on the train and it has washrooms.

Public washrooms are usually paid (50 cents) so save your coins.

Continente supermercado or Auchan supermercado are the largest supermarkets chains in Portugal and will have your baby supplies - just do a google search the way I spelled for locations near me in Portugal.

If you're renting a vehicle pay close attention to your hotel location, traffic and parking are issues in both Porto and Lisbon.

If using public transit in Lisbon, the Cascais and Sintra commuter train lines are easy to use, inside Lisbon the Metro (subway) is good but sometimes the elevators don't work so I suggest a folding stroller to make travel easier.

If you want to see a palace I suggest Queluz Palace ( off the Sintra train line) because it's flat - easier with a stroller.

If you want to go to the beach I suggest Estoril ( off the Cascais train line) the beach is beside the train station.

Official site to book train tickets from Porto to Lisbon - commuter trains use a zapping card instead.
https://www.cp.pt/passageiros/en

Lisbon Train and Metro system map
https://www.cp.pt/StaticFiles/Passageiros/3_viajar/0_servicos/lx/ligacao-cp-metro-lisboa-baixa.pdf

Lisbon Metro site
https://www.metrolisboa.pt/en/

Lisbon buses site
https://www.carris.pt/en/

Queluz palace
https://www.parquesdesintra.pt/en/parks-monuments/the-gardens-and-national-palace-of-queluz/

I wrote a trip report that some further info on Lisbon transit system, it's fairly long report, scroll to the areas of interest if you want to check it out.
https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/extended-trip-to-portugal-1711933/

You and your family will be busy with wedding until morning of July 6. That will leave you with only 4 nights before you must fly home out of Lisbon. That is not a lot of time. A good portion of the 6th will be used up just getting from the Douro Valley (which town?) to Lisbon. Whether you drive or train, both parents and baby will probably be drained by the end of that day. That only leaves you 3 full days in Lisbon. There are lots of things to do and see in Lisbon. Adding (six) extra towns or stops will be difficult, especially with a 3 month old. Never underestimate how difficult it is to be new parents. Good luck.

I’d skip Aveiro before skipping Coimbra, but that’s me. To me Coimbra can be fully explored in two full days. Nazaré is a typical beach town much like Daytona or Myrtle Beaches. If you had plenty of time, it’s worth a couple nights just to relax, but you don’t.

God luck deciding.