Please sign in to post.

Portugal with a 15-month-old!

Hi everyone,

Looking for some advice/ recommendations! My husband and I are travelling with our 15-month-old in mid-April for 10 days. We are landing in and flying out of Lisbon. We are torn between spending time in Porto vs. the Algarve after Lisbon. We are planning on exploring Lisbon for a few days, and doing two day trips (Sintra and Obidos). After that, we are wondering if we should go south or north. We would love to spend some time on a beach with our baby (he hasn't been to the beach before!) in a less commercial place, and some towns in the Algarve seem to fit that bill (Sagres? Portimao? Lagos?). But everything I've read about Porto also seems so lovely. I do not think 10 days is enough to do all three places justice. Thoughts? If your vote is Algarve, please recommend a town we should make our home base! If Porto, I'd love to hear of some beaches around there that we could go to. For now, if going south, we are planning to rent a car. Thank you for your suggestions!

Posted by
8332 posts

You want to go to the beach, go to California or Florida.

Porto and the Douro Valley is amazing, don't miss it.

Posted by
4657 posts

If you can add Cascais to Sintra, there is a lovely little public beach, and the area is quite flat for that part of Portugal. After all the hills of Sintra, it might be a nice run around for your child.
Why not leave Porto for when the Little is older or you go on an adult trip.
But if mid April, have you checked out the impact of Easter? It is big in Catholic Europe.

Posted by
133 posts

If you go to Algarve, Alvor and Carcavelos are smaller and very nice. Porto has Machaninos beaches not far.

Posted by
1455 posts

There are 2 Martinhal hotels, 1 in Cascais and 1 in Sagres, which offer fantastic facilities for families. You would have a fantastic time staying at either.

Posted by
133 posts

Not carcovelos... that's near Lisbon.. I meant Carvoeiro.. sorry!! My error.