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The Best Family-Friendly Hotels to Book in Portugal

The Penha Longa Resort offers a family-friendly stay in a mountain setting near Sintra, Portugal
The Penha Longa Resort offers a family-friendly stay in a mountain setting near Sintra, Portugal | Courtesy of Penha Longa Resort / Expedia

Portugal is an excellent destination for families, with its wallet-friendly prices, beautiful natural environments, hundreds of kilometres of pristine beaches and unique heritage. Many hotels include extra services for families so that everyone can relax and enjoy their holiday. Here is our pick of the best hotels in Portugal to check out if you’re travelling with kids – all bookable with Culture Trip.

Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites, for sightseeing in Lisbon

Suite Hotel, Hotel

Long modern suite with shiny black kitchen, olive-green couch and far area with two beds at Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites
Courtesy of Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites / Expedia

The Martinhal Lisbon Chiado Family Suites are in the middle of Baixa, Lisbon, within walking distance of all of the area’s popular landmarks and tourist sights, restaurants and traditional cafes. Specifically catering to families with babies and young children, the hotel provides services such as bottle sterilisers and warmers, as well as a playroom with activities for kids up to nine years old. As parents sometimes need a night for themselves, the kids’ club is on hand: it’s like a babysitter and playroom in one, with supervised services both day and night.

Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort, for a tranquil beach stay in the Algarve

Resort

Stylish living space with L-shaped couch, dining table and oceanfront balcony at Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort, Portugal
Courtesy of Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort / Expedia

The Martinhal Resort chain has plenty to offer, and families heading to Algarve’s wild western coast should consider booking a room further off the beaten path and staying at the five-star Martinhal Sagres Beach Family Resort. The area is known as a fishing village, and surfing is a primary attraction for visitors, so it’s a fairly quiet and remote area, especially when compared to other parts of the Algarve. Activities are designed to keep kids busy and include face painting, arts and crafts as well as outdoor treasure hunts.

Praia Verde Boutique Hotel, for ample on-site activities in Praia Verde

Boutique Hotel, Hotel

Aerial view of the curved building of the Praia Verde Boutique Hotel, Portugal, tucked into the trees with the ocean in the distance
Courtesy of Praia Verde Boutique Hotel / Expedia

The Praia Verde Boutique Hotel is modern, bright and tranquil and is located amid pine forests near the southernmost border with Spain. You may not wish to leave the premises, given the hotel’s proximity to the beach and the on-site restaurant available; opt for a family suite for panoramic views of the stunning surroundings. Families can also avail themselves of a kids’ corner, picnic baskets, horse riding lessons, movies and much more.

The Yeatman Hotel, for five-star luxury in Porto

Hotel

Curved infinity pool flanked by loungers with river and city views at the Yeatman Hotel, Porto, Portugal
Courtesy of the Yeatman Hotel / Expedia
If you’re the kind of family that wants five-star luxury, child-friendly services and pet-friendly accommodation, look into the Yeatman Hotel in Vila Nova da Gaia, just across the river from Porto’s historical heart. Not only is there a kids’ club that’s free to guests, but parents will be able to book a sitter before heading out – perhaps to the nearby wineries to sample Porto’s finest? The 83-room hotel has two pools on site, as well as pet-sitting services, and it’s in a perfect spot for port-wine-cellar-hopping and sightseeing in central Porto.

Be Live Family Palmeiras Village Hotel, for kid-friendly perks in the Algarve

Boutique Hotel, Suite Hotel, Hotel

Imposing two-wing multi-story hotel with central pool and lawn in front with loungers at Be Live Family Palmeiras Village, Portugal
Courtesy of Be Live Family Palmeiras Village / Expedia

Located in the Algarve, the Be Live Family Palmeiras Village Hotel is just a 10-minute walk from the nearest beach and a short drive from Albufeira on one side and Portimão on the other. Family rooms include views of the sea, and the Better Together Family Room is designed completely with children in mind, from the colourful decor to the child-friendly amenities.

Penha Longa Resort, for kiddie treats near Sintra

Resort, Hotel

Aerial view of the red-roof resort complex with large swimming pool and lawns at Penha Longa Resort, Portugal
Courtesy of Penha Longa Resort / Expedia
The Penha Longa Resort lies in the mountains surrounding Unesco-listed Sintra, 30 minutes from Lisbon, and sits next to a 14th-century monastery. Stay in a family suite that can accommodate seven, with interconnecting rooms and a balcony overlooking the forested hills. Kid-friendly touches include indoor and outdoor pools, a playground, kids’ clubs and even popcorn and candy floss at teatime. Active adults will love the spa, tennis courts, fitness centre and two golf courses.

Quinta Da Comporta, for private villas with pools in Carvalhal

Boutique Hotel, Spa Hotel, Luxury

Rustic-chic exterior of one of four beachfront Pool Villas at Quinta da Comporta, Portugal, with a private pool and decks with loungers
Courtesy of Quinta da Comporta / Expedia

This converted rice farm draws inspiration from surrounding nature, with thatched roofs and high wooden ceilings, woven reed baskets and white-washed walls. The infinity pool takes centre stage, overlooking fields of swaying rice, which you can also marvel at from the restaurant’s floor-to-ceiling windows. The resort’s three-bed villas are perfect for families, featuring private gardens with refreshing pools. Quinta Da Comporta is set in the village of Carvalhal in the Comporta region and has its own spa.

Vila Vita Parc, for exceptional dining in the Algarve

Resort, Spa Hotel

Dining room with banquette and blue chairs, with views of the outdoor pool and ocean at Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa, Portugal
Courtesy of Vila Vita Parc Resort and Spa / Expedia

This outstanding beach resort in the Algarve between Sagres and Faro feels like a five-star Portuguese village, complete with cobblestoned pathways, flower-filled gardens and soothing waterways. Rooms are perched on a cliff above a secluded slice of toasted sand and are luxuriously appointed across a multitude of categories. With a total of six bars and 10 restaurants, every gastronomic and mixology experience imaginable is mere steps away, while kiddos are catered to with a fully equipped nursery and kids’ park. The lush, 54-acre (22ha) property of subtropical gardens gives guests the sense of strolling through a perfectly manicured park on the ocean.

Alfagar Village, for clifftop self-caterers in Albufeira

Hotel, Resort, Apartment

Outdoor pool area with yellow loungers and parasols surrounded by palm trees and greenery at Alfagar Village, Portugal
Courtesy of Alfagar Village / Expedia

Running along the ocean cliffs of Albufeira in the heart of the Algarve, this 27-acre (11ha) beach resort resembles a traditional Portuguese village, its whitewashed architecture accented with colourful yellow trim. The 216 one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments feature garden or sea views, come with fully equipped kitchenettes and balconies, and feature a light, airy colour scheme that instils a seafaring sense of place. Seven restaurants and bars ensure sustenance, while playgrounds, game rooms and babysitting services ensure sanity (for the parents, anyway). Lovely Santa Eulália Beach is an easy 1km (0.6mi) stroll away.

Martinhal Cascais, for exceptional child-friendly facilities in Lisbon

Independent Hotel, Resort, Spa Hotel

Stylish loft in white with light wood and white furnishings, pale wood floors, kitchen, bunk beds and stairs to loft at Martinhal Cascais
Courtesy of Martinhal Cascais / Expedia

A Portugal leader in family-friendly accommodation, the Martinhal chain of hotels is owned by a couple who also own a cutting-edge private school in Lisbon. A kids’ club, sporting academy, baby concierge, clubhouse, outdoor playground – Martinhal’s family-friendly culture is unparalleled. The 72 rooms are exquisitely designed and reflect the owner’s unwavering inability to sacrifice style for substance, creating kid-centric accommodations that maintain an adult wow factor as well. Minimalist, mid-century-modern inflections seep into everything here, only to be offset by whimsical Portuguese touches. Parental paradise found.

Additional reporting by Amy Blyth and Kevin Raub.

About the author

Nina is a Portuguese-American writer living in Lisbon. She spends all of her time exploring and sharing the amazing things that Portugal has to offer.

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