10 Things to Do in Porto With Kids

You’ll discover endless family fun in Porto through underwater adventures at Sea Life Porto, where kids can walk through tunnels surrounded by sharks and watch daily feeding sessions. Explore Portugal’s maritime history at World of Discoveries with interactive exhibits and boat rides, then cruise the Douro River on traditional rabelo boats. Meet peacocks at Crystal Palace Gardens, feed penguins at Gaia’s Biological Park, and experience FC Porto’s stadium tours. These attractions offer the perfect blend of education and entertainment for unforgettable memories.

Dive Into the Underwater World at Sea Life Porto

When you’re looking for an exciting indoor adventure that’ll captivate kids of all ages, Sea Life Porto delivers an underwater journey through over 3,000 marine creatures across 30 expertly designed exhibits.

You’ll walk through 12 distinct zones, from freshwater landscapes to ocean depths, including a massive underwater tunnel holding over 500,000 litres of water.

Don’t miss the daily shark feedings at 11 AM and 2:30 PM, or ray feedings at noon and 4 PM.

Kids love the interactive rock pool where they can touch crabs and starfish.

The Penguin Harbour offers close-up viewing, while educational displays teach about ocean conservation. This family-friendly attraction provides a perfect alternative to typical city sights, ensuring an engaging experience for children visiting Porto.

Plan 1-2 hours for your visit, with outdoor playground breaks available between exhibits.

Journey Through History at World of Discoveries

Step into Portugal’s golden age of exploration at World of Discoveries, where 20 interactive exhibits across 5,000 square meters transform your family into time travelers experiencing the adventures of legendary navigators like Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan.

You’ll navigate a nine-meter tunnel replicating Cape of Good Hope‘s multi-sensory chaos and explore recreated discoveries from Ceuta to Japan.

The highlight’s a 40-minute thematic boat ride through authentic voyage scenes, complete with audio guides in six languages. Your kids will engage with life-like figures, ship models, and interactive globes while live performers in 15th-century costumes bring history alive.

Plan 1.5-2 hours for the full experience, visiting weekday mornings for smaller crowds and maximum immersion. The museum is designed to be accessible and inclusive for all visitors, including families with special needs.

Cruise the Douro River for Scenic Family Fun

After exploring Portugal’s maritime history on land, you’ll want to experience the Douro River firsthand with your family aboard one of Porto’s iconic rabelo boats.

The 55-minute Bridges Cruise offers perfect family entertainment, showcasing six bridges connecting Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia while providing audio commentary in 16 languages through their app. You’ll glide past Porto Cathedral, Aliados Avenue, and colorful Ribeira facades.

For a more immersive experience, book the 50-minute Traditional Rabelo Boat Tours from Marina do Freixo, which includes Port wine tasting with snacks for adults. Choose boats like Endure (6 passengers) or Kaombo (7 passengers with facilities).

Many families combine these cruises with electric tuk-tuk tours for all-encompassing Porto exploration that keeps kids engaged throughout. Alternatively, you can navigate Porto’s colorful streets on bicycle tours that wind through the city’s baroque architecture and historic neighborhoods.

Explore Crystal Palace Gardens and Meet the Peacocks

While your family recovers from the Douro River cruise, head west to the enchanting Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, where free-roaming peacocks strut across manicured lawns and terraced gardens overlooking the city. This 19th-century park, built around the former Crystal Palace site, offers panoramic Douro River views and multiple themed zones perfect for exploration.

Your kids will delight in spotting colorful peacocks displaying their magnificent tail feathers along tree-lined paths and near the domed pavilion. The birds are accustomed to visitors, creating natural photo opportunities.

Wide, stroller-friendly walkways wind through rose gardens, geometric parterres, and wooded areas with small ponds. The park also features dedicated picnic spots where families can enjoy snacks while taking in the scenic surroundings.

Visit during morning or late afternoon for ideal peacock activity and comfortable temperatures. This free public park provides an excellent low-cost family outing combining nature, wildlife, and stunning city vistas.

Get Wild at Zoo Santo Inácio

Just 10 minutes from Porto’s center, Zoo Santo Inácio offers your family an unforgettable wildlife adventure across 15 sprawling hectares of lush habitats. You’ll encounter 600-800 animals from five continents, including Asiatic lions viewable through an incredible glass tunnel beneath their enclosure.

Don’t miss the African savannah where giraffes, rhinos, and zebras roam together, or explore Tropical World’s dense vegetation filled with lemurs and exotic birds.

Plan your visit around feeding demonstrations to see natural animal behaviors up close. The Reptile House showcases over 50 species, while the Invertebrate house features fascinating tarantulas and scorpions. Since joining the Thoiry Group in 2014, the zoo has significantly strengthened its conservation efforts and international partnerships.

With stroller-friendly paths, play areas, and dining options, you’ll easily spend 3-4 hours exploring this conservation-focused zoo that protects over 150 threatened species.

Discover Nature at Porto’s Beautiful Parks and Botanical Gardens

When you’re ready to escape the city’s bustle with your children, Porto’s magnificent parks and botanical gardens offer the perfect blend of natural beauty and family-friendly exploration.

Parque da Cidade spans 83 hectares with 10 km of winding paths perfect for family walks. Your kids will love discovering themed gardens like Jardim dos Sentimentos while exploring 74 tree species throughout the park.

At Jardins do Palácio de Cristal, you’ll find swans and ducks around the lake, plus regular summer activities organized by Porto City Hall. The romantic rose garden and garden of feelings create magical backdrops for family photos.

Jardim Botânico do Porto offers free entrance and fascinating plant collections. The garden features exotic species from around the world and serves as a literary space connected to famous Portuguese authors.

Parque de Serralves features farmland with sheep and donkeys, plus an exciting Treetop Walkway for biodiversity observation.

Experience Football Culture at FC Porto Stadium and Museum

Few experiences capture Porto’s passionate football spirit like visiting Estádio do Dragão, where your family can explore one of Portugal’s most impressive football museums and go behind the scenes at FC Porto’s legendary home ground.

The museum guides you through 27 interactive thematic areas showcasing the club’s history, major titles, and European glory. Kids love the multimedia exhibits, touchscreens, and audio-visual projections that bring legendary players to life.

You’ll discover extensive trophy collections, including UEFA Champions League silverware, while interactive displays let you relive iconic matches.

The stadium tour takes you pitch-side, into the press room, and often the presidential box. For families, the central seats provide the best views and atmosphere while keeping you away from the more intense ultra sections.

Combined Museum + Stadium tickets offer excellent value, with children under 4 entering free.

Plan 45 minutes to 2 hours for the complete experience.

Enjoy Interactive Learning at the Puppet Museum

While FC Porto showcases Portugal’s sporting passion, the Puppet Museum reveals another side of the city’s cultural heart through hands-on theatrical discovery. You’ll find 123 puppets from 13 shows spanning three decades of Porto Puppet Theatre‘s evolution.

Your kids can manipulate puppets directly in the interactive room, controlling lights and sound systems while learning stagecraft fundamentals.

The create-your-own puppet show area lets children develop storytelling skills through collaborative play. Touch-friendly exhibits encourage exploration of movement and cause-and-effect principles. Multimedia stations connect static displays to dynamic performances, reinforcing visual literacy.

Don’t miss the “You Manipulate” workshop, where kids assemble puppet parts using provided kits. These activities build fine-motor skills and basic engineering thinking while introducing Portuguese cultural references through accessible local traditions and humor. The museum’s dedicated children’s space includes drawing activities, puzzles, and puppet-inspired stories to keep younger visitors engaged.

Have Fun With Art at the 3D Fun Art Museum

After exploring traditional puppetry, you’ll discover that Porto’s 3D Fun Art Museum transforms static artwork into interactive adventures where your family becomes part of the exhibition.

Located on Rua de Faria Guimarães, this wheelchair-accessible attraction features optical illusions and 3D installations that’ll challenge your creativity.

Your kids will love the confetti room, while staff members like Antonio and Mariana help perfect those Instagram-worthy poses.

Plan 45 minutes to 1.5 hours for your visit, with tickets starting at $15.35 per adult.

The museum’s open daily from 10 AM to 7 PM, with last entry at 6 PM.

Book your timed tickets online with free cancellation up to 24 hours prior.

Groups over five people receive discounts, making it perfect for family outings. The museum has earned an impressive 4.9 out of 5 rating from visitors who consistently praise its interactive entertainment and friendly atmosphere.

Feed Penguins and Lemurs at Gaia’s Biological Park

Just 20 minutes south of Porto’s city center, Gaia’s Biological Park offers your family the chance to feed penguins and lemurs in supervised sessions that’ll create unforgettable memories. Located in Avintes, this wildlife park houses hundreds of species across semi-natural habitats designed to replicate authentic ecosystems.

You’ll find the park at Rua Cunha, easily accessible by car with on-site parking available. At just 3 EUR per person, it’s incredibly budget-friendly, with frequent free-admission days throughout the year.

The park opens daily at 10:00, with seasonal closing times varying from 6 PM in winter to 7 PM in summer.

Plan for 1.5-2 hours to explore the 3 km trail network, which winds through animal enclosures, ponds, and forest paths perfect for families with children. As Portugal’s first permanent environmental education centre, the park provides an excellent learning opportunity for children to understand wildlife conservation and biodiversity.

The Sum Up

You’ve got incredible options to keep your kids entertained while exploring Porto’s rich culture. From underwater adventures at Sea Life to hands-on history at World of Discoveries, there’s something for every interest. Don’t miss the peacocks at Crystal Palace Gardens or the interactive fun at the Puppet Museum. Whether you’re cruising the Douro River or cheering at FC Porto’s stadium, you’ll create lasting memories that blend education with pure family fun throughout this enthralling Portuguese city.