Child-friendly Lisbon

Q: I am travelling to Lisbon with my three children aged 7,10 and 12. Can you suggest any activities and attractions that will keep them occupied and entertained, especially those that have an educational element? - Jody White

A: You will have no problem keeping them entertained, as Lisbon is one of the most family-friendly cities in Europe and the Portuguese people welcome children everywhere. You can start off with the Maritime Museum, which has a children's section, and the Planetarium, which has presentations for children and in English. They should also enjoy seeing the sharks at the Oceanarium and trying out some of the thrilling experiments at the Interactive Science Museum with its thrilling hands-on experiments. You can also spend a few hours at the city zoo, with its dolphin shows and lion feeding. For a great view of the animals, ride the cable car. Visit the Design Museum in the city centre and view the selection of fairytale coaches in the Coach Museum in Belem.

Another museum that thrills most youngsters is the Toy Museum in Sintra, with its amazing collection of both ancient and modern toys. After that, you can visit the Pena Palace or the wonderful gardens of Monserrate Palace. Finally, check out the children's play area on the top floor of Colombo shopping centre, which has a fun fair that is known as the largest indoor amusement park in Europe. Ride the rollercoaster or the go-karts and enjoy many other rides, video games and bowling. For other ideas and child-friendly events, check the listings in the tourism office's monthly Follow Me magazine.