Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Children
The great thing about Portugal for children is its manageable size and the range of sights and activities on offer. There's
so much to explore and to catch the imagination, even for those with very short attention spans.
The Algarve has to be the best kid-pleasing destination in Portugal, with endless beaches, zoos, water parks, horse
riding and boat trips.
Kids will also be happy in Lisbon and its outlying provinces. There are trams, puppet shows, a huge aquarium, a toy
museum, horse-drawn carriages, castles, parks and playgrounds.
As for fairy-tale places, Portugal has these in spades. Some children enjoy visiting churches if they can light a candle.
They'll enjoy the make-believe of the castles and palaces sprinkled about the country.
Kids are welcome just about everywhere. They can even get literary: Nobel Prize-winner José Saramago, the great
Portuguese novelist, has written a charming children's fable,
The Tale of the Unknown Island
, available in English.
»
In towns, hop-on, hop-off tours can be good for saving small legs, and miniature resort trains often cause more excite-
ment than you would have thought possible.
»
The Portuguese are generally quite laid-back about breast-feeding in public as long as some attempt at discretion is
made.
»
Formula (including organic brands) and disposable nappies (diapers) are widely available at most pharmacies and gro-
cery stores.
»
Turismos
, as well as most hotels and guesthouses, can recommend babysitters.
»
For an entertaining guide packed with information and tips, turn to Lonely Planet's
Travel with Children
.
Customs Regulations
You can bring as much currency as you like into Portugal, though €10,000 or more must be declared.
The duty-free allowance for travellers more than 17 years old from non-EU countries is as follows:
»
200 cigarettes or the equivalent in tobacco
»
1L of alcohol that's more than 22% alcohol, or 2L of wine or beer
The allowance for nationals of EU countries is the following:
»
800 cigarettes or the equivalent
»
10L of spirits, 20L of fortified wine, 60L of sparkling wine or a mind-boggling 90L of still wine or 110L of beer
Discount Cards
»
Portugal's network of
pousadas da juventude
is part of the HI network. An HI card from your hostelling association at
home entitles you to the standard cheap rates.
