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For those of you who are still planning your summer family vacation, we understand that choosing both the location and the accommodation is essential - it's important that you have the right amenities and fun for the kids! That's why we've created this article with 15 suggestions of hotels ideal for family vacations, from the north to the south of the country, with both babies and children, and even some all-inclusive suggestions.
We start our list of suggestions for family vacations in the North.15 destinations for families in summer
Hotel Chocolate factory, Viana do Castelo
For gluttonous families
This hotel has an excellent location within the city of Viana, just a few minutes from the Lima River. The Hotel Fábrica do Chocolate is perfect for gluttonous families, with its mouth-watering décor, all in chocolate. For guests staying here, the accommodation options can accommodate up to 2 adults and 2 children, a visit to the Chocolate Museum is free and you can also enjoy a chocolate therapy! Mouth watering?
Find out more at: https://www.fabricadochocolate.com/en/Home.aspx
Feel Viana Sport Hotel, Viana do Castelo
Para a family vacation in “active cozy” mode
FeelViana is a sustainable 4-star superior hotel, all made of wood, perfectly framed in the scenery that surrounds it, in a fusion between relaxation and sports. Here you can choose between the various accommodation options (suites and bungalows) and then just choose the fun - from the Sports Center with water activities (Kitesurfing, Wing Foiling, Windsurfing, Surfing, Stand Up Paddle, Wakeboarding, etc...), to the Wellness Center (with spa, massages, yoga and pilates classes), to the Kids Club (with fun activities, educational games, craft workshops and lots of outdoor games).
Find out more at https://feelviana.com/pt/home
Chao do Rio, Travancinha
Real village tourism
Here the accommodation is in traditional stone houses, and the area has an organic swimming pool and a flock of sheep. For those who enjoy contact with nature and especially a different experience, the destination is ideal. As the details make the difference, on arrival guests are offered various products in a large breakfast basket, and fresh bread is delivered every afternoon. At Chão do Rio you'll also find a children's playground, free bicycles, wheelbarrows (for carrying suitcases or playing with children), a small store selling regional souvenirs, an outdoor fireplace, a traditional vegetable garden and farm animals. Given its proximity, you can also take the opportunity to get to know the whole of Serra da Estrela and its summer landscapes.
Find out more here https://www.chaodorio.pt/
OHAI Nazaré, Nazaré
Vacations in a pine forest nature reserve
A unique place with the best of both worlds - nature and comfort. Several different accommodation options - apartments, bungalows, plots or glamping - and there's no shortage of fun to be had. Ohai also stands out for having the highest swimming pool in all of Europe made exclusively from shipping containers, a water park full of slides and splashes, swimming pools and water sports, and activities for both adults and children, available every weekend: circus arts, painting workshops, a dance space, treasure hunts, and much more! What's more, given its location, you can also enjoy the nature of the Leiria National Park, the largest pine forest ecological reserve on the Iberian Peninsula.
Find out more https://ohairesorts.com/nazare/
Nau Lago Montargil & Villas, Montargil
The trip you want, on a typical Alentejo plain
Contemplation, relaxation, sports and walks. If you're not sure what you're looking for on your family vacation, then this could be the hotel for you. With a view over a typical Alentejo plain, made unique by the water that surrounds it, the Montargil Dam, this hotel in the heart of Northern Alentejo could be the trip you want. During the summer, all of Nau's services are available: from the two restaurants (one à la carte, the other buffet), the three bars, the Kids Club with activities for children aged 3 to 12 (from story time to video games), to the six outdoor swimming pools (two of them for children). The problem will be finding time for everything!
Find out more: https://www.lagodemontargilhotel.com/
Monte Xisto Hotel Rural, Santiago do Cacém
The peace of the Alentejo coast
If you haven't visited the Vicentina coast yet, you should. In a modern concept on the Alentejo coast, you can choose to stay in the hotel or in the country house (located in an outdoor area for greater independence and privacy). Designed to embrace the landscape, the panoramic swimming pool is the perfect combination of modern architecture and rural spirit, and the children's area has all the conditions to enjoy the best aquatic moments with your children and, at the same time, relax and enjoy the natural surroundings. Pets are also welcome at this hotel, and guests have private transfer services, babysitting and massages at their disposal.
Find out more https://montexisto.com/casa-de-campo/
Monte do Cerro, Porto Covo
A small oasis in a nature reserve
Between the countryside and the sea, Monte do Cerro promises an immersive experience in pure tranquillity, close to everything you could want - the historic town of Sines 20 km away, Porto Covo and Pessegueiro Island 4 km away, and Vila Nova de Milfontes 15 km away. In an enchanting location with a calm and harmonious atmosphere, the hill offers 3 separate rustic one-bedroom houses, which include a double bedroom and two extra beds for young people and children, up to a maximum of 4 people per house. Guests can also enjoy horse riding, scuba diving, boat trips, fishing and bike rides.
Find out more https://www.montedocerro.pt/
Martinhal Sagres, Sagres
Vacations in a luxury resort by the beach
Located on the western tip of the Algarve, Sagres is a region of dramatic landscapes, cliffs and golden beaches waiting to be discovered. Stylish and design-oriented, Martinhal Sagres is designed for those traveling with kids: 5 Kids Clubs divided by age (from 6-month-old babies to 17-year-old teenagers), 5 swimming pools, inflatables, trampolines, a market with baby essentials (diapers, porridge, powders, etc...), bicycles for hire, a children's laundry, 3 restaurants with a children's area, a menu for babies from 6 months, and even a kids bar with a bread loaf van where the kids can sit and order a “strawberry sparkling lemonade” at the counter (one of the many non-alcoholic cocktails). A real child-friendly amusement park!
Find out more: https://www.martinhal.com/sagres/pt/
Vila Galé Lagos, Lagos
A vacation to enjoy the hotel and the city!
The Vila Galé Lagos hotel flirts with the sandy Meia Praia beach in the Algarve and dazzles with its breathtaking sea views. Dedicated to fashion, this hotel in Lagos had the participation of renowned Portuguese designers (Ana Salazar or José António Tenente), who gave original pieces and images from their fashion shows to ‘dress’ the hotel. You can also enjoy the Satsanga spa with its dynamic indoor pool, 3 restaurants with regional cuisine, a kids' club and tennis courts. With restaurants, cafés and supermarkets within a 10-minute drive, you can choose to eat somewhere different every day. If you prefer to stay in the hotel, take advantage of the artisan pizzas. For sightseeing, just a few minutes' drive away, you can take the kids for a visit to the Discoveries Wax Museum, go to the Lagos marina, or go on a boat trip to discover the caves.
Find out more: https://www.vilagale.com/br/hoteis/algarve/vila-gale-lagos
Pestana Delfim All Inclusive
A 5-star all-inclusive resort where children don't pay!
A dream vacation destination, this hotel was built from scratch with families in mind, for all-inclusive accommodation in the Algarve. Here, guests have access to all the amenities of a luxury resort, including delicious meals, cool drinks, dips in the outdoor pools, treatments at the spa (for a fee), fun at the kids club, challenges on the playing fields and access to Alvor's magnificent beaches. As children are welcome, the hotel offers accommodation and meals for all children up to the age of 12 when they share a room with their parents (max. 2 children), depending on the room type. All-inclusive, here you won't have to worry about anything else, just relaxing and enjoying the best the resort has to offer.
Find out more: https://www.pestana.com/pt/hotel/pestana-blue-alvor
Monte Santo Resort, Lagoa
An award-winning hotel with hectares to lose sight of
With 8 hectares of gardens and lakes, the Monte Santo Resort, located between Lagoa and Vila do Carvoeiro, is a true oasis of well-being and tranquillity, with good access and a free shuttle to the beaches. The resort is divided into three areas: the Club House, the Suites and the semi-detached villas with privileged access to the garden or pool. In 2020 it won the “Portugal Leading Hotel Residence” award from the World Travel Awards. For children, Planet Kids is a great space for children, where creativity, multiculturalism, companionship are cultivated, and where language and customs barriers don't exist!
Find out more at https://www.montesantoalgarve.com/pt/
Hotel Vila Galé Albacora, Tavira
A true Eco Hotel in the heart of the Ria Formosa
This hotel in Tavira, in the heart of the Ria Formosa Natural Park, is an architectural testimony to the way of life of fishermen and their families, when the typical Almadrava (tuna trap) was still used. The former school has also been transformed into a children's club and the old bakery has become a free museum. Breathing the tradition of this region, this hotel in Tavira has also become an eco-hotel, whose sustainable environmental practices have earned it awards and distinctions, with activities linked to ecotourism and the outdoors (birdwatching, boat trips, extreme sports, shellfish gathering, dolphin watching, etc...). It should also be noted that children up to the age of 12 do not pay for their stay or meals, as long as they share a room with their parents.
Find out more at https://www.vilagale.com/pt/hoteis/algarve/vila-gale-albacora
Pedras do Mar Resort & Spa, Ponta Delgada, Açores
A family holiday in the Azores
A 5-star hotel about 10 km from Ponta Delgada, with modern suites with sea or mountain views, and an infinity pool, gardens and spa. It is worth highlighting the proximity to Lagoa do Fogo, which is 20 km away, and the famous Lagoa das Sete Cidades, which is 26 km away. As the weather in the archipelago can be unpredictable, whatever the season, you will have an indoor pool to enjoy, rain or shine. For children, the playground with the ocean so close by, the board games available, bicycles and tennis courts stand out. The hotel provides free cots for children up to 3 years old, and from that age up to 12 years old, extra beds can be requested at an additional cost.
Find out more https://pedrasdomar.com/
Calheta Beach Savoy Signature, Praia da Calheta, Funchal
For a holiday in Madeira
An all-inclusive resort for a carefree family holiday and direct access to Madeira's only golden sand beach! Start your dream vacation with views of the green hills of Calheta or the Atlantic, and the kids will love taking a dip in the main pool surrounded by palm trees, the playground, the games room, and the Kids Club, with activities that promise not a second of boredom. Here, cribs are free for children up to 2 years old, and from 3 to 16 years old, you can request an extra bed. In the common areas, there are also gardens, 2 restaurants and 3 swimming pools.
Find out more: https://www.savoysignature.com/calhetabeachhotel/pt/
What should you keep in mind when vacationing with young children in Portugal in 2025?
Going on vacation with small children is always a logistical challenge. For those who don't have time to prepare things in advance, here is a list of things to make sure you don't miss anything.
In addition to the child's bag of clothes, make sure you also pack a first aid kit, pacifier and diapers (if applicable) and their favorite toys (at the end of the day you want to have a vacation to try to rest!). Depending on their age, for children who enjoy exploring the outdoors, it may be helpful to also bring wet wipes and plastic bags to store dirty clothes. Also, depending on your destination, consider whether you need to bring insect repellent and sunscreen. Depending on the age of the child, check with the hotel whether they have the following items, or whether you will have to bring them – crib, bathtub and high chair.
Hopefully, this list of family vacation spots has helped you in the process of choosing one for this summer 2025, as well as suggestions for items you should bring with you.
Also, if you are worried about not enjoying and resting as you need, have you considered taking a babysitter with you, to help you with everything with the children? Find out more by requesting information through our babysitting holiday form.
Learn more about nannies who come with you on vacation, so you can get the rest you deserve!