Delicious, slightly modernized versions of the food of your Portuguese grandma. Traditional dishware and elegant dining room.If dining with kids, go on the early side. Get a pour of port from the giant magnum bottle in the middle of the restaurant for your after dinner drink!

Excellent high quality elevated classics for lunch or dinner. Ample outside seating and cozy well appointed interior.Standout dishes include the oxtail (rabo de boi) and the catch of the day. Prices are very fair for the quality of the dishes.

Excellent pasteis de nata served fresh and warm at multiple locations around the city. These challenge the pasteis de Belém as the best in the city.Watch your pasteis being prepared as you enjoy one fresh out of the oven.

Worth a stop in Belém if you are building a picnic lunch or need a quick sandwich or wrap.You can select classic sandwiches and salads from the glass case and be on your way. The name of the restaurant translates to “bread, bread, cheese, cheese,” but it is a colloquialism for “what you see is what you get.”

An institution that purportedly invented the famous pastel de nata. Definitely among the best in the country!

Long lines form for takeaway, counter service, and table service. We recommend getting a table, ordering coffee and fresh squeezed orange juices to accompany your pasteis de nata. Make sure to add a dash of cinnamon to the top.

A tiny spot with outstanding Neopolitan style pizza from an Italian pizza maker. Perfect for before or after a visit to the Museu da Carris. Also available for takeaway.Open for lunch and dinner Tuesday-Saturday, dinner only Sunday and closed Monday.

A curated round up of the best restaurants and food purveyors from Lisbon all under one roof, located next to a traditional market.

Time Out Market Lisboa is open 10:00am to 10:30pm daily and is often very busy. Peak business is mid-afternoon from 2:00pm to 4:00pm. Tables are communal, so staking out some real estate is essential.

Portugal’s “Age of Discovery” began right here on these shores. For centuries, this landmark tower marked the start of a ship’s journey and a welcome sight upon returning home.

It is possible to climb the tower but it’s not worth waiting in the queue for €6 admission

Statue built in 1940 and made permanent in 1960 to mark 500 years since Henry the Navigator’s death.

Ornate 16th-19th century royal carriages displayed in a spacious modern setting.

Kids will love the child sized carriages as well as the multiple touch screens throughout that allow you to experience the interiors of the carriages you’re looking at. 8 euro entry fee for adults but 12 and under are free.

Catholic church attached to the Mosterio dos Jerónimos, but with separate entry. The church houses the tombs of Vasco de Gama and Luís de Camões.
The church is free to enter but doesn’t open until 10:30 am (one hour after the Mosterio dos Jerónimos). A separate line forms for entry to the church, to the right of the line for the monastery entrance. Entrance to the church as you exit the monastery is not guaranteed.

Late gothic Manueline-style monastery with beautiful cloisters built in the early 1500s.

The monastery requires timed tickets, which we recommend purchasing up to a month in advance of your trip. 

You can purchase tickets for €10 on-line from the official monastery website. You can select half-hour windows in which to enter. We recommend being in the first wave of entry at 9:30am. You’ll want be in queue outside by 9:15am so that you’re in the first wave of visitors. 

Museum dedicated to the mass transportation company that has serviced Lisbon for over one hundred years, Carris. It is also where all the elétricos (trolleys and more modern trams that run on tracks, powered by electricity overhead) park at night.
This is a two-part museum. First, you get a history of mass transit in Lisbon and an introduction to the people who made it happen. Then, you get to ride a trolley into the backlot to explore the second phase which is a hangar full of old buses and trolleys. Kids can climb the buses and trolleys to their heart’s content. 

This children’s science museum features wide-open, well-maintained and cutting-edge facilities. The permanent exhibits are eye-popping (life-sized dinosaurs!) and dozens of hands on activities are available.

There is a €28 Bilhete Família (family ticket) for 2 adults and as many kids you have under the age of 17. Even if you only have 1 child, you save money. For individual tickets it’s €11 for adults, €8 age 65 and older, €8 ages 3 – 11 and €9 ages 12 – 17. Be sure to save your ticket after entering because you have in and out privileges for the rest of the day with it (necessary for using the restrooms).

Open 10:00am daily; closed Mondays. We recommend showing up right when Pavilhão do Conhecimento opens, spend a solid two hours and then go to lunch. Return after lunch for unfinished business if necessary.

The second largest aquarium in Europe, with exhibits representing each of the world’s oceans and a multi-story central aquarium. Located in Parque das Nações.

Fascinating for parents and children alike, the Oceanária is an extremely popular attraction, especially on any of Lisbon’s rare less-than-perfect weather days. Open 10:00am or 11:00am; check the official website for details. 
Tickets are €22 for adults, €17 age 65 and over, €15 ages 3-12 and free ages 0 – 2.

Located in a former convent, the Museo do Azulejo Lisboa is a treasure trove of Portugal’s famous tiles through the centuries.
: Do not miss the magnificent gold and tile decorated chapel, near the back of the first floor. Probably best to go without children.

A restaurant group with several locations throughout Toledo, with modern takes on Spanish classics and online reservations available.Check the website for which location will fit your family’s needs best: some offer desayunos (breakfast) and a more focused, casual menu for other meal periods, some are more focused on drinks and a later bar scene.

The gold standard for mazapan, an almond flour confection with its roots over a thousand years old. Great for gifts or snacking.

Santo Tomé has been making mazapan by hand in the center of historic Toledo since 1856. Made from local eggs, alcarria bee honey, sugar, and Spanish almonds (levantinas).

Open since 1941, a traditional Spanish restaurant for the menu del dia at lunch.
Most of the diners at lunchtime are there for the menu del dia. Your options for the three courses (which can change day to day) may be limited, but of good value. Sit outside on their patio, which is covered, or sit on the terraza, in the old courtyard, which has a glass roof.

Eclectic bar, coffee shop and restaurant all rolled into one.
There are nods to the tourists (bagels, hamburgers and lasagna(!)) but also Spanish classics (tortilla, croquetas and jamon) Most importantly, as eating options dwindle during the mid-afternoon siesta, La Malquerida remains open. They also have a dedicated kids menu.

Staggering assortment of freshly baked goods available from 9:15am on.This is a nice spot for a breakfast snack in advance of the Cathedral tour, a mere two-minute walk away. Closes daily at 2:00pm or when they sell out of product – whichever comes first.

A museum to celebrate the house where El Greco allegedly lived and worked. The beautiful grounds are great for kids to get some wiggles out.This is a small museum with a limited but interesting selection of El Greco’s works. The beautiful grounds are great for kids to get some wiggles out.

Worth the entry fee to climb the tower and enjoy the unique bird’s eye view of Toledo.
There is a pleasant little parque infantil across from the church in Plaza del Padre Juan de Mariana to enjoy afterwards. 

El Greco’s masterpiece, El Entierro del Conde de Orgaz, is hung in situ in this tiny church, above the tomb of the Count whose death the painting depicts.
Most visitors understandably come to see El Greco’s masterpiece; however, the church itself is worth ducking into if it gets too crowded by the painting

The interior reveals a courtyard and garden surrounded by two levels of cloisters and full of orange trees.
San Juan de los Reyes is a tranquil reprieve from the busy streets outside. Amble the cloisters, note the attention to detail and contemplate life as a medieval monk here, not a bad gig. €3 grants you access to this little slice of heaven. Other than the stairs between cloister levels, the monastery can be navigated by stroller. There is also an elevator available.

One of the top gothic cathedrals in all of Europe.
Tickets can only be purchased on site, so you will want to arrive by its opening time of 10am (Monday through Saturday) and take your time exploring the space. Strollers are welcome as it is all on one floor (except for the climb to the bell tower). Admission is €12.50 and be sure to grab an audio guide.

Madrid is full of plazas to relax and enjoy the scenery, people, tapas, and a drink. Larger plazas like Plaza Mayor, Plaza de Espana and Plaza de Santa Ana, or pocket sized plazas like Plaza San Andres or Plaza Juan Pujol are just waiting for your time and exploration.
Specialized markets and activities will also pop up in the larger plazas, such as the Sunday morning stamp and coin market in Plaza Mayor. Also on Sundays, the famous El Rastro market pops up all around the Plaza de Cascorro in the La Latina neighborhood. The first Saturday of every month finds the shops of Barrio de las Letras taking to the streets and plazas for the Mercado de las Ranas.

Small chapel with Goya’s tomb, decorated with frescos by the artist.
Identical chapels side by side- one chapel houses original ceiling frescos by Goya and serves as the resting place for most of his body (when he was moved there in 1919 from France, he was allegedly missing his head).  The second chapel is for actual services, leaving the original as a tiny art museum for you to enjoy before or after your meal next door. 

Unmissable green space in the middle of Madrid.
The Great Pond (Estanque Grande) dominates the center of the park and invites you to rent a small paddle boat or just watch the amateur mariners from the steps of the Monument to Alfonso the XII. The main path near the Great Pond is where you most likely to see impromptu shows by magicians, dancers, acrobats and buskers. On most weekends, there are free puppet shows (all in Spanish) at Teatro de Títeres. There are playgrounds for the kids and fitness stations throughout. 

Still used for state dinners and housing countless royal artifacts in its 2,000+ rooms, the Royal Palace of Madrid is open for tours or self-guided exploration.
We recommend a divide and conquer strategy for a family with toddlers or unpredictably mobile children. The Plaza de Oriente is a pedestrian zone right outside the Palace and is a perfect place to tap out and leave one adult behind with the children. This will take some planning as tickets can (and should) be purchased for specific hour blocks during the day. There are options for guided tours, but unencumbered and with a rented audioguide, the palace tour can be completed in as little as 45 minutes. In the meantime, the kids can check out the 44 monarch statues and take advantage of the playground in the Plaza de Oriente.

The home stadium of soccer’s Real Madrid offers a behind the scenes tour that will wow even the most casual of soccer fans.
We recommend the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium tour as an exciting counterbalance to the historical and classical sites around Madrid. And we have first hand anecdotal evidence that it appeals to multiple generations at once. Be advised that being in the actual stadium and making our way down to the field was difficult with a stroller. There were several sets of stairs and narrow aisles to navigate. If we had to do it again, we would’ve ditched the stroller and carried our toddlers around the stadium. 

The Thyssen is the private art collection (of a baroness!) so complete and so all-encompassing that it needed its own museum. The works span all of modern humankind from the 13th century to now, in a chronological layout.
The real strength of the collection is in the 19th century American art and Impressionism, so if your family’s clock is running down, make a bee-line here. 

World class museum of priceless masterpieces, once the Royal Spanish Collection but now available to all.
The largest collection of Bosch, Titian, El Greco, Rubens, Velazquez and Goyas in the world, collected by Spain’s 16th and 17th century monarchs. You could spend a whole day or an hour or two based on your group’s interests.

Modern art masterpieces inside a converted hospital, including Dali, Miro, and Picasso’s “Guernica”.
Within the halls of this converted hospital is a survey of 20th century art, culminating with what’s widely considered the most important piece of its time, Picasso’s Guernica. All the big art ‘isms’ (modernism, cubsim, surrealism) are on display from the biggest names of contemporary times (Dali, Miro, Kandinsky).

Awaiting you at the end of Calle Cava Baja, just around the corner is this home to pintxos (Basque-style tapas served on small skewers) as well as some classics such as tortilla.

You will find yourself squarely in La Latina neighborhood and you can use Juana La Loca as a launchpad to discover a tapas scene with more of a locals’ bent around the colorful Mercado de Cebado. Closed Mondays.

Traditional tapas bar known for egg topped dishes.
Lucio’s eggs are a straightforward version of huevos rotos, in this case perfectly fried eggs served upon french fries. Optionally, add chorizo or jamon, and you will elevate your dish to transcendent bar food.

A great first stop on a Cava Baja tapas crawl – (Come for the vermut or vermouth), stay for the tapas.
This is the place to begin a lifelong love affair with vermut. In Spain, vermut is often on tap alongside beers. Taberna La Concha takes it a step further with the Manuela- a house vermut served up with a spritz of gin and garnished with an orange peel – a refreshing way to kick off a tapas crawl.

Centrally located pastry shop showing its numerous temptations in large windows near the Puerta del Sol. Excellent breakfast option.
If you brought your sweet tooth, it’s hard to go wrong with any of the offerings at La Mallorquina. This pastelaria has been operating since 1894.

Traditional high quality Spanish cuisine in a location near El Retiro, with options to also try a sampling of their offerings in the garden of the Reina Sofia museum or the Mercado de San Miguel.

The El Retiro Arzábal and its Reina Sofia museum location are not suitable for children younger than teenagers, and we suggest dressing up a bit for your meal at either of these locations. The smaller outpost at the Mercado de San Miguel is your best option with younger children in your group.

: A gourmet food shop focusing on ibérico hams, wines, and cheeses, with ready-made sandwiches and picnic supplies

Excellent shopping option for top quality hams, cheeses and wines directly from farmers in the Salamanca area, northwest of Madrid.

Part market, part bar, part restaurant and part cafe, the Mercado de San Miguel is a distillation of all the tasty things Madrid has to offer, adjacent to Plaza Mayor.

Mercado de San Miguel is almost always bustling. Mid-morning and mid-afternoon are the lowest daily ebbs in activity (the only times we didn’t have to fold up and stash the stroller). There are three basic strategies to Mercado San Miguel.

1) Stake out a table at one of the finite seating areas and have somebody bring delectable items back to the family.

2) Sidle up to a single restaurant (Arzábal is a standout) and partake in its tapas

3) Build a take away picnic from the jamon, queso, vino and postre purveyors.

A traditional Madrid churros institution, not to be missed!

As you approach, no matter the hour, you will likely encounter a line out the door.  Join the line, grab a numbered ticket, and prepare your order in your mind as you wait for your number to be called.  When called, approach the counter and place your order.  The staff is used to visitors from all over the world and accommodating of English (or less than stellar Spanish).  After paying, THEN select an open table and seat your party.  Indoor (main floor and downstairs) and outdoor seating are available.  The indoor downstairs floor is difficult to access with a stroller, squirmy toddler or a lot of gear.  You will be navigating a busy, winding staircase to find a seat.  Staff are constantly monitoring tables in order to quickly clean them, and to ensure that guests do not seat themselves before placing their order.  So, be respectful, and follow this order of business!  A staff member will bring out your order to your table.  Service is quick and no frills, but you can linger over your chocolate for as long as you like, or as long as your kids can handle.

Choose one of three Madrid locations to experience the legendary tortilla de patatas in this Basque-leaning tapas restaurant.

As with all tapas experiences (see: The Tapas Lowdown [link]), you want to consider the time of day and the temperament of your family when deciding to go with younger children. Tables are close together, and the bar area is likely crowded, with higher tables and chairs than you’d like for a toddler.

Open since 1888, a Madrid institution featuring roast chicken and traditional Asturian cider in a no frills setting.

Staff is pleasant to small children and toddlers, but don’t expect any special treatment or menus. Tables and chairs are tightly packed together, so getting there early also gives you some space before your children inevitably encroach on someone else’s personal space. They allowed us to stow our collapsible double stroller in the back near the restrooms.