Flights to Lisbon in February - now what?

[Sharky1976]

I have flights booked for February for 6 nights to Lisbon. Kids will be 11 and 14.

I've just read the other thread about how awful Lisbon is. We have cancellable accommodation booked at a hostel with fantastic reviews.

Where would you stay instead? We could travel elsewhere by train?

I had planned to do day trips to Sinatra, Cascais, and Evora. The Earthquake museum sounded good, and the aquarium. Now I'm not sure I want to go!

Should we hop on a train to Porto instead?
Or should I just abandon my plane tickets?

I haven't read the other thread (going to look that up now) but I found Lisbon to be a dismal and difficult place.
Yes, the tram is quirky, but once you've been on one the novelty quickly wears off. The Santa Justa elevator, you pay five euros of thereabouts to spend a couple of minutes in a lift. The Belem tower was interesting, as was the castle. I have no idea what kids would find to enjoy.
The entire town is so difficult to get around because it's spread over multiple very steep hills. Wherever you go, you will be climbing at some point.
Everywhere seemed dirty too, dog mess in the streets, litter. Every street corner seemed to have a random man just standing there staring.
Sintra is lovely. Porto also nice. If you can manage the extra travel, fly over to either Madeira or Porto Santo.

It's a city, there are drug dealers. Who gives a shit? It's not like they're holding you down and forcing them into your veins.

Cascais is more summery; I think you’d find it hard to occupy six days, but you’re only 30 minutes by train from Lisbon. You won’t get heat at that time of year.

I was planning on using public transport. Yes, a few nights in Obidos could be a good option if the Algarve will be depressingly closed.

There's Evora too?

It's not so much that the Algarve will be closed (I live here and love February—sunshine and almond blossom, it's beautiful), but that it's rural once you're away from the beach resorts, and best explored by car.

Have been 3 times, no issues at all...the drugs are in barrio alto and sometimes near the square near port.....just walk past....we did....easy to avoid them. dont go those places late at night. albufeira is dreary, much better places on the coast.

How about a split stay with Porto?

Ok. Someone didn't like an overcrowded city in the high season because it was full of people. So you'll go and cancel your trip in February because ... what?

I wouldn't really recommend basing yourself in Cascais in February unless you know what you want to achieve by that- I suppose there will be more to do and easier to get around from Lisbon in this time of the year.

Cascais is a small city, the beaches close to the train station are mediocre. We used it as a base for the Atlantic coast beaches and cabo da rocca area, and that worked great for us.

In Lisbon, walk the hills and enjoy the views
From Lisbon, plan Sintra as a full day trip, to have time to walk the gardens and visit Quinta da Regaleira. Children will love the artificial caves, going deep into an old well and mythology references everywhere.

Take a ferry and walk to Jesus
If possible, get to Cabo da rocca for a half day at least to enjoy walking on the cliffs

6 days will allow you to actually spend time at the interesting places, not just hop off, take photos and run to the next point.

Lisbon is amazing! It will probably be a bit grey and chilly in February but what do you expect? It’s winter 😂

I would be wary of Air BnB type places at that time of year because they may not have central heating, only heaters (in the same way that you might want to avoid London in a heatwave because most homes don’t have air con). Like any city, there are drugs… unfortunately, the neighbourhoods with the cute tiled houses that are popular with tourists (eg near the castle) are quite druggy areas. That said, it’s pretty druggy around Oxford Street in London, would you take your kids there? If you ask people about the area you have booked, then people can give specific advice. I doubt anyone is going to offer you drugs if you have DC with you though.

Cascais is lovely but it’s more of a place to visit in summer when it is beach weather. You’ll just end up travelling into Lisbon if you want indoor attractions.

Evora is also beautiful but not really much for kids.

The Algarve will be windy!

Porto is also stunning but doesn’t have as much to do with DC as Lisbon.

What do you like doing? There is plenty to do, even in winter. Sintra is fantastic and well worth a visit. February is winter though so you need to be realistic.

Misery loves company, OP! Once someone starts having a whinge everyone likes to pile in and agree. And don’t forget it’s the internet - some of them might not even have visited Lisbon 😄

I literally don’t recognise the city they’re talking about - I also loved Berlin so I’m a city girl that sees the positive in the joy of city life. And I’m baffled by the complaints about hills - but I grew up in Bath so walking up a few hills is not exactly something I’d consider complaining about 😂

The Algarve is beautiful in February and usually much warmer/sunnier than Lisbon (we'll be heading to Olhao then, as we do most years) and if you head to Faro and east of there then it definitely won't be closed, but as a pp said it is a bit difficult to get to the nicest places without a car. If you're up for hiring one then it'll be very cheap to do so at that time of year and then you could easily do trips out to Tavira etc.

I went to Lisbon on my own last year for 3 days in February, and loved it! Felt safe as a lone female traveller, weather was warm enough to wander around with just a light jacket. Did the open top bus, trams, boat trip up the river, and ate at Time Out Market every evening as it was close to my hotel and again, felt safe as a lone traveller.

I would go again for sure! I read the other thread and it was not the Lisbon I recognised at all.

Another one who loved Lisbon visited in May didn't see any dealers, dog mess etc just a lovely city

I went to Lisbon (granted in May so weather was lovely) and I really enjoyed it.
The drug thing was irritating (DH sticks out as a tourist and was targeted a lot 😂) but only saw it in the area near all the bars and they’re surprisingly quite friendly 😂 you say no and they say okay have a nice day
I doubt they’d approach you with kids, they didn’t approach me (or any of the female friends I talked to) when I was walking alone.

Sintra is absolutely stunning. I was gutted we didn’t have much time there due to attending an event so definitely plan a long day trip there. It looks like a fairytale.

The rubbish etc I didn’t think was any worse than any other city.

The aquarium is definitely worth a visit and Time Out market has something for everyone too.

Friends who we met up with out there got the train down from Porto and they said they really enjoyed that (they flew into Porto then home from Lisbon)

Cascais is a gorgeous beach town in summer but I'm not sure what you would do there in winter. We went at the end of June and it wasn't very warm then. 6 nights might be a bit too long. Are the flights set in stone?

3 nights Lisbon, inc trips out, then travel to Porto might be a good plan.

Lisbon is great! Don't go to Porto from there - it's not THAT different from Lisbon, and Lisbon has more activities for kids. The Algarve will be miserable in Feb.

Definitely go to Sintra (specially Quinta da Regaleira - go on a walking tour, the history is fascinating).

For kids - the aquarium, zoo, markets (food + flea market), street art, art museums, etc.

Maybe look into booking some experiences like a street art tour, food tour, cooking class, surfing class, fishing, etc.

If you really want to get away, and enjoy nature / walking / zero tourists then Serra da Estrela is not too far (Casa das Penhas Douradas is a great hotel/spa). You'll pass through some pretty remote places in the interior. Feb might be a little cold though. This tour looks interesting - https://www.portugalfarmexperience.com/tours/serra-da-estrela-shepherd/

I'm in Lisbon now and I don't recognise anything said on the other thread. It's great here

I don't know how old the OP's kids are, but Lisbon, like most cities, has loads for kids! The castle, peacocks, aquarium, different food, museums and galleries, earthquake museum, funicular, tram rides the day trips to Sintra, taking in different sights.

Perhaps it's tricky with the hills and cobbles if you have kids in buggies, but unless you have mobility issues then I don't see why it's "difficult to get around" because of the hills. Just take your time.

Kids are 14 and 11, so the hills aren't a worry.
this morning I think I might do 2 days Porto, 3 Lisbon, which includes a day in Sintra.

Even if Lisbon is perfectly nice, I'm thinking it'll be best to wish we had longer there than being bored the last few days.

We did 2 nights in Lisbon with kids and then went to Caiscais for 4 nights in October. Was great!!

Just got back from Lisbon, it was great. Even after a week we didn’t see everything. I’ve also been to Caiscais it’s definitely a good weather destination, on the Atlantic coast, windy, rainy and big waves during the winter. But worth a day trip and walk along the promenade to Haute Estoril.
In Lisbon, get a travel card, a bit like an Oyster card. Easily got from any Metro station. You can use it on the Metro, busses, tram, and the funicular railway.
Go to the Natural History Museum, it’s brilliant. It’s in an old building that was part of the University. We went on a Sunday and it was free, but it’s cheap anyway. Downstairs was a bit staid, but upstairs was very interactive and fun, even for us oldies.

Just back from Lisbon. Did not see any dog poo in the streets and we weren't offered any drugs! We were all over Lisbon and we love it!

Meant to add that the travel card can be topped up and used on the local train to Sintra and Caiscais. It avoids the very long queues at the station.

What do you mean awful?? I didn't see the other thread. My DD spent a month there on work experience last Feb and thought it was great (18 at the time). Mind you it was rainy. But seems a split stay is sensible.

I went for 4/5 nights a few years ago and had a lovely time!

As PP have pointed out, there’s loads to do and Cascade is easy to get to if you want a beach day and you have the weather.

if the DC like football, the stadium tours for Benfica and/or Sporting are well worth it, you can get to both in the metro system.