Lisbon for transport obsessed 4 year old?

[24HoursFromTulseHill]

Keen to go on a holiday abroad with our 4 year old DS in April (after Easter holidays)
He's not a fan of swimming but loves museums and different types of transport so thinking a city break rather than a beach holiday.

I've been considering Lisbon - does anyone have any recommendations for things to do (other than ride the trams all day) ?

Day trips on public transport, hotel recommendations, what areas would be best to stay in etc.

My other thoughts were Berlin or Amsterdam but DH and I have already been there a couple of times so we'd like to go somewhere new to all of us.

You could go out of Lisbon itself on the train to Cascais for the beach or Sintra for the royal palaces. I don’t know the museums in Lisbon well enough to recommend specifics.

Another good option would be The Hague in the Netherlands - loads of museums aimed at both adults and children (Madurodam is great if it’s dry and there is a Lego Centre and all sorts in Scheveningen), and you could either get Eurostar to Rotterdam or ferry and train.

But for what you want, I’d look at Stockholm. Boat trips, the Vasa Museum and lots of others, and great public transport.

The aquarium is amaaaaazing and there's a cable car next door which is fun for river views.

Lots of Tuk Tuk tours in Lisbon! So interesting

Agree the aquarium is amazing. It's the largest in Europe or something like that.

The fort / Castle overlooking Lisbon Harbour had a family of peacocks.

I was going to suggest the Hague as a future option. We had a hotel that overlooked the trams, which DS loved. He also loved the miniature village (I think that's the Madurodam) with the plane you could go on.

Sintra is one of my all time favourite places and is an easy day trip on the train.

(Unless you hit a surprise strike like we did - but an Uber back wasn't too bad.)

If your son loves transport he might also be interested in a tour of one of the bridges, or a sunset trip on a sailboat, or the Santa Justa elevator (hot tip, walk around the top and ride it down, not up, to avoid the hoardes).

Utrecht has a really fabulous railway museum and a museum of mechanical musical instruments, plus the Miffy museum and lots more (eg canal trips). Lots for everyone!

I’d second Stockholm. Harbour ferries to bob between the islands, the metro stations are famous for their design. You can get a day boat trip to another island on the archipelago. Vasa Museum, ABBA museum and the outdoor/farm one who’s name I can’t remember. Old town with royal museum and changing of the guard!

Maybe not for this trip but consider Lucerne for future trips. The transport museum there is brilliant! But best experience when warm enough to be outside as there was this huge interactive play area in the middle courtyard