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Advantage
Lisbon is incredibly baby- and child-friendly in terms of access. By law, you won’t need to wait in line with a baby, so at every tourist site, no matter how crowded, you’ll be the first to enter. The same goes for elevators in the city and public transportation.
Challenge
Lisbon’s layout on hills can make it tricky for strollers. Planning ahead on which days to use a carrier and which to bring the stroller is essential. I’ll share my specific recommendations later.
We flew to Lisbon in early May when Dandan was four months old. Like any first-time parents traveling with a baby, I sought information on every platform possible to prepare for the "event." My top tip? Come without too many expectations. This might sound cliché, but it’s crucial, especially if this is your first trip with a baby. Things may not go as planned; you’ll likely travel at a different pace and may not get to see everything on your list. But there will also be pleasant surprises, and you’ll have fun!
For instance, we prepared ourselves for the possibility of not going out in the evenings and maybe ordering takeout to the apartment. However, Dandan slept so soundly after his night sleep routine that we decided to give evening outings a shot. To our surprise, we ended up going out every evening! On the other hand, during our day in the Belem district, he woke up in a foul mood and had trouble napping, so we decided to cut the day short and head back to the apartment.
Getting Around
Arrival in Lisbon
We took a taxi from the airport to the city, which is about a 30-minute drive. Babies can sit on a parent’s lap, which worked well for us. We did the same on the return trip and for a few more rides during the trip.
Stroller
We flew with our Bugaboo stroller. Although it’s popular to travel with a YoYo stroller since it fits on the plane, I wouldn’t recommend it for Lisbon. The city’s streets are already challenging, with steep hills and rough sidewalks, and I can’t imagine YoYo wheels holding up well. Definitely bring a carrier for the flight itself. We didn’t get the stroller right when exiting the plane in Lisbon; it was sent to "special luggage." So, we had Dandan in our arms until then. Given that you don’t need to queue with a baby in Lisbon, the process took only a few minutes, but it’s best to have a carrier as a backup. In Israel, we received the stroller right off the plane.
Accommodation
We stayed in an apartment booked through Booking in the area where the Baixa and Chiado neighborhoods connect. This location is flat and central, giving us easy walking access to almost every major attraction. The apartment was also equipped with a microwave, which was perfect for sterilizing bottles or preparing small meals, and a washer and dryer, which came in handy as I did laundry twice. I should note that we received a rather uncomfortable crib for Dandan, so he ended up sleeping in his bassinet some nights.
Itinerary
For planning, the most crucial part, in my view, is deciding which days to use the stroller and which days will require the carrier. We’re not fans of juggling both, so we don’t use both the stroller and carrier on the same day.
We used the stroller for Baixa, Chiado, Belem, and Bairro Alto.
We used the carrier for Alfama and the food tour.
Day Trip to Sintra
We took a train from Rossio Station, a short walk away, and within 40 minutes, we were in Sintra. There are stroller-friendly carriages on the train, making it super convenient. Once in Sintra, tuk-tuks await right outside the station; note that they’re not allowed to transport babies for safety reasons. We hired a driver with a car who stayed with us the entire day, allowing us to keep the stroller in his trunk while exploring with the carrier. At the end of the day, we returned to the stroller.
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