Cooler days and empty beaches make October one of the best months to get outside. Here are two nature immersed outings worth planning a weekend around.

Passadiços da Adraga
The new wooden boardwalks are part of the Adraga–Praia Grande Ecological Park. They wind across the clifftops with viewpoints over the Atlantic and a play area for kids. The walkways are flat and easy, so they work well for younger kids/strollers, and you can finish with a walk down to the beach. Keep an eye out for the dinosaur footprints the area is known for! For lunch or a snack, our favourites are O Croa and Angra Gatti. All ages · FREE · Open daily

Guided Tours at Tapada Nacional de Mafra
This former royal hunting ground has deer, wild boar and birds of prey roaming 800+ hectares of forest. Since reopening this year, all visits are with a guide. Choose a walk through the forest or the "Conhecer a Tapada" electric-vehicle tour (weekends 11:15 & 15:00). October is deer rutting season, so listen out for the stags roaring! Book ahead. Not suitable for buggies. For a treat before or after, try DOMA bakery or Quinta da Cerca · All ages · From €5 · Location · Book here

Contos à Solta - Story time with storyteller António Gouveia. Families with kids 3+ · Sat 10 Oct · 15:30 · Location: S. Domingos de Rana · FREE, registration required · Register

My Musical Sessions - Bilingual (PT/EN) music sessions for little ones and their grown-ups, with teacher Mariana Barros. Ages 0–6 + family · Saturdays · 10:30 (30 min) · Registration required: +351 910 723 897 (WhatsApp/SMS) · More info · Location

N’ó É? - A playful, musical party of a show where elephants, birds, crickets and clownfish spin through all four seasons in a single day. All ages (babies welcome) · Sundays through 20 Dec (no show 1 Nov) · 11:00 · Location: Oeiras · Tickets

Shrek, O Musical - Our favourite ogre in a live-sung family musical. Ages 3+ · Opens Saturdays & holidays 15:30, Sun 11:30, until 31 Jan · Location: Taguspark · Tickets

Guia de Orquestra para Jovens - The Cascais Symphony Orchestra plays Britten’s Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra, an open lesson in how an orchestra works. Ages 6+ · Sat 10 Oct · 17:00 · Location: Estoril · Tickets

Os Livros e a Arte de Ilustrar - Hands-on illustration workshop with illustrator Danuta Wojciechowska. Kids design their own drawings and stories. Families · Sat 17 Oct · 15:00 · MU.SA – Location: Sintra · FREE, registration required · Register

Festa Animal ’26 - Dog demos, workshops and family activities. Dogs welcome! All ages · Sat 10 Oct · 10:00–19:00 · Location: Oeiras · FREE · More info

Expopeças – LEGO Exhibition - Over 120 models from superheroes and famous monuments to a giant plane, ship, dragon and dinosaur. Plus a free-build Fun Zone and selfie sets. All ages · Daily 10:00–21:00, until 10 Jan 2027 · Location: Belém · More info

Segredos Escondidos - A self-guided treasure hunt of riddles and challenges through Cascais history. Kids & teens, solo or as a family · Running now until June 2027 · Location: Cascais · FREE, book on 214 825 190 · More info

Mordidas do Tempo - Fossil-teeth exhibition with dinosaur and mammal teeth and what they reveal about how ancient animals lived. Great for dino fans. All ages · Until 3 Jan 2027 · Location: Sintra · FREE · More info

DJ Riscas | O Espetáculo ao Vivo - Live kids' disco with Festival Panda hits. All ages · Sun 11 Oct · 11:00 & 15:00 · Location: Sintra · Tickets

Conto Contigo! | Hora do Conto - Stories read aloud and told. Made for little ones, but the whole family will enjoy it. Families with kids 3+ · Sat 24 Oct · 15:00–15:40 · Location: Cascais · FREE, registration required (also 21 Nov) · Register

Workshops de Modelação - Clay-modelling workshop. Ages 8–12 + adult · 24 Oct, 14 & 28 Nov, 5 & 12 Dec · Location: Oeiras · Free, registration required ·

BioBlitz de Outono - Join the hunt to spot and record as many birds, plants and lichens as possible. Ages 6+ · Sat 24 Oct · 09:00–19:00 · Serra de Carnaxide · FREE, registration required · Register

Ópera "O Anel do Unicórnio" - A kids’ opera about a boy living inside an opera that never ends, and a missing cat. Part of World Opera Day celebrations. Ages 6–10 · 22–25 Oct (family sessions) · Location: Estoril · Tickets

Cinderela – O Musical - New musical with a life-size horse and a flying Fairy Godmother. Ages 3+ · Opens Sat 17 Oct, then Sat 15:00 & Sun 11:00 · Location: Lisbon

Praga in the Museum - Guided tour-performance through the galleries. Families welcome · Sun 25 Oct · 17:00–18:00 · Location: MAAT, Lisbon

O Fantástico Sr. Wolk | O Musical - A heart-warming musical about two orphan brothers and a magical stranger who climbs in through the window. Ages 3+ · Sun 11 & 25 Oct · 15:00 (18 Oct sold out) · Academia de Santo Amaro, Lisbon · Tickets

Nico e Sonhos de Papel - Puppets meet contemporary dance as a child discovers that closing her eyes is enough to travel to the stars. Ages 3+ · Sat 24 Oct 16:00 & Sun 25 Oct 11:30 · Location: Lisbon · Tickets

Changing of the Guard - Around 160 mounted GNR soldiers, a band and plenty of pomp outside the President’s palace, followed by a mounted band in the garden next door. All ages · Sun 18 Oct (every third Sunday) · 11:00 · Location: Belém · FREE

Sononautas — A sound installation made for families. Ages 6+ · Sat 10 Oct · 10:00 & 11:30 · Location: Ericeira

We’d love to hear from you! Whether you’re an organiser or just a fan, send us the details and help us spread the word. Get in touch here

Want to advertise your business? Get in touch here