Tips for Planning a Babymoon in Portugal

A babymoon can be a great way to celebrate that last trip just the two of you before your little bundle of joy arrives. When I found out I was pregnant, the traveler in me knew I wanted to have one last kid-free trip before our lives changed, and how we traveled moving forward also changed. However, narrowing down where we were going to go was the hard part. For me, there were a few things that brought us to booking Portugal and that was:

✅ It has excellent and accessible medical care incase we had any issues while there

✅ There were no travel warnings to worry about specifically for pregnant women, such as the threat of Zika Virus, or a high risk of food/water contamination

✅ There were direct flights from Toronto to Porto and Lisbon because I knew I wouldn’t want to be hustling through an airport 6-months pregnant or spending a long layover somewhere aside from our destination

All that being said, Portugal just seemed to be the right destination for our babymoon where we could have a trip still filled with great food, adventure, and sightseeing, while also being able to relax, and feel safe when traveling pregnant. However, in my planning there are definitely some things I’d recommend to consider whether you’re looking to also book a babymoon in Portugal, or you’re looking to plan a babymoon elsewhere. So let’s get to it…

Book Early in Your Pregnancy

You definitely do not need to book your trip far in advance, in fact, it may be better to wait until closer to you’re planning to go so you can see how you’re feeling. We booked our trip about a month out from our departure date. However, when I say “book early” I mean that you likely will want to plan to take your babymoon within your second trimester, especially if you plan to travel internationally.

Legally you are allowed to fly up until you’re 36 weeks pregnant (unless your OB says otherwise) but you want to be on your babymoon when you’re feeling your best and for most women that sweet spot is within their second trimester when the nausea has subsided, you aren’t too stiff or sore, and you can still do things without exhausting yourself too much.

I felt great at the end of my second trimester when we took our babymoon. I was still able to walk a ton (averaging 15K+ steps a day), eat all the delicious food, and even though we definitely took more leisurely breaks, etc. throughout the trip, being pregnant didn’t really hold us back too much.

Don’t Overbook Yourself

I am a type of traveler who likes to see as much as possible within the limited days I have in a new place, however, this trip we approached it differently. I still planned out each day with ideas of what we can do and areas we could explore but there were very few things I booked/planned that were set in stone. This allowed for flexibility, and we didn’t feel obligated or overbooked.

I will note that it helped that we visited Portugal in low season (January) which meant even for some busier, popular restaurants or attractions that would normally require you to book in advance, we could walk right in without reservations or tickets we bought in advance. Of course, if there are things you really want to do, make sure you look up if it is recommended to purchase or book in advance so you don’t miss out, but if you can leave flexibility in your day and not overbook yourself, you’ll find your trip to be much more relaxing.

Pace Your Itinerary

Adding onto the above about pacing your days and allowing for flexibility in your itinerary, I also recommend that you do this with your overall itinerary so you aren’t moving around too much. We were in Portugal for about 8 days and on previous trips I would be moving to a different city every 2 days. For this trip we decided to only move once (between Porto and Lisbon) and had about 4-5 days in each of these cities so we didn’t exhaust ourselves with long travel days. Most major destinations in Portugal also allow for easy day trips too if you find staying in one place for 4-5 days too long.

Stay Central in an Airbnb

The one thing about Portugal is it’s very hilly which means that it can be quite exhausting walking around when pregnant. Planning to stay in central areas of the city can help minimize walking time to key attractions and staying close to a major transit hub/station can also help you easily get around.

I also recommend that you opt for an Airbnb over a hotel. An Airbnb offers the comforts of home and since you likely will be ending your days a little earlier, or starting your days a little later, having an Airbnb is just a better vibe for hanging out in then being stuck on a hotel bed in a stuffy hotel room. Having your own apartment too can allow for you to eat some meals in so if you have a day you are too tired to go out for dinner, or want to sleep-in and make breakfast, you have that option.

Lean on Transit and Ride Shares

Most major cities have easily accessible transit options or ride shares (in Portugal, Bolt is the most popular one but they also use Uber). We found Porto very walkable so we didn’t really have any time we needed to take transit or a ride share. However, Lisbon is a much bigger city and we took their Metro system much more. My biggest tip is to make sure you are staying near a main transit station to allow for you to easily opt for transit if you’re tired of walking.

Dress Accordingly

One thing about Portugal is that even though their streets are so charming, many cities use Calçada Portuguesa which is a traditional white and black tile. It looks beautiful but it becomes a slippery mess when it rains making the city a little less accessible. So it’s very important that you pack proper, supportive footwear and be careful when it rains, as you especially don’t want to have any falls while pregnant.

Best Time of Year

Portugal is beautiful all times of year and it truly depends what you want to get out of your babymoon when picking the best time to go. We went in January which is their winter, and although it was very rainy and a bit cooler than expected, it was the best window we could go with my pregnancy, and worked out great because being there in low season let us have more flexibility in our days. However, here are some things to consider based on when you’re planning to visit:

• April-June: The weather is warm but comfortable this time of year and everything starts to become more vibrant as you approach summer. Things can start to become busier though so plan accordingly and book further in advance.
• July-August: This is the hottest time of the year and if you are sensitive to heat in your pregnancy you may want to avoid this time of year. It is also peak tourist season and you’ll find everything significantly more busy. However, if you’re visiting Portugal purely for a beach vacay, this could be an excellent time.
• September-October: Early fall can be an excellent choice as the summer chaos dies down, the ocean is still warm, and temperatures are still good. It can be great for both beach time in the Algarve, or wine season in Douro Valley.
• November-March: This time of year is considered winter and although you can definitely get some warmer temperatures in comparison to other parts of Europe (10-18°C), beach towns are quieter. This can be a great time though to visit cities like Porto or Lisbon and since it’s low season everything is less busy, and you’ll find lower prices.

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