Our favorite water parks in Portugal are:
- Slide & Splash – South
- Zoomarine Algarve – South
- Aqualand Algarve – South
- Aquashow Waterpark – South
- Parque Aquático de Amarante – North
- NaturWaterPark – North
- Panorâmico Aquaparque near Leiria – Central Portugal
- Parque Aquático Santarém – one hour from Lisbon
The biggest and most exciting parks are in Portugal’s deep, sun-soaked south, in the Algarve. Still, you’ll find quite a few others scattered across the country, since summers run hot inland too. Either way, few things delight kids more than a water park, so whenever one appears along the route, it’s usually very hard to say no.
A map of Portugal’s best water parks
Water parks in the Algarve – southern Portugal
The Algarve is Portugal’s southernmost region, known for its long coastline and abundant sunshine. Faro, the region’s largest city and capital, is home to the Algarve airport. Every summer, millions of travelers arrive here for a dream beach vacation with the calm, easygoing atmosphere that Portugal does so well.
Most visitors to the Algarve stay in one of the resort towns along the coast. Beyond the beaches and all the water sports on offer, the Algarve also has plenty of attractions, shopping malls, and of course several excellent water parks. Together, they round out the vacation experience in a region that, just a few decades ago, was little more than a string of sleepy fishing villages, yet today has become a world-class tourist destination while still holding on to its signature Portuguese sense of peace and calm.
The Algarve’s coastal towns and water parks are about a two-and-a-half-hour drive from Lisbon. It’s well worth considering an itinerary that starts with two or three days in Lisbon before continuing on—or even flying down—to the Algarve for a beach break. That kind of trip lets you enjoy the water parks, the Algarve’s lovely scenery, the beaches, water sports, and even a few excellent large malls and outlets for some end-of-vacation shopping.
Click here for our accommodation and vacation guide to the Algarve…
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1. Slide & Splash
Slide & Splash is about a 15-minute drive from Portimão. The park isn’t especially large, but it’s fun, energetic, and full of action. Slide & Splash was the pioneer of Algarve water parks, with a long tradition of summer fun for the whole family, especially kids. It has also been renovated and upgraded recently, with several new slides and attractions added.
Altogether, the park has 20 major rides and pools. Among the most popular are Big Fall, Big Slide Tower, and the huge, thrilling Banazi.
There’s a large restaurant in the park where you can grab Portugal’s famous grilled chicken, along with burgers, hot dogs, fries, and everything kids tend to love. A few additional kiosks are spread throughout the park, and prices are fairly reasonable. You can rent umbrellas and lounge chairs on-site, and there are lockers for storing your belongings, so there’s really no need to bring much with you—just plenty of good spirits for the kids and a bit of patience for the parents, because the children probably won’t be ready to leave early…
Slide & Splash water park video:
2. Zoomarine Algarve
Zoomarine Algarve is not a standard water park, but rather a mix of amusement park, marine mammal shows, a small zoo, huge pools, and several fun water attractions. It’s considered the most popular park in the Algarve.
Zoomarine is about a 15-minute drive from Albufeira, though as is often the case in the Algarve, distances are manageable, so it’s easy enough to get here from most of the coastal resort towns.
There’s no question that the dolphin shows are the park’s main attraction. The park is also home to the largest wave pool in Portugal, along with plenty of rides and amusements, including many that are well suited to younger children.
Zoomarine Algarve video:
3. Aqualand Algarve
This water park sits roughly 20 minutes from both of the well-known resort towns of Albufeira and Portimão. It’s also very close to Slide & Splash—just a 10-minute drive away—so it can be hard to choose between them, and the kids will probably vote for both.
Aqualand Algarve is very well organized. It isn’t enormous, but it still offers a solid range of attractions, some of them quite thrilling.
The park’s best-known signature ride is King Cobra, a giant skateboard-style slide where, instead of a board, you ride down on inflatable tubes. It’s an impressively exciting experience.
Between the rides, you’ll find pleasant picnic and rest areas. There’s also a restaurant, kiosks, and a place to store belongings. In short, it’s a perfect family outing spot—fun without feeling too big or too crowded, whether you’re visiting with little kids or older ones.
Click here for our guide to families traveling in Portugal with kids…
Aqualand Algarve water park video:
4. Aquashow Waterpark
Aquashow Waterpark is about a 20-minute drive northwest of Faro, near the resort town of Vilamoura. With its tall slides, pools, and all-around fun atmosphere, it’s one of the Algarve’s favorite parks. Its proximity to Faro makes it especially easy and quick to reach from the region’s main city. Kids of all ages will enjoy it, and most adults will too.
The large outdoor section is open from early May through the first week of September. There are also restaurants and fast-food options, so it’s easy—and recommended—to spend at least a full day here.
Unlike the other water parks in the Algarve, this one also has a smaller indoor water park section that stays open during the rest of the year (from early September through the end of April). That means you can still visit and enjoy it outside the summer season.
There’s also an excellent hotel on-site for families who want to give the kids more time on the slides without having to rush.
Click here to stay at Aquashow Park Hotel…
Aquashow Waterpark video:
Water parks in northern Portugal
Northern Portugal is known for its high rainfall and long winters. Even so, summer here can be quite warm, especially farther inland. That’s exactly why water parks have popped up here too over the past few decades, even in Portugal’s green north.
Part of the appeal of the north’s water parks is the surrounding scenery and nature. Many families choose to stay nearby—or even at the parks themselves—and combine the visit with bike rides or walks through the lush landscape all around.
5. Parque Aquático de Amarante
This water park enjoys a somewhat surprising setting in the city of Amarante, with its river and romantic bridges crossing above it. The park sits along the A4 highway leading to Porto, the capital of northern Portugal, about a 45-minute drive away.
Amarante’s water park was the first in northern Portugal. It is built on a hillside above the Tâmega River, which also runs through the city. Although northern Portugal is often associated with gray weather and plenty of rain, summers are fairly sunny, and inland places like Amarante also enjoy many hot days. Since summer is short, locals want to make the most of every hour of sunshine, and children are eager for every chance to get in the water. As a result, demand is high. Ticket sales are capped at a certain point to avoid overcrowding, so buying tickets in advance is essential!
The park has excellent attractions, huge pools, rest areas, and a restaurant. Surrounded by greenery, it feels more like a leisure complex in the heart of nature. There’s also a small hotel on-site.
The park is open from early June through mid-September.
Parque Aquático de Amarante video:
6. NaturWaterPark
NaturWaterPark is a pleasantly surprising combination of water park and adventure park in northern Portugal. It’s about a 15-minute drive from the city of Vila Real and its main landmark, Mateus Palace. NaturWaterPark caters mostly to locals, since many tourists still don’t know about it, which is a shame because it’s especially enjoyable.
Yes, it’s a water park, but it also includes an adventure area with a climbing wall, zip line, target shooting, tree climbing, paintball, and plenty of other outdoor activities. There’s also camping and cabin accommodation for anyone who wants a full summer experience in the wide-open landscapes of northern Portugal. From here, you have plenty of options for hiking or cycling through the surrounding forests, mountains, and streams.
The park, also known as Parque de Diversões do Douro, has a large restaurant serving excellent Portuguese food (grilled chicken and fries, anyone?!), and the overall atmosphere is very pleasant.
You can easily spend a full day at NaturWaterPark, but it’s even better to stay an extra night or two in the cabins or campground and head out in the mornings to explore the wonderful natural surroundings.
The water park is open from May to September. During the rest of the year, some of the adventure park activities remain open.
NaturWaterPark video:
Water parks in central Portugal
Inland central Portugal serves as the industrial and logistical backbone between the country’s two main urban centers: Porto and Lisbon. It’s not one of Portugal’s most touristy regions, but it does have a number of worthwhile sights, including the Templar fortress in Tomar, the beautiful university city of Coimbra, Batalha Monastery, and the pilgrimage site of Fátima near Leiria.
Along the way, you’ll also come across two pleasant water parks. They aren’t as large as their Algarve counterparts in the south, but they’re great for a fun half-day with the kids, and the scenery around them is lovely.
7. Panorâmico Aquaparque in the town of Pombal
This park is set in nature near the city of Pombal, about half an hour from the region’s main city, Leiria. In terms of rides, it’s a medium-size park, but the grounds themselves are huge, with broad grassy areas and trees between the pools and attractions—ideal for relaxing or having a picnic. Because it’s located in a less-visited part of Portugal, the park is not especially well known among tourists and mainly serves locals. Like Leiria, it sits more or less halfway between Porto and Lisbon, so travelers who venture a little off the standard route are likely to enjoy it all the more.
The atmosphere here is excellent, helped along by the lawns, landscaping, and mountain views all around. Naturally, there’s also a restaurant and kiosks, plus showers and lockers, and it’s easy to spend a full day here. Afterward, it’s well worth considering an overnight stay in the area, since prices are far more affordable than in Portugal’s major tourist hubs.
Panorâmico Aquaparque water park video:
8. Parque Aquático Santarém – one hour from Lisbon
Parque Aquático Santarém is in central Portugal, in the town of the same name. This is more of a pool and water complex with a few large slides than a classic water park. It offers local residents a welcome escape during the hot summer days.
In addition to the large pools and slides, there are broad grassy areas with umbrellas and a small wooded area beside them. There’s also an indoor pool used for activities throughout the year.
This park is best suited to families traveling in the area who want an easy half-day break to enjoy the pool and water attractions with children of all ages.
Parque Aquático Santarém water park video:
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