As Colmeias da Joana

As Colmeias da Joana is a small beekeeping business in Lousa, a rural parish of Loures on the northern edge of Lisbon. Joana is a fourth-generation beekeeper. Her grandfather first took her to his apiary when she was seven, and she set up the business in 2018 to teach people why bees matter. The main family activity is the “Visita às Abelhas” (visit to the bees), a guided session of about an hour and a half that takes you right into a working hive.

It starts with a short talk about how honeybees live and what they do for the plants around us. Then everyone puts on a protective beekeeping suit, and Joana opens a hive. Children see the bees at work on the frames, look closely at the wax honeycomb and the pollen stored in it, and join the hunt for the queen. Finding her among thousands of look-alike workers is the moment most children remember, and it isn’t guaranteed, which makes it more exciting when someone spots her. A photographer takes pictures throughout, so parents can watch instead of filming.

A bee suit changes how a child feels about bees. The same children who flap at a bee in the garden often stand very still at the hive, because the suit makes them feel safe enough to look. There is plenty to see at a child’s eye level on each frame: bees crawling over the comb, cells capped with wax, and the bright lumps of pollen the foragers bring home.

The talk at the start gives the visit a story. Honeybees live as one big family with a single queen who lays the eggs, female worker bees who do nearly every job, and male drones. Joana’s site points out that 78% of wild plants depend on pollinators, so the fruit and flowers children see on the walk to the hive are part of the lesson too.

• Under 6s: not recommended. The session asks children to stand calmly next to an open hive in a suit for a good while, which is hard for very young children.
• Ages 6 to 8: the suit, the open hive and the queen hunt are the highlights. They’ll pick up the basic idea of the bee family and pollination.
• Ages 9 to 12: old enough to follow what the beekeeper is checking on each frame and to ask about how honey is made and harvested.
• Teenagers: a good fit for a teenager thinking about biology or the environment, or one who simply likes doing something their friends haven’t.

Under-12s must be with an adult, so this is a do-it-together outing. It isn’t a drop-off activity.

When checked in September 2026, tickets were €25 for an adult, €22 for a child up to 12 and €88 for a family of four, with 6% VAT added. Insurance and all the kit, including the suits, are included.

Sessions run on the last Sunday of the month at 10:00 through the warmer part of the year. The 2026 dates listed on the booking page were 26 April, 31 May, 28 June, 26 July, 30 August and 25 October. When we checked, the visit was marked as sold out, so book as early as you can once new dates appear. If too few people sign up, a session may be moved to another date or fully refunded.

Bees react to smells, so skip perfume, scented sun cream and strong deodorant on the day. Dress everyone in long trousers and closed shoes; sandals are a bad idea around a hive. Bring a hat and a water bottle, because the visit is outdoors in the countryside and summer mornings in Loures can be hot. There’s parking at the site.

If your child has a known allergy to bee stings, talk to your doctor and to Joana before booking.

This is a short, focused activity, and there are no play areas or café mentioned. You’ll want to plan the rest of the day around it. Places are few and sell out, and sessions only happen once a month, so it takes some planning. Everything is outdoors, and bad weather can move the date. It isn’t recommended for under-6s, which is hard if you have mixed-age siblings.

The same business runs honey tastings at Lousa, where you try Portuguese honeys such as eucalyptus, strawberry tree (medronho) and orange blossom, plus honey from rescued swarms. In 2026 these were held on a few Sunday afternoons and were also sold out. For a rainy day or a group that can’t travel, “Meet my Bees” is a live 60-minute video call from the apiary, with games and demonstrations, at €15 per person when checked. It runs in Portuguese and English and suits home-education groups. Joana also rescues swarms around Lisbon without poison, rehoming the bees at her apiary.

For more bees, the Borboletário de Cascais is a free butterfly house where children see caterpillars and chrysalises. Back in Lisbon, the Quinta Pedagógica dos Olivais is a free city farm with farm jobs for families. If your child gets hooked, A Apicultora in Coruche offers longer bee experiences an hour from Lisbon, and older, keen children could try a full beekeeper’s day at the Casa da Abelha e do Mel near Amarante.

Will my child get stung?

Everyone wears a protective beekeeping suit, and the session is led by an experienced beekeeper. No one can promise a sting-free visit around a working hive, so if your child has a known sting allergy, get medical advice before booking.

What is the minimum age?

The visit is recommended from age 6, and under-12s must be accompanied by an adult.

How long does the bee visit take?

About an hour and a half, starting at 10:00.

Do you need to book?

Yes. Places are limited and must be booked in advance on the website. The monthly sessions were sold out when we checked.

How much does it cost for a family?

A family ticket for four was €88 plus VAT in September 2026. Individual tickets were €25 for adults and €22 for children up to 12.