8 Best parks in Lisbon; discover the green spaces in the capital

Thanks for sharing!

Discover Portugal is fully reader-supported. For that reason, this article contains some affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on this page at no additional cost to you. All revenue is used to keep this website free and updated. I only recommend products or services that I would use myself. You’ll be able to read the full disclaimer here. Thanks for your support!

The best parks in Lisbon

Lisbon has some beautiful natural spots in the city centre, and it’s an excellent spot for any nature lover to spend some time! From the largest parks in Lisbon to small parks, this article will share some of the best green areas in the city! The Portuguese capital is pretty green, and the town has many natural spaces to discover! So let’s have a look at the best parks in Lisbon and find your favourite spot!

1. Parque Eduardo VII

Parque Eduardo VII, or Eduardo VII Park, is one of the largest public best parks in Lisbon, close to Avenida da Liberdade and Marquês de Pombal. You’ll find it right in the middle of the city centre, one of the best green spaces in Lisbon. Chances are you’ll pass by this green space to enjoy a walk or see some sights. It really is that hard to miss! Parque Eduardo VII is a whopping 26 hectares (64 acres) and is named after King Edward VII (King of the United Kingdom), who came to Portugal in 1903. Before he arrived, the park was known as Parque da Liberdade or Liberty Park in English. Architect Francisco Keil do Amaral redesigned the park in 1945 as we see it today.

What is there to see?

There are a few different things to discover in Eduardo VII Park. First of all, the park is built on a slight slope, so you have one of the best views over town from the top. You can see as far as the river Tagus! In the middle, you’ll find buxus trees in quadratic shapes and a footpath on either side of the field. Looking down towards our left, you see the Carlos Lopes Pavilion. This pavilion was used during the 1922 Rio de Janeiro International Exposition, and occasional expositions remain.

You’ll find the 1.5-hectare (3.7-acre) greenhouse Estufa Fria on the right-hand side. This structure was built in a former quarry, and inside, you’ll discover a mix of cacti, exotic plants, colourful flowers, and wet areas. From the viewpoint of Miradouro Parque Eduardo VII, you will see the Monumento 25 de Abril. This was erected for the 25th-anniversary celebrations of the Carnation Revolution. A military coup ended the authoritarian regime in 1974.

How to get there?

Eduardo VII Park is straightforward to reach, and you might even stay in the area. Hotels surround the park, and many people stay around this area. A metro station in the park on the Blue Line is called Parque. You can also exit the metro at Marquês de Pombal or São Sebastião. If you leave from São Sebastião, you can discover the nearby garden Jardim Amália Rodrigues. Enjoy a refreshing drink at Linha d’Água or enjoy a meal at Eleven.

Miradouro Parque Eduardo VII is the spot where many bike tours start. So, if you booked a Baja Bikes Cycling Tour, you will gather here at the meeting point. While you wait for your excursion to start, you can enjoy the beautiful views over the city. If you have a Hop-on Hop-off bus ticket, you can exit the bus at Marquês de Pombal.

2. Estufa Fria

When you are at Eduardo VII Park, you should check out Estufa Fria’s greenhouse. It’s a hidden gem in the city´s centre, located towards the righthand side. The greenhouses are full of palm trees, green plants and flowers. Estufa Fria has a fascinating history, as it was once used as a basalt quarry. When the quarry closed, a gardener had the great idea to transform it into a greenhouse. Estufa Fria means ´Cold Greenhouse´, and this part opened in the 1930s. Estufa Quente (Warm Greenhouse) opened in 1975 and boasts a lovely collection of tropical and equatorial plants.

What to see at Estufa Fria?

The large roof over Estufa Fria protects the plants from the heat and the cold. The plants and trees arrived mainly from former Portuguese colonies and countries such as China, Mexico, Australia, Peru, and Brazil. Estufa Quente has a higher temperate, perfect for mango trees, coffee plants and bananas. Estufa Doce is the smallest greenhouse, but it´s filled with several cacti and succulents. All in all, there are over 300 different species that you can find here!

How to reach Estufa Fria?

The same as to get to Parque Eduardo VII. Visitors who prefer bus travel can take lines 12, 22, 36, 44, 702, 720, and 745.

Entrance tickets and opening times

Estufa Fria is never too busy and a lovely place to avoid the hustle and bustle of the big city. There is a small entrance fee of € 3,25 per person, and children under six can enter the greenhouses for free. You can enter the space for free if you have the Lisboa Card.

The greenhouse is open daily from 10 AM until 7 PM in summer or from 9 AM to 5 PM in winter. The park is closed on January 1st, May 1st and December 25th. Check the extended guide to see this remarkable place for more information and images! 

3. Jardim Botânico de Lisboa

One of the best places to explore is the Botanical Garden in Lisbon. Especially on sunny days, the shade is very welcome, but the place itself is also stunning! The Botanical Garden Lisbon, or Jardim Botânico de Lisboa, is located in the neighbourhood known as Príncipe Real, close to Bairro Alto. It was created as a scientific area which was part of the Polytechnic School next door. Gardeners were studying botany, and the enormous selection of tropical and subtropical plants came from all over the world! So, if you’re specifically interested in flora, there is no better place than this!

What can you see here?

It’s the perfect place for a quiet moment in nature and to escape the hustle and bustle of Lisbon. As soon as you enter, you can relax and enjoy the tall palm trees that welcome you. Stroll around the colourful flowers, the dragon tree, the cacti and the magnolia trees. You might see ducks in the pond, and even blackbirds and robins fly by often.

There are also several buildings and monuments to see. Escola Politécnica, or the Polytechnic School, are part of the National Museum of History and Science of the University of Lisbon. There are various exhibitions in this building that you can see simultaneously during your time here. The pink Astronomical Observatory has Wes Anderson vibes and makes an excellent backdrop for some pictures!

Read the complete guide about one of the most beautiful parks and gardens in Lisbon. 

How to get to the Botanical Garden in Lisbon?

Jardim Botânico de Lisboa is easy to reach by bus and tram. The entrance is at Praça do Príncipe Real, and tram 24E and bus 758 stop right at the spot where to enter the area! Rato metro station is also nearby. Searching on Google Maps might tell you to get off at Avenida on Avenida da Liberdade, but remember, this is a steep uphill walk! You can take the funicular at Calçada da Glória towards Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara. You can enjoy the beautiful views over Lisbon before heading to the garden.

Opening times and entrance fees

Apart from Christmas and New Year, the gardens in Lisbon are open daily. Depending on the season, you’re welcome between 10 AM and 5 PM or 8 PM. Tickets cost € 5,00 per person, and with a Lisboa Card, you’ll enjoy a 10% discount. Special family tickets are available; children under ten can always enter for free. If you want to add the Museu Nacional História Natural e da Ciência to your stay, you pay € 8,00 per person (or € 6,00 for just the museum).

A photoshoot in nature!

How about being photographed in beautiful places like this? Discover Portugal offers photo shoots all over town, including the gardens! You may want to propose in a quiet spot, or you would like to have some family photos taken. Check this page for more information, availability and pricing. I´d love to capture some memories for you. Stunning backgrounds included!

4. Monsanto Forest Park

The largest park in the city is Monsanto Forest Park, or Parque Florestal de Monsanto in Portuguese! It’s so big that you will probably need Google Maps to locate all the sights! But does the size also mean it´s one of the best parks in Lisbon? Well, yes! It’s a fantastic place for outdoor activities such as cycling and hiking at Serra de Monsanto! Besides trails, there are also sports facilities and many picnic areas! Dogs are more than welcome and will have the time of their lives here! Just be aware that the park can be closed during the heat due to the high risk of forest fires.

What to see at Parque Florestal de Monsanto?

Monsanto Forest Park is free to see and open 24 hours a day. You can start your exploration at Panorâmico de Monsanto, a former high-end restaurant which has been abandoned for years! The view over Lisbon and the river Tagus is amazing from this spot! No need to climb any fences either, as you can enter the structure when the gates are open. Nearby you find Parque Recreativo do Alto da Serafina, a fabulous kid’s park with a labyrinth, a carousel, rope courses and other attractions. Alvito Recreational Park is another paradise for kids and contains slides, swings and climbing adventures for young children.

Further south, you will find the Keil do Amaral viewpoint, a great place to enjoy the view and grab a bite to eat. In the same area, you’ll discover a skate park, a basketball court and the scenic spot Moinho do Alferes (including former windmills!). Jardim dos Montes Claros was designed in the 1940s by Francisco Keil do Amaral. The landscape is 16,000 square meters, containing a rectangular water basin and some incredible viewpoints. On the park’s north side, you can discover the Fronteira Palace (Fundação das Casas Fronteira e Alorna). Here you can enjoy a guided tour of the building and see the many azulejo tiles and paintings.

How to get to Monsanto?

Monsanto is located between Campo de Ourique, Ajuda, and Alfragide. The easiest way to get here is by Uber or car. The park is enormous, with almost 1000 ha (10 km2)! The forest is the most prominent green patch in the city, and if you come to hike, you can spend many hours here. A car would be easiest to see several places during your time at Monsanto.

You can also take the train towards Sintra from the city centre (Rossio Station). Disembark at Campolide to start your adventure in nature! The path is uphill from here, so you might prefer to take a bus. Line 711 leaves from Rossio Square and stops at multiple points in the park. Alternatively, you can take bus 770 from Sete Rios.

5. Jardim Botânico Tropical

The area around Belém Palace is a must-see when you visit this famous neighbourhood. Many people come to Belém to see the Jeromimos Monastery and Belém Tower. It gets busy here, so if you need a moment for yourself, there is no better place than the Jardim Botânico Tropical or the Tropical Botanic Garden in English.

This garden goes all the way back to 1906. Back then, it was known as the Colonial Garden, and the purpose of the space was to study tropical plants from all over the world. The colonial past is still noticeable as you´ll see 14 statues and busts of Asian and African figures, an Oriental Garden and a Colonial Restaurant. It has been a National Monument since 2007 and is around seven hectares.

What to see at Jardim Botânico Tropical

Most plants and flowers originate from the former Portuguese colonies. You’ll spot species from Angola, Cabo Verde, Macau, Brazil and many more places on Earth! As soon as you enter, you find the beautiful Main Lake surrounded by greenery. There is a small island which benches where you can enjoy watching the ducks and many mallards!

Several structures are on site, such as the Palace of the Counts of Calheta (currently closed), the Tea Room (Colonial Restaurant), and Casa do Fresco. When discovering Casa do Veado, don’t forget to explore the grounds behind the house. It’s full of cacti and stunning plants!

Read the complete guide here!

How to get to the Tropical Botanic Garden?

When you’re in Belém, it’s hard to miss this place. It’s located just behind the famous Pastéis de Belém and between the bakery and the Jeronimos Monastery. You can take tram 15 and 18 to Belém from Lisbon city’s centre or take the train towards Cascais from Cais do Sodré. Buses 714, 727, 728, and 729 all stop within a 5-minute walk from the garden. Belém is also a great place to stay, and several hotels are in this area.

Entrance and opening times

The Tropical Botanic Garden is open daily except during Christmas and January 1st. Depending on the season, it´s open from 9 AM until 5 PM or 8 PM. The entrance price is € 5,00 for adults, and children under ten can enter for free.

6. Jardim da Estrela

It’s a loved place by locals with landscaped gardens, a music stand, and a playground for kids. It’s free to enter and open all day long. You can stop by the Banana Cafe or Gengibre da Estrela if you want to enjoy a drink and a snack. Discover the peacocks or watch the birds have a fresh dip in the pond! There are several sculptures around the greenery, and it’s a lovely place to enjoy some shade and read a book!

How to reach Jardim da Estrela?

If you take Tram 28 from Alfama, you can travel all the way to Jardim da Estrela. You can disembark at the beautiful 18 century baroque Basílica of Estrela and even take a look inside if open! Tram 28 can be extremely busy, so you can also take bus 709, 774, 720 or 738 if you like.

7. Gulbenkian Gardens in Lisbon

Another favourite Lisbon park of many locals is Jardim da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian! This laid-back spot is perfect for reading a book or a homemade lunch. Bring a blanket and enjoy an hour of leisure!

What to see at Jardim da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

Jardim da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian has a calming atmosphere in the middle of the urban city. There are several buildings, such as a museum and an auditorium. At the time of writing, they are remoulding Centro de Arte Moderna Gulbenkian (CAM), and it’s starting to look even nicer! The serene place had a pond with many birds and streams between the bamboo. Grab a bite to eat at the Cafetaria do Museu Gulbenkian or Ice Gourmet restaurant. This place really is one of the city’s favourite oases.

Discover Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

When you’re so close, it’s worth visiting the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum simultaneously! The art collection contains incredible artwork collected by Calouste Gulbenkian. It’s one of the most substantial private art collections in Portugal. There is a permanent exhibition with pieces corresponding to Egyptian art, Greco-Roman art, Mesopotamia, the Islamic Orient, Armenia, the Far East, and more! As mentioned, the modern art centre is currently closed, but it will be amazing when it reopens!

How to reach Jardim da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian?

Jardim da Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian is close to Blue and Red line metro station São Sebastião and Praça de Espanha (Blue line). The jardim is free to enter but closes when it gets dark.

8. Jardim do Torel

Another laid-back place is Jardim do Torel. This is one of the smaller parks, but one with a lovely fountain! Many people come to sunbathe here and even take a dip in the water! From Rossio Square or metro station Avenida, it’s easy to reach Jardim do Torel, but the road does go up the hill. Enjoy the magic of Lisbon from Miradouro do Jardim do Torel, or bring a drink to see the sun go down. 

Conclusion

As you can see, the Lisbon parks and gardens are well worth your time! Whether you love seeing unique flora in Lisbon or just looking for a place to sit down, the gardens in Lisbon are a great spot to enjoy a break! Many hotels in the green areas also provide a quiet space to sleep and enjoy nature. Can you imagine the view over the lush landscape from your room?! Portugal has many more green places to explore. Venture out to Buddha Eden, for example, not far from Lisbon! This is the most extensive oriental garden in Europe!

Pin to read later

Thanks for sharing!