Lisbon For

Green Spaces

Though perhaps better known for its hot sunshine and colourful buildings, Lisbon offers plenty of cool green patches amid its bustling streets. Locals gather in these parks and gardens to chat, picnic and escape the hectic pace of city life.

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t Locals relaxing in the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian’s landscaped gardens

Museum Gardens

Some of the city’s loveliest green spaces are its museum gardens, many of which can be enjoyed without having to pay the museum entry fee. Sandwiched between the Founder’s Collection and the modern art museum is the Gulbenkian Garden, a haven of tranquil, statue-dotted lawns. The gardens of the Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga are similarly picturesque, with neat lawns that stretch down to overlook the river.

Parque Eduardo VII

Lisbon’s largest park, and perhaps its most iconic green space, this long stretch of garden runs through the centre of the city (see Parque Eduardo VII). Ornamental box hedges top the pristine lawns, while shaded, wilder areas are tucked away at either side. Once you’ve had your fill of the lower slope, tackle the steep walk up to the top of the park to find an open miradouro that gives fantastic views over the city.

Shady Sintra

Historically popular with the Portuguese royal family as an escape from the summer heat of Lisbon, Sintra’s wooded ravines and cool greenery do not disappoint today. Spend some time exploring the quiet walks that wind through the town’s surrounding hills, or head for the more cultivated beauty of Monserrate’s exotic palace gardens. The latter is one of the richest examples of a botanic garden in Portugal and home to plant species from all over the world. Plants are organized according to the geographical areas from which they originated, so you’re always likely to find something in bloom.

Botanical Gardens

Lisbon is well known for the lush botanic gardens that dot its districts, offering serene green oases away from the bustle and heat of the city. Near the centre you’ll find the sprawling – if somewhat unkempt – Jardim Botânico, home to some 20,000 plant species, and the shady Jardim da Estrela. Further out, Belém offers two stunning gardens. The Jardim Botânico Tropical is ideally located next to the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos, and holds rare and endangered tropical flora. Nearby is the more formal Jardim Botânico da Ajuda, which is Lisbon’s oldest botanical garden, dating from 1768.

DISCOVER Lisbon Your Way

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secret escapes

Jardim da Cerca da Graça

A charming space just north of Alfama, beside the old Graça convent.

Jardim do Príncipe Real

This romantic, shady square lies just off Bairro Alto’s main street.

Jardim da Estrela

A mid-19th-century garden with an attractive central pavilion and a craft fair on weekends.

Parque do Tejo

Sprawling along the south bank of the Tagus, in the shadow of the Ponte 25 de Abril, these gardens are home to diverse flora and fauna.

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