When the gorgeous Portuguese sun is belting down and you’re hot, hot, hot, why not grab a picnic and take yourself to one of the city’s many beautiful green spaces? Here are five lush Lisbon parks, gardens and hidden green areas to relax in between your adventures in this wonderful city.
Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara – For romantic hilltop views
If you’re in the city with someone you love, the Miraduoro Sao Pedro de Alcantara is a top destination, facing the historic castle on hill opposite. Here the landscape is terraced into two levels, each with its own collection of historical and mythological figures. There are also two handy kiosks serving drinks and snacks, perfect for whiling away a couple of leisurely hours as you drink in the views, the sunshine, the unique vibe.
The top level is paved in typical Portuguese style with lovely old cobbles and there’s a fountain in the middle. Look for the decorative tile panel depicting all the monuments you can see, and the 1904 statue commemorating the Bairro Alto’s famous newspaper sellers who worked here when it was the country’s major media centre.
Down below there’s a lovely geometric garden and a hidden wall fountain facing a convent, dating back to 1670 but only open to the public since 2014. It offers a stunning marble chapel and baroque church with a golden altar and more tiling, this time about the life and times of St. Peter of Alcantara. The 1880s funicular, Elevador da Gloria, is fascinating, as is the Sao Roque church, accessible on foot from the viewpoint.
Estufa Fria – A delightful oasis in the city centre
This spectacular garden began life more than a century ago but it didn’t happen to a plan, it was accidental. The gardens of the Estufa Fria are packed with vegetation so lush it’s like being in a jungle. There are caves, hidden footpaths and streams, and the feel is wildly romantic.
In the early 1900s the site was barren, an abandoned quarry far from the city centre. When the quarry was decommissioned the site was planted up by a keen local gardener who collected species from around the world. He was going to eventually replant them on the Avenida da Liberdade, but World War One stopped his plans and the site was abandoned.
Neglected and left to do their own thing, the plants loved their sheltered quarry setting and grew wild and free. Before long it became a magnificent garden and Lisbon Council decided to look after it. From 1933 onwards it has been refurbished several times, adding a lake, an assembly hall and greenhouses for tropical plants, cacti and succulents, all heated naturally.
You’ll wander amongst magnificent specimens from places as distant as China, Australia, Peru, Mexico, Brazil, the Antilles and Korea, some very rare and all very beautiful. The walkway along the original bedrock, with views of the old quarry, is particularly exciting.
Jardim Zoologico – A sanctuary for exotic animals
Dating back to 1884, the city’s zoo is a sanctuary for exotic and native animals with its own cable car, which whizzes you above the zoo’s rich green landscapes in a triangular circuit at a maximum of 20m above the ground, a thrilling experience. During the 20 minute ride you’ll see the entire zoo from above, along with breathtaking panoramic views of Lisbon itself.
The zoo is split into a number of zones:
- Dolphin Bay – A recreation of an old Portuguese fishing village complete with a replica lighthouse, three big pools and a family of four bottle-nose dolphins who enjoy performing for visitors. They perform for an hour at a time, joined by sea lions to make the experience unforgettable. As you can imagine, kids adore it
- Rainbow Park – A huge aviary with a variety of Lorikeets you can feed by hand or watch without barriers. It’s an immersive experience revealing the lives of these gorgeously colourful birds on an intimate level
- Enchanted Forest – Here you’ll see fabulous birds from all seven continents including eagles, parrots, kookaburras, snowy owls – plus a host of exotic animals including armadillos, all enjoying a natural habitat where they thrive. The sheer variety of birds will blow your mind!
- Enchanted Forest: Snakes and Lizards – Fascinating reptiles are the name of the game in this section, giving you insights into the remarkable world of turtles, iguanas, crocodiles, snakes and more. You can touch the creatures too, at special times, for a unique experience you’ll never forget
- Pelican Feeding – once home to seals and sea lions, feeding the pelicans in this dedicated area is a great way to understand these huge birds better and get a feel for their lives. You can also learn more about them with educational presentations
- Little Farm – Another hot favourite with children, the charming little urban farm lets you discover the rural life of farm animals. You can feed and interact with the animals and learn about farming crops sustainably as well
- Reptile House – This is one of the world’s vest reptile collections, with everything from huge American alligators to see, up close and personal, to a load more curious, strange, weird and wonderful reptile species, each more amazing than the last
Parque Eduardo VII – Lisbon’s central park
Named after the English king Edward VII, who visited the city in 1903, this lovely green swathe of land ascends one of Lisbon’s many hills to give you stunning views from the top. The perfect symmetrical box hedging creates complex patterns and inside the 1930s greenhouse there’s a thrilling variety of exotic and tropical plants, together making up a real living museum dotted with lovely lakes, waterfalls and statues.
It’s also home to a tiled pavilion dedicated to Carlos Lopes, who broke records running the marathon at the 1984 LA Olympics. The pavilion was originally built in 1921 in Rio de Janeiro for the 1922-23 International Exhibition, taken down and rebuilt in the park during 1929. In 2017 it was renovated to provide an exciting and unusual area for events. The tiles honour the Olympic champion as well as revealing scenes from Portuguese history, overseen by two statues at the door representing Art and Science.
Jardim da Estrela Park – Perfect for relaxed fun
This local park is known and loved for its romantic feel, officially called Guerra Junqueiro Garden but affectionately named Jardim da Estrela by the locals. Dating back to 1852 it’s a popular place for picnics, reading, working out, falling in love, wandering hand in hand, and playing. There are scenic duck ponds, a cool children’s playground, a beautiful old bandstand, and a cafe with outdoor seating for light snacks. All this is enhanced by sculptures and exotic plants.
There’s a regular design and craft market held in the gardens on the first weekend of the month. In summer at weekends it stages part of the annual jazz festival. Cross over the road to wander in the English Cemetery, open to the public in the mornings and the place where members of Lisbon’s British community have been laid to rest. The author Henry Fielding is buried here, whose poor health – which he came here to heal – meant he never left the city. Thomas Barclay is also here. He was supposed to be appointed by George Washington as the first ever US consul in France but died here in 1793.
Lush greenery in the midst of a bustling city
As you can tell there are lots of lovely green spaces to relax in amidst Lisbon’s famous hustle and bustle, the perfect way to punctuate your city adventures.