5 best parks to soak up the sun in Lisbon

This park is in the eastern part of Lisbon, close to Tagus River, and was once the ground of the international exhibition "Expo 98”. It is visited both night and day and it offers numerous attractions. Its promenade along the river can be used for a run, a walk or just to sit and enjoy the sun and the views, namely Ponte Vasco da Gama (Vasco da Gama Bridge). You may also visit some pavilions that are still open since the exhibition, such as Oceanário, (Oceanarium) or Pavilhão de Portugal (Portugal Pavilion), enjoy a cable car ride, do some shopping in Centro Comercial Vasco da Gama (Vasco da Gama Shopping Centre), have a meal in one of the finest restaurants in the city or have a drink in one of the several bars available. 

Across from Basílica da Estrela (Estrela Basilica), there is a romantic 19th century park, the perfect spot for families. It has ponds with ducks, exotic plants and trees. In between it are numerous sculptures, an old bandstand and a playground for children. Estrela Park also has a café where you can have a light meal any time a day. Every first weekend of the month there is a crafts and design fair from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The Gulbenkian Park is one of the main oasis in Lisbon, perhaps the best green space free and open for the public. It is also one of the most emblematic gardens of the modern movement in Portugal and a reference for the Portuguese landscape architecture. In this park you will find the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation head office and the museum, as well as the Modern Art Centre. Among the avenues of trees, the terraced garden, flower beds and lakes of the Gulbenkian gardens are more than two centuries of  history of landscape architecture.

 The Royal Prince Park is located in one of the most striking zones of the city, the North top of Bairro Alto. It is furnished with picnic tables, two monuments in homage to the journalist França Borges and the poet Souda Viterbo and a playground for children. With it’s a century-old tree that looks like an umbrella, and a spectacular view of Lisbon, this garden is a must to see! After strolling through the park, don't miss the colorful Moorish-style building, where you can have a fresh drink.

This park was built in the course of the 2nd World war, according to the style of Greek-Roman gardens.  It is placed in front of Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (Jeronimos Monastery), close to Centro Cultural de Belém (Belém Cultural Center). Besides its privileged location, it has a magnificent luminous fountain in the center of the garden, with great color and light effects. The garden has typical Portuguese landscape, with cypress and olive trees, decorated with Portuguese pavement showing the zodiac signs and a set of 32 coats of arms among shrubs and small flowers, representing the former provinces of the Empire.