Musement takes a look at six parks and green areas in Lisbon where you escape the hustle and bustle.
Did you know that 93% of Lisbon natives live less than 1,000 feet from public transportation? And that 76% live less than 1,000 feet from a green area? These are a couple of the reasons for which Lisbon won the European Green Capital Award 2020. This initiative, driven by the European Commission, awards cities for being leaders in good environmental practices and turns them into inspirational models. For further evidence, Lisbon started on its path toward sustainability during a period of economic crisis demonstrating that sustainability is linked to economic growth and the well-being of the citizens.
In honor of one of our favorite European capitals receiving the European Green Capital Award 2020, Musement has compiled a list of six parks and green areas in Lisbon where you can go and have a great time.
1. Eduardo VII Park
The Eduardo VII Park was created in honor of the British monarch who made an official visit to Lisbon in 1903. Located to the north of Liberdade Avenue and Marques do Pombal Plaza, it is the biggest park in the city center. It consists of a steep slope of 62 acres adorned with mosaics of plants. It has a botanical garden, lake, playground and a monument that commemorates April 25, or the Carnation Revolution, among other interesting sites to see.
2. Estrela Garden
The Estrela Garden is located in front of its namesake basilica and is one of the parks that Lisbon natives love the most. Designed in the 19th century, this charming park with a romantic flair and a bourgeois touch was inspired by the English—women with parasols and elegant men with top hats often strolled through. The park also enjoys a wide range of plant species—many of which are exotics—a lake with ducks, and even a little library.
3. Monsanto Forest Park
The Monsanto Forest Park occupies exactly 2,500 acres and is the largest green area in Lisbon. With a great variety of vegetation and marvelous views over the city and the Tajo River, this park, open 24 hours a day, can be everything you want when you want it. Go for a run or a bike ride, set up a picnic, get your inspiration for a creative activity, or simply reoxygenate your lungs.
https://www.instagram.com/p/Bx5zpwLBNhr/
4. Principe Real Botanical Garden
The Principe Real Botanical Garden of Lisbon was inaugurated in 1878, and its 10 acres contain flora from all over the world. The park forms part of the National Museum of Natural History and Science of the University of Lisbon, and its immense collection of subtropical vegetation is impressive. Additionally, it is the ideal place for escaping the urban hustle and bustle for a bit.
5. Gulbenkian Garden
As part of a big cultural center that includes the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation and Modern Art Center, Gulbenkian Garden boasts 19 acres where culture predominates. Proof of this is the array of sculptures of local and international artists distributed throughout the park and the different theater, music and dance events organized there.
6. Quinta das Conchas e dos Lilases Park
The fifty-nine-acre park known as Quinta das Conchas e dos Lilases Park is the perfect place to relax whether by taking a walk, reading a book, or having a coffee. It is perfect for the little ones because there is an area with a playground that even includes a mini library.