DominguesPorto region is one of the most touristic in Portugal, so it is natural that there is no shortage of beautiful parks and gardens that allow for pleasant walks close to nature. Some of these gardens appear on any itinerary in Porto, but others are only visited by those who venture into lesser-known routes.
If you are a traveler who really likes to discover and visit places less known to the general public, then you are reading the right article, because here I am going to introduce you to a total of 30 parks and gardens in Porto that I discovered when visiting the city and surroundings. I’ll leave you some great photos that prove they’re really worth it. 😉 My favorite is the Park of São Roque, just trust me and go visit it.
MORE ARTICLES FROM THE NORTH OF PORTUGAL: - Porto Itinerary - Things to do in Porto - Best Museums in Porto - Best Churches and Cathedrals in Porto - Best Port Wine Cellars in Porto - Best Beaches in Porto - Best Day Trips from Porto - Best Matosinhos Beaches - Things to do in Matosinhos - Things to do in Vila do Conde - Things to do in Póvoa de Varzim - Things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia - Things to do in Espinho - Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary - Things to do in Viana do Castelo - Things to do in Ponte de Lima - Things to do in Monção - Things to do in Valença - Things to do in Caminha - Things to do in Braga - Things to do in Guimarães - Things to do in Barcelos - Things to do in Esposende - Things to do in Arcos de Valdevez - Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary - Best Hikes and Trails in Peneda Gerês National Park - Best Peneda Gerês National Park Waterfalls and Lagoons - Douro Valley Itinerary - Douro Valley Wineries - Best Douro Viewpoints - Things to do in Peso da Régua - Things to do in Lamego - Things to do in Pinhão - Best beaches in Northern Portugal - Trás-os-Montes Itinerary - Things to do in Bragança - Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary - Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
Porto Card
Buying Porto Card may or may not be worth it. I wrote about all the advantages in my article related to a complete Porto Itinerary, so go read it to know more. It allows some discounts and even free entrances in some sights of the city.
- Get the Porto Card with Get Your Guide.
- The card is only valid for one person, so if you are traveling as a family or as a couple, you will have to buy one card per person.
Accommodation Tips and Hotels in Porto
| Accommodation | Score | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Porto View by Patio25 | 9.1 | Vila Nova de Gaia |
| Vincii Ponte de Ferro | 9.3 | Vila Nova de Gaia |
| The House of Sandeman | 9.4 | Vila Nova de Gaia |
| 296 Heritage Apartments | 9.5 | Vila Nova de Gaia |
| 7 Gaia Roaster Apartments | 9.2 | Vila Nova de Gaia |
| Gran Cruz House | 9.5 | Ribeira do Porto |
| Memoria Porto Hotel | 9.3 | Ribeira do Porto |
| Casa da Companhia | 9.6 | Rua das Flores |
| Porto Bay Flores | 9.4 | Rua das Flores |
| Vitoria Terrace Apartments | 9.9 | Vitória Viewpoint |
| Look at Me | 9.3 | Trindade |
| Santa Catarina Apartments | 9.4 | Bolhão |
| BessaHotel Baixa | 9.1 | Bolhão |
| Spot Family Apartments | 9.3 | Bolhão / Trindade |
| Almada 333 | 9.4 | Aliados |
| Maison Albar Hotels | 9.5 | Aliados |
| Oporto Local Studios | 9.2 | Aliados |
| Mercure Aliados | 9.1 | Aliados |
| Porto Central Flats | 9.2 | Rua Mouzinho da Silveira |
| The Passenger Hostel | 9.2 | São Bento |
| Clérigos Apartments | 9.1 | Clérigos |
| Oca Oriental Hotel | 9.1 | Heroísmo / Campanhã |
| Mouco Hotel | 9.0 | Heroísmo / Campanhã |
| Predicados do Douro | 9.2 | Crystal Palace Gardens |
| Pestana Douro | 9.0 | Valbom |
| Marquês Apartments | 9.1 | Marquês |
| Porto Deluxe Suites | 9.3 | Boavista |
30 best parks and gardens in Porto
And now, the best and most beautiful parks and gardens in Porto, and also in Gaia. I will present them in no specific order of preference, but obviously I will give my opinion on each one of them throughout the text. 😉
1. Porto City Park
The first park to be mentioned in this article is the City Park, located along the coast of Porto, with connections to the International Beach and São Francisco Xavier Fort. Did you know that it is considered the largest urban park in the country?
It is a very green park, built in 1991, with lakes full of ducks and extensive lawns. It is ideal for walking or even cycling, and has spaces prepared for the practice of sports, such as the soccer field, for example.
Although the park is free, it has a paid space inside, namely the Water Pavilion, which is an interactive water museum, showing the path of water from the source of a stream to its mouth in the sea.
I also highlight the biological market that takes place in this city park every Saturday. There you can buy biologic products directly from producers and farmers in the region, without intermediaries.
You need at least 2 hours to visit this park as there are about 10 km of trails to go through. Of course, you don’t have to go through all of them to get an excellent impression of it.
2. Sea Life Porto
On the outskirts of Porto City Park, if you so wish, you can also visit the city aquarium called SEA LIFE Porto. It has sharks, turtles, penguins, and so many other animals of the sea that you will love seeing, specially if you have kids traveling with you.
3. Passeio Alegre Garden
Passeio Alegre Garden is also located very close to the coast of Porto, right at the mouth of Douro river. It extends from the Fort of São João da Foz to the Chapel-Lighthouse of São Miguel-o-Anjo, providing a pleasant riverside walk.
I highlight its two ponds, the bandstand, the obelisks, and the minigolf club. There is also the small chalet “Suísso”, also known as Chalé do Carneiro, due to the statue on top. In the past, as a curiosity, it was a place for literary gatherings, frequented by Portuguese personalities such as Camilo Castelo Branco, Arnaldo Gama, Ramalho Ortigão, Alberto Pimentel, among others.
4. Pasteleira Urban Park
Pasteleira Urban Park is, for me, similar to Porto city park, but in a smaller dimension. In case you’re interested, there’s even a bike path that connects them. It was inaugurated in 2009 and has a lake and natural vegetation composed of pine trees and cork oaks.
Next to one of the entrances to this Pasteleira Park, you should also visit the old water reservoir of the city, today a kind of museum with various artefacts and archaeological remains from excavations carried out in the region.
5. Serralves Park
Visiting Serralves Park is one of the mandatory things to do in Porto. Without a doubt, it is one of the most beautiful and unmissable gardens to discover in this city, but keep in mind that it costs some money.
When visiting the Serralves Foundation, you can choose between several types of tickets, but honestly I think that what pays off the most is to buy the general ticket, or else the ticket just for the park.
Below you have information about the different spaces available for visit:
- A museum of contemporary art, but it’s totally unnecessary if, like me, you’re not a fan of this type of art. I flew through the various exhibition rooms, as none of them managed to captivate me.
- Serralves park is beautiful and well worth the trip, with a fabulous treetop walk, lakes, giant avenues of trees and magnificent nature. It also has a pedagogical farm.
- Serralves House is considered by many to be the most outstanding example of art deco in Portugal, having been built between the 20s and 40s of the 20th century. For me, it’s not worth buying a ticket just to visit this house, so buy the general ticket instead, that has it included.
- And the House of Cinema, with a permanent exhibition associated with the work of Manoel de Oliveira, and other temporary exhibitions in the area of contemporary cinema.
- Note that the Serralves Foundation promotes frequent events in the park, paid separatelly, if you are interested.
6. Porto Botanical Garden
With regard to Porto Botanical Garden, it is located in the old Quinta do Campo Alegre, housing the fabulous Casa Andresen dating from the 19th century. This house, owned by the grandparents of the writer Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen between 1895 and 1930, was acquired by the State in 1949, later serving as an institute and department of botany at the University of Porto. It is currently a Biodiversity Gallery.
If you only want to visit the Botanical Garden, entry is free, however you will have to pay if you want to enter the Biodiversity Gallery. Just to give you an idea of what awaits you, right in the entrance hall you will find a gigantic skeleton of a blue whale. 😉
The Botanical Garden has several other spaces in addition to the aforementioned Casa Andresen, with emphasis on greenhouses, cacti, more exotic plants and small lakes. At the time of my visit, a show with lights was being held at night, so the garden was all set up and decorated with an Alice in Wonderland theme, lots of fun for the kids!
7. Gardens at Rotunda da Boavista
Rotunda da Boavista is also known as Mouzinho de Albuquerque Square, and is really impressive for its size and the gigantic monument in the center, in honor to the heroes of the Peninsular War, fought in the context of the French invasions. At the top of this monument, in particular, the lion and the eagle stand out, which, contrary to what many people think, have nothing to do with Portuguese football clubs, but with the symbols of England (lion) and Napoleon’s empire (eagle). Portugal is represented at the base of the monument through the figure of a woman (Vitoria!), who holds the national flag in one hand.
The entire square is a giant garden, with striking trees and vegetation, and several benches for people to rest for a while. The noise of the cars is constant, because it really is a very busy area of the city, and because it is really a roundabout (rotunda, in Portuguese)!
Next to Rotunda da Boavista you will find Casa da Música, one of the most modern buildings in the city.
8. Crystal Palace Gardens
Next are the Crystal Palace Gardens, whose name is due to the no longer existing crystal palace from the 19th century. In the place where that palace once stood, there is now Rosa Mota Pavilion, built like a dome and with an awesome viewpoint at the top.
The park itself is free, with several beautiful corners, such as the garden of the four seasons at the entrance, the lakes, the grand boulevard, the Chapel of Carlos Alberto, the garden of feelings, the rose garden, and even the Tower (Torreão), an excellent free alternative to the viewpoint of the Rosa Mota Pavilion.
9. Tait House Gardens
House Tait cannot be visited, but its gardens can, although they are far behind those of the Crystal Palace just mentioned. I only indicate them here because of their proximity and because they are also free. After being the residence of several English families, the house was acquired by William Chester Tait (port wine merchant) in 1990, hence the current name.
10. Carregal Garden – Carrilho Vieira
I can’t say much about Carregal Gardens because the area was undergoing some works during my last visit to Porto. It also has the name Carrilho Vieira Garden and the monument to Abel Salazar and the lakes stand out from the rest. It is very close to the city centre, next to St. António Hospital.
11. Park of Virtues (and Passeio das Virtudes)
The Park of Virtues is mainly known for its excellent viewpoint at the top, over the old Porto Customs house and Arrábida Bridge. You can eat very well at a nearby restaurant, Taberna de Santo António.
12. Cordoaria Gardens
Cordoaria Garden is very close to the Clérigos Tower area, in the city of Porto. It dates from the second decade of the 20th century and its name comes from the rope makers who settled around there. In Portuguese, rope makers were called “cordoeiros”.
Undoubtedly, the immense sculptures existing in the gardens stand out, such as the statues of Ramalho Ortigão, António Nobre, Flora, “The Ganímedes Kidnapping”, and the “Thirtheen laughing at each other”.
13. Garden of Olives in Lisbon Square
The Olive Garden, in turn, is also next to the Clérigos Tower, but it is quite recent, having only appeared in 2013. It has about 50 olive trees and 4500 square meters of green lawns for the enjoyment of visitors. The interesting thing about this space is that underneath it there is a kind of open-air shopping center called Passeio dos Clérigos.
14. Infante Dom Henrique Garden
Infante Dom Henrique Garden has existed since 1885 and is very close to Ribeira do Porto, Ferreira Borges Market and Palácio da Bolsa. In the garden itself, the Monument to Infante D. Henrique was erected on the occasion of the fifth centenary of his death at the end of the 19th century.
15. Garden of Teófilo Braga in Praça da República
Optionally, there is the Garden of Teófilo Braga, in Praça da República in Porto, which you can visit if you also want to enter the nearby Church of Lapa. It is a simple place with a monument to the centenary of the Republic and a monument to the God Bacchus, for example.
16. Arca d’Água Garden
Also optional is Arca d’Água Garden, as it is a little out of the way when visiting the city of Porto. Its name comes from the water reservoirs of Paranhos.
As a curiosity, it was in the place where the garden is located that the sword duel between Antero de Quental and Ramalho Ortigão took place, on February 4, 1866. In that duel, Antero wounded Ramalho in the arm, after which the two ended up reconciling. Do you know these 2 Portuguese writers?
17. Covelo Park
Also far from the city center is Covelo Park, with a good playground, spacious lawns and huge trees. Of note is its artificial waterfall.
18. Garden of São Lázaro
The Garden of São Lázaro has the particularity of having been the first public garden in the city of Porto. Magnolias and camellias surround the central lake, which is beautiful in the right season. It also has several fountains and sculptures.
19. Waters of Porto Park
The Waters of Porto Park is very well maintained, with many old fountains, sculptures and even an extraordinary viewpoint over Douro River and Areinho River Beach. Note that between 1930 and 1960 these fountains were transferred here from other locations in the city, which allowed for their preservation. It was a surprise during my most recent visit to Porto.
20. São Roque Park
Another surprise was the fabulous São Roque Park, which deserves to be much better known than it actually is: it is my favorite park to visit in Porto.
Admission to the gardens is free, but you pay to visit the arts center located in the 18th century House of São Roque. The Garden only appeared at the beginning of the 20th century, when the house belonged to Ramos Pinto, a well-known producer and exporter of Port wine. You will love the grotto, the courtyard with the camellias, the ingenious labyrinth, the lake, the viewpoint, the chapel and many other pleasant places within it.
21. Quinta da Bonjóia
Quinta da Bonjóia has free access and has an 18th century house surrounded by gardens that you can visit. From what I understand, the space is being prepared to house another nucleus of the City Museum, and perhaps it will be more publicized then, and known to the general public.
22. Oriental Park of Porto
As for the Oriental Park of Porto, next to Tinto river, I confess that it did not impress me, and that I found it very, very inferior to the main city park, mentioned in the first point of this list of the Best Parks in Porto. I found it very bare and disorganized, lacking something else that captivates the visitor, such as urban art, sculptures, equipment for sports, etc.
23. Quinta de Vilar d’Allen
I haven’t visited Quinta de Vilar d’Allen yet, simply because prior booking is required, but I intend to do so soon. I think it’s worth visiting, not only the gardens but also the 18th/19th century house itself. Check its Facebook page for booking contacts and some photos of it.
24. Cantinho das Aromáticas (in Gaia)
As for the best parks in Gaia, I’ll start by mentioning Cantinho das Aromáticas, which is actually not a park but a kind of biological farm in the Porto region, dedicated to aromatic herbs. In this place you can visit the productive gardens for free, and understand how these herbs are actually produced. In the shop you will also find a small tea house where you can enjoy the day’s infusion for free, and buy some biologic products.
Cantinho das Aromáticas is quite different from the other parks in Porto already mentioned. It is also possible to schedule a guided tour, something that can be very interesting if you are traveling with children. It will be a delight to have a closer experience with the fragrant plants.
25. Quinta das Devesas (in Gaia)
This park is also known as the Camellia Garden, as it really is full of countless species of this beautiful flower. I visited in August, so I only found a few camellias in bloom, but I’m sure you’ll find it extraordinary between autumn and winter, when most of them are open. Camellias are closely associated with love, so this garden can be an ideal space for a romantic walk at the right time of year.
26. Morro Garden (in Gaia)
Morro Garden almost needs no introduction, after all, it is from there that you can reach one of the most visited viewpoints in Gaia over the city of Porto, Douro river and Luís I bridge. It is right next to the Monastery of Serra do Pilar and the cable car that goes down to the riverside area.
27. Soares dos Reis Garden (in Gaia)
Be sure to visit also Soares dos Reis Garden, with a monument dedicated to the 19th-century sculptor of the same name. It is located in the center of the city of Gaia and has an artificial waterfall.
28. Lavandeira Park (in Gaia)
Lavandeira Park is to Gaia what Porto City Park is to Porto. It is a large green park with a huge sports infrastructure, large lawns, many trees, a labyrinthine garden, a 19th century greenhouse in ruins (but which is being restored), and even a lake with many birds having fun around it.
29. Gaia Biological Park
In Gaia you can also find animal parks, namely the Biological Park of Gaia and the Zoo of Santo Inácio, which I will mention below. The first has smaller animals than the second, but for me it is much more beautiful and pleasant as a space in general. I loved the eagles, the squirrels roaming freely through the park’s woods, the owls, the restless weasel and even the huge turtles.
The biological park is very well prepared, with a well-signposted route of almost 3km, and it really seemed to me that the animals live happily there, some of them in complete freedom. In addition to the animals and all the vegetation along the Febros River, the park’s rural houses and agricultural fields stand out, as well as the well-preserved Moinho do Belmiro (mill), with a small museum space that shows its operation in the past.
30. Santo Inácio Zoo (in Gaia)
At the Santo Inácio Zoo, lions, tigers, giraffes, rhinos, hippos, zebras, buffaloes and many other animals that you will not find in the Biological Park of Gaia await you. However, you also have lots of little ones, for example several species of monkeys, lemurs and the adorable red pandas. Of course, there are also many birds, many types of reptiles, snakes and even spiders and scorpions.
It is a smaller zoo than the one in Lisbon, but it is the largest in the north of the country, having been created in 2000. As in the Lisbon Zoo, it promotes some meetings with the keeper, at certain hours of the day, which you will have well marked on the map of the park that you will receive at the entrance. For example, I’m sure you’ll want to watch the lion event.
Tours to visit Porto + Tickets
If you want to visit more of the city than the best parks and gardens in Porto, check the following guided tour tips by Civitatis, Viator and Get Your Guide, all over the city. How about renting an electric bike for your stay in Porto?
Examples of Porto Tours: 1 - Porto Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour 2 - Porto Card + Public Transportation 3 - Douro River Six Bridges Cruise 4 - Palácio da Bolsa Guided Tour 5 - Porto pub crawl 6 - Torre dos Clérigos Entrance Ticket 7 - Ticket to World of Discoveries 8 - FC Porto Stadium + Museum Tour 9 - SEA LIFE Porto Tickets 10 - Serralves Foundation Museum + Park Ticket 11 - Casa da Guitarra Fado Show 12 - Fado Show at Ideal Club 13 - Complete Porto Tour with Tickets 14 - Porto Jetboat experience 15 - Douro Sunset Sailboat Experience in Porto 16 - Port Wine Tour | 3 Cellars | 7 Tastings 17 - Private Electric Tuk Tuk Sightseeing Tour 18 - Craft Beer & Food Tour in Porto
Day trips from Porto
After visiting the city of Porto, why don’t you opt for day trips to various points of interest in the north and center of Portugal, and even Galicia? Other possibility is to just rent a car with Discover Cars and do it by yourself.
Day trips from Porto with Get Your Guide: 1 - Douro Valley Tour from Porto 2 - Vineyards Tour from Porto with Lunch 3 - Braga and Guimarães day trip 4 - Surf Experience 5 - Santiago de Compostela Day trip from Porto 6 - Paiva Walkways day trip from Porto 7 - Peneda-Gerês National Park Day trip from Porto 8 - Aveiro Day trip from Porto 9 - Fátima and Coimbra Day Trip from Porto
Day trips from Porto with Viator: 1 - Douro Valley Small-Group Tour 2 - Authentic Douro Wine Tour with River Cruise 3 - Best of Braga and Guimaraes Day Trip 4 - Aveiro & Costa Nova Half Day Tour 5 - Full-Day Tour to Santiago de Compostela and Valença do Minho 6 - Peneda Geres National Park Tour from Porto 7 - Arouca Suspension Bridge and Paiva Walkway Day Tour from Porto 8 - 4x4 Porto Mountain Excursion 9 - Fátima and Coimbra Full Day Tour
Day trips from Porto with Civitatis: 1 - Guimarães and Braga Day Trip 2 - Douro Valley Wine Tasting and Tour 3 - Douro Region Full day Tour 4 - Fátima and Coimbra Day Trip 5 - Day trip to Santiago de Compostela 6 - Paiva Walkways + 516 Bridge Tour 7 - Peneda-Gerês National Park Day Tour 8 - Aveiro and Costa Nova day trip 9 - Matosinhos Surf Class 10 - Régua Day Cruise from Porto 11 - 1 Day Cruise to Pinhão
More articles about the North of Portugal
MORE ARTICLES FROM THE NORTH OF PORTUGAL: - Porto Itinerary - Things to do in Porto - Best Museums in Porto - Best Churches and Cathedrals in Porto - Best Port Wine Cellars in Porto - Best Beaches in Porto - Best Day Trips from Porto - Best Matosinhos Beaches - Things to do in Matosinhos - Things to do in Vila do Conde - Things to do in Póvoa de Varzim - Things to do in Vila Nova de Gaia - Things to do in Espinho - Minho | Northern Portugal Itinerary - Things to do in Viana do Castelo - Things to do in Ponte de Lima - Things to do in Monção - Things to do in Valença - Things to do in Caminha - Things to do in Braga - Things to do in Guimarães - Things to do in Barcelos - Things to do in Esposende - Things to do in Arcos de Valdevez - Peneda Gerês National Park Itinerary - Best Hikes and Trails in Peneda Gerês National Park - Best Peneda Gerês National Park Waterfalls and Lagoons - Douro Valley Itinerary - Douro Valley Wineries - Best Douro Viewpoints - Things to do in Peso da Régua - Things to do in Lamego - Things to do in Pinhão - Best beaches in Northern Portugal - Trás-os-Montes Itinerary - Things to do in Bragança - Montesinho Natural Park Itinerary - Douro International Natural Park Itinerary
