7 Gardens you can visit in Porto

If you are one of those who need nature and get away for an hour from the hustle and bustle of the city, then this post is strictly for you. We recommend the best gardens and green areas in Porto so you can have a day of relaxation while visiting these wonderful places full of flora and even fauna in many of them. 

1) Crystal Palace Gardens: 

With an area of about 8 hectares, these gardens offer a breathtaking panoramic view over the Douro River and the city.

The Crystal Palace was built in 1865 and the gardens were designed by landscape architect Émile David, who redesigned the space in 1867. Today, the gardens have a great diversity of trees, plants, flowers and lakes. In addition to several birds running around like geese, chickens and peacocks. A perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. 

In addition, the gardens also host cultural events, festivals, exhibitions and outdoor concerts, making it a very dynamic and attractive space for tourists and locals. It houses a bookstore and the Polideportivo Rosa Mota, where not only musical events are held, but you can also climb up to its dome to see a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. And a 2 Michelin star restaurant with wonderful views called Antiqvvm. 

Crystal Palace Gardens.

2) Serralves Museum Gardens:

These gardens are a green space located in the city of Porto, part of the Serralves Museum of Contemporary Art complex. Designed by the renowned landscape architect Jacques Gréber, the gardens cover an area of 18 hectares and combine elements of classical and contemporary design. The museum regularly organizes cultural events and outdoor activities in this space, making it a meeting point for lovers of art and natural beauty. It has a wooden path between trees and has a small zoological garden where you can interact with animals such as donkeys, chickens, sheep or horses.  

 3) Gardens of São Roque Park: 

The Parque de São Roque or Quinta da Lameira, whose origin was in the Quinta da Bela-Vista division, was acquired from the Calém family by the Porto City Council in 1979, having been opened to the public that same year and revitalized in the early 1990s.

Subsequently, the Porto City Council installed a set of sculptural pieces and a previously existing chapel in Largo Actor Dias was reconstructed there, as well as the labyrinth of Buxus sempervirens.

This park is located in the Campanhã area, near the Dragão stadium, has two entrances, one from Travessa das Antas and the other from Rua de São Roque da Lameira, where an old mansion dating from 1972 is located. 

The park also has a nice children's playground in the upper area next to the Travessa das Antas entrance, with picnic tables and lakes. This park is perfect for a stroll away from the hustle and bustle of the city, it is common to see people relaxing reading a book, picnicking and taking in the spectacular views of the Douro River. 

4) Virtudes Park Gardens:

Located in the historic center of Porto, on Rua de Azevedo de Albuquerque, the Parque das Virtudes is located in the space formerly occupied by the Companhia Hortícola Portuense, designed by the landscape architect José Marques Loureiro (1830-1898). In 1965 it was acquired by the Porto City Council and in 1998 restoration works were carried out.

One of the main peculiarities of this park is the fact that it is developed in terraces downhill, which means that from almost everywhere you have a unique view over the Customs House, the Douro River and Vila Nova de Gaia, making it a perfect place to relax and enjoy nature. It is a hidden place within the city. 

During the Old Town & Ribeira Free Tour we offer a stop at the Sightseeing viewpoint of the park, but we really recommend you to enter the park on your own as it’s a space of tranquility that it’s difficult to find anywhere else within the city. 

5) Parque da Cidade (Porto City Park)): 

Parque da Cidade (The Porto City Park), designed by landscape architect Sidónio Pardal, is the largest urban park in the country, occupying a total of 83 hectares and about 10 km of trails. 

The park is a sophisticated landscape design, with lakes, varied flora and fauna, integrated into the fabric of the city. The terrain modeling, stone elements and trees create particularly pleasant interiors where the visitor does not realize that he is in a densely populated area. It is great to spend a whole day picnicking. It is also very close to the beach of Matosinhos.

6) Cordoaria Park: 

Jardim da Cordoaria, due to the cordoeiros who worked there (men who made or sold ropes), dates from 1924 and is located near the Torre dos Clérigos and the General Hospital of Santo António. 

Triangular in shape, here you can find trees classified as of Public Interest and beyond. For many, this garden is also a space of art, as sculptures can be found throughout it. Some curious statues are the one that represents thirteen human figures and is called 'Thirteen laughing at each other', work of the Madrid sculptor Juan Muñoz, which was installed when Porto was considered The European City of Culture, in 2001. In this park is located the University of Porto and is also surrounded by little bars where you can have a nice afternoon drink. We walk along this park during our Fundamental Free Tour of Porto.

Cordoaria Park.

7) Jardim do Morro:  

Located at the foot of the Serra do Pilar (old Monastery and Church), next to the upper platform of the Luis I Bridge, it offers a magnificent viewpoint of the historic area of Porto. It has a kind of open-air amphitheater, and on weekends, it is filled with young artists from Gaia, Porto and the region. These musical moments energize a space that is a real gateway to the municipality, with unique views of the city of Porto and the Douro River. It is certainly one of the best places to enjoy one of the most beautiful summer sunsets. 

During the Vila Nova de Gaia Free Tour we stopped at this Viewpoint that offers, as the best views of Porto are seen from there. 

Extra recommendation: 

Parque das Águas: You can stroll through these gardens where they have made a kind of cemetery of fountains that were decorating the city of Porto centuries ago. It is a quiet park for reading and has incredible views of the Douro River. It is located near the Heroísmo metro station. 

We hope you enjoy a great walk or picnic in one of these recommended green areas within the city.

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