Lisbon Park and Garden Tours

One of the best things to see and do in Lisbon is to explore its squares, botanical gardens and natural parks full of history and life. Many of these gardens belong to palaces, castles and museums, so you can include both in your tours of the city in the same day.

In this article I present some of the most interesting tours you can do in Lisbon, which will allow you to connect culture and nature, as well as history and daily life.

One of the gardens you can visit on a tour of Belem is the Alfonso de Albuquerque Garden, which is located on the banks of the Tagus River, opposite the National Palace of Belém. With about 2 hectares, it is a Renaissance-style garden with artificial lakes, statues, fountains and some trees. In the centre is a bronze statue in honour of Alfonso de Albuquerque, who was governor of Portuguese India in the early 16th century.

These tours usually include some of the best things to see and do in Belem, one of Lisbon's most interesting neighbourhoods. They are conducted in small groups and you are accompanied by a professional guide who provides information about the sites you see and the history and culture of the city. They usually last about 3 hours and take place every day except Mondays, as some monuments are closed.

Other sites you can discover on this tour are the Jerónimos Monastery, an impressive monument in the Portuguese Manueline Gothic style built in the 16th century, the Empire Garden, which belongs to the Monastery, and the Belém Tower, one of the most beautiful lighthouses in the city. You will also usually see the Monument to the Discoveries, erected in honour of Henry the Navigator, on the banks of the Tagus River.

Not all tours include entrance tickets to the monuments, so if you are interested in seeing them you can buy a ticket to the Jerónimos Monastery and/or book a ticket to the Belém Tower. A very characteristic feature of these tours is that they pass by Pastéis de Belém, a centuries-old pastry shop where you can try the typical Portuguese cream cakes.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 35 € for adults and about 17 € for children from 12 to 17 years old.
• Duration: about 3 hours.

If you want to get to know the green spaces of the city while doing outdoor activities in Lisbon, a bike tour from the historic centre to the Belém neighbourhood is a great option to add to your itinerary. The tour covers about 10 km and allows you to enjoy the panoramic view of the city and the Tagus River, as well as the squares and gardens.

These tours are done in small groups of people, with a local expert guide who will tell you about the main sights of the city, its history and culture. They also provide you with all the elements you need, such as a helmet.

This way you can get to know the Eduardo VII Park, one of the most important parks in Lisbon, which stands out for its geometric hedge walkways and views of the Tagus River. The park is also home to Estufa Fria, a botanical garden with thousands of trees, plants and flowers from all over the world. Although these tours do not usually stop at this garden, you can include it in another tour of the city.

The tour usually continues through the city centre along the Tagus River to Belém, where you will find some of the city's most important attractions, such as the Jerónimos Monastery, the Belém Tower and the National Palace. As it ends in this neighbourhood, you can take the opportunity to get to know these attractions, for example, by joining one of the best castle and palace tours in Lisbon.

Another option: Electric bike tour of Lisbon

Another option if you are interested in this type of activities is to book an electric bike tour of Lisbon, as these types of bikes do not require physical effort to move around the city. They usually include a visit to Lisbon's main attractions and are accompanied by a professional guide. There are also options for private tours of Lisbon that allow you to customise the tour to your liking.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 39 € for adults and about 28 € for children and teenagers from 4 to 16 years old. Children under the age of 3 are free.
• Duration: about 3-4 hours.
• Means of transport: bicycle.
• Disadvantages of this option: you need to be in good physical condition to fully enjoy the experience. Entrance fees to monuments are not included.

The tuk tuk is a four-wheeled vehicle with a panoramic view, which is ideal for getting to know the city of Lisbon. It can carry up to 6 people approximately and you are accompanied by a professional guide who will tell you about the highlights of the city and its most representative sites.

It is one of the best private tours of Lisbon, as it allows you to design your own tour with the parks, gardens and green spaces you are interested in visiting, and you only share the experience with your fellow travellers.

Usually, you can opt for tours lasting between 3 and 4 hours, which take place every day at different times. As the vehicles are open-sided, these tours are best in spring and summer in Lisbon, when temperatures are more pleasant.

What to see on a tour of Lisbon's parks and gardens

Here are the main parks, squares and green spaces that you can include in your tuk tuk tour:

• Parque Eduardo VII: this is the city's main park, whose geometrically shaped hedge galleries often appear on postcards of Lisbon. It is in the city centre.
• Estufa Fria: is a greenhouse complex covering about 1.5 hectares. It is located in the Parque Eduardo VII.
• Capela de São Jerónimo Garden: it is a small garden overlooking the Tagus River, near the famous monastery of the same name, in the Belém neighbourhood.
• Rebeira das Nais: this is Lisbon's waterfront, where there are walkways and green spaces.
• Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation Park: it is a green space of about 8 hectares next to the museum of the same name, located in the city centre.
• Ajuda Botanical Garden: is an ancient garden, founded in 1768, of more than 3 hectares, located in the grounds of the palace of the same name, in Ajuda.
• Jardim da Praca do Imperio: is a garden located in front of the Jerónimos Monastery, in the Belém neighbourhood.
• Monsanto Forest Park: it is the largest in Lisbon, covering some 900 hectares; a true oasis of nature in the city.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 50 to 232 € per person depending on the number of travellers taking part in the tour.
• Duration: about 4 hours.
• Means of transport: tuk tuk.

One of the best garden tours in Lisbon is the one that includes a visit to the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum and the Gulbenkian Foundation Garden. The interesting thing about this tour is that it combines a nature tour with the museum's exquisite art collection.

These tours usually take place almost every day, except Tuesdays, and at different times. They are private, i.e. you participate only with the people you are travelling with. In addition, they are conducted with an expert guide who tells you about the most interesting aspects of the garden and the museum. You will probably have to buy your own ticket to the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, as it is not usually included in the price of the tours.

The Gulbenkian Foundation Garden covers about 8 hectares and is home to a wide variety of plants and animals. Some 230 species of plants and 43 species of birds have been identified. It is certainly an ideal place to embark on a :::link|text=photography tour in Lisbon|element=sc-138-5405::: and capture the beauty of the garden.

As for the museum, it contains more than 5000 pieces that belonged to the private collection of Calouste Gulbenkian, such as porcelain, tapestries, tiles, furniture and jewellery, and works by renowned artists such as Rembrandt, Renoir and Monet. The pieces come from different parts of the world and some date back to 2000 BC.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 77 ¤ per person.
• Duration: approximately 2 hours.

Hiring a guided tour of St. George's Castle with an expert is a great idea if you want to get an in-depth knowledge of this monument and its gardens. The castle was built in the mid-11th century by the Muslims and later passed into Portuguese hands. It has been a military fortress, royal palace and prison, and was restored after an earthquake. It is located on top of the hill of the same name and is one of the best things to see in the Alfama district.

Guided tours of St. George's Castle usually last about 2 hours and you are accompanied by an expert guide who tells you about the history, construction and highlights of the castle. They are conducted in small groups most days of the week (except Mondays) in the morning or afternoon. Many tours are conducted in English or Portuguese, so it is important to check that it is in a language you know.

In addition to its impressive architecture, the castle is one of the best viewpoints in the city and is surrounded by greenery, making it an ideal activity to enjoy outdoors in Lisbon. It is also noted for its archaeological site, where you can learn about the history of mankind since the Iron Age, and for the Camera Obscura, where you can see a detailed image of the city in Da Vinci's periscope.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 31 € per person.
• Duration: about 2 hours.
• Disadvantages of this option: does not include transport to the castle.
• How to get there: the easiest way up is using the Baixa and Castelo lifts, which are included when you buy the Lisbon Card. Buses and trams are also available.

With an extension of more than 900 hectares, the Monsanto Forest Park is the main green lung of the city. It is the ideal place for all kinds of outdoor activities, especially :::link|text=hiking tours in Lisbon|element=sc-138-5401:::, as it offers several trails of varying difficulty surrounded by nature. It is located in Serra de Monsanto, in the west of Lisbon.

In addition to exploring its hiking trails, you can take bike rides or leisurely walks through the forest, which grew out of a reforestation project. The park offers picnic areas, ping pong tables, viewpoints and restaurants. You can even visit the 17th century palace of the Marquises of Fronteira. If you are travelling to Lisbon with children, you will be interested to know that there are special recreational areas for the little ones.

You can get to this park in many ways, either by bus, taxi or by hiring a private tuk tuk tour of Lisbon with a personalised itinerary. Whether you want a leisurely walk or a more demanding hiking tour, this park offers many options to enjoy nature.

If you are staying at least 5 days in Lisbon, you can embark on a full-day guided tour of the Ajuda National Palace and Queluz Palace, which offer beautiful gardens to explore as well as incredible architecture.

These tours usually last 8 hours and can be done every day starting early in the morning. They are conducted in small groups with a professional guide who will enrich the tour with information and commentary about the palaces, their gardens and other places of interest in Lisbon and Sintra, a town near Lisbon.

The tour usually starts at the Queluz Palace, a baroque-style palace built in the mid-18th century. Here you can visit the luxurious interior rooms, such as the King's Chamber and the Throne Room, as well as the French Baroque garden, which is filled with mythological sculptures, tiles, water fountains, boxwood gardens and deciduous forests. Without a doubt, this palace is one of the best things to see in Sintra.

Next, the neoclassical National Palace of Ajuda, which houses Lisbon's oldest botanical garden, dating back to the late 18th century, is often visited. This baroque-style garden is made up of small lakes, gardens of aromatic plants, an orchid greenhouse and mythological sculptures, among others. Some tours also include a visit to the Royal Treasure Museum located in this palace, where you can see jewellery and valuable objects that belonged to Portuguese royalty.

Interesting facts

• Price: from 73 ¤ per person.
• Duration: about 8 hours.
• Means of transport: by vehicle and on foot.
• Advantages of this option: you will see two of the most beautiful palaces in and around Lisbon, the Ajuda National Palace and the Queluz Palace.