Spring brings longer and lighter days, calling for garden and nature walks. Outdoor cafés, happy hours, cocktails and ice creams, all return to the daily routine, as well as those pleasant walks by the seashore to end the day; it’s again the season for picnics and barbecues with friends and family, conversations become cheerier and even people’s attitudes show lightness and joyfulness. For many of us is vacation time, while for others it’s just perfect for beach season. We suggest 10 places – from gardens to outdoor cafés and promenades – in Lisbon and the surrounding area, where one can enjoy and appreciate spring in its full regalia.
1 – Gardens of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation (Praça de Espanha)
Those that cross the chaotic Praça de Espanha and then enter the Gardens of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation have a distinct feeling of entering a different dimension. It’s the perfect ambient to relax in this part of the city, while meandering through its delicious paths and retreated corners. More Info
2 – LX Factory (Alcântara)
Perfect for those that prefer to enjoy warmer days in a creative atmosphere, that mixes fashion and advertising in an ambiance populated with small restaurants, esplanades and bares; check out the huge bookstore and its art gallery, where the beauty of the space and its concept call for a lingering visit. More Info
3 – Pizzeria ZeroZero (Príncipe Real)
This is the way to enjoy a meal in the spring: by taking advantage of a well located pizzeria, with an outdoors balcony looking over the Botanical Garden, a perfect setting to spend an amazing afternoon in great company. Ideal for those that appreciate Italian cuisine. More Info
4 – Belém Cultural Center (Belém)
There is nothing better than spending a day or an afternoon with friends, overlooking the Tagus River, in one of the outdoor cafés and restaurants that care for this site of distinction among the Portuguese cultural setting. More Info
5 – Monsanto Park (Ajuda)
It’s a favorite place for many Portuguese looking for a great place to walk, practice outdoor sports, share a picnic or just contemplate Nature at its best. The area is equipped with playgrounds, picnic areas and exercise circuits, climbing walls, bicycle paths and mountain bike trails. More Info
6 – Seaside Promenade (Oeiras)
The season for afternoon walks by the seaside is officially open. Good times among friends and family are getting here, with long walks through the sea mist and incredible sights. As the days get warmer, those opting for this path can also practice several sports along it. More Info
7 – Casa da Guia (Cascais)
At the edge of the cliff, its inviting garden and outdoor café are completed by an amazing view over the sea and the rocky cliffs. Considered one of Cascais most beautiful sites, the pleasure of an excellent meal is gently permeated by the sea breeze. A serene place, where one just feels like strolling around. More Info
8 – Guincho Bicycle Path (Cascais)
The bicycle path between Cascais Marina and Guincho Beach grants a superb view over the sea. Bicycles are available at several points in Cascais, so that residents and visitors alike can go about their town tours. It’s worth taking advantage of. More Info
9 – Cresmina Dune (Cascais)
For those that enjoy exercising or just want to promenade around Guincho, Cresmina Dune is particularly delightful in the spring, when it is still bearable to walk under the sun. Its outdoor café is the perfect place to stop and replenish energies in the company of your four-legged friend, while relishing on a panoramic view from the Cape Raso to the Sintra Hills. More Info
10 – Monserrate Park (Sintra)
An enchanting scenery right out of a fairy tale, a different dimension where nature is dominant, crossed by windy paths with multiple corners, hidden lakes and water falls, an exuberant garden and an elaborate palace, all part of a marvelous setting that appeals for an energetic walk in these first days of spring. More Info
Article in partnership with INS
