If you’re looking for vacation plans or a family outing outside Lisbon, there’s a place about an hour from the capital where dinosaurs take center stage: Dino Parque Lourinhã, Portugal’s largest open-air museum, where you’ll also find some new attractions.
“Hidden” in the middle of a dense pine forest in the western region, one of its biggest tourist attractions is the Supersaurus, a 45-meter-long model that is the largest reconstructed dinosaur in Europe. A true “time portal” that offers an immersive journey spanning more than 420 million years.
Lourinhã Dino Park: Admission Ticket
12 August 2026 10:00 + more dates
The phenomenon that has already captivated more than 1.4 million people
Opened in 2018, Dino Parque Lourinhã amazes kids and adults alike with more than 200 life-size, scientifically accurate models of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals.
Far from closed exhibition halls, this open-air museum spans 10 hectares of natural surroundings and features a total of six different trails to explore the history of Earth and the evolution of life.
With a setting worthy of Steven Spielberg’s “Jurassic Park” film series, Dino Parque Lourinhã has already attracted more than 1.4 million visitors, according to SIC Notícias.
The location where this open-air museum was established was anything but a “coincidence,” as it is linked to Lourinhã’s paleontological heritage; the area is considered one of Europe’s richest sites for Jurassic-period dinosaur fossils.
20 new reasons to dive into this journey through time
Although it already holds a prominent spot on the list of the best theme parks in Portugal, the truth is that Dino Parque Lourinhã continues to surprise, focusing on themed activities such as the “Jurassic Nights” events it has already held , as well as opening new areas.
For example, since May there’s been a new addition, integrated into the Jurassic trail (one of the six themed trails that bring the space to life): the exhibition “Before the Giants.”
According to Jornal de Notícias, this area features 20 models of prehistoric animals, recreating a 150-million-year-old ecosystem that includes“species discovered in and associated with Lourinhã and the former Guimarota mine in Leiria.”
Designed around a waterfall, the setting transports visitors to a lesser-known part of this Jurassic saga— , that of the small predators that preceded some of the greatest giants to ever roam the Earth.
The six trails at Dino Parque Lourinhã
Although the “Before the Giants” area is one of Dino Parque Lourinhã’s biggest highlights this year, it’s certainly worth exploring all six existing trails carefully :
- Paleozoic, Triassic, Jurassic, and Cretaceous— from the earliest reptiles to the most fearsome predators of all time; moreover, it’s in the Jurassic section that you can visit the famous Supersaurus
- Sea Monsters – to explore the fascinating world of the ocean depths in prehistoric times
- Ice Age – opened in 2023, this trail lets you discover such impressive creatures as mammoths and saber-toothed tigers.
Whether for a short stroll or as part of a weekend getaway outside Lisbon, Dino Parque Lourinhã is a sort of real-life “Jurassic Park,” where even dogs are welcome ( as long as they’re on a leash or muzzled if required by law for their breed or size).
Useful Information
Address: Rua Vale dos Dinossauros 25, Lourinhã
Hours: daily, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. (June through August)
Average price: free for infants ages 0–3; €12 for children ages 4–12; €16 for teens (ages 13 and older) and adults
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