Having already been considered the best parish to live in Lisbon, Parque das Nações has everything at your fingertips, plenty of leisure areas and, of course, the Tagus river right next door.
This area of the city easily wins over not only locals, but also visitors. If you’re planning a trip there, be sure to check out this guide to the must-see places in the neighborhood.
Do you still remember the passport with the Expo 98 stamps? That’s a thing of the past. Grab your cell phone, connect with us and (re)discover Parque das Nações in the footsteps of Lisboa Secreta.
Table Of Contents
- Lisbon Oceanarium
- Vasco da Gama Tower Babylon 360º
- Urban art pieces
- Portugal Pavilion
- Pavilion of Knowledge
- Telecabine Lisbon
- Jardim das Ondas
- Camões Theater
- Rossio dos Olivais
- Garcia da Horta Gardens
- Tejo Park
- Edo Sushi
- Parque Ribeirinho Oriente
- Map with a guide to Parque das Nações, and a list for your cell phone!
Lisbon Oceanarium
The Lisbon Oceanarium is the biggest attraction in Parque das Nações (and one of the biggest in Lisbon) and brings together all the seas in one of the most beautiful aquariums in Europe.
With more than 8,000 organisms from 500 different species, it’s a unique experience that takes you to the bottom of the oceans on a tour among sharks, barracudas, rays, tropical fish and many other incredible animals.
Address: Esplanada D. Carlos I (Parque das Nações)
Opening hours: every day
Tickets: at Fever
Vasco da Gama Tower Babylon 360º
The Vasco da Gama Tower is one of the buildings that Lisbon has seen grow in recent decades.
It’s the tallest in Lisbon and the country at 145 meters, and was built at the time of Expo 98 to serve as a viewpoint, which has since gained a five-star hotel, the Myriad by Sana.
One of the building’s attractions is a panoramic restaurant with a Michelin star, the Fifty Seconds, led by well-known Spanish chef Martin Berasategui, but the big news, after 25 years closed to the public, is the reopening of the Vasco da Gama Tower viewpoint, which will now be called Babylon 360º.
Address: Cais das Naus, Lote 2.21.01 (Parque das Nações)
Opening hours: every day from 10 a.m.; Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Sundays until midnight; Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until 2 a.m.
Tickets: between €5 and €15, at the box office or online on the website
Urban art pieces
If you’re an art lover, take the opportunity to pay a longer visit to what Parque das Nações has to offer.
Our suggestion is that you take the urban art trail, which is present everywhere in this park located in the easternmost part of Lisbon.
Portugal Pavilion
The lack of use makes it impossible to visit the interior, but it’s still worth going there, if only to admire the famous concrete canopy designed by Siza Vieira.
The Tagus, right next to it, makes the scenery even more beautiful.
Pavilion of Knowledge
The Pavilion of Knowledge is an interactive museum dedicated to science and technology, which hosts numerous exhibitions on these themes (and more).
Together with the Oceanarium, which is just opposite, it is one of the two best attractions in the area for those looking for a family program.
Address: Largo José Mariano Gago 1 (Parque das Nações)
Opening hours: Monday to Friday, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Tickets: from €8, on the website
Telecabine Lisbon
More than 20 years after it began operating, it is still known as the Expo Cable Car.
It offers a peaceful and panoramic ride, always with the Tagus as company, between the Oceanarium and the Vasco da Gama Tower.
Address: Passeio das Tágides (North Station)
Hours: from March 11 to May 26, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; from May 27 to September 10, from 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m.; from September 11 to October 28, from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.; from October 29 to March 15, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tickets: from €6.50, on the website
Jardim das Ondas
The Jardim das Ondas, located between the Lisbon Oceanarium and the Tagus River, has 8,000 square meters and has adopted a rather ingenious social distancing measure by drawing several circles on its lawn, thus delimiting the area that each visitor must occupy.
Address: Passeio de Neptuno
Camões Theater
Also built at the time of Expo 98, it now houses the Companhia Nacional de Bailado, which presents a program dedicated to classical dance.
Its privileged location, facing the river, makes Teatro Camões one of the capital’s concert halls with the best views.
Address: Passeio de Neptuno
Rossio dos Olivais
Between the Vasco da Gama Shopping Center and the Altice Arena (formerly the Pavilhão Atlântico) is a promenade towards the Tagus with a mirror of water and a beautiful curtain of poplar trees.
But what is most striking is the row of flags representing hundreds of countries from all over the world.
Garcia da Horta Gardens
Located in the riverside area, these gardens are made up of several plots representing the exotic and tropical botany of countries linked to the Portuguese Discoveries, such as Timor, São Tomé and Brazil.
Address: Rua Alfredo Pimenta
Tejo Park
Located in the northern part of Parque das Nações, it occupies more than 80 hectares of gardens and lawns next to the Tagus.
A green and peaceful space that invites you to go for walks, sports activities and family picnics.
Edo Sushi
After all that walking, you’re bound to get hungry. If you like oriental cuisine, we recommend Edo Sushi in Expo, located on Alameda dos Oceanos, a stone’s throw from the marina.
It offers good value for money and serves both traditional and fusion dishes.
Address: Alameda dos Oceanos 31H
Parque Ribeirinho Oriente
Anyone with children knows how important it is to diversify when choosing a new playground in Lisbon.
One of Lisbon’s newest playgrounds is Parque Ribeirinho Oriente and it already has some play areas available for older children, including a cycle path, benches and wooden loungers for relaxing in front of the Tagus .
Address: Rua Cintura do Porto
