Gardens of Lisbon - Jardim Botânico

Inserted in the Natural History Museum of Lisbon, this next addition to the Gardens of Lisbon series is the Botanical Garden of Lisbon, one of the richest gardens in all of the city and a perfect spot to take a relaxing walk amongst the shade of its many lush trees, and maybe even learn a little about plants!

Jardím Botânico da Universidade de Lisboa

Jardim Botânico da Universidade de Lisboa, Rua da Escola Politécnica 54, 1250-198 Lisboa, Portugal

This garden is located right next to the Museum of Natural History in Príncipe Real (which also has a great park), and for an entry admission of just 3€ for adults (and half that for students of the University of Lisbon) you can enter and stroll for as long as you like!

Príncipe Real

Praça do Príncipe Real 27, 1250-096 Lisboa, Portugal

The gardens count with a myriad of plant life, some of it is endemic, others very exotic. There are trees from all over the world, like Japan, South America, and New Zealand (for example). This vast diversity works well, as the tall palm and pine trees provide plenty of shade, while the species more like bamboo, laurels and dragon trees provide a gorgeous and scenic view. That’s why it is not uncommon for art students to come here to draw.

There are a lot of benches for you to sit if the uphills and downhills in this park leave you a bit tired. If you just want to appreciate the view, there are some beautiful lakes and streams you can sit beside that can calm anyone!

The downside is that, since it is part of the museum, it can attract more people than what it’s preferable sometimes, even though it is a bit of an overlooked gem.  But it still doesn’t have the “lived in” quality that some of the others I previously mentioned have. Even though the Príncipe Real neighborhood is a busy area, the Botanical Garden is secluded from all the movement outside, and it’s not the kind of park people go just to walk their dogs or to drink some coffee (like in Amália Rodrigues or Estrela). And, unlike Gulbenkian, where the museums are located inside the garden, the Museum of Natural History, is not found in the garden; you can visit one or the other independently. In short, this beautiful garden’s primary goal is to educate. It’s mainly destined for students of the Faculty of Science to do research, but also open to anyone with interest in botany or just wishing to see some beautiful nature.