Principe Real Garden (Jardim do Principe Real)

The Basics

The Principe Real Garden, an English-inspired park, is a perfect example of the Romantic Lisbon style of the 19th century. The green space is surrounded by colorful mansions from the same era and provides a refuge from the bustling streets of Bairro Alto. A majority of small-group and e-bike tours pass by the garden, as it sits in a central location in Lisbon; many hop-on hop-off tours stop here as well.

Things to Know Before You Go

• The Principe Real Garden is perfect for spontaneous travelers who want a respite from the hustle of Lisbon’s historic city center.

• A small café and two kiosks serve drinks and snacks in the park.

• The entire garden is flat, making it relatively accessible for those with limited mobility and wheelchair users.

How to Get There

The garden is located in Lisbon’s Príncipe Real district, just at the edge of the popular Bairro Alto neighborhood. Take the yellow metro line to the Rato station, a 10-minute walk from the park. Alternatively, tram line 24 from Chiado and city bus 758 stop in front of the garden.

When to Get There

A public space, the Principe Real Garden is open 24 hours a day. It hosts a farmers market every Saturday and an antiques and crafts market on the last Monday and Saturday of the month. Lisbon is most crowded between June and September; it is best to visit during the quieter shoulder seasons, when the weather is pleasant.

Notable Attractions in Principe Real

The Príncipe Real neighborhood is Lisbon’s gay district, a vibrant neighborhood filled with plenty of bars and clubs as well as some worthy sights. One of the more notable 19th-century buildings is the Ribeiro da Cunha Palace (Palacete Ribeiro da Cunha)—built in the neo-Moorish architecture style, replete with horseshoe windows—that is now home to the Embaixada shopping gallery. Below the garden are the Water Museum (Museu da Água), open 10am to 5:30pm daily, and the Patriarchal Reservoir, open 10am to 5:30pm Saturday and Sunday.