Jardim do Palácio de Cristal

On the heights above the Douro, the gardens of the Palácio de Cristal are among the greenest corners of Porto. Laid out in the nineteenth century around a great glass palace, they combine formal avenues, fountains and lawns with the finest free views over the river and the city.

History and character

The gardens were created in the 1860s for the Palácio de Cristal, an exhibition palace inspired by London’s Crystal Palace. The palace itself has gone — its site now holds the Rosa Mota pavilion — but the gardens remain, with their romantic layout of avenues, lakes and belvederes looking over the Douro.

What to see

• The tree-lined avenues and formal parterres of the upper garden.
• The viewpoints over the Douro, the bridges and the old city.
• The fountains, lawns and shaded walks of the gardens.
• The neighbouring streets of the centre, with their cafés and bookshops.

Meilleure période pour visiter

Spring and summer are the liveliest seasons in the gardens, and clear evenings give the best light over the river. The gardens are free to enter and are used all year by the people of Porto.

Nearby

The gardens are a short walk from the historic centre of Porto, with the Palácio da Bolsa et Livraria Lello both nearby.

Visiting

The gardens are on Rua de Dom Manuel II, in central Porto, reached on foot or by metro and bus. They are open daily and admission is free; events in the grounds may limit access at times.

Information: cm-porto.pt.

Image credit: Gardens of the Palácio de Cristal, Porto, by John Samuel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.