Parque Botânico do Monteiro-Mor

Parque Botânico do Monteiro-Mor is an eleven-hectare garden in Lisbon's Lumiar district, surrounding the Monteiro-Mor Palace. It is a quiet green space away from the tourist centre, good for a few hours of unhurried walking.

Where is it and what should you know first?

The park lies in the Lumiar parish, in the northern part of Lisbon. Two museums sit on the estate: the National Museum of Costume (Museu Nacional do Traje) and the National Museum of Theatre and Dance. You can combine the garden with the museums or buy a ticket for the park only. Check current opening hours and prices on the official websites before you go.

What is the history of the garden?

The garden dates from the 18th century. Pedro José de Noronha Camões de Albuquerque Moniz e Sousa, 3rd Marquis of Angeja, ordered it planted on the grounds of the Quinta do Monteiro-Mor. The work was supervised by the Italian botanist Domenico Vandelli, the man behind the Royal Botanical Garden of Ajuda. Around 1750, tropical species and exotic birds were gathered here in a project attributed to Vandelli.

In 1840 the estate was bought by Domingos de Sousa Holstein, 1st Duke of Palmela. Under him the park gained rarer plant species and decorative statuary, and some areas were laid out in the style of English landscape gardens. The property stayed with the Palmela family until 4 February 1975, when it was sold to the Portuguese State. After decades of patchy upkeep, several restoration works followed.

What can you see in the park?

One of the standout specimens is a Norfolk Island pine (Araucaria heterophylla), regarded as the oldest known example in mainland Portugal. The layout blends the 18th-century botanical collection with later, looser English-style sections, so the walk changes character every few hundred metres, from shaded paths to open lawns and sculpture.

Should you visit the museums too?

If you have time, yes. The National Museum of Costume occupies the 18th-century palace in the middle of the garden, and its collection numbers more than 33,000 items, mostly men's and women's clothing from the 18th and 19th centuries. The Theatre and Dance Museum is about a five-minute walk across the garden from the costume museum, so both fit easily into one visit.

Frequently asked questions

How large is the park? About 11 hectares.

Do I have to buy a museum ticket? No. A park-only ticket is available, as well as tickets that include the museums.

Who owned the garden? First the Marquises of Angeja, from 1840 the Dukes of Palmela family, and since 1975 the Portuguese State.

Who is it for? People looking for quiet, botany and garden-history fans, and anyone who wants to pair a walk with a visit to the costume or theatre museum.

Where exactly is it? In the Lumiar district of Lisbon, coordinates 38.775312, -9.165817.