It does feel a little bit silly to be reviewing a free public park, but you know what, it was on my…read moreitinerary specifically, so why not? Unfortunately, I got here just slightly too late to properly enjoy the gardens themselves, as there were a *lot* of great art galleries to stop at on the way nearby (intentionally), so as it was already starting to get dark when we got here. But that is also a great time to enjoy the view back over the river and the heart of Porto from above on the hill. It was also a great time, until it got fully dark and they all went to sleep, to see, basically right when we walked in, a bunch of ducks, a handful of large geese (cool, but we gave them a wide space; geese have an attitude and you could tell they knew they could walk wherever they liked!), even a couple peacocks (though I would later learn, the best place in Portugal to see peacocks by far would be the castle in Lisbon, which has a whole huge flock of them.) Would I pay to get in? Probably not. But I also didn't have to; it's a free public park. :D

A gem of a park for everyone! A gem for the watchers, the walkers, the water lovers, the scenery…read moresoakers, the park sleepers, the picnic partiers, the everyones! Get lost by your curiosity. Walk and walk, bring your creative photo eye since some of the best views of the river can be found here. Public restrooms, often food vendors. A Porto staple to visit.

Enjoyed these gardens a lot. I like the trees- was told they were mutant Sycamores. I've no idea…read moreif that's true, but they are interesting looking. The statues are very nice. There is playground equipment. There are lots of benches. You're neat the tower- should you want a climb- it's just across the street.

Joao Chagas Garden, also called the Cordoaria Garden, was founded in the 1800s, and today it is a…read morepublic green space. My husband and I spent time in this park while we were on vacation. As we walked around, we saw a lake, trees, walking paths, several sculptures, benches, a children's playground, etcetera. We felt interested in the trees that had wide trunks and thin branches. I read online that the trees have that shape because of frequent pruning. The sculpture that most caught our attention was "Thirteen Laughing at Each Other" (2001) by the artist Juan Muñoz.

The original name Jardim da Cordoaria translates as "the garden of the cord warners." This is where…read moreropes were made for some 200 years. In 1865, it was transformed into a garden following a design by the German landscape gardener Emil David. It became a very popular meeting place until the beginning of the 20th Century. Today, it is a shady benched spot in front of the photography museum. You might find an ice cream vendor and the trolley runs through the park too. [Review 9842 overall, 1420 of 2018.]

Be prepared to walk! Great paths, uphill and stairs which you can avoid if you want to just walk a…read moreflat surface. Lots of wildlife to be seen especially birds. Splendid view of the Douro River from this beautiful garden. Beautiful rose garden with a picturesque view. So very romantic.

According to sources, the Jardim de São Lázaro opened in 1834 and is the oldest municipal garden in…read morethe city of Porto. Trees, benches, a lovely fountain, it is a beautiful spot to rest after your big lunch as I did. A big fountain, a bandstand, lots of landscaping. It is quite picturesque. [Review 9868 overall, 1446 of 2018.]

What a delicious place! Plan to spend a ton of time, between the museum, the house, the garden, the…read moretree walks, the full garden paths you can easily spend half a day, and that would be rushing. My favorite, and I wish I spent more time, was the garden and the outdoor paths. Plan to get lost, explore, be inspired, think, question, and just be purely in love with this experience. I can't recommend enough.

Serralves Park is a gorgeous spot in Porto that is a wonderful way to spend a few hours…read moredecompressing and strolling around. The Casa de Serralves looks honestly looks like a Barbie house, in its simple Art Deco design. There are a series of large garden fountains that connect down the middle of the front courtyard. The grounds around the Casa are also very architectural and designed in maze patterns, structural elements, and completely matching the flow and feel of the house. A forest of trees and paths also surround the park, so you can do a lot of walking and marveling at things as you pass. The interior museum (no photos, unfortunately) features exhibits focused on contemporary art. It houses works from well known International artists as well as local Portuguese artists. There are several art pieces scattered around the park and grounds as well. My favorite was "Plantoir" by Claes Oldenburg. It's a giant red trowel that stands almost 25 feet tall and weighs over 2,000 pounds. It just makes you feel so small when you're standing there next to it! No matter if you're a fan of art, nature, or history - Serralves fits the ticket.

Landscaped 1800s garden that provides some very pleasant walking…read more Next to estuary so you get the ocean smells while strolling under large trees. + Flat. No hills. + MiniGolfe

The Largo José Moreira da Silva Garden is a small triangular-shaped garden located between Rua da…read moreAlegria and Rua Dom João IV, next to the Rampa da Escola Normal. It features a bronze bust of José Moreira da Silva by the sculptor Salvador Barata Feyo. Some trees, some benches, some shade. Having just climbed the hill to get here, it was a nice spot to rest for a few minutes.