Jardim da Estrela

Arguably the prettiest of Lisbon's public green spaces, the Estrela gardens are attractive any time of year but it's during the warm summer months that the park is at its vibrant and most colourful. A lake teeming with ducks and geese is overlooked by a waterfront cafe, a favourite meeting point for residents, especially at weekends when an arts and crafts fair threads its way along the grounds. The well-maintained lawns are natural picnic sites while the adjacent adventure playground keeps smiling youngsters occupied. An refurbished 19th-century wrought-iron bandstand is still used today as an ad-hoc concert stage and there's an open air library for bookworms and anybody looking to improve their Portuguese.