Free Walking Tour Lisboa IV: from a World Expo to the modern neighborhood of the Parque das Nações

From a degraded area populated by containers and polluting factories to a World Expo that changed the destiny of Parque das Nações.

Formerly the EXPO'98 venue, a World Exhibition whose theme was centered around the Oceans, along with the celebration of the 500th anniversary of the Portuguese Discoveries, this neighborhood of Lisbon was completely degraded, and its privileged view over the Tagus was populated by containers and polluting factories.

In fact, the Parque das Nações is, along with Marvila, another great example of rehabilitation in the city and how to give new life to places that seem to be lost forever. It has been exactly 20 years since the EXPO'98, but its footprints in Lisbon will be forever marked in the reflection of what is now one of the most important areas of the city, and the date has not been forgotten. In an event with a packed schedule, until September 30th it will be possible to stop by and see the free exhibition Você Não Está Aqui, which features never-before-seen photographs by the artist Bruno Portela, portraying the spaces of the Parque das Nações before they've been reinvented by the World Exhibition.

How to get there?

There are several ways to get there, since it is a very busy area and with a large number of public transport. The underground is the easiest and most direct way, going through the red line and exiting at Oriente. There are also some buses and a train, although the latter is not possible to get from Baixa.

Jardim da Água and waterfall

When you get to Oriente station you will have to get into the former EXPO'98 venue and start walking to the right, until you reach this garden which is one of the buildings of the International Exhibition that remained there.

The garden is nothing more than a series of educational and sports equipment that have water as the main theme, playing along with the general Oceans theme. The instruments themselves represent the various activities linked to water, which cover different periods of history and diverse cultures, allowing people to follow its course, from the source to the estuary.

Pavilhão do Conhecimento

Going forward, you will see this modern building that houses theCentro de Ciência Viva, an interactive museum of science and technology that aims to make those subjects accessible to everyone, whether kids or adults, stimulating experimentation and exploration of the physical world. The 9€ ticket gives you access to large thematic exhibitions and dozens of interactive modules.

In the summer of 1998 it was the Pavilion of the Knowledge of the Seas, an award-winning work by the architect Carrilho da Graça, where visitors could take a trip of exploration through the seas in their historical and cultural perspective, including holograms, models of boats and submarines, and a full-size submarine model devised by Leonardo DaVinci.

Jardim das Ondas

Toward the bank of the river, you will see a garden whose grass seems to imitate the forms resulting from the movement of the water. This iconic work was created during the International Exhibition of '98 and has been subject to recent renovations. It is a great place to sit and watch the scenery and a good opportunity to rest your feet before the long road ahead.

Oceanarium

Go straight after the Jardim das Ondas, towards the industrial-looking building supported by a pier above an artificial pond, which houses the Oceanarium. You are facing the largest indoor aquarium in all of Europe and an international reference, having already been named the "Best Aquarium in the World" by its visitors on TripAdvisor.

Its structure was designed by the architect Peter Chermayeff and was inaugurated in 1998 under the theme of the "Oceans, a heritage for the future". In fact, the purpose of the Oceanarium follows the trend of modern aquariums: the education and conservation of species, providing information on them and addressing our current environmental challenges.

It is possible to visit the permanent exhibition for 15€ and the permanent + temporary for 18€, giving you the possibility of seeing closely species such as otters, penguins, sharks, various fish, corals, starfish, octopuses, marine plants, among others.

Casino de Lisboa

Follow now through the Alameda dos Oceanos and you will certainly notice the casino, especially at night, when the fluorescent lights inside invite you for a good night out. And if you're looking for a less conventional place, escaping from the cultural route for a while and the landscape of the Tagus, this is where you can do it.

Its glass building was refurbished for this purpose, because during the EXPO'98 it was the Pavilion of the Future, a mostly informative exhibition whose main attraction was a video projected in 3D and a passage through to the oceans, symbolized by a spiral walkway.

In addition to the typical slot machines and gaming tables, the casino has an art gallery, an auditorium, restaurants, bars and nights of musical entertainment - all of this so you can have fun without having to look further!

Altice Arena

Continuing to the rock of the Alameda dos Oceanos, you'll see a pavilion that looks like a futuristic spacecraft on your right side. This is the former Pavilion of Utopia, one of the most visited pavilions of the World Expo, where the multimedia show "Oceans and Utopias" took place - a journey from the origins of the Universe to the present time.

After the end of the Exhibition, it came to be known as Pavilhão Atlântico, and later MEO Arena, having recently been renamed to Altice Arena. The venue has been adapted to what has become the country's largest concert venue, with a capacity for 20,000 spectators. There, famous artists have already played, such as Shakira, Guns N 'Roses, Madonna, One Direction, Adele, Muse, among other countless big names. A concert here would be a great way to end the day, but we recommend you buy the tickets in advance!

Jardim da Música

We now return to the Tagus. After the Altice Arena you will see a garden, on the right side the Passeio das Tágides. Do not ignore it, we promise you have a place there where both children and adults can experiment with various outdoor musical instruments and make up whatever music they want ... especially if they are drumming fans!

Feira Internacional de Lisboa (FIL)

On the left side of the Passeio das Tágides you will see a huge building that hides four pavilions interconnected by squares and an exterior metallic bridge.

Also built during EXPO '98, this structure sought later to provide a solution for large international events and thematic fairs, receiving millions of visitors and exhibitors from all over the world every year. Its events include the Lisbon Games Week, the well-known International Handicraft Fair, the Tourism Fair, among other programs that are quite popular in the capital.

Vasco da Gama Bridge

On the banks of the Tagus you have many areas for walking, but the most beautiful one appears after the Garden of the Passeio dos Heróis do Mar, with the Caminho das Gaivotas and its privileged view over the Vasco da Gama Bridge.

Its name is a tribute to the 500th anniversary of the discovery of the route of Europe to India by Vasco da Gama, and its construction began in 1994, according to the project of Armando Rito, however it was only finalised in 1998, right on time for the World Expo. Its inaguration counted on a feijoada (a typical dish made from beans, and several types of meat and sausages) served to thousands of people who sat on tables along the bridge and which entered forever in the history of Guinness World Records.

Cable Cars

Despite there being two entrances to the cable car, we recommend that you go all the way to the Passeio Heróis do Mar, go back to the Passeio das Tágides and from there take the cable car to the centre of the Parque das Nações, with the opportunity to see everything on foot before you can delight yourself with a sunset seen from the cable car, for only €3.95 one way and €5.90 a return trip.

Where to eat?

The Fifties American Diner

Fifties is an atypical restaurant in town, as it was the first American-style diner. If you like everything that is retro and vintage, this is the place for you. With an offer ranging from burgers to classic American shakes, here you'll feel like a true star in a 1950s American movie.

Arcádia

With a greater emphasis on sweets, it is ideal for snack time. Although the history of Arcadia began in Porto back in 1933, its expansion to Lisbon has been quite successful. Its manufactured by the brand itself and they do it in a traditional way. Their fame comes from products such as línguas de gato (meaning cat tongues, a traditional type of biscuit shaped like a cat's tongue) and bonbons, however their scones are really worth it.

Portugália

"Steak with Portugália sauce" is a tradition that most of Lisboetas have known since they were kids, when they went with their family to the famous brewery for a weekend lunch. In fact, it has been present in the life of Portuguese people since 1925 and its atmosphere is familiar, the sauce of their steaks and their seafood rice are recognized all over the country, and the price is more affordable than most. A real point of reference in Lisbon life!

These are our suggestions, however there are numerous food options in this area of Lisbon. For a greater variety in one place, you can jump to the Vasco da Gama Shopping Centre or to many of the other restaurants that are located in Parque das Nações.

Where to stay?

And when the exhaustion gets to you and you get sleepy, a clean and comfortable hostel will be the best option for another day of walking around Lisbon. In the form below we can find the perfect hostel for you on Hostelsclub.com. We hope you have fun and send us lots of photos!