Monsanto Trail and Running
A sanctuary for outdoor enthusiasts
Rising above the city, Monsanto Forest Park is Lisbon’s green backyard—a sprawling 1000 hectares (6000 acres) area where nature and urban life meet in perfect harmony.
A sanctuary for outdoor enthusiasts, it offers a vast network of trails winding through pine-scented woodlands, rugged hills and panoramic viewpoints that reveal Lisbon’s urban sprawl and the shimmering Tagus beyond.
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From shadowy woods to sun-drenched meadows, the park unfolds in a series of scenic vistas, with Lisbon, the Tagus and even the distant Atlantic stretching out before you above the tree tops. Look up a little closer, and you might catch a glimpse of the park’s quieter residents—songbirds flitting between branches or the curious gaze of a long-tailed visitor, as squirrels make a welcome return to this urban oasis.
Notes:
When it’s time for a well-earned break, grab a snack, brunch or a sunset drink from one of the park’s charming kiosks, where the views are always as refreshing as the drinks.
For many Lisboetas, Monsanto is indeed a “Sacred Mountain” of leisure, a place where weekends are spent reconnecting with nature.
Whether it’s an acccessible, family-friendly hike, a pulse-raising trail run along varyingly challenging paths, or the thrill of mountain biking down its dirt tracks, this is where city dwellers come for moments of sport, training or pure escape.
Along the way, there’s no shortage of places to pause and take it all in – whether it’s an old windmill by a basketball court, a rustic picnic spot or a playground buzzing with children’s laughter.
Address
Parque Florestal de Monsanto, Lisboa
Open map
Photos from Câmara Municipal de Lisboa
Last modified: March 21, 2025