Cycle paths and green corridors invite you to explore Lisbon on two wheels

One of the most striking features and Lisbon cycling network It’s diversity. Ethere are riverside cycle pathswhich follow the river Tea, e urban routes that cross fundamental axes of the city and call parks and forest areas such as the Forest Park of monsanto, where a Green Corridor travel gardens and hills. Along the route there are support infrastructurelike bicycle parking and sharing systems with Gira network (Tel. 211163060), which offers electric bicycles. Increasingly, cycling is a real alternative for leisure mobility in the capital of Lisbon.

The city of Lisbon has nine green corridors, which allow cycling between the main wooded areas of the capital. The main green corridors in Lisbon are the Monsanto Green Corridor, which connects the Monsanto Forest Park to the Eduardo VII Park, and the Alcântara Valley Structuring Green Corridor, which connects Monsanto to the Tagus. Other green corridors include the Olivais Green Corridor and the Oriental Green Corridor, which stretches through Parque da Bela Vistaextending to Vale da Montanha Park and Casal Vistoso Park. This corridor totals more than 100 hectares of green area.

The city’s cycle paths lead to one of the most emblematic places in Lisbon, Parque Eduardo VII. Here it is possible to stop and visit the Estufa Fria (Tel. 218170996), located at the top of the park. AND one of the most unique and charming botanical spaces in the city. Opened at the beginning of the 20th century, it was created from the use of an old abandoned quarry, whose protected location created the ideal conditions to accommodate species from different climates. The complex is divided into three main areas: the Cold Greenhouse, the Hot Greenhouse and the Sweet Greenhouse, each with its own characteristics.

The Cold Greenhouse, the largest of the three, stands out for its wooden slat roof that naturally filters light, allowing it to maintain mild temperatures without using artificial heating. It is a cool space, full of lakes, waterfalls, walkways and lush vegetation, which invites you to take peaceful walks. The Hot Greenhouse houses tropical species that require higher humidity and temperature, while the Sweet Greenhouse brings together plants originating from arid climates, such as cacti and succulents.

The cycle path that connects Parque Eduardo VII to Monsanto is part of the so-called Monsanto Green Corridor, an infrastructure designed to integrate nature and urban mobility. There are approximately 2.5 km of connection between the top of Eduardo VII Park and Monsanto Forest Park, crossing gardens, wooded areas and leisure spaces.

One of the most striking points is the pedestrian bridge over Avenida Calouste Gulbenkian, which allows the flow of cyclists to be maintained without directly interfering with car traffic. Along the route there are gardens, viewpoints and resting points. For those who cycle, this corridor offers a smooth transition between the dense city and the vast lung of Monsanto. After entering the park, cyclists can continue along a network of paths with over 42 km of cycling routes.

Parallel to the Monsanto Forest Park, Tapada da Ajuda is a 100-hectare botanical park to explore on foot or by bicycle, as there are paths open to the public that have been requalified as part of the “Lisboa Capital Verde 2020” program. The Higher Institute of Agronomy (Tel. 213653100) provides cycling trails on the Tapada campus, with signage. One of the main access points for bicycles is through the Rua Jau / Calçada da Tapada gate. There is a circular route of around 5 km through the Tapada da Ajuda campusof easy level, suitable for cyclists.

Take the opportunity to visit the Ajuda Botanical Garden, considered the oldest in the country. It was mePlanted by the Marquês de Pombal, in 1768 with the designation of Royal Botanical Garden of Ajuda and with the aim of being a museum and nursery for botanical species from the most diverse parts of the world.