When I first moved to Lisbon I swore my days of running were behind me. After all, why would I want to run in a city where every day is hill day? A city filled with cobblestones that I lose my balance on when walking? No, I knew I would not be running in Lisbon. Except I did start running. I found new neighborhoods and embraced the hills as an extra level of training. Now I run half marathons regularly and train for them in the streets of Lisbon. Before I share the seven best spots to run in Lisbon I do want to cover a few basics of running in Lisbon.

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Lisbon is hot! Try your best to run during the morning or evening, but if you do have to run mid day, drink lots of water and wear sunscreen. The other thing to be aware of in Lisbon is the cobblestones. Especially with hills, the streets can become very slippery. On rainy days I tend to avoid cobblestone sections entirely and stay in parks or by the water. I have fallen a few times while running here, and it is never fun.

Now let’s get on to where to run in Lisbon. There are places all over the city for all levels of runners. I tend to recommend the parks for new runners as they are relatively flat and perfect if you are looking to go for a shorter distance.

Where to Run in Lisbon

Tejo River Path

Running along the river is the only option for runners looking to stay flat on their long runs. You can go from Belem to Parque das Nações, or a shorter distance, without ever leaving this path. It’s one of the best paths to take if you are visiting the city and want to see some of the major sites. Running under the Abril de 25th bridge, passing the Padrão dos Descobrimentos, and appreciating the Praça do Comércio are all some of the things you can see on this run. This path is also perfect for rainy days, as the ground does not become slippery, but it also lacks shade if you are visiting in the summer.

Monsanto

This massive park is one of the best places in the city to run. It is a bit hilly, but there are plenty of paths to find a route that will be car free and gorgeous. That said, it can be difficult to reach this park on foot. You can approach from Parque Eduardo or from the Alcantara neighborhood of Lisbon if you are planning to do a long run. If you only want to do a short run in Lisbon, I recommend grabbing a taxi or Uber to head into the park. 

Jardim da Estrela

This is one of my personal favorite parks to run in. The outer perimeter of the park is approximately ⅓ of a mile. I like to come here if I do not want to run for longer than 20 or 30 minutes as it’s not a huge park, and I do get bored. The paths can be a bit uneven in certain places, but it’s a gorgeous area to run with lots of paths.

Parque Eduardo

This park is pretty, and well known, but it is also a giant hill. However, this is perfect for hill repeats and you can get a lovely reward at the top with one of the best viewpoints in the city. However, I do find the cobblestones in this park are a bit slippery in the rain. The trees here also offer very little protection against the sun.

Tapadas das Necessidades

Another large hilly park, this one has lots of cut overs so you can pick exactly how much hill you want to do. It also is very poorly paved, so be aware when running downhill that you don’t trip. There are also lots of animals that call this park home. Cats, chickens, ducks, peacocks, and an aggressive posse of giant Geese/dinosaurs that will try to intimidate you if you get close to them. I go out of my way to avoid them. Otherwise this is a great park to run in with views of the Abril de 25th Bridge.

Jardim Mario Soares

This large park is a bit farther from the city center, but is nicely located in Campo Grande. There are lots of trees here, which can make it perfect for those hot Lisbon days. If you are a fan of Ronaldo you can also take a quick detour out of this park to run past the home of his first team, Sporting FC. 

Campo dos Mártires da Pátria

This park is located at the top of a hill between Intendente and Avenida da Liberdade. Another large flat park, this one has better paths with fewer potholes, and a small view of the Castelo. However, it is absolutely a climb to reach this park, so I do not recommend it if you are not in the area.

Where to Run in Cascais

If you are looking to take a beach side run there are many options in the Lisbon area, but my favorite is the path out to Mar do Guincho. Follow the N427 out of Cascais for gorgeous ocean views while running on a sidewalk. On one side you will have the ocean, and on the other you will have the Cascais-Sintra Nature Park. It’s a quick train ride from Cais do Sodre to Cascais, with amazing views once you arrive. I love heading out this way for long runs.

Lisbon Running Club

If you don’t want to run in Lisbon by yourself, I recommend checking out the LXRC. The Lisbon Running Club is the umbrella group covering a variety of Lisbon groups. There are runs every Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday, and Sunday within this group and its sub-groups. There are events for people of all paces, and every run ends with a social meetup to connect with fellow runners. 

If you are a women looking to connect with fellow runners on your travels, be sure to check out my FaceBook group: Jet-Setting Runners | International Women’s Running Community.