5 Things to Know About Jardins do Palácio de Cristal [Location and More]

Located in the heart of Porto, Jardins do Palácio de Cristal is a must see location with full access to bus connections, including Aliados and Companhã.

What are the Palácio de Cristal Gardens?

LOCATION: R. de Dom Manuel II, Massarelo

TRANSPORTATION ACCESS: Bus 200, 201, 207, 208, 302, 303, 501, 507, 601 (The Stop is PALÁCIO)

STATUS: Opened every day from 8AM to 9PM (April to September) or 7PM (October to March).

RATING: 4/5

These gardens are named after a building inspired by the British “Crystal Palace”. Though it has long since been demolished and replaced with Pavilhão Rosa Mota (now called Super Bock Arena), the area still holds the previous name. The gardens are home to one of Porto’s public libraries (Biblioteca Almeida Garrett) and house Porto’s annual Book Fair.

Are the Palácio do Cristal Gardens Worth it?

Locals and tourists alike love Palácio de Cristal’s gardens. There you can enjoy a breathtaking view of the Douro River, as well as walk through nature, see geese, ducks, chicken and peacocks, and have a lovely picnic. The gardens are filled with many decorative fountains and statues, which make even a simple stroll much more enchanting.

They are definitely worth visiting, especially if you spend most of your visit inside and want a breath of fresh air or are dying to watch a sunset.

Where is the Palácio de Cristal Gardens? [Location]

The gardens are located in Massarelos, near Museu Soares dos Reis. You can visit the whole area in less than an hour, but there are many benches and patches of grass where you can sit and read or hang out for as long as you desire.

How to get to the Gardens in Porto [Transport Access]

To get to Jardins do Palácio de Cristal from Porto’s central area, you can take the following buses: 200, 201, 207, 208, 302 and 303. You can catch either of these buses near the Metro (subway) station Aliados.

Here’s a list of other stations where you can commute:

After taking the bus, you need only wait until the stop “PALÁCIO”, then exit. The gate will be clearly visible.

Alternatively, you can also get there on foot from Porto’s Baixa (central area), although it’s an uphill walk (of 10-15 minutes). If you do choose to walk there, make sure to take the best routes: either through Cordoaria (a smaller park, near Torre dos Clérigos) or Cedofeita and Miguel Bombarda (both streets have cafés, stores and a bit of street art).

Jardins do Palácio de Cristal Status

• Jardins do Palácio de Cristal are open to the public every day, starting at 8 in the morning. During the Summer (April to September), they close at 9 PM; during the Winter (October to March), they close earlier, at 7 PM.
• Entry is free of charge and does not have to be scheduled in advance.
• At time of writing (early 2024), there’s construction work in Praça da Galiza, just down the road from Palácio de Cristal. This does NOT impact accessibility.

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