Parque da Cidade do Porto

When Porto's narrow streets start to feel close, the Parque da Cidade is the antidote. Stretching across 83 hectares on the western edge of the city, it is described by the city as the largest urban park in Portugal, and it rolls all the way down to the Atlantic, where it meets the seafront promenade and the beaches between Foz and Matosinhos. Designed by the landscape architect Sidónio Pardal and opened in phases between the 1990s and early 2000s, it was conceived as a piece of countryside in the city rather than a formal garden: wide meadows, gentle hills, groves of trees, stone walls and lakes with ducks and geese, crossed by long paths for walking, running and cycling. The atmosphere is local rather than touristic. On weekends, families picnic on the grass, children run and play ball, runners loop the paths, and couples stroll towards the sea; on weekdays, it can feel almost empty. There is a café and restaurant, public toilets, sports areas and an environmental education centre, and the park is open daily from early morning until late, with longer hours in summer. Entry is free. Each year, it also hosts one of Portugal's biggest summer music festivals, when parts of it are fenced off for several days. For visitors, the park is best combined with the seafront: walk through the park to the ocean, then follow the promenade south to the Castelo do Queijo fort, SEA LIFE Porto and Foz do Douro, or north to the beach and seafood restaurants of Matosinhos. It is the best place in Porto to give children space to run, and on a sunny afternoon, a picnic here followed by sunset on the Atlantic is one of the city's simplest pleasures.

The design idea: unlike the nineteenth-century Crystal Palace Gardens, the Parque da Cidade was designed as a modern landscape park, using earth-moving to create gentle valleys and hills that block out the surrounding city and frame views towards the sea. The lakes collect water and support wildlife, the stone walls and paths reuse traditional materials, and the woodland areas provide shade in summer. It has matured beautifully, and in spring and early summer, the meadows are at their greenest.

How to visit: the park has several entrances, including from the Avenida da Boavista on its southern edge and from the seafront on the western side. From the centre, buses along the Avenida da Boavista are the easiest option, and the trip takes around half an hour. Bring a picnic, a ball or a frisbee, and plan to walk through to the ocean. Cyclists can follow the cycle routes and continue along the seafront. On festival weekends in early summer, check whether areas are closed before you go.

Combining with the coast: from the western edge of the park, the Atlantic promenade runs in both directions. Head south past the Castelo do Queijo and SEA LIFE Porto to the Foz do Douro and its lighthouse, then catch the historic tram back along the river. Head north for Matosinhos, its long sandy beach and its streets of grilled-fish restaurants. Fit: families with energetic children, runners and cyclists, picnickers and anyone wanting a slower, greener side of Porto.