Parque Central da Amadora

Parque Central is the big green space in the middle of Amadora, just north-west of Lisbon. The parish council dates the first garden here to April 1985. The park took its current shape in a redevelopment that the city council opened on 5 June 2010, which joined a lake area and a sports area with a pedestrian promenade where there used to be a congested street. It now covers about 65,000 m².

For families, the draw is the playground, which is built to look like a space station, and the lake. In June 2025 IOL described the park as looking like a water park set in a town garden, which gives an idea of how much goes on around the water on a busy day.

The children’s area is themed as a space station, with a rocket at its centre, tunnels, slides and climbing walls. Children who are into rockets and astronauts can turn it into a whole game, and the tunnels and walls give climbers plenty to do. The parish council also lists a traditional games area.

The council doesn’t publish an age breakdown for the equipment or say whether the play area is fenced, so if you’re bringing a toddler who bolts, check the layout when you arrive.

The lake is the centrepiece of the park. When the council rebuilt it, the lake was enlarged and its water treated so it could be used for pedal boats, canoes and inflatable water games. IOL’s 2025 article described pedal boats, canoes and rafts, and giant inflatable balls that let people walk on the water. We couldn’t find a timetable or prices for these activities, and they’re likely to depend on the season, so check on the day before promising anyone a boat ride.

Next to the lake there’s an interactive play zone that the council compares to a giant games console: an outdoor area where you play physical games guided by a magnetic card.

For walking, scooting or cycling, the park has two circuits of 860 m and 200 m, rated low difficulty, with a smooth resin-coated asphalt surface that suits buggies and small wheels. There are 16 outdoor exercise stations along the way, so parents can do a few pull-ups while children play. The parish council also lists a sports court for basketball and five-a-side football, an open-air amphitheatre, a bandstand by the lake, a reflecting pool, a memorial to the singer José Afonso and a pergola with a viewpoint.

A multifunction building holds toilets, an environmental interpretation centre and a café with an outdoor terrace. When the park was rebuilt, about 140 parking spaces were created along the new promenade. The park is split into three areas: the Jardim Zeca Afonso, the Jardim do Lago and the sports zone.

We couldn’t find published opening hours for the park or the café. Bring sun cream and water for time by the lake in summer.

• The Parque da BD Turma da Mônica, Amadora’s comic-themed playground with life-size characters and inclusive play equipment.
• The Parque Urbano do Neudel, a 2017 park with water play, rope bridges and a waterfall.
• Sould Park Jump, a trampoline park in the UBBO shopping centre, for a rainy day.
• Climb Up Carnaxide, an indoor climbing centre in neighbouring Carnaxide.

Is Parque Central da Amadora free?

Yes. Entry to the park and the playground is free. Any boat or water-game activities on the lake may be charged when they run.

What is the space station playground in Amadora?

It’s the children’s playground in Parque Central, themed as a space station, with a rocket, tunnels, slides and climbing walls.

Are there toilets in Parque Central?

Yes. The park’s multifunction building has toilets, a café terrace and an environmental interpretation centre.

Can you take a buggy?

Yes. The main paths are smooth resin-coated asphalt and rated low difficulty.

Can you hire boats on the lake?

The council designed the lake for pedal boats, canoes and inflatable water games, and IOL described them in 2025. We couldn’t find current prices or times, so check on the day.