Parque da Juventude de Portimão

The Parque da Juventude (Youth Park) is a green space of about 15,000 square metres in the Alto Pacheco area of Portimão, inland from Praia da Rocha. It closed for a year and a half of works and reopened on Saturday 26 April 2025 with a string of new things for children and teenagers. The council describes it as a place for outdoor activity for children, and it has long had a BMX track, a remote-control car track and a playground. The rebuild added the parts that make it worth a special trip.

The works built a raised walkway (passadiço) at the height of the tree canopy, and a watchtower (torre de vigia) at the park’s highest point. For young children, walking level with the branches is an adventure in itself, and the tower gives older ones a view to aim for. The council hasn’t published the height of either, so if you have a child who is nervous of heights, take it slowly.

The biggest new feature is the Parque Radical, a skate and BMX park that local riders had wanted for years. Its design is inspired by the Fortaleza de Santa Catarina, the fort at Praia da Rocha, so the ramps and walls echo a seaside fortress. It has two parts:

• a street area, with obstacles that copy things riders find in towns, such as ledges, steps and rails
• a bowl, the deep rounded shape riders carve round like a wave

The builder describes it as an inclusive space for all ages, with areas for skate and BMX and places for families and friends to sit. Beginners and young scooter riders should stay on the flatter street area; the bowl is for confident riders. Helmets and pads are sensible, though no rule is published.

The old skate park has become a new games area with a futsal pitch and a 3x3 basketball court, designed with the Portuguese Basketball Federation’s 3x3 BasketArt project.

The park’s BMX race track (pista de BMX) is a proper racing circuit: in February and March 2026 it hosted the first two rounds of the Taça de Portugal de BMX Race, the national BMX race cup, run by the Portuguese Cycling Federation with the Clube Bicross de Portimão. It’s thrilling to watch on race days, and the council describes it as a place to discover “the twists and turns” of a BMX track.

The same club organises friendlier events too, such as the BMX Bowl Xmas Jam on Sunday 7 December 2025 from 10:00, which brought young riders and experienced ones together for a relaxed contest in the bowl.

There are two playgrounds. The existing one at the north entrance was renovated, and a new set of children’s and youth play equipment was installed at the south entrance. The council hasn’t published a list of equipment, so we can’t tell you what the tallest slide is.

Other things to find:

• a remote-control car track
• a lake, now with a wooden deck and water plants that help clean the water; Visit Portimão mentions animals in the park too
• a street workout area with bars for older children and adults
• the council also lists a park for older people (parque geriátrico), which is handy if grandparents come along

Toddlers get the playgrounds, the lake and the walkway (hold hands at the edges). Children aged 4 to 7 can explore the walkway and tower, ride a scooter on the paths and watch the BMX and skate riders. Big kids can try the street area of the skate park, the courts and the tower. Teenagers head for the bowl, the street area and the BMX track.

The café (with a terrace) and the toilets were both renovated in the 2025 works, which makes this easier for a long stay than most skate parks. The council hasn’t published opening hours on its page. Portugal With Kids, an aggregator, lists the park as open daily from 09:00 to 20:00 and served by several bus lines; check both before you go.

In summer, go early or late: the skate park and courts are in the sun, although the trees shade the walkway and paths.

Portimão has a second, smaller skate park at the Casa das Artes, opened on 18 March 2023. It covers about 800 square metres for skate and BMX, was designed by Paulo Ribeiro of the Portuguese skating federation’s technical committee, and was announced as open daily from 09:00 to 20:00.

• Sail from Portimão to the Benagil sea caves on the Santa Bernarda pirate ship.
• Dolphin and cave trips leave from the marina with 5Emotions.
• Motor-mad children will want the Algarve International Circuit and karting track.
• Across the river, Parque Urbano do Parchal is a new park with playgrounds and a lake.

Is Parque da Juventude in Portimão free?

Yes. It’s a public council park.

Is there a skate park in Portimão?

Yes, two. The Parque Radical in Parque da Juventude has a street area and a bowl, and there is a smaller skate park at the Casa das Artes.

Are there toilets and a café?

Yes. Both were renovated when the park reopened in 2025.

Is it good for toddlers?

Yes. There are two playgrounds, and the walkway and lake make a good short walk. Keep little ones away from the skate park and BMX track while others ride.

When did the park reopen?

On 26 April 2025, after about 18 months of works.