Parque da Lavandeira

The Parque da Lavandeira is a council park of about 11 hectares in Oliveira do Douro, in the eastern part of Vila Nova de Gaia. It’s run by the same council service as the Parque Biológico de Gaia, and it’s free.

The park covers two old estates, the Quinta da Lavandeira and the Quinta da Condessa. The countess in the name was D. Carolina Júlia Ferreira Monteiro, who lived here until 1921. Her husband, the Count of Silva Monteiro (1822 to 1885), made his fortune trading with Brazil and, as president of Porto’s commercial association in the 1870s, pushed for the building of the Port of Leixões and the railway to Póvoa de Varzim.

The park was planned for leisure, with walking paths, picnic areas, fitness equipment, playgrounds and themed gardens. Bikes and dogs are not allowed, so it’s calmer than most city parks, which is a relief with a toddler who wanders.

The council lists playgrounds among the park’s equipment, and Portugal With Kids describes swings, slides and other play equipment. The park service also built a themed area based on Jules Verne’s novel A Volta ao Mundo em 80 Dias (Around the World in 80 Days), which it describes as a place for families and for all ages.

The park service doesn’t list the pieces of play equipment or describe the themed area in detail, so we can’t tell you what each part looks like. If your child knows the story of Phileas Fogg and his bet to go round the world in 80 days, it’s a good hook for the visit.

In 2021 Gaia council made the park about 30% bigger. The new part includes a large romantic lake, where people went boating two centuries ago, and big old trees: huge tulip trees, magnolias, camphor trees and very old camellias.

It also includes a neo-Gothic greenhouse (estufa) from the 19th century, which the council plans to restore. The newspaper O Comércio do Porto described it in August 1883, soon after it was built: its iron roof lace was so light it looked like cut paper, and it measured 24 metres across the front, 12 metres high in the middle and 12 metres deep, which made it one of the largest in Portugal. Swimming or paddling in the lake is not allowed.

When the estate was cleared, workers also found traces of its industrial past, including a damaged engine made by The Campbell Gas Engine Co. of Halifax in England, which burned coal to make gas. Nobody knows for certain what it was used for; the park service thinks it may have heated the greenhouses or made electricity.

Toddlers and preschoolers get the playgrounds, lawns and a car-free, bike-free place to walk. Children of 4 to 7 get the playgrounds, the Around the World theme and the lake. Children of 8 to 12 will get more from the history: the countess, the gas engine and the giant greenhouse. Teenagers may find it quiet unless they’re into running or the fitness equipment.

The park opens early, at 07:00 every day. From April to September it closes at 20:00; from October to March it closes at 18:00, and the last entry is at 17:00.

The rules are stricter than in many parks. Vehicles of any kind are not allowed, including bicycles, so leave bikes and balance bikes at home. Dogs are not allowed either, and you can’t reserve picnic tables, so arrive early at weekends if you want one. Noisy activities, walking on flowerbeds and climbing over fences are banned.

Portugal With Kids lists a café, public toilets and free parking; the park service’s own pages show a café but don’t list opening times, so bring food and water.

The Parque Biológico de Gaia in Avintes is the same council service’s wildlife park, with a woodland trail past Portuguese animals. Closer to the river, the Teleférico de Gaia cable car runs above the port wine lodges. In summer, the seawater pools at Granja are on Gaia’s coast.

Is Parque da Lavandeira free?

Yes. Entry is free.

Can you take a bike or scooter to Parque da Lavandeira?

No bikes: the rules ban vehicles, including bicycles. Leave scooters at home too, to be safe.

Are dogs allowed in Parque da Lavandeira?

No. The park rules don’t allow dogs.

What time does Parque da Lavandeira open?

At 07:00 every day. It closes at 20:00 from April to September and at 18:00 from October to March, with last entry at 17:00 in winter.