Parque Verde da Várzea

The Parque Verde da Várzea is the main town park of Torres Vedras, on the south-west side of the city. It covers nine hectares on land that the council says grew vines from at least the Middle Ages into the 20th century, and was later used for the monthly market, the São Pedro fair, football matches and even bullfights. When the fair moved elsewhere in 1999, the council could build the park, which opened on 23 April 2004.

It’s free and open-air. For families the draw is that everyone gets something: a big playground for small children, a zip line, water jets to run through in warm weather and, since November 2025, a rebuilt skate park for older kids.

The playground was one of the park’s most used parts from the start. When the council refurbished it, it replaced ten pieces of play equipment and the safety surfacing underneath, repaired the zip line and split the space into five zones for a wide range of ages. The council listed slides, swings, a skate simulator, educational games and a piece of equipment for children with reduced mobility.

That refurbishment dates from the park’s 12th anniversary (around 2016), so equipment may have changed since. If the zip line is running, keep younger children well back from the landing end.

Among the park’s features the council lists a square with a reflecting pool and water jets (jogos de repuxo), and the original plans included a sequential “cybernetic” fountain. In summer these are a good reason to pack a towel. The rest of the park is wide lawn, seating areas and paths, with an outdoor gym, a fitness circuit, an amphitheatre and an open sports court with stands and changing rooms.

When the park was built, the Ribeira de Alpilhão, the stream that crosses it, was given back a more natural course and trees and lawns were planted. The Centro de Educação Ambiental (environmental education centre) moved in 2013 to a purpose-built building in the south-west corner of the park. It has run a week of summer workshops for children called the Oficinas do Parque with the council’s science and art services. Check the council’s agenda for current dates.

The skate park was one of the first things built here. In May 2025 the council closed it for four months of works, and it reopened on 23 November 2025 after a full rebuild costing about €150,000. The works were done by A-PARK, whose riders gave demonstrations at the reopening, with prizes for the best tricks.

The rebuilt park covers 1,500 square metres. The council describes a varied set of obstacles, with ramps, handrails and walls, and says it can host national competition circuits. It’s for skateboards, BMX bikes and roller or inline skates.

The council’s rules are clear and worth reading to children before you go:

• Access is free, subject to the rules.
• Helmets, elbow pads and knee pads are compulsory.
• No vehicles other than skateboards, BMX and skates may be ridden inside. Scooters aren’t on the list.
• No eating or drinking inside the skate park.
• Take care in the park and on the paths around it, and respect other users.
• The council doesn’t recommend the skate park for children under 6.

If your child is just starting out, pick a quiet moment, and teach them to wait their turn at the top of a ramp and look before rolling in.

The park has car parks and a restaurant building by the lawns (the council notes the Roots restaurant opened there in 2017; check it’s still trading before relying on it). Changing rooms are attached to the sports court. Bring sun cream and water in summer, because much of the park is open lawn, and a change of clothes if the water jets are running.

In town, the Piscinas da Física are Torres Vedras’s pools. The life-size models at Dino Parque Lourinhã are a short drive north. The Lourinhã skate park is another free concrete park for keen skaters.

Is the Várzea park in Torres Vedras free?

Yes. It’s a public council park, and the skate park is free to use under its rules.

Can children ride scooters in the Torres Vedras skate park?

The council’s rules allow only skateboards, BMX bikes and skates inside the skate park. Scooters aren’t on the list.

Is there a playground for toddlers?

Yes. The playground is split into zones for different ages, with swings and slides for small children.

Do you need a helmet at the skate park?

Yes. Helmets, elbow pads and knee pads are compulsory under the council’s rules.

When did the skate park reopen?

On 23 November 2025, after works that began in May 2025.