"Parque das Nações" Grand structures and architecture Tip by rsilva

Parque das Nações (Park of the Nations) is located east of Lisbon on the banks of the Tejo (Tagus) river.
When Lisbon was chosen for Expo 98, this formerly almost abandoned and decadent area was completely transformed into a very modern and stylish (in my opinion) "Park". The project for the "urban upgrade" of this neighbourhood started in 1993 and lasted until after the Expo 98. Just a few months before the opening, and by the look of things, almost no one believed it would be finished in time and, amazingly enough, work progressed 24 hours a day and the Expo opened almost as planned (there were still some piles of building materials scattered all over the place).

The expo itself was quite successful with record official presence of 160 countries and international organizations and over 10 million visitors.

When the expo ended, the area was transformed into a modern business, residential and entertainment area. As a visitor, you can find many interesting features like the "Oceanário" aquarium and "Pavilhão da Utopia" concert/sports hall, the Vasco da Gama shopping center, etc. There are also quite a few restaurants and nightclubs that are particularly active in the Summer.

Many of the buildings/structures inside the Park received awards and commendations for their outstanding architectural features.

Although it is located outside the center of Lisbon, it can be easily reached by metro (Estação do Oriente - Red line) and is a very enjoyable place to spend some time. It is also a good place to visit if you have children as there are quite a few attractions (many in the form of outdoor decoration, like the "volcanoes" or the "waterfall").

Directions: Metro station "Oriente" - Red Line
Website: http://www.parquedasnacoes.pt/