The city of seven hills has a surprising number of options when it comes to running. I’m not averse to the odd hill run but am more at home on the flat if given the choice.

Run Clubs

Ok, full disclosure up front, I love running and tried out some running clubs both before and since moving to Lisbon but have come to realise that running for me is a solo pursuit. That’s no shade on the run club phenomena that seems to be thriving in Lisbon – there are tons of clubs run clubs most notably, Lisbon Running Community, Rookie Run Club, Ele Ela Run Club. I’ll admit I haven’t tried them all but those I have were full of genuinely nice, very sociable people. You can find something for every day of the week, check their socials, but last I looked, these clubs run along the waterfront at these times/days:   

·       Rookie Run Club: Wednesday evening & Saturday morning  

·       Lisbon Running Community: Tuesday evening, Thursday evening (track), Saturday & Sunday morning

·       Ele Ela: Friday morning

Running Routes

Praca do Commercio to Caxias

If you’re in the solo run camp like me, there are a few great routes I’d recommend. First and foremost is the waterfront from Praca do Commerico past Belem and onto Caxias. This route can give you a good 12+km in each direction, is flat and for the most part, doesn’t have the headache of cars and crossings to contend with. Whatever time of day you go, you’ll find heaps of other runners – and bikes/scooters – out on the route. The only thing to bear in mind is that it’s a. unshaded so it gets toasty in the summer, and b. can be crowded with tourists towards Belem, especially if you go during the day. The beauty of this route, aside from the flat path and waterside views, is that you can run a decent distance in one direction before turning back.

Jardim Estrela

Looking for something short and sweet, a few laps of Jardim Estrela might be just the ticket. A loop of this park is approx. 400m so not a great spot if you need to get the distance in, but ideal for interval training. The shade is also a bonus.

Green Corridor

Starting at the top of Parque Eduardo, this running/cycle route offers a 1.5km downhill route before reaching the main road which connects you to Parque Florestal de Monsanto.

Parque Florestal de Monsanto

If trails and hills are more your thing, head up to Monsanto. There are tons of routes to choose from giving you the option to get some decent distance in, whilst embracing the green lung of Lisbon.

Marvila to Parque Tejo

5km of flat waterside running on a pedestrian/cycle path. Start at Parque Infantil do Braço de Prata and head out towards Jardins do Tejo, passing the Aquarium and MEO arena on your way. This area is usually a bit busier than other areas of the route, but the crowds don’t last for long.

Estoril to Cascais

A slight cheat to include this one given its not Lisbon but it deserves a special mention for those days when you fancy a dip in the sea post run. The pedestrian path between Praia do Tamariz close to Estroil and Cascais offers a pleasant 3km each way.