Top 15 Attractions and Activities in Odivelas, Portugal

At the terminal of the Lisbon Metro’s Yellow Line, Odivelas is an outlying northern suburb of Portugal’s capital. It is home to a monastery founded by a 14th-century King, and nearby is the Monteiro-Mor Palace, which houses two remarkable museums amidst tranquil botanical gardens. The Metro provides convenient access to the northern parts of Lisbon, featuring a range of sports arenas, national museums, and shopping venues.

Travel a little further to reach the vibrant center of Lisbon, characterized by its colorful, intricate neighborhoods filled with boutiques and the melodic sounds of fado music, or stroll along the waterfront where historical figures like Christopher Columbus once docked their ships during the Age of Discovery.

Let us explore the best activities to engage in while visiting Odivelas:

1. Monastery of São Dinis de Odivelas

This site holds a significant portion of Portuguese royal history. Founded by King Denis I, a Cistercian monk, at the beginning of the 14th century, it showcases original Gothic elements in its cloisters, main facade, and surrounding chapels despite the damage incurred during the 1755 earthquake.

A prominent highlight is the Gothic tomb of King Denis, who passed away in 1325, along with his daughter Princess Maria Afonso, also interred within the church. The refectory, reconstructed in the 18th century, features decorative azulejos and an intricately designed wooden ceiling.

2. Parque do Monteiro-Mor

The Palácio do Monteiro-Mor is set within 11 hectares of beautifully landscaped grounds, featuring a lower botanical garden and a forested area on the hilltop. Established in the 1700s under Italian botanist Domenico Vandelli, the gardens exemplify a free English style, incorporating various fountains, boxwood hedges, and an array of flowers including roses and hydrangeas.

Additionally, the forest area boasts exotic tree species such as cypresses and giant sequoias from the New World.

3. Museu Nacional do Traje

As one of the two museums located in the Monteiro-Mor Palace, the National Costume Museum chronicles the evolution of fashion in Portugal from the 1700s to the present. The focus is primarily on women’s attire from the 18th and 19th centuries, showcasing meticulously crafted dresses and corsets that embody the style of the aristocracy.

There is also a selection of early 20th-century menswear that reflects the affluent Portuguese men’s penchant for silk and linen. The palace’s Rococo interior design enhances the exhibition with decorative tile panels and intricately molded plasterwork.

4. Museu Nacional do Teatro e da Dança

Situated in the modernized wing of the palace and inaugurated in 1985, this museum caters to the realms of Portuguese theatre and dance, celebrating its most renowned figures and productions. The extensive collection includes approximately 260,000 items displayed on a rotating basis, ranging from props, costumes, and posters to a vast archive of photographs dating back to the 19th century.

5. Exploring Lisbon

Using the Metro, you can reach destinations like Campo Grande, Saldanha, or Marquês de Pombal, where you can transfer to the Green, Red, or Blue Lines, providing access to the entire city. The challenge lies in deciding where to begin your exploration.

Lisbon boasts a plethora of world-renowned attractions and museums, such as the Oceanarium (Red Line), National Tile Museum (Blue Line), and the innovative Time Out Market (Green Line). However, much of Lisbon’s allure comes from wandering its streets on foot, discovering unique neighborhoods like Bairro Alto and Alfama, or enjoying the vibrant waterfront at Cais do Sodré.

Each district has enough offerings for at least a full day, revealing the extensive experiences awaiting you in Portugal’s capital!

6. Museu da Cidade

Another nearby historic estate is the Palácio Pimenta, commissioned by King John V in the 1740s. Although restrained in its exterior design with wrought iron balconies and classical pilasters, the interior is filled with a vast assortment of archaeological artifacts spanning from prehistory to the 1900s, along with paintings and exquisite tile panels enhancing the decor.

7. Estádio José Alvalade

Home to one of Portugal’s top three football clubs, Sporting Lisbon, this stadium is located just minutes from Odivelas. While Sporting may not have the record of success enjoyed by Benfica and Porto, it remains a formidable club with a history of 18 Primeira Liga titles and a cup championship in 2015. Many renowned players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Luis Figo began their careers here. With a capacity exceeding 50,000, the stadium’s tours include access to the museum, which showcases trophies and memorabilia from past stars.

8. Museu Bordalo Pinheiro

Located just a ten-minute Metro ride from Odivelas, this museum honors the celebrated 19th-century artist Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, known for his unique ceramic caricatures. His work often features whimsical designs depicting animals and human figures, showcasing the vibrant culture of 19th-century Portugal. The museum houses a significant collection of his ceramics alongside exquisite tiles, paintings, and sketches, presented in his son’s former residence.

9. Centro Colombo

Easily accessible by road, Centro Colombo is among the largest shopping centers in the Lisbon area and serves as a tourist attraction in its own right due to its architectural design reminiscent of the Age of Discovery. With 404 shops, visitors can find nearly everything they need, all within a convenient shopping environment that operates until midnight.

The center also features a “Fun Zone” for children and teenagers, equipped with various amusements including air hockey, table football, and an indoor rollercoaster.

10. Museu da Música

Adjacent to Centro Colombo is Portugal’s National Music Museum, which, akin to the theatre and costume museums, provides a treasure trove for enthusiasts of music. This museum houses one of Europe’s largest collections of antique musical instruments, exceeding a thousand displays that range back to the 1500s, featuring primarily European instruments but also including examples from Africa and Asia.

Among the rarities are a piano owned by Franz Liszt and a Stradivarius cello previously owned by King Luís I, both of which exemplify the museum’s dedication to preserving musical heritage.

11. Lisbon Zoo

While Odivelas is home to various specialized museums that may not appeal to younger visitors, the Lisbon Zoo stands out as an engaging attraction. Spanning extensive parkland in the northwestern part of the city, the zoo features over 2,000 animals from diverse habitats, including Californian sea lions, Madagascan lemurs, and gorillas.

Visitors can also enjoy a petting zoo with native farm animals and take advantage of a 20-minute cable car ride for scenic views over the zoo and the Lisbon skyline.

12. Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

The Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, established by the wealthy Armenian-Briton who played a significant role in Middle Eastern oil exploitation, houses an impressive art collection amassed in the early 20th century. From ancient artifacts of Egypt and Mesopotamia to a myriad of remarkable art pieces by Dutch and French masters, the collection is universally acclaimed and offers insight into human history and creativity.

13. Nossa Senhora Rosario de Fatima

As you navigate your way towards central Lisbon, you enter the Avenidas Novas (New Avenues) district, established during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Here, you will find the striking Art Deco church from the 1930s, a remarkable structure that resembles a set piece from a futuristic film, highlighted by the innovative stained glass created by artist José de Almada Negreiros.

14. Campo Pequeno

Another prominent structure in Avenidas Novas is the historically significant bullring built in the 1890s. Constructed from red brick in a Neo-Moorish style, the venue hosts not only bullfighting events—where the bull is not harmed—but also live music and major theater productions, making it a versatile cultural hub in the city.

15. Reservatório da Mãe d’Água das Amoreiras

Understanding Lisbon’s historic water supply challenges requires exploring the impressive engineering projects initiated in the 18th and 19th centuries. The Mãe d’Água reservoir is an architecturally stunning feature where the 19-kilometer-long Águas Livres Aqueduct deposited its water. Although it ceased to operate in the 1960s, visitors can explore its impressive Roman-style vaults, towering columns, and a deep water tank filled with crystal-clear water. Furthermore, there is an opportunity to traverse the aqueduct for stunning views from the elevated pathway.