Guide to Route 717: from Picoas and Areeiro to the Alta de Lisboa and Fetais parks

Guide to Route 717: from Picoas and Areeiro to the Alta de Lisboa and Fetais parks

With a route connecting Praça do Chile to Fetais, Route 717 crosses residential areas, shopping districts, sports facilities, museums, and some of the most interesting green spaces in northern Lisbon.

The journey begins in a central and busy area, near Praça do Chile and Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques, and continues through Areeiro and Alvalade, neighborhoods known for their wide avenues, local shops, restaurants, and public facilities. In this first section, the route also passes along Avenida dos Estados Unidos da América and Avenida de Roma, areas with a strong local character and good places to take a break.

Further on, the route takes on a cultural and university-oriented character in Campo Grande, with access to gardens, museums, and leisure facilities. Route 717 then heads toward Lumiar and Alta de Lisboa, where large urban parks, walking areas, and social spaces come into view. In the final section, between Charneca, Galinheiras, and Fetais, the route becomes more residential and peripheral, while still offering squares, gardens, and community facilities.

Notice: distances to the route are approximate and estimated from the coordinates of the route and the stated stops. The indicated frequency was calculated from the supplied data: 87 departures in the Praça do Chile–Fetais direction on weekdays, 86 on Saturdays, and 84 on Sundays and public holidays; in the Fetais–Praça do Chile direction, there are 99 departures on weekdays, 84 on Saturdays, and 83 on Sundays and public holidays.

Alameda Monumental Fountain

Right at the beginning of the route, Route 717 leaves passengers just a few minutes from Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques, one of Lisbon's major monumental spaces. The extensive avenue, lined with trees and lawns, is marked by the Monumental Fountain, also known as the Luminous Fountain, which closes the visual axis beside Instituto Superior Técnico.

The location is well suited to a short walk, an outdoor break, or a photographic stroll. The combination of the fountain's monumental scale, the avenue's open space, and the surrounding architecture gives this section an atmosphere different from that of the city's more densely built-up areas.

• 📍 Location: Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques, beside the Monumental Fountain, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Alameda D. A. Henriques, about 200 meters away.
• 🏷️ Category: Square, garden, and urban attraction.
• ⭐ Distinctive feature: Monumental ensemble with a large tree-lined avenue, lawns, and a fountain with a strong architectural presence.

Alvalade Norte Market

Alvalade Norte Market is a recommended stop for those who prefer to discover Lisbon through its everyday commerce. The facility brings together traditional market stalls, shops, services, and food establishments, maintaining a close relationship with Alvalade residents and those traveling along the neighborhood's avenues.

It is a practical option for buying food products, observing local routines, or taking a break during the journey. Unlike large shopping centers, the market offers an experience more closely connected to the neighborhood, daily provisioning, and the close relationships that still characterize many Lisbon districts.

• 📍 Location: Avenida Rio de Janeiro, in the parish of Alvalade, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Av. Rio Janeiro / Av. EUA, about 300 meters away.
• 🏷️ Category: Market, traditional commerce, and food establishments.
• ⭐ Distinctive feature: A combination of stalls, shops, services, and food offerings in a neighborhood facility.

May 1 Sports Park

Near the Estádio 1. Maio stop, the May 1 Sports Park, associated with INATEL, is a reference point for sports activities and outdoor events. The site hosts competitions, gatherings, and programs that enliven the Alvalade area throughout the year.

Even when no major competition is scheduled, the surroundings are worth visiting for anyone who enjoys following the city's sporting life. The stadium and the complex's facilities help explain the active and community-oriented character of this part of Route 717.

• 📍 Location: INATEL area, beside the 1 May Stadium, Alvalade, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Estádio 1. Maio, about 100 to 300 meters away.
• 🏷️ Category: Sports, events, and leisure.
• ⭐ Distinctive feature: Sports complex designed for competitions, races, recreational activities, and community programs.

Dr. Mário Soares Garden, in Campo Grande

Dr. Mário Soares Garden, formerly Campo Grande Garden, is one of the largest green spaces accessible by Route 717. Covering approximately 13.4 hectares, the park includes lawns, large trees, a lake, picnic areas, a children's playground, a fitness circuit, sports facilities, and food establishments.

It is one of the best stops on the route for getting off and taking your time. The garden allows for different kinds of outings: a long walk along tree-lined paths, a break beside the lake, an afternoon with children, or simply a few minutes of rest between Avenida do Brasil and Campo Grande.

• 📍 Location: Campo Grande, parish of Alvalade, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Campo Grande - Av. Brasil, about 100 meters away.
• 🏷️ Category: Urban park, leisure, and outdoor activities.
• ⭐ Distinctive feature: Large green area with a lake, picnic areas, children's playground, dog park, food establishments, and sports facilities.

Bordalo Pinheiro Museum

Located in Campo Grande, the Bordalo Pinheiro Museum is one of the route's most interesting cultural stops. The institution is dedicated to the work of Rafael Bordalo Pinheiro, a well-known Portuguese artist, ceramicist, and caricaturist known, among other creations, for the character Zé Povinho.

The collection includes drawings, caricatures, ceramics, written works, and other evidence of the output of one of the most creative figures in 19th-century Portuguese art. The building, designed at the beginning of the 20th century, also contributes to the experience, creating a relatively intimate and focused visit.

• 📍 Location: Campo Grande, 382, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Campo Grande (Metro), about 200 to 400 meters away.
• 🏷️ Category: Museum and culture.
• ⭐ Distinctive feature: Monographic collection dedicated to the creator of Zé Povinho, with a strong focus on caricature, ceramics, and graphic arts.

Lisbon Museum – Pimenta Palace

Also in the Campo Grande area, the Lisbon Museum – Pimenta Palace offers a broad interpretation of the capital's history. The museum occupies an 18th-century palace and presents exhibitions about Lisbon's formation, growth, and transformations, with archaeological pieces, paintings, drawings, engravings, and a large model of the city before the 1755 earthquake.

The complex also includes gardens and additional exhibition areas, making the outing interesting both for those seeking heritage and for those who want to combine culture with green space. It is a good choice for a more peaceful visit, especially when visitors want to get away from the tourist circuit concentrated in the historic center.

• 📍 Location: Campo Grande, 245, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Campo Grande Norte, about 300 to 500 meters away.
• 🏷️ Category: Museum, heritage, and urban history.
• ⭐ Distinctive feature: 18th-century palace, gardens, and an exhibition dedicated to Lisbon's historical development.

Quinta das Conchas and Lilases Park

In the Lumiar area, Route 717 passes beside one of the most complete green spaces on the route. Quinta das Conchas and Lilases Park covers approximately 24.6 hectares and combines three distinct settings: the broad central grounds of Quinta das Conchas, a denser wooded area, and Quinta dos Lilases, with a more secluded and romantic atmosphere.

The park offers lawns, trees, a lake, picnic areas, a children's playground, a dog park, food establishments, and a stage for performances. It is a versatile destination for families, runners, people who want to have a picnic, or visitors interested in exploring a green area with ecological and historical value.

• 📍 Location: Alameda das Linhas de Torres, Lumiar, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Qta. Conchas, about 100 to 300 meters away.
• 🏷️ Category: Urban park, nature, leisure, and events.
• ⭐ Distinctive feature: Great variety of landscapes, lake, woodland, picnic areas, family facilities, and outdoor cultural programming.

West Park, or Vale Grande Park

In Alta de Lisboa, between the Av. Carlos Paredes and Av. Nuno Krus Abecassis stops, West Park presents a contemporary and open urban landscape. Also known as Vale Grande Park, the space was created as part of the development of Alta de Lisboa and covers approximately 13 hectares.

The park is crossed by a watercourse and has a retention basin that uses rainwater to maintain the lawns and vegetation. For Route 717 users, it is an especially interesting option for walking, exercising outdoors, or observing how the area's urban expansion was accompanied by a new network of green spaces.

• 📍 Location: Around Avenida Nuno Krus Abecassis, Alta de Lisboa, Santa Clara.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Av. Nuno Krus Abecassis or Pç. D. António Ribeiro, about 100 to 300 meters away.
• 🏷️ Category: Urban park, sports, and leisure.
• ⭐ Distinctive feature: Modern landscape architecture, watercourse, retention basin, and fitness and exercise facilities.

Quinta Alegre Garden, in Campo das Amoreiras

In the Charneca area, Campo das Amoreiras offers an uncommon combination of public garden, neighborhood leisure, and historical heritage. The space is associated with Quinta Alegre, an old 18th-century recreational estate linked to the Marquises of Alegrete and known for its decorative features, such as murals, stucco work, and tiles.

The garden has a children's playground and fitness equipment, while the estate houses a residential facility operated by Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa and belongs to the municipal network A Theater in Every Neighborhood. It is a suitable stop for families and for anyone wishing to discover a fragment of the former landscape of estates that once existed on the outskirts of Lisbon.

• 📍 Location: Campo das Amoreiras, Santa Clara, Lisbon.
• 🚏 Nearest route stop/section and approximate distance: Campo Amoreiras, about 100 to 300 meters away.
• 🏷️ Category: Garden, heritage, family leisure, and neighborhood culture.
• ⭐ Distinctive feature: Proximity to a historic 18th-century estate, children's playground, and sports facilities.

For those who want to explore Lisbon without relying on a car, Route 717 works as an axis connecting different kinds of city: it begins in central and monumental areas, crosses the commerce and neighborhood life of Areeiro and Alvalade, passes through the cultural and green complex of Campo Grande, and ends at the large parks and community spaces of Alta de Lisboa, Charneca, and Fetais. With frequent departures in both directions, the best itinerary is to choose one or two stops at a time and combine walking, culture, shopping, and leisure along the route.

Sources

• Lisbon City Council — Quinta das Conchas and Lilases Park
• Lisbon City Council — West Park
• Lisbon City Council — Dr. Mário Soares Garden
• Lisbon City Council — Quinta Alegre Garden
• Lisbon City Council — Alvalade Norte Market
• Lisbon City Council — Lisbon Museum, Pimenta Palace
• Visit Lisboa — Bordalo Pinheiro Museum
• Lisbon 2023 — Alameda Dom Afonso Henriques
• Lisbon City Council — May 1 Sports Park