Jardins do Palácio de Cristal

Peacocks, roses and a river-view terrace

Hours: Open daily; stays open later in summer
Tickets: Free
Address: Rua de Dom Manuel II, around the Rosa Mota Pavilion

Walk round the back of the domed pavilion and the garden drops away down the hill. Peacocks stroll along the middle of the paths, and people step aside for them. Past the rose garden and the scented beds, a terrace at the southern edge shows the Douro, the Dom Luís I bridge and the port lodges of Gaia across the water. Entry is free and there are plenty of benches, so it works well as a rest after a day on the city's hills.