Markets, parks and events in Olaias, Lisbon
One of Lisbon's biggest parks and its late-August festival, the Alameda and its 1948 fountain, the Mercado de Arroios and free library events: what's on near our Olaias residence.
Photo: Alexkom000 · CC BY 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Olaias is quiet day to day, but it sits between two of east Lisbon's big open spaces: the Alameda to the west and Parque da Bela Vista to the north-east, one metro stop away. Walking times are from our Olaias residence.
Parque da Bela Vista
Parque da Bela Vista is one of the largest parks in Lisbon, second only to Monsanto by Time Out's count. Its southern edge is about 11 minutes on foot; the main lawns by Bela Vista metro are about 20 minutes, or one stop east on the red line. Free and open to all, good for running, picnics and sunset.
Late August: MEO Kalorama
MEO Kalorama is a three-day music festival in Parque da Bela Vista, and the 2026 edition (28 to 30 August, with Deftones and Robbie Williams) drew about 100,000 people. The organisers say it returns to the park at the end of August 2027. Tickets are paid. During the festival the metro runs late: in 2026 Bela Vista and Alameda stations stayed open until 03:00 or 04:00.
One thing people still get wrong: Rock in Rio Lisboa no longer happens at Bela Vista. Since 2024 it has been at Parque Tejo, by Parque das Nações.
The Alameda and the Fonte Luminosa
About 8 minutes away, the Fonte Luminosa stands at the top of the Alameda's long lawn. Inaugurated in 1948, it has sculptures by Diogo de Macedo and Maximiano Alves. The lawn below is where students from Técnico and the nearby faculties sit out in the sun. While you're at it, look around Olaias metro station itself: it opened in 1998 for Expo '98, designed by Tomás Taveira with art by Pedro Cabrita Reis and others.
Markets
The Mercado de Arroios (about 12 min) has fresh produce and fish stalls in the mornings, Monday to Saturday from about 07:00 to 14:00 according to its listing, and restaurants that stay open later. It also hosts occasional community markets of makers and small producers, as in December 2025 and March 2026; see markets and events in Arroios.
Free events and June
- •Biblioteca da Penha de França (about 20 min): a free programme of talks, reading meetings and family activities, on the BLX agenda.
- •Santos Populares: in June every parish throws a street party. The nearest we found is Penha de França's, at the Mercado de Sapadores (about 30 min on foot), free to enter; in 2026 it ran from 9 to 12 June. Arroios has its own too.
For food and coffee, see where to eat in Olaias and cafés and places to work in Olaias.
Frequently asked
When is MEO Kalorama?
On the last weekend of August, in Parque da Bela Vista, one metro stop from Olaias. The 2026 edition ran from 28 to 30 August, and the organisers say it returns at the end of August 2027.
Is Rock in Rio still in Parque da Bela Vista?
No. Since 2024 Rock in Rio Lisboa has been held at Parque Tejo, by Parque das Nações. The festival at Bela Vista now is MEO Kalorama.
How far is Parque da Bela Vista from Olaias?
Its southern edge is about 11 minutes on foot from our Olaias residence; the main lawns are about 20 minutes, or one metro stop to Bela Vista.
Rooms in Olaias
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Arantes e Oliveira Residence
Arantes e Oliveira Residence
Arantes e Oliveira Residence
Arantes e Oliveira Residence
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