Expo & Renewal

This very spot marks one of Europe's most dramatic urban transformations. Where you stand was once a contaminated industrial wasteland of oil refineries, slaughterhouses, and abandoned factories that poisoned the Tagus riverfront for decades. In 1998, Portugal hosted a World's Fair that changed everything. Expo '98 ran from May to September, welcoming over 10 million visitors from 143 countries under the theme “The Oceans: A Heritage for the Future.”

The timing celebrated 500 years since Vasco da Gama's voyage to India, putting Portugal's maritime heritage on the global stage. The project required massive infrastructure investment. Engineers constructed the 17 kilometer Vasco da Gama Bridge, then Europe's longest, stretching across the Tagus estuary. A new metro line finally connected this forgotten eastern district to the city center. Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava designed the stunning Oriente Station, its glass and steel canopy resembling a grove of towering trees.

After 132 days, exhibition pavilions were converted into permanent landmarks. The Oceans Pavilion became the Oceanarium, now Europe's second largest aquarium. The Utopia Pavilion transformed into the Altice Arena, hosting major concerts and events. Parque das Nações grew into a thriving neighborhood of 25,000 residents, with multinational companies like Microsoft and Vodafone establishing headquarters along its modern avenues.