Lisbon is a city that likes to party late with bars getting busy post 11pm and weekend clubs lasting all the way until 6 in the morning.
Lisbon has a mild climate year-round making it an attractive getaway whatever the season and offers great value for money
Lisbon and its surrounding towns have always been attractive to gay boys from around the world. The city effortlessly blends the old with the new and Lisbon is very welcoming of Gay Visitors. While the percentage of gays in the closet is still quite high, the city is noted for its “freedom, tolerance and creative restlessness”, as noted in the city’s official tourism guide dedicated to the gay visitor.
Lisbon is small compared with other national capitals with a city population of around 600,000,but what it lacks in size it makes up for in atmosphere and liveliness. Transport is quick and efficient with a network of buses, metros and trams covering the city. Taxi’s are cheap. The airport is just 7 kilometers from the centre of the city and a costs EUR 15 for a taxi or less than EUR 2 for the metro.
For first-time visitors to Lisbon, the city can seem rather elusive, but once you’ve dispensed with tourist must-dos, like taking the rackety Number 28 tram up to 12th-century Sé Catedral and Moorish Castelo de São Jorge, you can get acquainted with the real Lisbon. In terms of tourist attractions Lisbon has nothing to rival the palaces, museums and churches of Paris or London, but with its laid back daily life and buzzing gay scene after dark, it’s the perfect location for a fun packed weekend break.
The streets of Lisbon fill up after 10pm during the Summer Season making it easy to strike up a conversation with those famously hot Lisbon locals!
The Gay Districts
You may find it hard to put your finger on the city’s pulse, at first, because Lisbon’s pleasures are more clandestine than those of other world capitals.
The two main gay areas are the Barrio Alto and Príncipe Real. Barrio Alto is more mixed, touristy and popular for outside drinking amongst lots of people. Príncipe Real is where you will find the real gay heart of Lisbon and the busiest gay bars.
Barrio Alto
Bairro Alto. Meaning the “high quarter,” its undulating cobble streets became synonymous with nightlife in the mid-1800s, when Lisbon’s indigenous music style, fado, gained popularity among the area’s working-class inhabitants.
Like every lover of the nightlife, Bairro Alto is a late riser. Many of its shops don’t open until 2 P.M. during the week, and as late as 5 P.M. on Saturdays. For the rest of the day they lurk silently behind graffiti-covered grilles, like hung-over party boys who can’t face daylight without sunglasses.
After sunset, Bairro Alto gains a new vitality. Shop lights illuminate the neighborhood like lanterns, patrons of the numerous small bars naturally overflow onto the narrow streets, and groups of friends hover outside restaurant doors as they check out menu options. Most of the gay bars here are located on the popular gay street Rua Barroca. Etilico Bar is one of the more popular gay bars in the Barrio with go go boys, theme nights and talent shows. Setimo Ceu has great cocktails including mojitos, caipirinhas and caipiroskas.
When the boisterous Bairro Alto scene begins to subside, gay guys head to the adjacent Príncipe Real neighborhood, where the second tier of gay venues awaits.
Príncipe Real
Guys looking for some action should check out the naked parties in Bar Cru or go for drinks and cruise at Woof X. Those still not satisfied should head to The Cock for after hours fun or the sauna at Trombeta Bath. Entrance costs 14€ and 9€ for students
The bear scene in Lisbon is quite famous. The men are hot, hunky and hairy and Lisbon Bear Pride has become one of the must-do bear events in Europe. Bar Tr3s is the largest bear bar in Lisbon. Tr3s opens early every day (4pm), has a great outside seating area and it is the ideal bar to meet local guys. Nearby, Woof LX, gets busy from 11pm onwards during weekends.
Late night clubbers are spoilt for choice as Lisbon is a city that likes to party late! Go to construction for house music and built guys. Trumps is popular with younger guys and has rooms for pop and house. Trumps is open Fridays, Saturdays and any night before a bank holiday from 11:45pm until 6am. Finalmente is famous for its crazy dragshows while Lux is perhaps the best nightclub in town in terms of service and sound, but can be quite mixed. Finalmente is open every day starting at 12:30am until 6am with shows starting at 3am
Check the local bars for info on special one off events and parties. Regular visitors include the famous We Circuit Party and The Conga club which take place monthly during the Summer Season.
Lisbon has an eclectic gay nightlife. The bear scene is well established with Bars such as Tr3s and Woof LX catering to hairy guys and admirers. Meanwhile superclubs such as Trumps attract the young and the trendy with two dancefloors offering alternative music. Those still looking for more hardcore action can check out cruise bars such as Woof LX and The Cock.
Construction club is open on Friday’s and Saturdays with regular theme nights and guest DJs.
Popular gay bar with DJs and dancefloor. Drag shows at about 03:00. gets very busy with locals and tourists.
Trumps is a Gay and lesbian club playing a range of music in two different rooms, Commercial, Pop, R’n’B.
Woof LX is a very popular gay bar in the Príncipe Real area and attracts all types of guys and ages.
You will want to stay close to the gay districts so you should choose a hotel near Príncipe Real or Bairro Alto. Baixa and Chiado are also centrally located. From these neighbourhoods, you will be able to walk to the gay bars and clubs from your hotel. The closer to these historic districts, the easier and more convenient it will be for your trip to Lisbon. Despite the hills, the historic district is quite compact and it is possible to walk everywhere.
Hotels in Lisbon are cheaper than other larger European cities so you can get great deals on some luxuruy hotels. If you are on a budget, then Lisbon has great hostels located in some of the most historic buildings in the city. Many have been recently redecorated with a luxury feel.
Luxury and Location!
Located in the heart of the city, Lisboa Carmo Hotel features luxury rooms with classic and contemporary décor. The upper floors of the hotel offer views of the Tagus River and Lisbon’s old town. The popular Bairro Alto district is a 3 minutes’ walk away.
The stylish rooms have pastel coloured walls. Each is equipped with air conditioning, a flat-screen cable TV, minibar and a private bathroom with free toiletries. Some rooms have Saint Jorge Castle, city and Tagus River views. An in-room breakfast is available.
Gay run and operated
Located in Bairro Alto, in the heart of Lisbon Historical center, The Late Birds Lisbon – Gay Men’s Guesthouse offers an outdoor swimming pool, a garden, a sun deck and a lounge bar.
Each air-conditioned room at The Late Birds Lisbon includes a computer, a cable channel TV, free WiFi access and a private bathroom with a shower and free toiletries.
Charming Hotel – Convenient Location
Located in the heart of the triangle between Chiado, Baixa and Cais do Sodré districts, Lx Boutique Hotel offers themed rooms with unique views over Lisbon and Tejo River.
All Boutique Hotel elegant rooms are equipped with air conditioning, a mini-bar, and a private bathroom. There is an iPod docking station, LCD TV and free Wi-Fi in every room.
Perched on the coast of Portugal and steeped in a rich and diverse marine history, it’s no wonder that many of Lisbon’s attractions are of the aquatic variety.
Tower of Belem, One of Lisbon’s most photographed landmarks because of the decoration on its exterior. Its truly Magical!
The first Church to be built in Lisbon, the patron stain of Lisbon (St Anthony) was baptized and later buried here.
Visit the Baixa, or lower town, its narrow winding streets, quaint trams, stunning monuments and historical landmarks.
No trip to Lisbon would be complete without a tip to castle of st. George, sitting high on top of a hill looking down on Lisbon the views from this vantage point are spectacular
The historical heart of Lisbon can be seen today in the Baixa, or lower town, its narrow winding streets dominated by the Sao Jorge Castle. Not much remains inside the castle walls, but it is worth a visit for the stunning views over the rest of the city. You should also visit the nearby cathedral of Santa Maria Maior, more commonly known as the Se.
Because of the geographic location and topography of Lisbon, the city has some of the most stunning viewpoints or Miradouros. The hilly landscape gives you different views of the city and surrounding areas. Some of the best worth visiting include Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, Miradouro Sao Pedro de Alcantara and Miradouro da Graca.
A short train journey away is Belem, now a pretty suburb but once the starting point for Portugal’s globetrotting navigators and discoverers. The famous Torre de Belem graces a million postcards.
The lavish Jeronimos a Monastery is altogether more impressive, but the real highlight of any visit to Belem has to be the cafes selling Portuguese custard tarts, a specialty of the area. Best enjoyed straight from the oven with a strong black coffee, the queues outside the huge cafes are a testimony to the popularity of the sweet pastries with both locals and tourists alike.
The Baixa district in the centre of Lisbon is one of the most popular places for everyday shopping. Principe Real, the trendy gay district is where you will find designer shops, antique stores and quirky boutiques. Luxury brands and high end stores stretch along Avenida Liberdada. Foodies in Lisbon are spoilt for choice. Depending on the time of day, there are a wide range of restaurants to chooose from.
The best pastéis de nata in Lisbon! A must try
Cafe A Brasileira, something of a gay hangout in the early evening.
Mercado Ribeira is one of the city’s best markets
Gayloa next to Trumps with late night dining until 3am.
Conga Club
Conga Club is one of the best alternative parties in Lisbon. Mixed...
Construction Club
Construction Gay Club, Lisbon is open Friday and Saturdays – 00:00 to...
Finalmente Lisbon
Finalmente has been producing drag show spectaculars for over 40 years and...
