Best Ways to Enjoy Lisbon’s Nightlife

Best Ways to Enjoy Lisbon’s Nightlife

When done properly, Lisbon’s nightlife can be a true buffet for the senses. No matter what your preferred night out looks like, the Portuguese capital can provide. 

Lisbon by night – by Susanne Nilsson – Wikimedia Commons

In Lisbon there is something for everyone, whether you seek a quiet drink at a conceptual bar, or a blackout rager that gets you to bed well after the sun has risen. No matter where you land up, you’ll want to keep the following tips in mind to make for the best possible enjoyment of Lisbon’s nightlife. Take note:

Don’t Jump the Gun

Nightlife in Lisbon kicks off a lot later than most people expect. Don’t get me wrong, bars and nightclubs will welcome you with open arms from early on in the evening, but the real enjoyment only hits deeper into the night. 

My point? There’s no reason to rush to your chosen bar or club the minute the sun sets. You’ve got time, and the part will go on until the early hours of the morning whether you like it or not. 

Bairro Alto nightlife – by Aapo Haapanen – Wikimedia Commons

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Take your time on a night out in Lisbon; make the most of it. Book a spot for dinner with friends, eat a decent meal, line that stomach well, and then slowly make your way to the party once everyone is good and grounded. You’ll have a lot more fun if you can kill the first few hours elsewhere, trust me!

Know Your Scene

Being a nightlife buffet comes with its pitfalls. Too much variety can be overwhelming, especially for people who are visiting from out of town and don’t necessarily know the lay of the land. 

In Lisbon, it’s important to get really clear on exactly what you want out of a night out, and source accordingly. If cramped streets filled with wasted youngsters isn’t your cup of tea, you’ll probably want to avoid the hype that is Bairro Alto. If nightclubs don’t do it for you, you probably won’t enjoy partying in the suburban regions. 

LX Factory entrance – by Shadowgate – Wikimedia Commons

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Get really clear on what kind of outing you’re looking for, and allow the best possible options to find you from there on. 

Google is Your Friend

Now that you’re clear on what it is you want our of your night out, it’s time to hit the Google feeds. Here you’ll be able to gage each venue option a little better, based on the thousands of feedback comments left on the public searches. 

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God bless all those who have come before you, who will save you from missioning to a divey jazz bar with a fancy website, only to find that it stopped being a hit back in 2002 and haven’t updated their menu since long before that. 

If there’s something to be aware of about a particular nightlife spot in Lisbon, Google will tell you!

Download a Transport App 

Lisbon is a relatively small city, and there are things to do in all corners, particularly come nighttime entertainment. The trouble is, a lot of clubs, theaters and fado venues are somewhat “remote”, in that if you’re staying in the city center it will be a considerable journey to get to them. 

Since they are usually well worth it, no one pays much mind to the distance. That is, until it’s 3 o’clock in the morning and there is no way to get home. 

by Mika Baumeister – Unsplash

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Lisbon’s metro doesn’t run through the night; the final train is at 1am, and thereafter you’re on your own. Most people underestimate just how difficult (usually impossible) it is to find a taxi in the suburban areas in the early hours of the morning. 

My advice? Download a Lisbon-friendly transport app before you leave the house. Get it over with, so you’re not left stranded. I recommend MyTaxi and Uber. I also recommend having Citymapper on your phone for the duration of your time in Lisbon, as it can be a life saver when there is no option left but to walk!

Think Footwear

Speaking of walking, one needs to take footwear on a night out quite seriously in Lisbon. Why? Incase you haven’t heard, this is a walking city through and through, and while no one is going to make you venture anywhere on foot against your will, you might find your night out can stagnate if you aren’t able to. 

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Lisbon by night – by Naval S – Wikimedia Commons

Neighborhoods like Chiado, Cais do Sodre and Bairro Alto are made up of narrow streets and cobblestones. The nightlife is such that very few people stay in one place for the entire evening; one is meant to move about, seeking out the next best drink, DJ or ambiance. 

A lot of the time, Lisbon’s party scenes actually land up spilling out into the actual streets, especially in the summer when it’s simply too hot to be inside. When this happens you’ll be grateful you wore your comfy shoes. 

Be Prepared to Party Hop

On a similar yet different note, when in Lisbon, one should mentally prepare to party hop on any given night. It’s not always guaranteed, but very often the night takes its own path and you’ll very much be taken along for the ride. 

Lisbon nightlife – by Mike_fleming – Wikimedia Commons

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This is particularly true if you’re partying amongst Portuguese locals who know the scene. You may meet in a bar, where they’ll persuade you to stroll with them to the “club nearby”. There, you’ll drink the night away before sauntering into another nearby bar together, “for a nightcap”. Suddenly, someone will suggest an afterparty at their house, and next thing you know you’re on the morning metro trying to get back to your Airbnb, shoes in hand and ache in head. 

Welcome to Lisbon!