Gay Lisbon and LGBT Guide


Rainbow flag at Lisbon City Hall

The rainbow flag at the Lisbon City Hall on International Day Against Homophobia


Lisbon is known as a gay-friendly destination, especially since 2010, when Portugal became the sixth European country to approve same-sex marriage. The Portuguese capital’s special allure has always attracted gay travelers, like William Beckford and Lord Byron in the 18th and 19th centuries, but it’s still a discreet city when compared to Barcelona or Madrid across the border. The Portuguese are tolerant people, but apparently remain uncomfortable with public displays of affection, so it’s rare to see a gay couple holding hands on the street or saying goodbye with a kiss. But there’s a so-called "gayborhood,” Príncipe Real , which has a memorial to the victims of homophobia and which, together with neighboring Bairro Alto , offers several gay bars and clubs.

The pleasant weather, the beautiful setting, the beaches, culture and handsome tanned looks are other attractions for the gay visitor, and there’s an increasing number of special LGBT-related events and parties. The biggest of them all is the Queer Lisboa film festival in September, and there’s always Gay Pride in June.
On sunny days, from May to October, the destination is beach 19, the "gay beach" in Costa da Caparica , and at any time throughout the year the get-togethers happen at the many cafés in Chiado , around Rua Garrett and at the Armazéns do Chiado shopping mall.
At night, it all starts with dinner in Bairro Alto followed by drinking on the streets, especially where Rua da Barroca meets Travessa da Espera, while others prefer to head up to the bars in Príncipe Real. This is where the night usually ends, at a club, often at sunrise.


Gay Monument, Lisbon

Memorial to the victims of homophobia at the garden of Príncipe Real.





Bars

Lisbon eats late, so drinking usually only starts after 11PM. The bars in Bairro Alto are for those who like to mingle with the crowds, while those in Príncipe Real are for relaxing in quieter surroundings. The most popular drinks are XXL caipirinhas and mojitos, in addition to draught beer (called “imperial”) at inviting prices. Many of the bars in Príncipe Real target the bear community, but attract all kinds of crowds, often hosting special theme nights and events.


106

Rua de São Marçal, 106-108 (Príncipe Real)
213 427 373
Opens every day
facebook.com/Bar106-223435263803

Sunday nights are especially popular at this small-but-upbeat bar, found down a quiet street (ring the bell to get in). That's when its "message party" takes place, allowing you to flirt through written messages as you sit or stand with a drink.
This is also an attractive stop on Friday and Saturday nights for crowds young and not-so-young, before heading to a club.


Bairru's Bodega

Rua da Barroca, 3 (Bairro Alto)
213 469 060
Opens every day
facebook.com/Bairrus-Bodega-100637160007601

This bar serves Portuguese wine by the glass and is known to attract lesbians. You'll listen to Portuguese music and enjoy cheese and hams in the rustic-style interior, or stay outside by the door, where the tables made from wine barrels are sometimes placed.


Bar Cru

Rua de São Marçal, 170 (Príncipe Real)
93 830 6078
Opens every day
www.barcru.net

In 2012, it took over the space of one of Lisbon's oldest gay bars. Since then it has hosted theme nights with dress code (often an "undress code").


Purex

Rua das Salgadeiras, 28 (Bairro Alto)
213 428 061
Closes on Mondays
facebook.com/purexclub

This welcoming bar is known for a gay-friendly ambience, especially among lesbians. There's no sign (it's simply distinguished by a bright orange door), but everyone easily finds it whenever they want a laid-back Bairro Alto bar that also allows some dancing in its small area. Some weekend nights offer live DJs.


Shelter

Rua da Palmeira, 43A (Príncipe Real)
969 373 097
Opens every day
www.shelterbarlisboa.com

Unlike most other bars, this one opens in the afternoon. It hopes to be a spot for after-work drinks, but also where you go at night to relax with friends and to make new friendships. The colors of the "bear" flag decorate the interior, but it’s open to all communities and sexual orientations. It usually plays music from the 80s and Eurovision, and serves craft beers, gins and cocktails.


Tr3s

Rua Ruben António Leitão, 2A (Príncipe Real)
213 463 012
Opens every day
www.tr3slisboa.com

It's the only bar with outdoor seating and the favorite of older men, who chat to the sound of pop music from the past three decades. It's also open in the afternoon.


Clubs

When you feel like dancing, the gay clubs are in Príncipe Real. The dance floors only get going past 2am or 3am, and the music is usually a mix of house, electro house and the big pop hits.


Construction

Rua Cecílio de Sousa, 82 (Príncipe Real)
213 428 971
Opens on Fridays and Saturdays, at midnight.
instagram.com/constructionlisbon

For decades, this was one of Lisbon's oldest gay bars, but in 2012 it became a club originally for the "bear" community. Today, it welcomes all kinds of men, with dance music and fun until dawn.


Finalmente

Rua da Palmeira, 38C (Príncipe Real)
213 479 923
Opens every day at 12:30am
www.finalmenteclub.com

Known for its drag shows, this club has a small, dark interior, but fills up for the performances and nights of drinks and house music that attract gay men of all ages.


Trumps

Rua da Imprensa Nacional, 104B (Príncipe Real)
915 938 266
Opens on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays
trumps.pt

Trumps is a legendary club, and not just for the gay community. It was the first big gay club in Portugal (and remains the largest), and was known to host the wildest parties in town in the 1980s. Today it's still home to some special events and parties, but has become much more mainstream, and even straight-friendly. About a quarter of the crowds are gay women, while the rest is made up of gay men and a few straight friends. There are two dancefloors -- a large and dark one to move to house and the latest dance mixes, and a smaller one for classic pop tunes and gay anthems (yes, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Britney...)
For a calmer atmosphere, there's a lounge area by the entrance.


Saunas

The number of saunas has been declining, but the quality has gone up. They’re now cleaner and attract all age groups.


SaunaApolo56

Rua Luciano Cordeiro, 56A
926 136 808
Opens every day
facebook.com/saunapolo56.pt

It calls itself a club, a sauna, bar and spa for "the relaxation and pleasure" of the LGBT community, but is also "hetero-friendly." There's a Turkish bath, dark rooms and other spaces for the fulfillment of desires and fantasies.


Trombeta Bath

Rua do Trombeta, 1C (Bairro Alto)
216 095 626
Opens every day
www.trombetabath.com

This sauna found in the center of Bairro Alto opens in the afternoon and stays open until past dinner, making it a destination for any time of the day. The interior is minimalist but colorful, with 17 private cabins, Turkish bath, bar, and dark room.


Events

Gay Pride, Lisbon

Gay Pride festival in Lisbon

Lisbon hosts one of the biggest LGBT film festivals in Europe, and there are other events throughout the year, especially between spring and autumn.


Gay Pride

Rainbow flags and gay pride march down Avenida da Liberdade every June, followed by after-parties on the same day or on the following weekend. It usually takes place in the city's largest square (Praça do Comércio), and you can always expect lots of music and a colorful atmosphere.


Queer Lisboa

Lisbon's gay and lesbian film festival is one of the largest of the kind in Europe (it's also the city's longest-running film festival). It screens over 100 national and international LGBT-themed films every September, and awards prizes for best feature, best documentary and best short.
Website: queerlisboa.pt


Beaches

Gay Beach 19, Costa da Caparica

Beach 19 on Costa da Caparica

The beaches popular with gay locals and travelers are to the south of the city. The first one is Beach 19 , about 30Km south, largely nude and mostly gay. Further south is Meco , mixing straight and gay naturists. These don't have a party atmosphere like Mykonos , they're very peaceful and surrounded by nature. You can enjoy nice sunny beach days from late April to October.

LGBT Tour

If you’d like to know more about LGBT Lisbon and have fun around the city while meeting new people, join a tour that takes you around the two main “gayborhoods,” providing historical and curious information like 17th-century cruising sites, how the Inquisition dealt with gay men, how lesbians battled 1950s censorship, anecdotes from 19th-century sex work, how the first drag shows started, how Pride is different in Portugal, how LGBT rights were established in Portugal – and end with a pub-quiz and a party. For more details and bookings see Queer Lisbon - a Treasure Hunt in LGBTQ History

Gay and Gay-Friendly Hotels

The Late Birds Hotel - Gay Urban Resort, Lisbon

- The Late Birds - Gay Urban Resort
- Bairro Alto Hotel
- Palacete Chafariz d'el Rei
- Solar dos Mouros