When it comes to nightlife, Lisbon delivers. There are many great things to do in Lisbon at night, whether you love dancing or prefer laid-back socializing with a few close friends. Multicultural, artistic, and progressive, it’s possible for anyone to find fun things to do. Here are our favorite nighttime haunts and activities.

Experience fado at Tasca do Chico

Fado is the soul of Portuguese culture expressed through music. We think one of the best venues for fado is Tasca do Chico. Keep in mind that there are two locations, so choose the one that better suits you. Tasca do Chico in Bairro Alto is perhaps a bit more lively, but that means it’s more crowded too. Tasca do Chico in Alfama offers a more personal touch. Either way, get ready for a moving night of hauntingly beautiful singing and plenty of wine. Don’t forget to order a couple of petiscos, too (Portugal’s take on tapas).

Enjoy a drink with a view

When looking for things to do in Lisbon at night, rooftop bars are a no-brainer. Park is a trendy restaurant and bar that is found on the top level of a parking garage.  In addition to stunning views, Lumi Rooftop Bar offers a menu full of forward-thinking dishes utilizing the freshest organic produce. Smaller and cozier, TOPO in Martim Moniz is another great place to spend your evening.

The options are near endless, however, and many of Lisbon’s neighborhoods are home to at least one cool rooftop bar.

Book a moonlit tour

Book a night tour through some of the city’s most beautiful landmarks. There are possibilities for a range of interests and budgets. Let a local guide you toward amazing fado and dinner or drive you to the popular sites. Lisbon’s Facebook groups for expats and locals occasionally share upcoming dates for guided night tours to the main miradouros (viewpoints). It’s beautiful during the day, but Lisbon is extra special at night when the lights are twinkling and music floats down the narrow alleys.

Enjoy a long dinner with friends

Meals are not rushed in Portugal. It’s completely normal to sit at a restaurant for two to three hours. Before exploring all of the fun things to do in Lisbon at night, take your time to taste the local flavors. Alfama, Chiado, Bairro Alto, and Príncipe Real are four popular neighborhoods where you’ll find a plethora of restaurants. You can also skip the tourist path by heading to a local-filled tasca in Graça or São Vicente.

Attend a concert at MusicBox

MusicBox is a hybrid bar/concert hall venue that most residents visit at least once. Find the entrance under the bridge on Rua Cor-de-Rosa in Cais do Sodré. The music rotates and you can hear everything from pop to rock and various African styles. A few hours (or longer) at MusicBox is easily one of the top things to do in Lisbon at night.

Plan a bar crawl through Bairro Alto or Príncipe Real

Much of Lisbon’s nightlife can be summed up in two words: Bairro Alto. Composed of hilly streets lined with bars and restaurants, this is arguably the city’s liveliest neighborhood after the sun goes down. The fun continues into Príncipe Real, but the energy is slightly different. Bohemian and mainly budget-friendly, Bairro Alto typically attracts more of a younger crowd. Príncipe Real is where you’ll find trendy tapas restaurants and elegant cocktail bars near antique shops. These are also Lisbon’s top LGBTQ+-friendly neighborhoods.

Visit Lisbon’s pink street

Once Lisbon’s “red-light district,” Rua Nova do Carvalho had a makeover and is now another trendy street filled with a myriad of bars and clubs. It is locally known as Rua Cor-de-Rosa or Pink Street because it is painted pink. Get there around sunset and stay to see how the night unravels. Here, you have some of the city’s popular bars and clubs like Pensão Amor (the burlesque decor hints at the building’s past as a brothel), MusicBox, and Europa (one of the Lisbon’s oldest dance clubs).

Grab your pals and head to Lisbon’s trendy clubs

Speaking of clubs, Lisbon is home to unforgettable nightclubs. Of all the bucket-list-worthy things to do in Lisbon at night, visiting Lux Frágil should go at the top. Part-owned by American actor John Malkovich, Lux Frágile is a world-renowned club inside a former warehouse with a rooftop bar facing the river in addition to the spacious indoor dance floor. Make sure to dress appropriately to get through the entrance. Other cool clubs include the waterfront K Urban Beach Club, the open-air Lust in Rio, and Barrio Latino when you’re looking for salsa or African styles.

Dance under the stars

During the weekends, groups gather outside to dance to music like Brazilian forró and kizomba, a dance originally from Angola. On most Friday nights (weather pending) you’ll find forró at the Jardim de Lisboa Antiga in São Bento. The dancing begins at 8 p.m. and lasts until midnight. During the summer months, the number of events that are designed to keep locals outside skyrocket, even at night.

Sit at a miradouro and take in the beauty of the city

At the end of a long day, sit and relax at one of the miradouros and enjoy the twinkling lights that blanket the city at night. Two of the more beautiful spots are the Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara in Bairro Alto, where you’ll see over the city to the Castelo de São Jorge and the river, and the Miradouro das Portas do Sol with views over Alfama.

Update notice: This article was updated on February 27, 2024. 

No matter how much time you have in Lisbon, there are certain things you can’t leave without seeing. On our Best of Lisbon Walking Tour, you’ll check all of them off your list over the course of one fascinating day. Get early access at the Jerónimos Monastery, enjoy a relaxing river cruise with spectacular views of the city, explore the heart of Lisbon’s neighborhoods, and savor some delicious Portuguese classics (including the original custard tarts!).