Lisbon Gay Travel Guide 2025
Upcoming Events in Lisbon
16:30/17:00 @ Marquês de Pombal > Terreiro do Paço
@ Saldanha > Marquês de Pombal > Avenida da Liberdade > Terreiro do Paço
Accommodation Tip
Lisbon 1250-004
About Lisbon and its gay life
Since the 1990s Lisbon (Lisboa) became one of the new hot spots for travellers in Europe. It was European Capital of Culture in 1994, in 1998 the World Expo was held in Lisbon and in 2004 the European Football Championship.
Vivid, small and steep historical streets, modernised areas, an extensive nightlife till early morning and a fresh breeze from the sea even in hot summers make Lisbon a pleasant place for relaxing, sightseeing and going out altogether.
Lisbon's gay scene also became very European. Especially in the Príncipe Real area and in the old Bairro Alto quarter you can find a very visible gay life at night. In Bairro Alto it is pleasantly difficult to say which bars are gay or gay-friendly or hetero-friendly or whatever.
Annual gay highlights and big events in Lisbon are
the Bear Pride in May,
the Marcha do Orgulho LGBTI and Arraial Lisboa Pride in June,
the film festival Queer Lisboa in September
and the huge technology conference
Close to Lisbon you can also spend your time at the beach, whether you like your beaches busy or quiet. South of Lisbon there is a long, popular beach at Costa da Caparica. Coming from Lisbon by car or bus (take the metro to Praça de Espanha, then the bus to Costa da Caparica), first there are the family and conventional beaches. The further south you go, the trendier and more nudist the beaches and the clientele become. In summer, the beaches are connected by a small train – for the gay beach get off at beach 17 or at beach 19 which also has a gay-frequented bar and some cruising in the dunes. After sunset the beach and the dunes are rather unsafe and empty. The last train back leaves at 7 p.m. (More info and photos)