Festival

Lisbon Carnaval

There is much festivity in this celebration before Lent. The district of Loule has the best parades while Lisbon, Nazare, Ovar and Viana do Castelo all throw spectacular parties.

City guide

Overview & visitor information

There is much festivity in this celebration before Lent. The district of Loule has the best parades while Lisbon, Nazare, Ovar and Viana do Castelo all throw spectacular parties.

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Moda Lisboa

Activity

A four day fashion week, where Portuguese designers show off their latest collections on the catwalk.

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Dias da Musica

Activity

If you love classical music you cannot miss this three day event where world renowned orchestras perform at the Centro de Belem.

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Indie Lisboa

Activity

A ten day filmathon, that presents independent movies, documentaries and short films to the city’s screens.

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Alkantara Festival

Activity

A solid fortnight of innovative theatre that claims to be the cutting edge in theatrical performance.

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The wackiest race you may ever see, this event is held in the district of Alfama. Competitors race across the cobblestone streets, negotiate hairpin bends and perform gravity defying jumps, all to get downhill to win the crown.

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Rock in Rio

Activity

The city’s biggest and loudest biannual music festival, Rock in Rio takes over Parque da Bela Vista with previous acts including Metallica, Bon Jovi and Lenny Kravitz. The Cidade do Rock spins wild electronica.

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Festa do Fado

Activity

A festival that is dedicated to the musical genre of fado: music traditionally characterised by the mournful tunes and lyrics lamenting the life of the poor or the nature of the sea (however the music can be about anything but must form a certain structure to be classed as fado). Fadistas perform in the illuminated Castelo de Sao Jorge but you can watch free fado performances on trams every Thursday and Sunday of this month.

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Festa de Santo Antonio – 12th-13th June

Activity

One of the city’s festivals of the country’s annual Festas dos Santos Populares, this festival heralds lots of feasting, drinking and some arraiais (street parties) which can number up to 50! Given his reputation as a matchmaker, St Anthony also inspires Lisbotas to declare their love by giving manjericos (basil plants) along with poems – if you’re feeling particularly amorous, you can be part of the 300 or more couples that can get married for free!

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Festa de Sao Pedro – 28th-29th June

Activity

Another of the city’s festivals for the Festas dos Santos Populares, this event, with numerous river processions, is a huge celebration of all things seafood (St Peter being the patron saint of fishermen).

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BaixAnima – weekends from July to September

Activity

A summertime event in Baixa that hosts free circus acts, live music, improvised theatre and mime on the weekends.

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What to do with Children in Tow

Activity

The great thing about Lisbon is that it’s full of the little things that can delight a child: the bumpy rides on the yellow trams to acting out dungeons and dragons at Castelo de Sao Jorge. In fact Lisbon is one of the most family-friendly cities around with free or half-priced tickets, small portions at restaurants and free transport for children under five. The best place to start their adventure is Parque das Naples where they can run around; nearby is Oceanario (

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Miradouro de Santa Catarina

Sight

Found in boho Santa Catarina, this viewpoint boasts views from the river to the Ponte 25 de Abril and Christo Rei not to mention student buskers, hippies and loved-up couples. If you are coming from Cais do Sodre, take the 19th century Elevador do Bica funicular up the Rua da Bica de Duarte Belo to get to the top. Noobai Cafe is located there where it is lovely to sit back and watch the view, especially at night.

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Torre de Belem (Belem Tower)

Tower

If Padrao dos Descobrimentos is the monument to Portugal’s Age of Discovery then Torre de Belem symbolises the essence of it. Almost like a stand-alone chess piece, the tower was built to be a defence point along Lisbon’s harbour with Manueline designed filigree stonework and even a stone rhinoceros below the western tower. You can explore the small dungeons and climb the narrow, rickety staircase to the tower which offers beautiful views of Belem and the river.

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Ponte 25 de Abril

Bridge

You would swear this bridge is almost a dead ringer for San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge – in fact it was constructed by the same company in 1966 and is almost as long, stretching at 2.27km. Concerning the unusual name, the bridge was called Salazar after the dictator until the 1974 Revolution of Carnations when a demonstrator separated the ‘Salazar’ and wrote ‘’25 de Abril’ – the new name was adopted almost as quickly as the dictatorship dissolved later on.

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Mosteriro dos Jeronimos

Religious institution

Built to herald the success of Vasco da Gama’s discovery of a sea route to India in 1498, this monastery is a beautiful structure, definitely wrought for ‘the glory of God’. This place was first occupied by monks under the Order of St Jerome; on dissolving in 1833, the building was used as a school and orphanage until 1940. Once you enter the church, after marvelling at the intricate stonework, you’ll find Vasco da Gama’s tomb in the lower chancel towards the left, celebrated poet Luis Vaz de Camoes is interred on the opposite. The view of the church from the upper choir is outstanding and the rows of seats are decorated with the first Renaissance woodcarvings ever found in Portugal. The Manueline cloisters are an eyeful of elaborate craftsmanship while you can also see the cross of the Military order and gargoyles in the upper balustrade.

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Padrao dos Descobrimentos (The Discovery Monument)

monument

This amazing monument was officially inaugurated in 1960, marking 500 years after the death of Henry the Navigator’s death. Standing at 52m high and carved out of limestone, this statue pays tribute to all the famous people within Portugal’s Age of Discovery: Henry stands at the prow followed by Vasco da Gama, Diogo Cao and over thirty over great explorers. The mosaic in front of the monument is a chart of all the routes the explorers took. To get to the top you can take a lift or, if you’re feeling fit, climb the 267 steps to get 360 degree views of the river.

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Palacio da Assembleia da Republica (Assembly of the Republic)

Building

Almost a temple, with its columns and statues symbolising justice and fortitude, this is where Portuguese parliament convene. While you can’t go in, it’s worth just to see the outside decor.

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Museu da Marioneta (Puppet Museum)

Museum

This magical museum is housed in the 17th century Convento das Bernadas and showcase all sorts of puppets the world over. There are familiar favourites like Punch and Petrushka but there are also Vietnamese water puppets, Sicilian opera marionettes and Burmese shadow puppets. The museum also offers workshops where children can try their hand at puppetry.

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Basilica da Estrela

Churches

Completed in 1790 by Dona Maria I (her tomb is here) in gratitude for the male heir, this neoclassical church is a beautiful mix of pink and black marble. Opposite is the Jardim da Estrela (7am-midnight) which is a great garden to relax in, along with a playground for the children.

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Elevador de Santa Justa

Tower

Looking at this neo-Gothic elevator you would swear you’ve seen something like it before – that’s because it was designed by Rual Mesnier, the apprentice of Gustave Eiffel. The only vertical street lift in the city, get in early to beat the crowds and go to the top to experience all-encompassing views of the city.