Centro de Artes do Espectáculo de Portalegre
Alto Alentejo
Overlooking Praça da República is Portalegre’s major performance space, hosting fado singers, rock, jazz and acoustic groups, as well as dance and theatre…
Must-see entertainment in Portugal
Portimão
Reached via an arched stone tunnel off Rua Professor José Buísel, this charismatic backstreet bar is Portimão's best venue for live music, with weekend…
The Douro
This handsomely restored theatre and cultural space hosts a wide range of programmes throughout the year, from children’s puppet shows to classical…
Funchal
Funchal's grand, late-19th-century main theatre (there were once five!) is the place to head for high-brow entertainment, including classical music, fado,…
Vila Nova de Gaia
Lisbon and Coimbra may be the spiritual home of fado, Portugal's unique brand of melancholic folk music with guitar accompaniment, but you'll find decent…
Belém
The CCB presents a diverse program spanning experimental jazz, contemporary ballet, boundary-crossing plays and performances by the Portuguese Chamber…
The Beiras
Guarda’s shiny theatre complex, a boxy modern building of greyish-green glass just south of the historic centre, regularly hosts high-quality theatre,…
Ribeira
Follow the strains of fado to this traditional, highly atmospheric tavern, with live fado at 9pm from Wednesday to Saturday. There is a minimum…
Boavista
FC Porto's worthy cross-town rival, Boavista FC's home turf is the Estádio do Bessa, which lies just off Avenida da Boavista. Check the local editions of…
Braga
One of the most dazzling theatres in the country, inside a grand fin-de-siècle building, where you can catch concerts, theatre and dance, with offerings…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Focusing on tomorrow’s performing-arts and music trends, Zé dos Bois is an experimental venue with a graffitied courtyard and an eclectic line-up of…
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Inside a small theatre, the 50-minute nightly shows here feature high-quality fado – a male and a female singer and two guitarists – and they're held…
Aliados & Bolhão
This frayed, yet still stylish, art deco theatre hosts major gigs as well as grand theatre and dance productions. If something big is going on down here,…
Miragaia
A sure-fire hit with the kids (but not only aimed at children), this puppet theatre specialises in shows that range from fairy tales, such as Cinderella,…
Lagos
Lagos’ main venue for performances stages everything from choirs and live music gigs to theatre, opera, comedy and dance, and also hosts contemporary-art…
Trás-os-Montes
The boxy Teatro Municipal hosts high-quality music, theatre and dance shows, plus afternoon performances for children. There’s a multiscreen cinema next…
Parque das Nações
Sporting an energy-efficient zinc roof, this UFO-shaped arena is Portugal’s largest, hosting big international acts Adele, Lady Gaga, Beyoncé and more.
Baixo Alentejo
This cinema and theatre hosts regular concerts, dance performances and film screenings. A programme guide is available at the theatre’s box office.
Aveiro
Celebrating over 125 years at the heart of Aveiro’s cultural scene, this historic theatre stages regular concerts, dance performances and plays.
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
This early-20th-century gem stages an assortment of national and foreign productions. You can buy tickets online at the foundation's website.
Teatro Nacional de Dona Maria II
Baixa & Rossio
Rossio’s graceful neoclassical theatre has a somewhat hit-and-miss schedule. Guided tours on Mondays (except August) are at 11am (€8).
Guimarães
This converted old cinema/cultural centre draws a student crowd for its range of events, from live performances to DJs to film screenings.
Porto
The Estádio do Dragão is home to Primeira Liga heroes FC Porto. It's northeast of the centre, just off the VCI ring road.
Lisbon
Culturgest’s experimental and occasionally provocative line-up encompasses exhibitions, dance, poetry, music and theatre.
Parque das Nações
Teatro Camões is home to the Portuguese National Ballet Company, which is under the artistic direction of Paulo Ribeiro.
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
Petiscos (tapas), vinho (wine) and live fado keep the good vibes flowing at this intimate little bar.
Teatro Académico de Gil Vicente
Coimbra
This university-run auditorium is an important venue, staging a varied programme of theatre, cinema, dance and music.
Bairro Alto, Chiado & Cais do Sodré
This venue stages opera, ballet and theatre.
Funchal
Funchal's large English Church, the epicentre of British expat life, seems to be used more for live music and various other events than for Christian…
Parque das Nações
The sibling rival of Estoril, Lisbon’s own slick casino aims its chips at a younger crowd. Forget the James Bond–style tux, the dress code here is smart…
Trás-os-Montes
This slick, modern building, in a park-like area across the Corgo from the city centre, stages high-quality dance and theatre performances, along with…
Alto Alentejo
Next door to the Museu Fotográfico João Carpinteiro, this arts venue stages concerts, plays and other performances. In late 2018, it also began screening…
Lisbon
This state-of-the-art 50,000-seat stadium is the home of the Sporting Lisbon football team and the Sporting museum (tours run four times daily at 11.30am,…
Trás-os-Montes
Chaves’ cultural centre stages regular concerts, plays and other events, most of them free of charge. For details on current shows, see the monthly Agenda…
The Douro
Although there isn’t a lot going on in Foz Côa, the Centro Cultural hosts concerts, temporary art exhibitions and film screenings throughout the year. It…
Évora
Just outside the old city walls, this large arena hosts big-name fado concerts, motocross, bullfighting and other events. It lies near the Jardim Público.
The Minho
Behind the Museu dos Terceiros, the galleried Teatro Diogo Bernardes, built in 1893, is the pride of the town, with interesting music and theatre…
The Algarve
Set over two levels, this small, well-known casino, midway along the esplanade in the Hotel Algarve, has nine gaming tables with blackjack, roulette etc,…
Alto Alentejo
Classical concerts are held in the chapel of the Paço Ducal on the last Friday of the month at 9pm year-round (except in December, when the concert is…
Lisbon
The national stadium, part of the Jamor national sports complex, hosts the Portuguese Cup fotball final each May. Take the train from Cais do Sodré to…
