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…
Must-see entertainment in Portugal
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…
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…
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.
Guimarães
This converted old cinema/cultural centre draws a student crowd for its range of events, from live performances to DJs to film screenings.
Lisbon
Culturgest’s experimental and occasionally provocative line-up encompasses exhibitions, dance, poetry, music and theatre.
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.
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…
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,…
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,…
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…
Teatro Municipal Sá de Miranda
Viana do Castelo
Viana do Castelo’s cultural epicentre, this pink-washed neoclassical theatre hosts a regular lineup of music, theatre, dance and the occasional opera.
