Gay Travel Guide Lisbon

News & Events in Lisbon

| September 19, 2008 till September 27, 2008
12th Lisbon Gay and Lesbian Film Festival: 19 – 27 September 2007.
It is said to be the biggest gay and lesbian film festival in Europe regarding the number of screened movies and involved cinemas.
-› www.lisbonfilmfest.com

| November 19, 2008 till November 24, 2008
ARTE LISBOA 2008 – Contemporary Art Fair: 19 – 24 November, at Lisbon’s Parque das Nações.
-› www.artelisboa.fil.pt

About Lisbon and its gay life

Since the 1990s Lisbon (Lisboa) became one of the new hot-spots for travellers in Europe. Vivid, small and steep historical streets, modernised areas, extensive nightlife till early morning, a fresh breeze from the sea even in hot summers make Lisbon a pleasant place for relaxing, sight-seeing and going out all altogether.

Gay life also became very European. While some of the gay bars and clubs in the Principe Real area still remind a bit of times of hiding behind doors with bells, the old Bairro Alto district has a very visible gay life at night. In Bairro Alto it is pleasantly difficult to say which bar, cafe, restaurant and club is gay or gay-friendly or ›hetero-friendly‹ or whatever.

Close to Lisbon you can also spend your time at the beach, whether you like your beach busy or quiet. South of Lisbon at Costa da Caparica there is a long, popular beach. Coming from Lisbon by car or bus (take the metro to Praça de Espanha, then the bus to Costa da Caparica) first there are family and conventional beaches. The further south you go the trendier and more nudist the beaches and the crowd become. The beaches are connected by a small train – for the gay beach get off at beach 17 and walk till beach 19 which also has a gay frequented bar. You will notice the cruising in the dunes. After sunset the beach and the dunes are rather unsafe and empty (last train back goes at 7).