MONSTRA FESTIVAL
Bringing some color to the first days of spring will be Lisbon’s annual animated film festival. March 19 to 25 with productions from around the world.

PEIXE EM LISBOA
The city’s main gastronomic festival, naturally dedicated to seafood, takes place from April 12 to the 22nd.

INDIE LISBOA
For almost a decade the best independent films have been shown in Lisbon in what is now the city’s biggest film festival. This year it’s happening from April 26 to May 6.

WORLD PRESS PHOTO
The large temporary exhibition space of the Electricity Museum will once again reunite the best of the world’s photography and photographers. It takes place in April and May.

ROCK IN RIO-LISBOA
The self-dubbed “biggest musical festival in the world” returns to Lisbon in late May and early June with dozens of musical acts. Bruce Springsteen, Lenny Kravitz and Metallica have been confirmed. Ticket information here.

HARLEY-DAVIDSON RALLY
If you’re a fan or motorcycles, and particularly of Harley-Davidson, head to Lisbon’s coast in June for Europe’s biggest concentration of Harleys. You’ll see them from June 14 to the 17th by the sea in Cascais.

VOLVO OCEAN RACE
The beginning of summer will call you closer towards the beach with this sailing event on the coast of Lisbon.

OPTIMUS FESTIVAL
It’s one of the city’s biggest musical events every year, this time in mid-July. Confirmed so far are Radiohead and Mazzy Star. Ticket information here.

TALL SHIPS RACES
The world’s greatest ships will sail the waters of Lisbon July 19th to the 22nd.

OCEANS FESTIVAL
Lisbon’s award-winning citywide summer festival returns with sea-themed activities throughout the month of August.

100 YEARS OF INTERIOR DESIGN
The Portuguese architect recently selected to become the contemporary architecture curator of New York’s MoMA will also be responsible for a major exhibition in Lisbon this year. It will happen in September in the Design Museum and will focus on 100 years of interior design/architecture in the country.

QUEER LISBOA
Said to be Europe’s biggest gay and lesbian film festival, it’s showing gay-themed productions from September 21st to the 29th.

THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE
The city of Guimarães was Portugal’s capital for a brief period back in the 1100s, and in 2012 it will be European Capital of Culture. This well-preserved medieval city is one of Portugal’s dozen World Heritage Sites for its architectural and cultural treasures, and in the upcoming months it will present a calendar filled with major cultural events, from the classic fine arts to contemporary artistic performances. It will host national and international artists and will target cultured tourists to the north of the country.

THE EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF YOUTH
Taking advantage of its proximity to Guimarães, the baroque city of Braga will turn into the European Capital of Youth. The European Union selected this Portuguese city for its young population (35% of which is under 26 years old), and it will host the EU-Africa, EU-Latin America and EU-Arab Nations summits together with several events throughout the year with lots of music and festivals.

EUROPE’S NEW HISTORIC CITY
All the attention on Guimarães and Braga will be beneficial to Porto, the capital city of the north of Portugal. Tourists will find a rejuvenated old city which has been tastefully reimagined through careful renovations. Old bookshops and warehouses are now trendy cafés and restaurants, and the once-sleepy downtown is now a vibrant center day and night. This added to its reputation as a major wine destination and its magnificent setting by the Douro River has turned Porto into one of the fastest-growing European destinations. Of course the always-increasing number of low-cost flights has helped, but the number of upscale tourists has also increased, leading to the grand openings of two grand hotels last year — an InterContinental facing the city’s main square and the luxurious Yeatman across the river.

LISBON’S NEW ATTRACTIONS
Despite all the budget cutbacks, Lisbon will go on. The José Saramago Foundation will finally open in the landmark Casa dos Bicos after countless delays, presenting literary events and the Nobel Prize author’s library. Nearby, on Comercio Square, you’ll find a new museum related to the city’s post-1755-earthquake years with the fascinating story of how it rose from the ashes as a then-state-of-the-art city. Across the triumphal arch, you’ll find the ever-expanding Design and Fashion Museum with several new exhibitions, and in the Belém district there will be a new home for magnificent royal carriages.

LISBON’S MUSIC FESTIVALS
2012 is a year of Rock in Rio-Lisboa, the festival that takes place every two years with lots of major international stars. So far Lenny Kravitz, Maroon 5, Metallica and Bruce Springsteen have been confirmed but other big names will be announced soon and until the event which lasts for several days in late May and early June.
And let’s not forget the annual Optimus Alive festival on July 13, 14 and 15. This year it will bring bands like Radiohead and Snow Patrol among others to be announced.

THE EVENTS BY THE SEA
The Lisbon coast will host major international events in 2012. The Volvo Ocean Race will pass by the Portuguese capital in June before heading back into the Atlantic towards the Portuguese island of São Miguel in the Azores, eventually reaching the Brittany coast in France. A few weeks later the Tall Ships Races will be in town (July 19th-22nd), with a fleet of major ships moored by the historic center of Lisbon for a unique and magnificent sight.
Also happening on the Lisbon coast is the Estoril Open, the tennis tournament that will bring major players and lots of excitement in April and May.

MORE ACCESSIBILITY
EasyJet will have a new base in Lisbon starting in April, bringing thousands of extra tourists to the city. But that doesn’t mean that you’ll find Lisbon overrun with tourists, as it still doesn’t get the mass tourism of Rome or Paris. It simply means that you’ll have more flight choices and price ranges to bring you to Portugal. Also, starting in the summer, your hotel or apartment in the center of Lisbon will be even easier to reach, as the airport will finally have a metro station. Of course, if you prefer, you may still choose a private transfer.

LISBON’S NEW HOTELS
After a hostels boom, Lisbon’s accommodation choices expanded with central apartments that have become popular choices among tourists looking for extra privacy and lower prices. But there are also new hotels, starting with Fontecruz, a luxury boutique hotel right on the main avenue scheduled to open on the first days of the year. Then, later in the year we’ll see the conclusion of the landmark Sana Vasco da Gama Royal Hotel on the Vasco da Gama Tower.

ALGARVE HAS IT ALL
In the last few years Portugal’s southern province added an extra “L” to its name when promoting its tourist attractions. It became “Allgarve,” reminding tourists that this is not just a destination for beach resorts, but really a place that’s got it all, including cultural events and a variety of activities. While it’s been reported that it will no longer use the name “Allgarve”, the Algarve will continue to offer some of the best of Portugal together with all the tacky/mass-tourism-targeting attractions many know it for. Those who get away from the tourist path will find the best restaurants in the country (it has more Michelin stars than Lisbon) and some of the finest hotels which together with a rich calendar of events and sunny weather throughout the year, making it a perfect destination for a few days of leisure and relaxation.

AFFORDABILITY
The euro crisis is not good news for Europeans and especially for the Portuguese during these austerity days, but it’s great news for tourists! Portugal is hoping tourism will help its bank accounts, and to attract visitors it’s been lowering prices. In doing so it also hopes that the Portuguese will travel within their own country instead of going abroad, and for that reason 2012 will be a year of bargains. Even luxury accommodation is at a third of the price of elsewhere in Western Europe, so even if you’re used to mid-range accommodation in your European travels, you’ll be able to have an upgraded experience in Portugal for the same price!

So what if the weather won’t allow you to have the typical Lisbon experience (culture and beach)? Even if it rains, it won’t be freezing cold (even in December), and you’ll be able to catch some world-class temporary exhibitions that invite you to go indoors. Here’s what’s happening in Lisbon until 2012:

“THE ART OF WAR”
There are even more reasons to visit the free Berardo Museum. One of its temporary exhibitions (which can be seen together with the permanent collection) is a fascinating display of war propaganda. It includes over 200 original posters from the United States, Germany, England, France, Italy, Japan, and the former Soviet Union.

“FRIDA KAHLO – HER PHOTOS”
The City Museum presents a selection of 257 photographs from the Frida Kahlo Museum’s collection. Kahlo is recognized as one of the top female artists of all time, and these works served as a record and working tool. You can see it until January 29.

“THE PERSPECTIVE OF THINGS – STILL LIFE IN EUROPE”
The Gulbenkian Museum has put together works by some of the world’s major artists, including Picasso, Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh and Matisse. What each piece has in common is still life imagery. Some belong to the museum’s own collection, others are loans from other museums from around Europe. It’s all on display until January 8.

“THE WORLD OF DINOSAURS”
The Cordoaria Nacional building (found on the way to Jeronimos Monastery) is presenting a great attraction for families. It’s Europe’s largest dinosaur exhibition, allowing visitors to understand the natural setting of these extinct animals. Portugal is one of the countries with the most dinosaur fossils, found in the last couple of decades by the coastline north of Lisbon (a total of 25 dinosaur remains have been found). On display until January 1st are life-size replicas of these gigantic reptiles.

PAULA REGO’S NEW WORKS
The Paula Rego Museum in Cascais has added new works by Rego, considered one of Europe’s greatest living artists. They’re in two temporary exhibits (to be seen until December 31st) and include more than 100 iconic pieces from the permanent collection. It’s all free, and a must-see if you’re going by the sea in Cascais now that it’s no longer beach weather.

THERE’S A LOT GOING ON
After months at the beach Lisbon gets ready to enjoy city life again in the fall. There are the regular events that happen every year at this time (most of them film festivals), but 2011 is also a year of ExperimentaDesign, the city’s design biennale. It’s already happening throughout the city and will continue until November 27.
Also related to contemporary creativity is the upcoming Lisbon Fashion Week, taking place from the 6th to the 9th of October. Then come the film festivals, with the first one being DocLisboa dedicated to documentaries, from October 20th to 30th. Then in November is the Lisbon & Estoril Film Festival, taking place in the capital and in the seaside suburb of Estoril from November 4th to the 13th. At the end of that month is the annual contemporary art fair Arte Lisboa, from the 23rd to the 27th.

THE PRICES ARE INVITING
As soon as August is over, the prices for accommodation in Lisbon go down. September is still considered medium-high season, but after October you can even find a few 5-star hotels for around 100 euros. You may also find some special deals when booking online, and even more incredibly affordable are the many apartments in the center of the city which through GoLisbon are available for as little as €21.25 per person.

IT’S STILL WARM
It can be rainy in late October and November but may still be warm enough for a t-shirt. The forecast for the first two weeks of October show sun and temperatures in the mid-80s to high-70sF (25 to 30C). They won’t drop so drastically in the days after that, so expect mild weather until December when the rest of Europe will already be freezing.

September is probably the best month to be in Lisbon. The big August tourist crowds are gone, the weather is still pleasant, and the prices for hotels and apartments go down. Locals also go back to work, meaning there’s much more going on. There are several annual events taking place, and below is what is happening this year:

HORROR FILM FESTIVAL
Taking place in Avenida da Liberdade‘s Cinema São Jorge from the 7th to the 11th of the month, this horror film festival will screen features from the USA, Japan, UK, Belgium and Canada among other countries. There will also be international short films, including several from Portugal competing for the MOTELx Award.

COM’OUT LISBOA
There are several outdoor festivals and activities throughout the summer in Lisbon, and they don’t end in August. Until September 11 you’ll still find many outdoor activities throughout the city, from jazz concerts (on the 1st in Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcânatara or the 8th in Rossio Station) and other live performances (September 4th in Cais do Sodré and September 11 in Camões Square, both at 7PM).

VOGUE FASHION’S NIGHT OUT
Vogue magazine is organizing a special shopping event in the city. Stores (related to fashion, beauty and lifestyle) in the main shopping districts (Avenida da Liberdade, Chiado and Principe Real) will stay open from 7PM to 11PM, when it’s sort of after-hours happy hours. Some shops will have DJs and free drinks, inviting you to enter, browse, and perhaps buy something at special prices.

QUEER LISBOA
The 15th annual edition of the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival takes place between the 16th and 24th of the month. It continues to be one of the biggest gay film festivals in Europe, with dozens of films that were released within the last two years from all over the world. There are long and short features as well as documentaries, and the program includes other activities such as performing arts and installations.

EXPERIMENTADESIGN
This event happens every two years and is back in 2011. It’s the city’s design biennial, this year happening between September 28 and November 27. In addition to design, the special events also focus on architecture and “contemporary creativity.” For this edition there are 21 main events and around 50 related activities happening around the city. The headquarters will be a former courtroom building in Chiado (former Tribunal da Boa-Hora in Rua Nova do Almada).

It recently added half a dozen kiosk-cafés which together with the always-increasing number of sophisticated shops makes it one of Lisbon’s most attractive addresses. Now it’s introducing a number of activities and special events throughout the year, and especially during the summer. That’s Avenida da Liberdade, the grand central boulevard of the city, also home to many top hotels.
This is the result of a private organization made up of the local business owners, planning fashion shows, antique fairs, flower shows, and expanded opening times of the shops, especially on weekends.
Once a busy avenue where most of Lisbon went for a stroll, Avenida da Liberdade has been in decline in the past two decades, as everyone began to prefer the shopping malls. Now there is an evident rebirth of the area and these activities will help bring it back to its centuries-old place as the main meeting point of the city.
It all begins this Thursday with live music, then this weekend will bring an antiques and crafts fair which is to be repeated every second weekend of the month.
The following Thursday will be a night of Fado and the shops will remain open until 10PM, with some of them displaying precious pieces of art belonging to the collection of the Medeiros e Almeida Museum found nearby.
Also planned for the near future are classical music concerts, contemporary dance shows, photo exhibitions in the shops, and movie screenings in the open air on Mondays this August.
When the colder temperatures and the rain comes this winter the activities won’t end, meaning there is always a good reason to go down the avenue.

Rihanna, Within Temptation, Guano Apes

Lisbon’s Calendar of Events has just been updated with a list of concerts scheduled until the end December. Others will be announced throughout the year, but so far the names sure to attract the largest crowds are Bon Jovi and Rihanna. Other acts have also been announced to be part of the annual Optimus Alive Festival, which this year will have Coldplay, Foo Fighters, 30 Seconds to Mars and others on stage.
After the summer festivals the concerts continue, and there are already a few scheduled, including that of Within Temptation and Guano Apes.
For the list of all of Lisbon’s events (and ticket information) click here: Lisbon Events and Concerts.

UPDATE: See our permanent Lisbon Restaurant Week page.

From March 31st to April 9th there is another edition of Lisbon’s Restaurant Week which happens twice a year. Once again, a number of restaurants are creating special menus and donating one euro per person to charity. In oder to have this special menu (all at a reduced price) you must book in advance.
The GoLisbon-recommended restaurants participating in this edition are:

Clara Chiado
Chiado Unique
Eleven
Gemelli
Opaq
Panorama
Quinta dos Frades
Sofisticato
Sommer
Tágide
Varanda

If you’ll be in Lisbon in the next few weeks, there are some special events you may want to catch. Most of them happen every year, so if you return next year at this time, you’ll also be able to attend them. Those are film, music, and gastronomic festivals, but at the moment there is also a special art exhibition and the river cruises that start at this time of year and are offered throughout the summer months.

“MONSTRA” – THE ANIMATED FILM FESTIVAL
From March 21st to the 27th, this animated film festival will present long, short and “very short” features mostly from Europe, Asia and the United States. Most of the screenings will take place in the São Jorge cinema in Avenida da Liberdade, in the Cinema City Alvalade theater, and at the Gulbenkian Foundation. You can find all of the addresses and complete information on the website (click above).

“FISH & FLAVOURS”
Lisbon’s biggest gastronomic festival will happen on the 7th of April this year, and lasts until the 17th. As always, its theme is the art of cooking fish, and although full details haven’t yet been revealed, it has been confirmed that 13 restaurants and 12 chefs will be part of the event which will take place in the new Patio da Galé in Comercio Square.

“DIAS DA MÚSICA”
This year’s “music days” are April 15th, 16th and 17th. It’s an annual event celebrating Spring with a marathon of classical sounds. In total there will be 65 concerts in seven different spaces of the Belem Cultural Center, and tickets cost between 3.50 and 10 euros, depending on the auditorium. This year’s theme is Western music from “between the death of Richard Wagner and the end of WWII.”

THE GOLDEN AGE OF PORTUGUESE PAINTING
We said it was one of the things to do last December, but this exhibition has been extended to April 23rd. It’s being shown in the Ancient Art Museum, and it’s a collection of works from between 1450 and 1550, the time when Portugal was mapping most of the globe.
If you go on a Sunday until 2PM, you may see it all for free.

RIVER CRUISES
From April until the end of October you can always see Lisbon from the river. Take a cruise that goes past the city’s main monuments and under 25 de Abril Bridge, for some fantastic photos to always remember your trip.

Vasco da Gama Tower Fireworks
The Vasco da Gama Tower is currently closed and about to be turned into a hotel, but it will once again be one of the major New Year’s Eve attractions in the city. Sponsored by a local beer company, there will be a major fireworks show at midnight, rising up from the tower and reflecting on the river. It only lasts for about a couple of minutes, but before and after that there will be a celebratory atmosphere in the bars and restaurants nearby. That includes those of Casino Lisboa which will offer free shows.

Comercio Square Celebrations
The riverfront Comercio Square was renovated this year and since two of its sides were closed to traffic, it offers more pedestrian space. That space will be filled on the night of December 31st with concerts by Portuguese bands and with the lights of the fireworks at midnight.

At the Beach
Most Lisbon bars and clubs will naturally have special New Year’s Eve parties, but one that sounds extra special is at K Urban Beach. It’s one of the city’s hottest night time addresses, with a beachy atmosphere by the river. Its “Sakana” bar-restaurant will have a special sushi menu and you may already make your reservation by phone: 96 131 2721

Overlooking the Atlantic
K’s urban beach has sand and it’s by the water, but if you prefer a real, natural beach, you may choose to spend your New Year’s in Cascais. The Hotel Cascais Miragem which this year was distinguished with a Best Luxury Spa Hotel award, will have an open bar and a refined dinner service for a more sophisticated welcome to 2011. Sip a cocktail overlooking the Atlantic and relax — all you have to do is follow the semi-formal dress code of black attire.

Overlooking the City
Lisbon’s Sheraton is one of the city’s tallest buildings and its top-floor bar and restaurant will be among the best places to be on New Year’s. If you want to start with dinner, it includes a cocktail, a six-course menu, wine and champagne, open bar, the sounds of a DJ and views over Lisbon for 295 euros. A less expensive alternative is just 95 euros and doesn’t include dinner, but allows you to stay at the bar drinking all night, enjoying the DJ music and the city views.