Lisbon and surroundings has been an alluring gay destination since at least the 18th century when writer William Beckford escaped a homosexual scandal in England and moved to Sintra. Today, after decades under a homophobic dictatorship and despite the power of the Church in ultra-Catholic Portugal, Lisbon has slowly come out of the closet.

The upbeat nightlife, balmy climate, charming and lively outdoors atmosphere, sandy beaches nearby (including a predominantly gay beach), great cultural attractions, and intimate setting of pastel colors and narrow streets create a gay-friendly ambience that has turned the city into an increasingly popular gay destination.

On the whole, it is a fairly modern and accepting city (gay marriage became legal in Portugal in 2010), although the country remains one of the most closeted in Western Europe. As anywhere else in the world, you'll find the occasional person that frowns upon homosexual couples and families, but Lisbon is a very welcoming city to gay travelers and gay/lesbian sex is legal from the age of sixteen.

The gay scene is thriving, and as João Soares (a former mayor) wrote in the preface of the first Lisbon Gay & Lesbian Guide (often available at the "Welcome Center" in Comercio Square), Lisbon is increasingly a place of "freedom, tolerance and creative restlessness."

GAY HANGOUTS
Some of the city's most popular bars and clubs such as "Lux" (the best club in the city whether you're gay or straight) and the very underground "Kremlin" attract a large gay crowd, and you don't need to go to strictly gay hangouts to meet gay locals -- a number of cafés in the Chiado district are popular meeting points for everyone ("A Brasileira," "Benard", and "Café no Chiado"), as well as the Armazéns do Chiado shopping mall.

Chiado is one of the "gayborhoods" of the city, along with Bairro Alto, and Principe Real. These are very inviting areas with a myriad of restaurants, bars, bookstores, antique shops and clubs. The atmosphere is relaxed and laid-back, and everyone is free to be and act themselves.

There is also a number of gay-friendly restaurants, particularly in Bairro Alto, such as "Império dos Sentidos," "Pap'Açorda," "Põe-te na Bicha," and "Sinal Vermelho."

The beaches south of the city are also popular gay hangouts in the summer months, especially that of Meco, and one known as "Beach 19," for being the nineteenth stop of a toy train that runs by most beaches of the shore known as "Costa da Caparica" (reached by bus from Praça de Espanha uptown).

GAY EVENTS
Like most major world cities, Lisbon hosts the annual Gay Pride Festival every June (called "Arraial Pride"), with a march down Avenida da Liberdade and celebrations throughout the city. Another annual event is the Gay and Lesbian Film Festival that takes place in September, screening around 100 films from all over the world.

AT NIGHT
Click here for a list of mixed or predominantly gay bars and clubs.
Also check out "Trombeta Bath" (Rua do Trombeta, 1C) or "Spartacus" (Largo Trinidade Coelho, 2), both in Bairro Alto if you're looking for a sauna, and see our lists of hotels, hostels, and apartments for all accommodation choices.

GAY HOTELS
For gay-friendly hotels, check availability at:

• My Rainbow Rooms is a gay bed & breakfast in a very central location.
• Pouso dos Anjos Gay Hotel is a gay hotel just minutes from the city's main squares.
• Palacete Chafariz D'el Rei Hotel is a beautifully restored palace romantically hidden in the city's medieval neighborhood and is known as a very gay-friendly hotel.
• Bairro Alto Hotel, a boutique hotel located in Camões Square, the meeting point for Lisbon nightlife and shopping, right at the doorstep of the gay bars of Bairro Alto.
• Vincci Baixa - stylish modern hotel located downtown, within walking distance to pretty much anywhere.

OR
• Stay in the privacy of your cool, fully furnished apartment in the center of the city, and at cheaper prices than most hotels. Search apartments here.

Also take a look at our shopping guide and our detailed information on all the sights to ensure that you'll have a gay old time in this captivating city.

CURIOUS FACT As in most other countries, many of Portugal's greatest artists and historical figures were known or were suspected to be gay. Both Vasco da Gama and Ferdinand Magellan are believed to have had homosexual relationships during their voyages at sea, while the country's greatest modern poet Fernando Pessoa, wrote some homoerotic verse in English (especially in the long poem "Antinous"), never married and was known to have close friendships with openly gay writers. Other prominent gay Portuguese include: Mario Cesariny, Portugal's top surrealist painter who spoke about his sexual encounters with Portuguese sailors in the semi-biographical documentary film "Autografia;" António Variações, Portugal's most popular pop singer in the 1980s, and Mario Viegas, a renowned 20th century playwright and actor.

Stay at one of Lisbon's GAY HOTELS, or at a modern, central apartment, offering the privacy you won't find at hotels! See also a list of gay and lesbian bars and clubs!