Lisbon is becoming one of the hot destinations in Europe, and the nightlife has a lot to do with that. The city has a few hostels that are properly designed for those party-animals looking to make the most of Lisbon’s nightlife. Yes! Lisbon is even considered one of the 10 best party hostels in Europe. In the hostels we recommend you here you can expect crazy parties, like-minded guests in search for a good time, fun-packed Pub Crawls and a great friendly atmosphere.
Bairro Alto is the best area to stay if you want to know what is nightlife in Lisbon. In the daytime it is a pretty quiet area, but at night it gets crazy. It is filled with different clubs, bars, cafes and other cool places. So if other areas seem pretty empty it is probably because everyone is in Bairro Alto. There is always party atmosphere after midnight.
Lisbon's good weather and the outgoing character of its people are the most characteristics aspects of the nightlife. Offering many different options and environments for all tastes, you can start the night in one of the cool terraces around Parque das Nações, bar crawl your way through the trendy neighbourhood of Barrio Alto and end the night in one of clubs of Doca Alcântara.
Lisbon is not too big but doesn’t have all the party centralised in one area, as other small capitals in Europe. Instead, the city has the biggest clubs disseminated around the city and three very distinctive areas where to party, offering a different atmosphere in each one of them. The good news is that, as the city is not too big, it is not difficult to move around those areas to try everything the city has to offer.
Located in the old part of the city, Bairro Alto is a very trendy area that represents the centre of Lisbon's nightlife. The neighbourhood consists of a labyrinth of narrow streets with a large number of bars and pubs of all kinds, and it is mainly frequented by many young people around 20 to 30 years. Even though the party generally begins after 23:00, streets and bars in Bairro Alto are always full of people. Cool and interesting bars to visit are Tasca do Chico , Palpita-me , Clube da Esquina or Bicaense.
A party area with the same spirit as Barrio alto, but with a bit more of a classy atmosphere and also offering a good selection of clubs. If you are looking for dancing all night long, this is your best option in Lisbon. Clubs like Musicbox , Lounge , Europa , Jamaica , Viking , Roterdão or Toquio stay open until well after the sun has risen. You can also find cool bars in the area like Duplex , Pensão do Amor , Champanharia do Cais or Velha Senhora .
This neighbourhood is one of the most modern parts of the city, with building featuring a futuristic architecture and a great view to the river. In recent years, many trendy restaurants and bars with Portuguese and international cuisine and excellent drinks and cocktails have been opening in the area. Some of the bars are set on tall buildings and offer an unbeatable view of the city and the river. Maybe a bit more upscale than the rest, but still worth a visit.
While in Barrio Alto the atmosphere is relaxed and you won’t have any troubles getting in any bar or pub as long as you are clean and not showing symptoms of extreme drunkenness, the door policy in Lisbon clubs is tough and sometimes inexplicable. Clubs like Lux, Incognito or Kremlin are famous for refusing entry to people for no reason, or just ask for ridiculously high cover charge (think 300€ per person) to discourage someone to enter. Some forums on internet say that they do that if they see you are foreigner, but we can’t confirm those rumours. If you are planning to hit a big nightclub, wear your best clothes, shoes and maybe ask the staff at your hostel to give you some tips.
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