Home Portugal Portugal Cities Cities Lisbon Lisbon (Lisboa), the capital of Portugal, has been one of Europe's hot destinations since the 1990s. The city was European Capital of Culture in 1994, hosted the World Expo in 1998 and the European Football Championship in 2004. Lively, narrow and steep historic streets sit alongside modernised districts, and a fresh sea breeze keeps things comfortable even in hot summers, which makes the city a pleasant mix of relaxing, sightseeing and going out. Lisbon's gay scene has become thoroughly European in style. Gay life is especially visible at night in the Príncipe Real area and in the old Bairro Alto quarter, where nightlife carries on until the early morning. In Bairro Alto the mix is so relaxed that it is pleasantly hard to tell which bars are gay, gay-friendly or straight-friendly, as everyone simply goes out together.
Cities Lisbon Lisbon (Lisboa), the capital of Portugal, has been one of Europe's hot destinations since the 1990s. The city was European Capital of Culture in 1994, hosted the World Expo in 1998 and the European Football Championship in 2004. Lively, narrow and steep historic streets sit alongside modernised districts, and a fresh sea breeze keeps things comfortable even in hot summers, which makes the city a pleasant mix of relaxing, sightseeing and going out. Lisbon's gay scene has become thoroughly European in style. Gay life is especially visible at night in the Príncipe Real area and in the old Bairro Alto quarter, where nightlife carries on until the early morning. In Bairro Alto the mix is so relaxed that it is pleasantly hard to tell which bars are gay, gay-friendly or straight-friendly, as everyone simply goes out together.