LGBTQIA+ guide in Lisbon and Porto

Discover the new events, bars, districts and other spaces dedicated to the LGBTQIA+ community in the Portuguese cities of Lisbon and Porto.

The evolution of the Portuguese legislation and some of the recently approved laws that grant fair and equal rights to the LGBTQIA+ community have contributed to make the population more open and welcoming. Consequently, cities have become more friendly and safer, and there are more and more spaces and events dedicated to the community, although Lisbon is still a discrete city when compared to other European cities.

Because we're in June, the month that officially celebrates the LGBTQIA+ community, we prepared this guide dedicated to the entire LGBTQIA+ community and their allies.

Discover the best bars and entertainment, the gay districts and some of the most relevant events that take place throughout the year.

• First, a little bit of history: why is June Pride Month?

This month is symbolically known as Pride Month as a way of remembering the impact of the events that occurred in June 1969, in the United States, when the Stonewall Inn bar, located in New York, mainly attended by the LGBT community, was invaded by the Public Morals Division of the New York police. However, on that day, contrary to what was expected, people fought back against this invasion and the police force.

This reaction gave rise to a series of spontaneous manifestations and parades by the community, who filled the streets to call for the end of violence, recognition and equal rights.

Since then, June is the month chosen to give visibility to this fight, through parades and other events organised all over the world.

• LGBTQIA+ and everything you need to know

We're not specialists, we're allies.Therefore, we don't try to explain, we refer those who know how to explain.

• ·ILGA Portugal and ILGA World

ILGA is the oldest association working on the promotion and defence of human rights for LGBTQIA+ people and their families in Portugal. It's a community-based association with a political and social intervention that provides specialised services to the community. 

At the global level, since 1979 that ILGA World has been committed to fighting for equal human rights for the rainbow community and its liberation from all forms of discrimination.

See more information at www.ilga.org and www.ilga-portugal.pt. 

• Learning is part of it, the ABCLGBTQIA+ project

The ABCLGBTQIA+ project is a collaboration between Fox Life and ILGA Portugal that helps understand many words, with the goal of informing as many people as possible. 

You can access www.abclgbtqia.com to learn more.

• LGBTQIA+ guide in Lisbon: what you need to know

• The districts

The so-called ''gay districts'' in the capital are Príncipe Real, the starting point of the annual LGBTI+ Pride Parade, and Bairro Alto. 

This is also where you can find a large number of bars and nightclubs. Other reference points include cafes in Chiado, Rua Garrett or Armazéns do Chiado. 

The area of Avenida Almirante Reis, mainly the district of Arroios, keeps growing and attracting the LGBTQ community, due to the emergence of a larger number of bars and cultural associations in that location.

Despite being frequented by a mixed audience, some of the city's most popular bars and nightclubs, such as Lux, are LGBTQ-friendly. 

• Beaches

Feel like going to the beach? The 19 Gay Beach, in Costa da Caparica, is the go-to gay beach in Lisbon. 

• Main events in the city

LGBTI+ Pride Parade in Lisbon, Arraial Lisboa Pride and Queer Lisboa - International Queer Film Festival.

Just like the majority of the cities around the world, in June, Lisbon will be the stage of the annual LGBTI+ Pride celebrations, which include a parade through Avenida da Liberdade and the Arraial Lisboa Pride. 

Another annual event is the International Queer Film Festival, Queer Lisboa, in September, which consists in the screening of LGBTQIA+ themed movies.

• LGBTQ and LGBTQ-friendly nightclubs in Lisbon:

Posh Club Lisbon (Lapa)

Trumps (Príncipe Real)

Bar TR3S (Príncipe Real) 

Woof X (Príncipe Real)

Bar Cru (Príncipe Real) 

Finalmente Club (Príncipe Real)

Bar 106 (Príncipe Real)

Purex (Bairro Alto)

49 ZDB (Bairro Alto)

Side Bar (Bairro Alto) 

Lux (Santa Apolónia)

www.bestguide.pt/lisboa/15-locais-para-um-roteiro-lgbt-de-lisboa

• LGBTQIA+ guide in Porto: what you need to know

• The districts

There are no gay districts in the city, at least not officially. The streets Galerias de Paris and Cândido dos Reis, downtown, are where you can find the largest number of bars and everyone's meeting point. 

The artistic district of Miguel Bombarda is also recommended, mostly due to the galleries and stores that you can visit during the day.

• Main events in the city

Porto Pride; 

LGBTI+ Pride Parade in Porto and Arraial Mais Orgulhoso do Porto;

Queer Porto - International Queer Film Festival.

• LGBT and LGBTQ-friendly nightclubs in Porto:

Bar Conceição 35 (downtown)

Café Lusitano (downtown)

Invictus Cafe Bar (downtown) 

Maus Hábitos (downtown)

Zoom (downtown)

Fabrik (Galerias de Paris)

Labirintho (Boavista)

Bar of Soap (Bolhão) 

Pride Bar (Marquês)

www.portogaycircuit.com

pt.travelgay.com/destino/gay-Portugal/gay-Porto 

• LGBTQIA+ support associations

ILGA Portugal - https://ilga-portugal.pt/  

Casa Qui - https://www.casa-qui.pt/ 

Associação Plano i -https://www.associacaoplanoi.org/ 

QueerIST -http://queerist.tecnico.ulisboa.pt/ 

Amplos - https://www.amplos.pt/ 

Rede Ex-Aequo -https://www.rea.pt/ 

Checkpoint XL - www.checkpointlx.com/