Concerts, opera, ballet, cinema, theatre and the revista (satirical views of daily life), fado, and dining out form the centre of cultural life in Lisbon. The University of Lisbon, the Metropolitan Orchestra, the Gulbenkian Foundation and the Centro Cultural de Belém (CCB) often offer a variety of concerts. There are also many museums and Art Galleries to choose from. And most Lisbon museums have free entry at least once a month.
The Casino in Estoril provides gambling, dinner and shows. Cinemas and clubs in Cascais, Estoril and Lisbon provide more entertainment. In addition, the summer months in Cascais, Estoril and Lisbon are an excellent time for free street entertainment, craft fairs and fireworks.
One frustration can be the lack of notice of cultural events in general. A notice will appear in the newspaper or on billboards that concert tickets will go on sale in a few days. Google, check your Facebook groups, read the local papers, watch for posters in museums and public buildings, and flyers in theatre programmes. The internet is an invaluable source of information as well as tourist offices where you can pick up brochures on upcoming events.
There are so many online sites that offer information about where to go, what to do, fun bars, great restaurants, upcoming events, concerts, theater and all manner of happenings in and around Lisbon and Portugal. See below a list of sites – note that some are in English and some in Portuguese. If you have trouble with the sites in Portuguese, copy and paste headings into google translate; this may help you navigate the site. Should you feel curious to explore further the history of your beautiful host country, see also the reading list of books in English.
Websites:
Agenda Cultural Magazine https://www.agendalx.pt/?lang=en
The Best Guide Magazine https://www.bestguide.pt/en/lisbon/
Time Out Magazine: https://www.timeout.com/lisbon
Follow me Lisboa Magazine https://www.visitlisboa.com/en/c/documents/publications
Portugal Connexions Magazine https:/f Cf/www.portugalconnexions.com
Best Guide https://www.bestguide.pt/en/best-of/20-best-fado-houses-in-lisbon/
Lisbon Lux Magazine: https://www.lisbonlux.com/magazine/
Go Lisbon Magazine https://www.golisbon.com/sight-seeing/feira-da-ladra.html
Airbnb Experiences Portugal https://www.airbnb.com/s/Portugal/experiences
São Jorge Theater https://www.cinemasaojorge.pt
Teatro Tivoli https://www.teatrotivolibbva.pt/en/
The Gulbenkian https://gulbenkian.pt/en/
Lisbon’s Opera House: https://tnsc.pt
Lisbon Players, Live Theater in English http://www.lisbonplayers.com.pt/site/
Oriente Museum http://www.museudooriente.pt/?lang=en
Museum of Ancient Art http://www.museudearteantiga.pt/english
Cultural Center Belem https://www.ccb.pt/Default/pt/Inicio
Museu de Arte, Arquitetura e Tecnologia MAAT https://www.maat.pt/pt
Cascais Cultural Center http://www.fundacaodomluis.pt
Estoril Casino http://www.casino-estoril.pt/en/
Cool Jazz Summer Concerts https://www.edpcooljazz.com
NOS Alive Summer Concerts https://nosalive.com/en/
Super Bock Super Rock Summer Concerts https://www.superbocksuperrock.pt/en/
Reading List
Non-Fiction:
The Portuguese, by Barry Hatton
The First Global Village, by Martin Page
Conquerors: How Portugal Forged The First Global Empire, by Roger Crowley
Lisbon: War in the Shadows of the City of Light, 1939-1945, by Neill Lochery
Women Who Walk: How 20 Women From 16 Countries Came to Live in Portugal, by Louise Ross
The Winding Road to Portugal: 20 Men from 11 Countries Share Their Stories, also by Louise Ross
Fiction:
Estoril: A War Novel, by Dejan Tiago-Stankovic
A Small Death in Lisbon, by Robert Wilson
A Romance in Lisbon, by Ronald Charles Wolf
The Last Kabbalist of Lisbon, by Richard Zimler
The High Mountains of Portugal, by Yann Martel
Philippa of Lancaster – English Princess, Queen of Portugal, by Isabel Stilwell
Catherine of Braganza: The Courage of a Portuguese Infanta who became Queen of England, by Isabel Stilwell