Lisbon Fado Shows

Visiting monuments and museums is a must, but so is discovering the tradition and culture behind them. In Lisbon's case, fado is its artistic calling card.

Booking tickets for a fado concert in Lisbon is undoubtedly the best way to immerse yourself in the local culture. If you don't want to miss out on this experience, we recommend booking as far in advance as possible.

You can also let yourself be surprised by Lisbon's nightlife and go out in search of a show to attend on your own. The most typical neighbourhoods where these shows take place are Alfama, Barrio Alto, Chiado and Mouraria. Some of the most famous taverns and venues where you can see fado performances are:

How it works

Many of these venues are free to enter, but others require an entrance fee or purchase of a drink to see the show. They usually open at 7 p.m., but it is best to check the opening hours before you go. As for the performers, most venues have singers on a permanent contract throughout the season, but they may also have occasional concerts.

Always try to go to places that have reliable backing to ensure you are seeing a high-quality show. To enjoy and understand fado, the artistic quality of the performers is essential; don't be fooled by "bargains". Attending a fado show is an experience that is affordable for all budgets.

Booking and attending a fado concert is not prohibitively expensive. From approximately £24, you can enjoy this form of singing, which has been declared Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

You can book your tickets online for the day you want and you will receive them by email. The shows take place from Monday to Saturday at 7 pm. If you want to secure your ticket, it is best to book in advance.

What will you see in this 50-minute show? The jewel of Portuguese culture. A pair of singers accompanied by acoustic guitars will lend a melancholic air to one of the most special nights you will experience in the capital of Portugal. This option is perfect for anyone who is unfamiliar with the musical genre of fado and wants to experience it in an authentic way, with the guarantee of seeing a legitimate fado show.

As with all art forms, fado has a history and tradition behind it that is important to know in order to fully enjoy this style of singing. And there's no better way to do this than by booking a fado tour, where you'll stroll through the neighbourhoods where this popular music spread centuries ago, Alfama and Mouraria.

A local guide specialising not only in the history of this musical genre and the city, but also in its customs, will bring you up to date on its cultural importance.

This option is perfect to complement any fado show you plan to attend during your visit to Lisbon, as knowing where this tradition comes from will allow you to enjoy the show much more.

Since fado itself is an attraction for travellers, many companies combine this type of performance with other popular tourist activities such as a traditional Portuguese dinner or a tour of Lisbon's most emblematic sites.

If you book a fado tour with dinner, get ready for an experience in which a specialised guide will accompany you and guide you through the history of fado in some of the neighbourhoods where this musical genre is considered to have been born: Alfama and Mouraria.

This option is perfect for immersing yourself in the culture of the city of Lisbon in a single afternoon, as you will combine its three pillars: the stories behind its points of interest, its cuisine and its popular dance.

for small groups

This option is perfect for escaping the crowds and enjoying a quiet, authentic evening. If you like the idea of a comprehensive tour of Lisbon's culture, but prefer to do so in a more intimate setting, this option is for you. This package consists of a small group night tour of Lisbon with a fado show and dinner. It also has the advantage of picking you up at your hotel.

Fado is a form of singing accompanied by guitars, recognised as Intangible Cultural Heritage. It is a melancholic style of music that originated in the humble neighbourhoods of the Portuguese capital. Today, you have two options for enjoying a fado show:

All musical styles have a tradition behind them, and when you know about it, it's normal to enjoy the art form itself more. Here are some interesting facts about fado that will help you learn more about this art form:

• The name "fado" comes from the Latin "fatum" and means "destiny". Some theories suggest that, before becoming a musical genre, fado was a poetic text similar to traditional ballads.
• Fado emerged in Lisbon because, as a port city, it had a multicultural atmosphere that fostered artistic proliferation. Its origins can be traced back to the taverns in the humbler areas of the Portuguese capital.
• The most famous fado singer was Amália Rodrigues. She died in 1999 and is buried in the National Pantheon.
• The themes of fado songs are mainly sadness, nostalgia and melancholy, which is reflected in the tone of this singing style.
• There are several types of fado, as the genre has evolved over the years, but the traditional form features the voice and acoustic guitar as the only instruments.

Seeing a live fado show is just one of the many things you can do in Lisbon. You may have already realised, or at least guessed, that the show is the result of a long tradition that originated in the Portuguese capital. If your interest has been piqued, the best way to learn more about the tradition of fado and others in this city is to take a guided tour of its main points of interest.

Lisbon has hundreds of places to discover, and behind each one there is a story that no one can tell you better than a local guide. In this article on the best tours and excursions from Lisbon, you will find all the information you need.