Lisbon Fado Shows

Seeing monuments and museums is a must, but so is discovering the tradition and culture that lies behind them. In the case of Lisbon, Fado is the 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, it is advisable to book as far in advance as possible.

You can also let yourself be surprised by Lisbon's nightlife and go in search of a show that you can attend on your own. The most typical neighbourhoods where they take place are Alfama, Barrio Alto, Chiado and Mouraria. Some of the most famous taverns and venues where you can catch a Fado performance are:

How it works

Many of these venues are free to enter, but in others you will have to pay an entrance fee or a drink to see the show. They usually open from seven in the evening, but it is best to check the opening times before attending. As for performers, most of them have regular singers contracted for the whole season, but they may also have sporadic concerts.

Always try to go to places that have reliable backing to ensure that you are seeing a top-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 available to all budgets.

Booking and attending a Fado concert is not prohibitively expensive. From approximately 24 € you can enjoy this song, considered Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO.

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

What will you see in this 50-minute show? The jewel of Portuguese culture. A couple of singers accompanied by acoustic guitars, giving a melancholic air to one of the most special nights you will experience in the capital of Portugal. This option is perfect for all those who do not know the musical genre of fado and want to approach it in an authentic way and with all the guarantees of watching a legitimate fado show.

As with all artistic expressions, Fado has a history and a tradition behind it that is important to know in order to enjoy this song to the fullest. There's no better way to do this than to book a Fado tour, where you'll stroll through the neighbourhoods where this popular music was first performed 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 are going to attend during your visit to Lisbon, as knowing where this tradition comes from will make you enjoy the show much more.

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

If you book a Fado dinner tour, get ready for this 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 be born: Alfama and Mouraria.

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

for small groups

This option is perfect to escape the crowds and enjoy a quiet and authentic evening. If the idea of having a full tour of Lisbon's culture appeals to you, but you prefer to do it in more privacy, this option is for you. This package consists of a Lisbon night tour for small groups with a Fado show and dinner. Plus, it has the advantage of being picked up at your hotel.

Fado is a song accompanied by guitars, Intangible Heritage of Humanity. It is a melancholic music that originated in the poor neighbourhoods of the Portuguese capital. Nowadays, you have two options to enjoy a Fado show:

All musical styles have a tradition behind them and when you know it, it is normal to enjoy more the artistic manifestation itself. Here are some interesting facts about Fado that will allow you to learn more about this art form:

• The name "fado" comes from the Latin "fatum" and means "destiny". There are theories that say that, before being a musical genre, fado was a poetic text similar to the traditional ballads.
• Fado originated in Lisbon because, being a port city, there was a multicultural atmosphere that favoured artistic proliferation. It originated in the taverns of the poorest 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 the song.
• There are several types of Fado, as the genre has evolved over the years, but the traditional Fado has the voice and the acoustic guitar as its only instrument.

Seeing a live fado show is just one of the many things you can do in Lisbon. By now you will have realised, or at least sensed, 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 find out more about the fado tradition and others in the 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 will tell you better than a local guide. In this article about the best tours and excursions from Lisbon, you have all the information you need.