Silver Coast Nightlife

- party the night away

For the best night spots on the Silver Coast head for the cities and towns all year round, and in the summer hit the beach areas. And plan to go late. Although the region is not noted for its wild nightlife, there is plenty to do for those who feel like letting their hair down. The entertainment on offer is varied enough to suit all tastes, from lively bars and restaurants through to cinemas, theatres and concert halls. See the What's On Guide. And for the really late night crowd there are clubs and discos where the dancing goes on until well after sunrise.

For a big night out head for Lisbon where the nightlife is lively all year round. The capital has become one of Europe’s trendiest hot-spots in recent years, with the bars and clubs along the banks of the Tagus River competing with the alternative chic appeal of the Bairro Alto.

This district, with its designer shops, fashionable cocktail bars and all-night-long street life, is great for an all-night bar crawl if your budget and stamina are up to it. The weekends are the busiest with the streets packed full of people, live music and impromptu dancing that goes on until dawn. Other busy neighbourhoods are Alcântara, Santos, Parque das Nações, the district around the castle and the lively bars and cafés near the docks.

Capital nights

For a quieter but no less memorable experience try one of the Fado clubs in the Alfama district. The Lisbon style of this famous Portuguese music is a deeply emotional outpouring of the country’s fatalism.

If the heartbreak of Fado is not for you there is the adrenaline rush of the casinos. Gambling is legal in Portugal and for those who fancy the thrill of the tables there are casinos in Porto, Figueira da Foz, Estoril and Lisbon.

Fado and blackjack

Late starters
A typical night out in Portugal begins with drinks in a bar, preferably with a view of the sunset or the waterfront. Around 9pm is a good time to be heading for the restaurant for some Silver Coast cuisine and when the meal is finished the options are either cocktails in a music bar, clubbing or maybe a late night movie.

Bars and clubs
The bigger cities like Torres Vedras, Peniche, Caldas da Rainha, Leiria, Marinha Grande and Alcobaça all have bars and clubs in their centres, and many offer live music or DJs to add to the entertainment. This is on top of the many music festivals that take place throughout the year in the Silver Coast region.

As in the rest of the Portugal the real nightlife doesn't start until late. Nothing much happens before 10 or 11 pm in the evening and things only really get lively between midnight and 4am. Most bars and clubs are open until the early hours of the morning, and some go through until dawn, especially in the summer months when it seems no one wants the party to end.

In the summer Foz do Arelho has a temporary club that is set up right on the beach and this goes through the night. If the dancing gets too much there are cafés all along the seafront for chilling with a drink. Further down the coast the surfing hot-spot of Ericeira also has no shortage of clubs and bars catering for the surfers who flock to the town for its awesome waves.

Family nights
Even the smaller towns can be busy at night, especially at weekends during the summer months. Head for the town square where you will often find cafés and a bandstand with entertainment laid on for free by the local council. It is a lively event with entire families, from babies in buggies to grandparents, all out together enjoying the show.