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Portugal Gay Travel

Portugal's vibrant cities, decadent cuisine, and welcoming attitude have made it one of the world's premiere gay travel destinations.

Portugal is currently ’the’ hot destination in Europe. Lisbon is laden with marvelous architecture and historic avenues. Porto and the Douro Valley offer enchanted vineyards and towns. And like Iceland or Hawaii, the Azores Islands are a magical place in the middle of an ocean. With its emerging tourist industry, Portugal offers excellent value without the crowds that Europe is notorious for.



Quick Facts

  • Capital City: Lisbon
  • Currency: Euro (EUR)
  • Languages: Portuguese, Mirandese
  • Best Time of Year to Visit: Spring or fall (April/May and September/October)

LGBTQ+ Rights in Portugal

Gay Portugal Travel

Best Places to Visit in Portugal

More Info

Portugal offers some of the best LGBTQ+ rights in the world. It was the eighth country to legalize same-sex marriage, same-sex couples can adopt children, and the nation offers straightforward reassignment surgery and name-change procedures for transgender people.

Gay Activity: Legal
Lesbian Activity: Legal
Gay Marriage: Legal
Right to Change Gender: Legal, Surgery Not Required
Same-Sex Adoption: Legal
LGBT Discrimination: Illegal
Equal Age of Consent: Equal

Lisbon and Porto have thriving gay scenes with annual pride parades. Lisbon’s nightlife centres around the Bairro Alto (Upper District), and the capital is home to one of Europe’s biggest queer film festivals. You can also find bars, clubs and beaches in smaller towns.

Gay Villages in Portugal

Lisbon: Príncipe Real & Bairro Alto

Pride Festivals/Events in Portugal

Lisbon Pride: Annually in Mid-June
Lisbon Bear Pride: Anually in Late May
Queer Lisboa (LGBTQ+ Film Festival): Annually in September
Porto Pride: Annually in July

Best Gay Bars in Portugal

Lisbon: Trumps (Club)
Lisbon: Finalmente (Club)
Lisbon: Construction (Club)
Lisbon: Side Bar (Cocktail Bar)
Lisbon: Shelter bar (Bear Bar)
Lisbon: TR3S (Bear Bar)

Porto: Fabrik Bar (Cocktail Bar)
Porto: Invictus Cafe (Coffee Bar)
Porto: Conceição 35 (Bar)
Porto: Zoom (Club)

Best Lesbian Bars in Portugal

Lisbon: Purex Clube (Primarily but not exclusively Lesbian)

5. Nazaré

This quaint coastal fishing village is famous for its massive waves and surfing culture. Notably, the HBO docu-series 100 Foot Wave is set in Nazaré.

4. Douro Valley

Uncork is one of Europe’s oldest (and most famous) wine regions. Not only are the vintages world-class, the verdant terrain and snaking river make an excellent backdrop while you wine & dine al fresco.

3. Porto

Gay-Welcoming Porto is a true hidden gem. Get lost in its intricate alleyways while appreciating the juxtaposition of classic and modern architecture.

2. Sintra

UNESCO World Heritage Sintra is a fantastical city in Portugal’s lush rolling hills. Its historic city-centre streets are lined with pastel palaces, mansions and houses that look like they were plucked from a Disney movie.

1. Lisbon

Get acquainted with Lisbon’s surreal cityscape either aboard one of her famous trams or from her countless miradouros (viewpoints). After you’ve taken in the vantage, slowly devour her endearing neighbourhoods from trendy Bairro Alto to Gay-Welcoming Príncipe Real. In the evenings, enjoy the city’s very late nightlife, including some of Europe’s best gay bars and clubs. By day’s end, you’ll have fallen under Lisbon’s spell.

Best Time to Visit: Portugal is one of Europe’s warmer countries, so temperatures, crowds, and hotel prices can be unbearable in the summer. Spring or fall (April/May and September/October) is a splendid time to travel here.

Electricity: F-type sockets.

Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements: We’re dedicated to ensuring our tours are safe for everyone, but it is our belief that each traveler has a responsibility to protect themselves and their fellow travellers from COVID-19. As of May 1, 2023, Out Adventures no longer requires guests to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination on most of our tours. If vaccination is a requirement for entry, or on select cruises, this will be communicated at the time a trip is confirmed to depart. Before booking, we recommend that you read our COVID-19 Information Page and our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions to understand what we’re doing to minimize risk, and what will happen if you contract COVID-19 before or during an Out Adventures tour.

Other Vaccinations: Based on the entry requirements for Portugal, there are no other vaccinations needed. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, you should consult your doctor or a travel medical clinic, as Out Adventures cannot provide vaccination recommendations.

Visas: If your passport is from the USA, Canada, Britain, or Australia, you don’t need a visa. There may be exceptions, and all visas are the traveller’s responsibility. For more info, click here.

Last updated on February 5, 2024. Disclaimer: The information provided was accurate at the time of publishing, but cannot be guaranteed.
LGBTQ+ Rights in Portugal

Portugal offers some of the best LGBTQ+ rights in the world. It was the eighth country to legalize same-sex marriage, same-sex couples can adopt children, and the nation offers straightforward reassignment surgery and name-change procedures for transgender people.

Gay Activity: Legal
Lesbian Activity: Legal
Gay Marriage: Legal
Right to Change Gender: Legal, Surgery Not Required
Same-Sex Adoption: Legal
LGBT Discrimination: Illegal
Equal Age of Consent: Equal

Gay Portugal Travel

Lisbon and Porto have thriving gay scenes with annual pride parades. Lisbon’s nightlife centres around the Bairro Alto (Upper District), and the capital is home to one of Europe’s biggest queer film festivals. You can also find bars, clubs and beaches in smaller towns.

Gay Villages in Portugal

Lisbon: Príncipe Real & Bairro Alto

Pride Festivals/Events in Portugal

Lisbon Pride: Annually in Mid-June
Lisbon Bear Pride: Anually in Late May
Queer Lisboa (LGBTQ+ Film Festival): Annually in September
Porto Pride: Annually in July

Best Gay Bars in Portugal

Lisbon: Trumps (Club)
Lisbon: Finalmente (Club)
Lisbon: Construction (Club)
Lisbon: Side Bar (Cocktail Bar)
Lisbon: Shelter bar (Bear Bar)
Lisbon: TR3S (Bear Bar)

Porto: Fabrik Bar (Cocktail Bar)
Porto: Invictus Cafe (Coffee Bar)
Porto: Conceição 35 (Bar)
Porto: Zoom (Club)

Best Lesbian Bars in Portugal

Lisbon: Purex Clube (Primarily but not exclusively Lesbian)

Best Places to Visit in Portugal

5. Nazaré

This quaint coastal fishing village is famous for its massive waves and surfing culture. Notably, the HBO docu-series 100 Foot Wave is set in Nazaré.

4. Douro Valley

Uncork is one of Europe’s oldest (and most famous) wine regions. Not only are the vintages world-class, the verdant terrain and snaking river make an excellent backdrop while you wine & dine al fresco.

3. Porto

Gay-Welcoming Porto is a true hidden gem. Get lost in its intricate alleyways while appreciating the juxtaposition of classic and modern architecture.

2. Sintra

UNESCO World Heritage Sintra is a fantastical city in Portugal’s lush rolling hills. Its historic city-centre streets are lined with pastel palaces, mansions and houses that look like they were plucked from a Disney movie.

1. Lisbon

Get acquainted with Lisbon’s surreal cityscape either aboard one of her famous trams or from her countless miradouros (viewpoints). After you’ve taken in the vantage, slowly devour her endearing neighbourhoods from trendy Bairro Alto to Gay-Welcoming Príncipe Real. In the evenings, enjoy the city’s very late nightlife, including some of Europe’s best gay bars and clubs. By day’s end, you’ll have fallen under Lisbon’s spell.

More Info

Best Time to Visit: Portugal is one of Europe’s warmer countries, so temperatures, crowds, and hotel prices can be unbearable in the summer. Spring or fall (April/May and September/October) is a splendid time to travel here.

Electricity: F-type sockets.

Covid-19 Vaccination Requirements: We’re dedicated to ensuring our tours are safe for everyone, but it is our belief that each traveler has a responsibility to protect themselves and their fellow travellers from COVID-19. As of May 1, 2023, Out Adventures no longer requires guests to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination on most of our tours. If vaccination is a requirement for entry, or on select cruises, this will be communicated at the time a trip is confirmed to depart. Before booking, we recommend that you read our COVID-19 Information Page and our COVID-19 Frequently Asked Questions to understand what we’re doing to minimize risk, and what will happen if you contract COVID-19 before or during an Out Adventures tour.

Other Vaccinations: Based on the entry requirements for Portugal, there are no other vaccinations needed. To determine if you should take preventative measures to reduce the risk of illness, you should consult your doctor or a travel medical clinic, as Out Adventures cannot provide vaccination recommendations.

Visas: If your passport is from the USA, Canada, Britain, or Australia, you don’t need a visa. There may be exceptions, and all visas are the traveller’s responsibility. For more info, click here.

Last updated on February 5, 2024. Disclaimer: The information provided was accurate at the time of publishing, but cannot be guaranteed.
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Reviews

Some from our travellers

Richard R

Amazing experiences

Portugal: Lisbon, Porto & the Douro Valley
Rating:

Amazing experiences – wine tasting, cooking with the Contessa, bridge climb, delicious dinners and food tours.

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