Swifties are locking down their travel plans to see Taylor Swift in Lisbon, Portugal this May 2024. For many fans, this will not only be their first time seeing The Eras Tour, it’ll also be their first time in the historic, beautiful city of Lisboa (Portuguese for Lisbon).
After moving to Portugal from the US in 2023, we’ve been on a mission to find the best spots specifically for Swifties… this article covers some of our favorite spots to explore depending on which Era you love the most:
1. Taylor Swift Debut Era | Fado Night & Horseback Riding
Taylor’s self-titled album, often referred to as her Debut Era, captures the teen angst and emotions with a country twang.
If Debut hits you in all the feels as you’re crying to Teardrops on my Guitar, Tied Together With a Smile, or The Outside, Fado night in Lisbon is for you.
Fado is traditional Portuguese music dating back to the early 1800s that embraces the Portuguese emotion of saudade. There is no actual translation of this word to English but it is ingrained into Portuguese culture in such a way that you can sense it throughout your travels.
Saudade is this feeling of melancholy and longing; it’s an emotional state that was rooted in a country of sailors. Many sailors would go off to sea with some never returning again. This feeling of longing, sadness, and nostalgia is sure to resonate with any Swiftie, especially those in their Debut Era.
A typical Fado night in Lisbon includes dinner and a performance by one or a handful of Fado singers accompanied by a traditional Portuguese guitar player. You can find a list of Fado houses that meet your travel schedules and price ranges on the Museo do Fado website.
If you’re going to see Taylor Swift in Lisbon, Portugal and you’re more on the country, upbeat side of her Debut Era with favorites like Tim McGraw and Our Song, we recommend taking a horseback ride just outside of Lisboa.
Flor de Lis Centro Hípico comes highly recommended by our local Swiftie friend and traveler, Caitlin at The Country Jumper.
You can take lessons in the arena or ride out in the vineyards with amazing views of Palmela Castle, making all your Debut Era dreams come true. Flor de Lis Centro Hípico is run by Monica who speaks English and is a lovely woman. Horses are suitable for beginners and there are also highly trained dressage horses.
2. Fearless | Castles and Plazas
Fearless Era Swifties need to visit the beautiful castles when they come for Taylor Swift in Lisbon, Portugal. Nothing matches the Fearless aesthetic quite like the most unique castle in all of Portugal – the Palácio da Pena in Sintra.
Palácio da Pena will leave you singing “Today Was a Fairytale”. The vivid, multicolored Palácio da Pena sits on a hill at the top of Sintra, making it one of the most striking castles in the world. It’s the perfect place for Swifties to visit because its history is rooted in romance and grand gestures. In 1836, Queen Maria the II of Portugal married a young German named Ferdinand. Ferdinand wanted to win over the Portuguese people by showing that he cares about their culture so he built the castle as a love letter to the people of Portugal.
The castle combines Moorish, traditional, Asian, and many other styles of architecture that highlight the wide range of influences throughout Portuguese history. The Palace was used as a summer home for the royals for decades and is now open to the public to tour this beautifully historic castle.
If you’re coming to Lisbon without a car, no worries! Palácio da Pena is accessible via train for less than €3 per person from many places throughout the city or by Uber. With more than 150k Swifties and their families expected to be in Lisboa for Taylor Swift, I do recommend booking a tour of Palácio da Pena in advance.
Another place you should visit if you’re a Fearless Era Swiftie is the Praça do Comércio. This Plaza is right in the heart of Lisbon, making it an easy place to see even if you only have an hour or two of free time.
The yellow faced buildings and expansive space of Praça do Comércio overlooking the Tagus river make it a must-see for photo opportunities while walking through this historic channel of commerce. Most of the restaurants around this area will be a little more pricey since it’s one of the most popular places for tourists to wine and dine, but strolling around the Praça (Portuguese for Plaza) is completely free and beautiful!
3. Speak Now | A Splash of Purple
The first thing I think of when I think of Speak Now is purple. Enchanting dresses in purple hues with a feeling of hope and self-empowerment is what make Sparks Fly during this Era.
One of the BEST things about the timing of Taylor Swift coming to Lisbon, Portugal in May is the blooming of the Jacaranda Trees. These vibrant purple flowers typically bloom at the end of May and last for about a month. They’re the first sign that summer is just around the corner.
If you are already heading to Sintra to see Palácio da Pena, you can embrace your Speak Now Era by visiting the Parque de Monserrate. This garden attracted writers from around the world due to the exotic gardens, beauty, and peace. The park and Monserrate Palace are both enchanting places to spend a beautiful May afternoon.
When we first moved to Lisbon, I remember walking the streets and soaking in all of the sites with just this pure sense of accomplishment. Many people told us we’d never make it this far, so exploring everything Lisbon has to offer had me happily singing “Someday, I’ll be living in a big old city. And all you’re ever gonna be is mean.” like I was straight out of a Taylor Swift music video. I hope you feel the exact same sense of accomplishment during your visit here too!
4. Red | Bridges, Rivers, and Giginha
If you have more than 10 minutes to spare when you come to see Taylor Swift in Lisbon, we recommend taking a ride on the E28 tram through some of the most beautiful neighborhoods in the city.
This electric tram navigates steep hills and sharp turns through the busiest areas of Lisboa while taking you through some of the top tourist attractions which really makes you feel like you’re living those very first lyrics on the very first track of Red (Taylor’s Version):
I’m walking fast through the traffic lights. Busy streets and busy lives.
You can find a lot of details about the E28 tram, including route, pricing, and schedules in this article. The article recommends purchasing the unlimited 24-hour transit pass if you plan on exploring other areas of Lisbon as well. We also recommend this if you plan on visiting the metro during your 1989 Era or the Elevador de Santa Justa as you enter your Rep Era.
The best video that I’ve seen explaining Lisbon’s transportation system is from Tony’s YouTube channel, ROAD TRIP Spain and Portugal. It’s worth a watch for all your transit needs:
As you explore all the fun ways to get around the city, you may notice Lisbon is home to lots of bridges… with one in particular looking very familiar to most Americans. The Ponte 25 de Abril (25th of April Bridge) is the longest suspension bridge in Europe. Its recognizable red color makes people immediately think of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. And while there are many similarities, Ponte 25 de Abril was actually built by the American Bridge Company – the same one that built the San Francisco Bay Bridge (which is even more similar to the Ponte 25 de Abril)!
There is no pedestrian access for Ponte 25 de Abril, but Red Era Swifties can get great views of the bridge from the waterfront in Belém. Dress up in your Eras Tour Outfit and take pictures with this vibrant bridge in the background in a few areas throughout Lisbon.
If you’re an adult in your Red Era, you should definitely try Giginha. This bright red cherry liqueur is often served in an edible chocolate shot glass. It’s common to find street vendors selling shots of Giginha for about €1-1,50 throughout the streets of Lisbon. We tried our first Giginha shot in the streets of Alfama, a beautiful neighborhood with more stairs than I could possibly describe in a blog. Luckily, we have a YouTube showing our Giginha experience.
5. 1989 | Beach and City Life
If you’ve got a blank space in your Taylor Swift schedule, you need to visit one of the many beaches throughout Lisbon, Portugal. Here are our top 5 beaches to visit around the city (all of which should be beautiful in May!):
- Praia do Guincho (Praia is Portuguese for beach)
This scenic beach has everything you’re looking for during a Portuguese visit: sandy beaches, dramatic cliffs, plenty of space, and a beachside bar. This is the go-to beach for 1989 vibes for another local Swiftie friend and musician, Gianna DiBono.
Praia de Carcavelos is one of the most popular in the Lisbon area because it’s easy to access from many modes of transportation and has lots of space for water spots. It can get more crowded but always has a fun vibe.
If you find Praia de Carcavelos is a little too busy for you, you can take a scenic walk along the ocean to Praia da Parede and Praia das Avencas. We used to live in Parede and went here daily to soak in the ocean views. One of our favorite activities was taking the beachside paths for several kilometers, exploring historic buildings and testing out each beach along the way.
Pro tip: most beaches have underground tunnels leading to the beach so you don’t have to cross busy streets. Keep an eye out for a sign showing a pedestrian walking down stairs for these underground paths.
Tamariz is situated on the ocean just under a historic fort and next to a train stop in Estoril, a suburb of Lisboa. This beach has a scenic point and several attractions nearby, making it a good place to stop if you’re staying in Cascais or Western Lisboa. It can get crowded but it’s a great place for a Taylor Swift photoshoot on the beach!
We know some Swifities are staying across the Ponte 25 de Abril which has a lot of beautiful beaches as well. Praia do Castelo is one of several beaches in a cluster located on the Atlantic coast of Costa da Caparica.
For those Swifties traveling from the U.S. to Lisbon for Taylor Swift, you might be shocked to see that most beaches are topless friendly in Portugal. It is common to see people of all genders and ages going topless at beaches. If you’re Portuguese or European in general, this is just a normal part of life.
Although most beaches are topless, not all are naturist/nude beaches. For those wanting to experience clothing optional beaches near Lisbon at a less crowded beach, head across the bridge to Praia Naturista da Adiça.
You can find more naturist beaches on the Federação Portuguesa de Naturismo website.
Of course… our favorite beaches are where we live in the Algarve (Lagos, Portugal)… and if you’ll be visiting that area when you come to see The Eras Tour, we’ll have more content for that region coming soon!
If beaches aren’t your vibe, and you’re more of a Welcome to New York 1989 Era Swiftie, I know places we can hide. Our top recommendation is to take the metro system and check out all the art! Unlike other metropolitan areas, Lisboa metro stations are pretty safe and beautiful. Each stop has a unique look that is picture worthy giving you all the vibes of:
It’s a new soundtrack, I could dance to this beat, beat forevermore. The lights are so bright, but they never blind me, me. Welcome to
New YorkLisboa, it’s been waitin’ for you!
Here are some of the most beautiful stations to visit during your Taylor Swift Lisbon, Portugal trip! Of course, you’ll likely already be taking the metro to the shows via the Azul (blue) line to Estádio da Luz anyway! Ironically, the Azul line is our least favorite of the Lisbon Metro lines.
6. Reputation | Elevador de Santa Justa and Praça do Rossio
…Ready for it?? It’s time to explore Lisbon in your Reputation Era.
Up first is the famous Elevador de Santa Justa, towering over the historic city center of Lisbon in a powerful Neo-Gothic style that just screams Rep Era. This structure is actually a massive elevator that connects the lower levels of Lisbon to the higher levels of the city. It’s a form of public transportation!
Reputation Era Swifties will revel in the epic photoshoots that this 45-meter elevator offers. There is usually a line to take the lift up and there is a fee, but it’s free to go down and usually has no line! This is one of the reasons the 24-hour public transit pass is worth it for visitors. You can use that pass to take the metro, trams, and elevators!
Praça do Rossio (aka Rossio Square) reminded me immediately of Reputation the first time I walked along the snake-like design of black and white tiles, known as calçada Portuguesa.
These intricately designed tiles sprawl throughout the entire city of Lisbon and are uniquely designed in each Praça, making the whole city look like art from above. It’s one of the most unique features of Portugal which includes millions of hand cut pieces of stone. It takes about 400 pieces of stone per 1 meter of pavement. The calceteiros are the people who work on calçada Portuguesa. It truly is amazing to watch them work if you see any repairs being done on your trip.
We specifically chose Praça do Rossio for Rep Era Swifies visiting Lisbon because of the snake-like designs but it’s worth visiting many different areas to see the variety of calçada Portuguesa. Lisboa is one of those cities where you see something interesting each direction you look, including down!
7. Lover | Pink Street & Rainbow Bars
You can’t explore Lisbon in your Lover Era without making a stop at Rua Cor de Rosa (aka Pink Street). This street is paved in pink and shaded from the sun with rainbow umbrellas. It’s usually a pretty crowded tourist attraction, but it captures Taylor Swift’s Lover Era in every single way. Think of Paper Rings meets ME! meets You Need to Calm Down if you want to capture the vibes of Rua Cor de Rosa.
You can stop by for a drink or some snacks at one of the many restaurants along Pink Street or spend the night partying away. It’s easily accessible from multiple metro stops and always has something bustling going on. If you want to get some less crowded photos of this area, I recommend going early in the morning!
One of my favorite parts of Portugal as a whole is just how queer friendly this country is. I see more happy LGBTQIA+ couples walking the streets of Lisboa than I’ve seen in any other country. If you’re part of this community and want to celebrate Taylor Swift in Lisbon while channeling You Need to Calm Down in your Lover Era, the gay bar and club scene is amazing here!
Here are some specific recommendations from the founders and owners of Queer Lisbon Tour:
- Criolense Kitchen Club: a contemporary Afro Brazilian Tapas Bar that’s immigrant, queer, and BIPOC owned as well as queer and trans staffed
- Damas: a Portuguese restaurant, bar, and small club that hosts concerts too!
- Drama Bar: a newer queer bar and cultural space in the Lisbon scene with specific events that sometimes include dinner
- Planeta Manas: a rave club with queer vibes about 30min outside Lisbon city center
- Purex Club: a queer-friendly club located in the Bairro Alto (please see our comment on Bairro Alto in the Midnights Era before going)
- Finalmente Club: a club that features drag performances and queer-friendly concerts between Bairro Alto and Principe Real neighborhoods
If you’re coming from abroad and want to learn more about the LGBTQIA+ history of Lisbon or experience nightlife with more people in the queer community, I highly recommend booking a tour with Queer Lisbon Tour. They have guides, a map, historic walking tours, and nightlife tours – a little something for everyone within a safe space.
8. Folklore | Sintra Forest Trails & Monchique
Folklore Swifties coming to Lisbon, Portugal may want to escape the big city vibes by spending some time in the forest trails of Sintra. There are many hikes throughout the Sintra area, but one in particular really brings you into the Folklore cabin vibes, The Fairy Forest Trail.
All Trails also has a list of hikes in the Sintra/Cascais area that you can browse depending on your activity level and the amount of time you have before seeing Taylor Swift in Lisbon.
If you really want to escape for a couple days, we love spending time in the forest of Monchique for that mountain air and fresh spring water. On Fridays, you can spend the day exploring the nature trails followed by partying the night away at Friday Happiness, a 3-stage venue in the mountains with wood fired pizza and hippie vibes.
9. Evermore | Gold Rush and Midnight Trains
If you don’t like a gold rush, you might not want to avoid Igreja de São Roque in Lisboa. This church has 8 chapels with some of the most intricate gold details that you’ll see. Visiting churches in Portugal is common for visitors even if you’re not religious as there is a lot of history and unique architecture in each building.
You can visit Igreja de São Roque and the associated museum Tuesdays though Sundays – see more info on their website.
If you’re planning on exploring the city in your evermore era, you might consider taking the night train for a reason. Ok… in reality, many of Portugal’s trains are closed at night… That being said, one of the things we love about Portugal is that you can travel throughout the entire country via an affordable train ticket. The train is one of the easiest ways to get to Sintra, Cascais, and cities outside of the Lisbon area as well.
The train from Lisboa to Cascais has scenic views of the ocean with stops at some of the best attractions in the city like the Torre de Belém. After visiting the tower, you can walk through a beautiful park to try the most famous Portuguese pastry, Pastel de Nata, at Pastéis de Belém.
You can use your metro card to access the train to Cascais or book a longer route in advance online.
10. Midnights | Clubbing in Lavender Haze
It’s weird to think that by the time Taylor Swift is in Lisbon, Portugal Midnights won’t be her most recent Era! Midnights will always hold a special place in this Swiftie’s heart because it was the album that fully converted my husband, Mike, to a Swiftie. It’s also the Era he’s the most excited to see live during The Eras Tour!
If you are from the US, it’s hard to capture just how epic the European nightlife scene is until you try it for yourself. Clubs and bars don’t close at 2am… or 3 am… or even 4 am. You can find people partying until the sun rises throughout Lisboa. There are many clubs that don’t even open until 11pm or midnight!
So if you’re in your Midnights Era, you’ll find plenty of places to dance the night away throughout certain areas of Lisbon. Many places charge a cover and have coat checks. You’ll find a variety of clubs in the Cais do Sodre neighborhood like the Lisboa Rio Club. Another popular club is LuxFrágil in the São Vicente neighborhood of Lisboa.
If you start searching for late night party spots, the Bairro Alto neighborhood will pop up. This is the most popular spot for clubbing for tourists so it can get pretty crazy… sometimes too crazy. Lisbon is a very safe city, but it seems like when something does get out of hand, it tends to be in this neighborhood. That’s not to say you should avoid it at all costs, just be aware of drunken tourists and shenanigans around you!
11. The Tortured Poets Department | Historic Library
I’m guessing a little bit based on the album name when it comes to the vibes of Taylor’s newest Era, The Tortured Poets Department. But since Taylor Swift will release TTPD before she comes to Lisbon, I had to share this historic library: Biblioteca São Lázaro.
The St. Lazarus library is the oldest city library in Lisboa, created in 1883. Not only does this library have books that are more than a a hundred old, the 19th century architecture looks like exactly the place where The Tortured Poets Department would host its board meetings.
Here’s a clip of the inside of the library as our final destination for a tour of Lisbon based on each era of Taylor Swift:
I hope these recommendations by Era gives something for everyone to love about this city… Just like Taylor has made something for everyone throughout her own Eras. We can’t wait to see Taylor Swift in Lisbon, Portugal. It will truly be one of the most amazing times to visit.
Join our Taylor Swift Lisbon Facebook group, check out our other Eras Tour articles, shop our Swiftie collection at Live Music Threads, and follow us on socials (@RoamAwayFromHome on YouTube & TikTok or @RoamAwayFromHome_ on Instagram) to get even more tips for The Eras Tour in Lisboa, Portugal!
In the meantime, here’s a YouTube of the first time I ever saw Taylor Swift live at The Eras Tour in Arizona:
A very special thank you (muito obrigada) to everyone who helped make this article possible! Lisboa Swiftie and Musician Gianna DiBono, Local Swiftie and Creator Cailtlin from The Country Jumper, and Local Guides Paulá & Leonor from Queer Lisbon Tour all shared their favorite spots throughout the city which helped take this article from just my perspective and recs to a complete guide by era.
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