Fado Performances and Shows in Lisbon

Seeing monuments and museums is a must, but so is discovering the tradition and culture behind them. In the case of Lisbon, fado is the artistic letter of introduction.

Booking tickets for a Fado concert in Lisbon is undoubtedly the best way to immerse yourself in the local culture. If you do not want to miss this experience, it is advisable to book in advance as much as possible.

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

How it works

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

Always try to go to places that have a reliable backing to ensure you are watching a high quality show. To enjoy and understand Fado, the artistic quality of the performers is essential; do not be fooled by "offers". Attending a Fado show is an experience available to all budgets.

Booking and attending a Fado concert is not prohibitive in terms of price. 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 7 pm. 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 manifestations, Fado has a history and tradition behind it that is important to know in order to enjoy this song to the fullest. And, for this, there is no better way than booking a fado tour, in which you will walk through the neighborhoods where centuries ago this popular music was spread, Alfama and Mouraria.

A local guide specialized not only in the history of this musical genre and the city, but also in its customs, will update you 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 traveler, there are many companies that combine this type of performance with other popular tourist activities such as a traditional Portuguese dinner or a tour of Lisbon's most emblematic places.

If you book a fado dinner tour, get ready for this experience in which a specialized guide will accompany you and guide you through the history of fado in some of the neighborhoods 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 evening as you will combine the three pillars of the city: the stories behind its points of interest, 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 you are attracted to the idea of having a complete tour of Lisbon's culture, but prefer to do it with more intimacy, this option is for you. This package consists of a Lisbon night tour for small groups with 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 emerged in the poor neighborhoods of the Portuguese capital. Today, you have two options to enjoy a Fado show:

All musical styles have a tradition behind them and when it is known it is normal to enjoy more the artistic manifestation itself. I am going to leave you some interesting facts about Fado that will allow you to know more about this art:

• 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 arose in Lisbon because, being a port city, there reigned a multicultural environment that favored artistic proliferation. Its origin is located in the taverns of the most humble 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, something that is reflected in the tone of this song.
• There are several types of fado since the genre has evolved over the years, but the traditional fado has the voice and the acoustic guitar as the only instrument.

Seeing a live fado show is just one of the many things you can do in Lisbon. You may have already realized, 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 aroused, the best way to learn more about the tradition of fado and others that occur 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 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.