15 Best Performing Arts Venues in Lisbon, Portugal

This contemporary art museum and live music venue, set in a beautiful 18th-century building surrounded by immaculately maintained grounds, more than merits the quick trip across the river. Permanent and visiting exhibitions and installations will appeal to art lovers, and a café-bar with outdoor seating offers incredible panoramic views across the Tagus and the Ponte 25 de Abril.

A good way to break the language barrier is to see a show at this vibrant venue, where contemporary clowning, circus acts, and physical theater dominate. There's also the pleasant Chapitô à Mesa restaurant with fine views of the city and the bohemian Bartô bar with a mix of live music and DJs.

The colorful art deco building is reason enough to visit this cinema-turned-arts-venue, which was the first place in town to show films when it opened its doors in 1926 under the grand-sounding moniker Cinema da Sociedade Filarmónica Incrível Almadense (Cinema of the Incredible Almadense Philharmonic Society). Today the space hosts a rich roster of live music three days a week, and locals can be found swapping stories at the bar.

In a former armaments factory, this multiconcept cultural space encompasses exhibition rooms, a bookstore, shops, conferences, film screenings, and concerts ranging from jazz to rock, funk, and world music. Although everything is now up to code, it still retains some of the feeling of a half-abandoned building, with rooms that artists might take over from time to time. One of the more popular residencies is a storytelling series that takes place in English and in Portuguese.

Inaugurated in 1793, this grand neoclassical theater was inspired by Venice's opera house, La Fenice. You have to see the main hall to appreciate the building's splendor. The stage itself is rather plain, but the five tiers of private boxes on either side draw the eye to the domed royal box, awash with gold leaf and held aloft by soaring columns. Two cherubs hold aloft the royal coat of arms. The theater has its own choir, is home to the Portuguese Symphonic Orchestra, and hosts music and dance performances, as well as opera. Book guided tours in advance by email.

This cinema in the Monumental mall has four screens. Expect a mixture of art films, commerical releases, and classics.

This movie theater from 1950 is now the stage for most of the city’s annual film festivals. A renovation in 2001 kept the original interior and facade and brought its three screening rooms back into operation. The popular independent film festival IndieLisboa happens here in the spring; the gay and lesbian film festival Queer Lisboa is every September; and documentary, Italian, and French film festivals are scheduled at other times throughout the year. From its balcony on the top floor you have a view of Avenida da Liberdade’s famous pavement designs.

Constructed in 1890, this circular concert hall is a Lisbon cultural landmark. The great acoustics have made it one of the city's most important venues for performances ranging from classical music to rock. The smaller Sala hosts more intimate events like stand-up comedy.

These days this monumental structure hosts more rock concerts than bullfights. Holding up to 9,000 people, the Moorish-style auditorium hosts big names like Pixies and Arcade Fire. There's a multiscreen cinema here, too, often showing blockbuster family films in English with Portuguese subtitles.

The Sociedade Filarmónica Incrível Almadense has been entertaining Almada locals since 1848 and continues to put on a diverse array of music and arts events. Brass bands, vocal choirs, and classical performances draw large crowds, as do the photographic exhibitions and theater performances (in Portuguese, but there are some entertaining performances for young children).

Also known as the Teatro Taborda, the resident company at this historic theater has spent three decades exploring and performing new, historic, and experimental works. Although Portuguese is the primary language, many performances incorporate dance and multimedia elements that make them entertaining to visitors.

Dominating the northern side of the Rossio, this Palladian-style building finished in 1846 is one of the city's crowning glories. The six ionic columns draw your eye upward to a carving of Apollo singing to the Muses. In addition to theatrical performances, there are regular art exhibits that are usually well worth a look. English-language guided tours are held every Monday (advance booking is required).

This convention center mounts a major concert and exhibition program, often of cutting-edge contemporary art.

The latest in screen technology and extra-comfy seats are among the draws at this cinema underneath Lisbon's largest department store. Cheap-ticket night here is Wednesday.