Bairro Alto

Two faces

Bairro Alto ("upper district") sits on the hill west of Baixa and shows two quite different faces. By day, it's a quiet, almost sleepy neighbourhood of narrow streets, small shops, vintage boutiques and record stores. By night, it turns into Lisbon's liveliest nightlife strip: the narrow lanes fill with bars, and people spill out onto the street, drink in hand.

Fado, bars and views

Here you'll hear traditional fado - Portugal's melancholic musical tradition, in intimate venues alongside electronic music. At the top of the hill lies the elegant São Pedro de Alcântara viewpoint garden with views towards the castle, plus the ornate baroque São Roque church. The picturesque Bica Funicular runs downhill towards the river.

Where to stay?

Central and full of character, but if you want an early night, steer clear of the noisiest core streets. For a quieter base, try the neighbouring, elegant Príncipe Real or Chiado, both just a few minutes' walk away.