At night, the city's old quarters come alive with the sound of fado singing and guitar-playing, the musical expression of the soul of Lisbon's inhabitants. And yet, down the hill at the open-air cafés, bars and discothèques, whose lights are reflected in the calm waters of the River Tagus, the night is still young. Why not also take advantage of Lisbon's special location and enjoy the white sand of the long ocean beaches, just a stone's throw from the Portuguese capital? Also to be found close by are a series of excellent golf courses, a casino, and the romantic town of Sintra, a paradise that has been magnificently set in the most beautiful landscape and has rightly been classified as world heritage. Nightlife is concentrated on the waterfront between the Docks and Avenida 24 de Julho, and in the Bairro Alto. For those wishing to see a show with more authentically Portuguese origins, the ideal choice is a Fado House in one of the city’s typical neighborhoods.

Specifically for Gay&Lesbian population, you must have a drink at Bairro Alto, in the bar 7º Céu or Portas Largas an then have a little dancing at exclusively gay-populated Trumps (near Bairro Alto, at Príncipe Real) or at gay-friendly Frágil (at Bairro Alto) and Lux Frágil, wich is the most fashionable and famous disco of Lisbon (just a cab trip away). If you're more into the travestism scene, you must see the Finalmente's show, the most famous at Lisbon.

You have some other little gay-oriented bars at the Príncipe Real area, like 106, Max or Bric-a-Bar, or the lesbian-targeted Memorial. Some gay saunas are available too, like Spartacus.

You can easily find a daily calendar with links and information to enjoy Lisbon nightlife by visiting Tips Guide Lisboa (www.tipsguidelisboa.com) or Timeout (http://timeout.sapo.pt)