In this post, you’ll find all the best events and things to see and do in Lisbon this April, updated for 2023.
We include free things to do, nighttime activities, and family-friendly options.
Here is our list of the top 20 concerts, games, festivals, and other things to do in Lisbon this month.
Don't forget to check out our other popular Lisbon posts:
- Top 25 Things to Do in Lisbon
- Where to Store Your Luggage
- Tourist Attraction Discount Passes
- Hop-On-Hop-Off Bus Tours
- How's the Weather in Lisbon in April?
1) Attend a Concert
Lisbon has plenty of music venues throughout the city, which means you'll never be without music to enjoy.
If you're looking for some big-name touring artists, there are a few you can find in town this month:
- Isaiah Rashad | Apr 1st
- Danny Ocean | Apr 13th
- Linkin Park Tribute | Apr 15th
- Ziggy Alberts | Apr 30th
- Calum Scott | Apr 21st, 22nd
You can find all the concerts in Lisbon here.
2) Catch a Sporting Event
Lisbon locals are loyal to their home teams, which include SL Benfica and Sporting Lisboa.
Football (soccer) is definitely the most popular sport in Portugal - and you've most likely heard of Cristiano Ronaldo, the most famous Portuguese footballer.
There are several home games in April to attend:
Find all the sporting events in Lisbon here.
3) MotorClassico 2023
Gearheads and fans of classic and exotic car design flock to MotorClassico every year in Lisbon.
This year, the car show will be held from Mar 3 - 5, 2023.
Attendees can wander the show floor and grounds to admire all the vehicles on display.
There will also be model cars, manufacturer memorabilia, clothing, and design artwork for sale.
You can find auctions for cars and memorabilia, as well as talks about motor vehicle history and the future of design.
Kids can be entertained too! A miniature train runs around the show floor.
Find more information on the event page here.
4) Celebrate Freedom Day
This national holiday on April 25 celebrates the 1974 revolution when Portugal became a democracy.
One year later, April 25, 1975, was the day of the country’s first free election.
The peaceful Carnation Revolution got its name thanks to soldiers taking to the streets with flowers - instead of bullets - appearing out of their guns.
You might hear it called Freedom Day or Liberty Day.
Either way, throughout the country you’ll see both large-scale celebrations and locals having fun with their own community traditions.
Many public buildings and businesses will be closed on Freedom Day, but head to any major square to find live music and festivities! You can expect fireworks after dark.
There will also be a parade from Marques do Pombal Square to the Rossio.
If you're planning on seeing more than one historical attraction or taking several tours, you could purchase a city pass to save both time and money.
Depending on which pass you choose and how you use it, you should be able to save between 20% – 40% off retail admission prices.
From ancient art and bus tours to history and architecture, if you're looking to pack your days with interesting activities, you should consider getting a discount card!
For more information, please read our post covering Lisbon tourist passes.
6) AfroFest Lisboa
Note: Dates for 2023 are not yet announced.
AfroFest Lisboa 2023 is a fun, upbeat dance weekend celebrating Afro culture that features DJs and live music at multiple venues and dance studios across the center of Lisbon.
Some events are for casual social dancing, while others feature dance instructors for workshops in Kizomba, Semba, Tarraxinha, and Afro-house.
The entire weekend offers a great mix of Afro and Latinx dance.
7) Holy Week and Easter Celebrations
Good Friday is a public holiday in Portugal, so keep that in mind when planning activities in Lisbon on Friday, April 9, as some local businesses may close.
Local school children will also be out, so family-friendly activities might be a bit more crowded.
Don’t let the crowds put you off, though!
Expect to find processions through city streets to and from the churches and cathedrals on Good Friday and live music performances throughout the weekend.
You can also take part in local traditions of eating codfish on Good Friday and Holy Saturday, and roasting lamb on Easter Sunday.
Don’t forget to pop into a bakery and enjoy Folar de Pascoa, which is the sweet bread that symbolizes the Last Supper.
8) IndieLisboa
IndieLisboa, the city’s International Film Festival, begins on the last day in April.
From April 27 - May 7, 2023, the festival will screen almost 300 films, award the best indie submissions in multiple film categories, and offer industry workshops.
You don’t have to be part of the film industry to enjoy the screenings and a few other activities!
IndieLisboa’s aim is to give more exposure to deserving cinemas, which means they are open to the public.
In 2019, there were over 42,000 spectators!
Find more information and tickets here.
9) Explore Local Cuisine with a Secret Food Tour
Whether you want to learn more about Lisbon’s culinary history or you just want to find the best foods to eat in this city, there are food tours available that cover a variety of great dishes.
Secret Food Tours will show you the best local foodie spots, which include approximately 5 - 7 stops and samples such as local cheeses, meats, fish, and pastries.
This tour also includes drinks, like the Portuguese liqueur known as ginjinha, which is made from sour cherries.
This 3.5-hour walking tour will give you lots of insight into the local culture thanks to their food!
Purchase the Lisbon Secret Food Tour or learn more.
10) Sightseeing Tours
Having a guide in Lisbon means you won’t miss any of the biggest sights or attractions!
This is why hop-on-hop-off bus tours are popular - in addition to an audio guide in many languages, you have the chance to jump off and spend as much time as you want at each of the stops.
There are also hop-on-hop-off cruises, allowing you to see the maritime city from the water.
You could also take a more traditional sightseeing cruise or a sailing experience to fully appreciate this coastal city.
Don’t forget - you’ll be sure to find several sightseeing tours on the Lisbon city passes!
If you’re exploring Lisbon on a budget, take a look at these pay-what-you-like tours of the city!
11) Visit the Belem Tower
Officially named the Tower of Saint Vincent, the Belém Tower was originally built in the 16th century as a defensive structure.
Later it became a ceremonial gateway to the city.
Explorers and trading sailors would arrive and leave from the tower, watched over by the patrons who funded their voyage, often members of the royal family.
The ticket can be booked here.
12) Walk through the historic Alfama district and the Castle of Sao Jorge
Alfama is one of Lisbon's oldest neighborhoods. It sits on a hill overlooking the Tagus River and is characterized by mazes of steep, narrow streets.
You'll find beautiful, brightly colored residences, as well as churches, and plenty of terraces and viewpoints from which to see the city centre.
Sao Jorge castle is a historic castle located in the freguesia of Santa Maria Maior.
There are pieces of evidence of human occupation on the castle hill dating from the 8th century BC.
But the first recorded fortification started in the 1st century BC.
13) Explore the Jeronimos Monastery
The Jerónimos Monastery is a national monument which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
To honour Vasco da Gama's homecoming from India, the Portuguese architect Diogo de Boitaca designed this sacred structure.
The structure is primarily Manueline in design (Portuguese late Gothic).
The former Ermida do Restelo, the chapel where Vasco da Gama and the other sailors worshipped before setting sail for India along the African coast, was the site of the monastery.
14) Enjoy the street art at LX Factory
After a lazy lunch and ride on the river, a good place to stroll about in the LX Factory.
This complex houses an array of quaint restaurants and artsy retailers, more in the way of a Sunday market than a modern mall.
Located inside an abandoned industrial site, you’ll find an amazing bookshop (formerly an old press shop), a tattoo shop, open-air cafes, galleries, live music, creative wall murals, and artisanal shops.
15) Take a stroll through the botanical gardens at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
One of the most significant private art collections in the world is housed at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
From ancient Egypt to the first half of the 20th century, it features artwork from the Islamic World, China, and Japan, as well as French decorative arts, Impressionist paintings, and René Lalique jewelry.
To establish two separate circuits within the overall trip, the permanent exhibition and galleries are arranged historically and geographically.
16) Enjoy a traditional fado performance
Fado Music is a form of folk music unique to the Portuguese people, and there are more than 40 Fado houses in Lisbon where you can hear it for yourself.
You can find Fado all over the country, but the best place to find it is in Alfama - one of Lisbon’s oldest neighborhoods.
There are more than 40 Fado houses in Lisbon where you can hear it for yourself.
17) Take a day trip to Sintra
Sintra is a small, romantic village with UNESCO-recognized gardens that sits 45 minutes away from Lisbon by train.
You can even take a pay-what-you-wish tour Sintra Tour from Lisbon.
You can see the village center, National Palace, Moorish Fountain, Palace of Seteais, and other interesting sights.
18) Take a sunset cruise on the Tagus River
Lisbon is located alongside the Tagus River, and there are several different cruise services you can enjoy in the city as a result.
One of the easiest ways to take a cruise is by getting a combo ticket with a hop on hop off bus tour.
Most of the bus tour companies in Lisbon offer combo deals with both bus and boat tours.
Alternatively, there are also traditional sightseeing cruises and even sailing excursions.
This is an excellent family-friendly activity, and with sunset sails and cruises available, it could also be something fun to do at night!
19) Walk through the colorful street markets in Mercado da Ribeira
Since its opening in 1892 with an interior made of iron and a huge oriental dome, Mercado da Ribeira has served as Lisbon's primary food market.
Time Out Lisbon magazine took control of it in 2014, and under their administration, food and traditional local goods were added to the market.
On the ground level, there are the customary produce stands that are open from 6 am until 2 pm.
The fresh fish served at Lisbon's restaurants is purchased by many of the city's chefs here.
20) Take a guided tour of the historic Bairro Alto neighborhood
This bohemian and colorful central neighborhood is quiet by day. That is the perfect time to take in its history, street art, and 18th-century architecture and views.
At night it comes alive with music and crowds visiting the neighborhood bars, something that for some rules out a deep night’s sleep.
Visit our post on the neighborhood to find things to do in Barrio Alto.
