PORTUGAL | Socializing | Activities
Social Life
In Portugal, social life is very much linked to family and friends. Eating out, going out for a drink and catching up with friends, going to the cinema, theatre or to see a show, meeting up with friends to see a football match or any other sport are common activities amongst the Portuguese.
In Portugal, it is quite common to have lunch and dinner out with family and friends. You can say it is kind of a tradition, especially on weekends. Even though Portugal is not a wealthy country, eating out is quite affordable. Throughout the country, there are various family-run restaurants offering traditional Portuguese and regional cuisine.
Entertainment
Nightlife starts and finishes late in Portugal. Bars and night clubs are popular places for friends to meet up and talk, have a drink and listen to music. Usually, bars are open until 2 am. For those who like to dance and music, night clubs are fun places to go to with friends. Night clubs usually open between midnight and 1 am and close at 7 am. In Portugal, it is usual in both bars and night clubs to be given a card upon arrival. Whenever you get something to drink or eat from the bar, it is registered on the card. Before leaving, you pay at the cashier. The card is given back to you and you hand it over to the bouncer at the door.
Going to the cinema is quite popular. Apart from commercial films, most cinemas also show cultural films. The largest film distributors in the country are Lusomundo and Castello Lopes. The most well-known and popular cinema festival in Portugal is the Fantasporto International Film Festival.
In Portugal, theatre is becoming more popular again and with plays for all kinds of public. Even though theatre is gaining popularity, greater variety of plays and shows can be found in Lisbon and Oporto. However, in cities like Braga, Coimbra, Viseu and Faro the range of shows is growing. To get more information you should check the cultural agendas for each city on the respective sites of each City Hall.
The most popular concerts are in summer, mainly the annual summer music festivals from North to South, with musicians visiting from all over the world. Sudoeste, Paredes de Coura, Marés Vivas and Super Bock Super Rock offer three days of concerts and fun, just to name a few. Since 2004, Rock in Rio – Lisbon takes place every two years. It offers 5 to 6 days of concerts, fun and partying from morning till night.
Heritage & Nature
For those who like nature, there are various activities at your disposal such as canoeing, trekking, mountain climbing, BTT - just to name a few.
When it comes to Portuguese music, ten Fado is undoubtedly th most well known Portuguese music. Its origins can be traced back to the early 19th century. Enthusiasts of fado claim that it is influenced not only by traditional music of Portuguese sailores, but also by African and Arab music. Fado is characterised by melancholic melodies and lyrics, strictly linked to the sentiment saudade, which has no equivalent translation in any other language but implies feelings of melancholy, nostalgia, and longing. Another characteristic of fado is the use of the Portuguese guitar, a fundamental musical instrument for this style. Fado has two different styles, from the cities of Lisbon and Coimbra. Fado from Lisbon is more popular in nature and more well known, whereas fado from Coimbra has a more refined style to it. The most well known worldwide fadista (the name by which singers of fado are known as) was Amália Rodrigues. At present time and with fado's growing popularity, both nationally and internationally, there are many successful fadistas. To name a few: Mariza, Ana Moura, Mafalda Arnauth, Katia Guerreira, Mísia, Camané, and Carlos do Carmo.
Sports
Football is without a doubt the favourite sport of most Portuguese. It is a sport that is followed with soul and lots of emotion by its fans. Apart from football, other team sports which are becoming more popular are: roller-hockey, handball and rugby. In summer, most aquatic sports are popular, but surfing, windsurfing and bodyboarding are at the top. For more information on sports activities and events you can go to the site of the Sports Institute.