How Lesbian Friendly is Portugal

What We Want to Know

When we’re travelling to a new destination as a lesbian couple, there are a few things we take into consideration to figure out how lesbian friendly it is. We like to know what the LGBTQ+ laws are in that country, as well as what the social climate is. In some places the laws and the feelings of the local people don’t necessarily match. We also like to know if there are any “gaybourhoods” or areas that are especially lesbian friendly. This blog series is meant to inform other lesbian travellers about different destinations around the world, and help empower them to travel more openly when it is safe to do so. We will be sharing our experiences in each country as well as our recommendations, but as always we encourage everyone to do their own research. We can only speak to our own experiences, and everyone has a different comfort level when it comes to being out and open while travelling. The travel destinations that an LGBTQ+ person chooses, and the way in which they travel is a very personal decision, and we encourage everyone to do what feels right to them.

Keep reading to find out how lesbian friendly Portugal is!

LGBTQ+ Laws

The laws in Portugal regarding LGBTQ+ people have progressed quite a lot in the last 20 years, and are now regarded as some of the best in the world! Same-sex sexual activity has been decriminalized since 1982, and Portugal was the 8th country in the world to legalize same-sex marriage in 2010, after recognizing unregistered cohabitation since 2001. Same-sex couples have also been able to legally adopt children since 2016, and they have equal access to family planning such as IVF. Since 2003, Portugal has had anti-discrimination laws in place for people of all sexual orientations, and the following year the constitution was amended to prohibit any discrimination based on sexual orientation, making Portugal one of the only countries on the globe to ban this type of discrimination in their constitution! In 2015 the country formally designated May 17th as their National Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia, and further proved their commitment to fighting discrimination toward the LGBTQ+ community. Portugal continues to be a true leader in equality for LGBTQ+ people, and hopefully we will see more countries follow suit in the coming years.

Social Climate

While Roman Catholicism is still very prevalent in Portugal, the public opinion has become more and more accepting of the LGBTQ+ community in recent years. A 2015 Eurobarometer Poll showed that more than 70% of Portuguese people believe in equal rights for gay and lesbian people, and 60% of people are accepting of marriage between same-sex couples. Those numbers have gone up significantly in the past ten years since the introduction of the same-sex marriage bill. Attitudes toward LGBTQ+ people seem quite positive overall, and there are active gay communities all over the country, especially in the larger cities and popular tourist areas. Similar to other Western European countries, locals are pretty open and accepting, and Portugal is definitely considered to be a LGBTQ+ friendly country to visit.

Gaybourhoods

The biggest LGBTQ+ scene in Portugal is in the incredible capital city of Lisbon, and the next prominent is in the city of Porto. In Lisbon, most gay establishments and gay nightlife can be found in the Bairro Alto neighbourhood, as well as the nearby Principe Real, and Chiado areas. There are a lot of gay and gay friendly bars, lounges, and nightclubs, most of which seem quite welcoming to women. The closest thing to a lesbian bar is called Purex, which is a gay and lesbian hotspot that draws the most diverse crowd. Lisbon also has popular gay friendly beaches such as 19 beach, and Bela Vista beach, as well as a large Pride festival which happens every June. Another annual event is Queer Lisboa, an International Queer Film Festival that takes place every September. The city of Porto also hosts a Pride celebration each year, and they have a gay scene in The Galleries area. Smaller gaybourhoods in the country can be found in the Algarve region in the cities of Faro, Lagos, Albufeira, and Tavira. Overall, Portugal is a country where you can feel safe and welcomed, and experience some local gay culture. It’s an amazing LGBTQ+ friendly European destination!

Our Experience

We’ve been to Portugal twice, and both times we had a really wonderful experience. We spent our time in the city of Lisbon, staying in the romantic old town called Alfama. Lisbon feels magical, and we spent hours getting lost on narrow cobblestone streets, and taking in unbelievable views. We walked around the whole city enjoying the beautiful architecture, the lively neighbourhoods, the gorgeous waterfront, and the rich history. We also took a day trip to nearby Sintra, to admire the incredible castles, palaces, and estates, and we loved soaking up the local Portuguese culture. There is so much to see and do in and around Lisbon, and we found the city to be very lesbian friendly. We were out and open in public, and always felt accepted when we were honest with the locals about being a lesbian couple. The city has a lively gay scene, amazing nightlife, and feels very inviting. Portugal seems to be quite welcoming of tourism, and we felt safe and comfortable on both of our trips there. We like to hold hands and show affection in public, and we did so without ever feeling unsafe, or getting any unwanted attention. We love visiting countries that legally recognize our marriage, and we felt so safe knowing that we are protected by law, as lesbian women. We would happily return to Portugal and would love to explore more of the country one day. It’s truly special and there is so much to see. We highly recommend it as a lesbian friendly destination for solo travellers and lesbian couples!

If you’re interested in travelling to Portugal, be sure to read our Lesbian Guide to Lisbon! 

Have you been to Portugal? Share your experience in the comments below!

View our library of How Lesbian Friendly Is… articles here!