More and more people are combining a few days of sightseeing in Lisbon, Portugal's splendid capital, with all the nightlife that can be found in the numerous bars, clubs and music venues scattered around the city.

Besides its temperate climate, one of the main reasons for this is that the city's beautiful surroundings are full of ideas for pleasant road trips and fun day trips to unwind after a hectic time spent on one of the world's great evenings.

For car rental, look no further than Auto Europe , the company that not only offers great service and the best rates in over 180 different destinations (including Lisbon), but also allows you to change or cancel your reservation free of charge up to 48 hours before your scheduled pick-up time.

Founded in 1954, Auto Europe offers its many regular customers around the world the widest choice of vehicles available, whether it's a small, agile car from their popular budget Mini category or a sumptuous SUV for some serious sunbathing on one of the long sandy beaches of the Lisbon coast.

The Grand Tour

There's plenty to see and do in and around Lisbon with your own set of wheels, both north and south of the city. Just west of the city is the ancient medieval village of Sintra , once the summer residence of the Portuguese royal family and now one of the capital's main tourist attractions.

With an Auto Europe car rental in Lisbon you will also have the opportunity to visit Óbidos , one of the most enchanting fortified settlements in southern Europe that was given to the Portuguese queen as a wedding gift in the 13th century.

A short drive south of the capital takes you to the Serra da Arrábida Natural Park , a delightful mountainous area known for its fine wines and smooth, creamy Azeitão cheese. It's also famous for its golden sandy beaches, especially Portinho da Arrábida, one of the most idyllic seaside spots in all of Portugal.

And few visitors can resist the chance to see the mega waves in Nazaré , a lively seaside town with a long beach about an hour's drive north of Lisbon. Here, the record for the world's largest wave (over 26 meters – almost 90 feet) was set by the courageous German big wave surfer Sebastian Steudner in 2020.

The warm nights of the city

Lisbon's renowned clubbing scene gives this magnificent Atlantic city an exuberant extension to its vibrant nightlife portfolio, with a comprehensive and somewhat eclectic selection of venues to offer that cater to every musical persuasion.

One of the city's most famous (and oldest) neighborhoods is Bairro Alto , which boasts the liveliest and most diverse nightlife. Having survived much of the destruction of the great earthquake of 1755, it's one of the most bohemian parts of the capital and is worth visiting both day and night.

In addition to its many clubs, people also flock to Bairro Alto to enjoy live fado music (Portugal's national song) performed in dedicated venues along its narrow cobbled streets.

Described as fate or destiny translated into music, a fado concert is an event many visitors long to see and is best enjoyed with a delicious meal accompanied by a bottle or two of Portuguese wine in the company of close friends or family.

Another area for nightlife is Santos , where some of the city's most important clubs are located, particularly along Avenida 24 de Julho. Nearby, the vibrant Cais de Sodré neighborhood has been extensively restored as part of Lisbon's city-wide urban renewal program, with many new pubs and clubs opening their doors for the first time in recent years.

In the Pink

Nowadays, Lisbon’s Rua Nova do Carvalho (internationally known as Pink Street ) has become one of the trendiest spots in the heart of Lisbon, especially for Instagrammers who flock there in their thousands to snap a prized selfie, a prerequisite for modern clubbers visiting the Portuguese capital.

Some of Lisbon's most vibrant clubs and music bars feature African music, particularly Cape Verdean, which blends Latin American rhythms with a pulsating African beat. Several samba clubs in and around the Pink Street area also cater to the city's sizable Brazilian community with live bands and DJs specializing in this spectacular musical genre, which originated in the Afro-Brazilian communities of Rio de Janeiro over 100 years ago.

Additionally, there's plenty of nightlife in the airy resort towns of Cascais and Estoril , about a half-hour drive west of the Portuguese capital. Much of the action revolves around the region's glitzy casino, one of the best in Europe and a hub of Lisbon's coastal nightlife for decades.

Have a good trip, but whatever you do, don't drink and drive!