Lisbon Stag Do's

Getting around

Your best bet for budget flights to Lisbon is with Easyjet and Air Portugal (TAP), both of which run a regular schedule. The airport is very close to the city centre, just 20 minutes and a few Euros on the Metro, or you can grab a taxi. We can also arrange convenient airport transfers for you too, so there’s no waiting around. You’ll be picked up from outside the terminal and whisked straight to your Lisbon stag hotel. 

Lisbon is famed for its beautiful cobbled streets as well as the faded glamour of its architecture. This is a city that is truly beautiful to walk around, and we recommend doing as much of that as possible. However - it is also a city built on hills, and there are some steep climbs involved in places. On hot summer days you will definitely want to use public transport to get around too. 

The best option is a Viva Viagem card, which can be used on the Metro, buses, trams, the train and funiculars, as well as the ferry if you happen to cross the river. Cards can be bought from automatic ticket machines as well as PayShops around Lisbon, you just top them up with as much as you want - we’d suggest about 20 Euros to start you off. Then just scan and ride. 

Lisbon’s Metro has four lines, and operates until 1am. There are also six tram lines, which are fun to ride as well as getting you quickly from A to B - the touristy 28 line is a famous route taking you all the way up to the castle. Do be aware though that pickpockets are known to operate on it. Buses run until 11pm, while the city has the odd funicular which make the steepest hills a bit more manageable.

Taxis and Ubers abound too of course. If you want to go further afield, to Sintra or Cascais for instance, then the best way is by train. And some activities that are out of town, such as surfing, will require short transfers, which we’ll be happy to arrange for you.

Google Maps works wonders when you're walking around, while many people also recommend CityMapper as it also details the best transport options in Lisbon.

Tips and ideas

If you’re planning a Lisbon stag weekend, bring an appetite. The seafood here is exceptional, and we’d recommend you eat out as much as possible. Sandwiches are also very popular here, especially at the end of a drinking session to soak up the alcohol. A bifana is a thin layer of deliciously seasoned pork inside a bread roll, while prego is a steak sandwich. Piri-piri chicken is another fast food treat that you’ll encounter everywhere and perfect for a hungry group of lads. To wash it down, there are two main Portuguese beers, both served refreshingly cold - Sagres and Super Bock. Locals will drink them one cerveja at a time, but ask for a caneca if you want a pint.

The footie fans among you will no doubt have heard of Lisbon’s two hometown teams: Benfica and Sporting. Games between the two rivals are incredibly passionate, and the fans give even the most hardcore of English fans a run for their money. The best way to see this in action is to experience a live game - let us know if you’d like us to help you arrange tickets. Alternatively, a stadium tour can allow you to see where they play without worrying about booking tickets for 15 lads.

Sightseeing-wise, the ultimate is to take the number 28 tram up to the highest point of the city, where you’ll find the historic São Jorge Castle. After taking in some stunning views of Lisbon, you can make your way slowly downhill through the winding streets of Alfama and some of Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhoods. Regular miradouros (viewpoints) are served by pavement kiosks where you can pause for a beverage.

If you want to travel the city in style, you can take the journey by limo, whether that's from the airport or heading to the nightclub. A bottle of champagne will be included inside the limo, so you can pop it and all have a cheeky glass for the groom to really set the tone for the weekend ahead.

Other popular Lisbon stag activities take you further afield. There are some excellent beaches over on the other side of the River Tagus, packed in the summer of course, but a plate of octopus with a few beers at a seaside shack here is near-paradise. A 30-minute transfer out of Lisbon brings you to Guincho, one of Portugal’s best beaches for Surfing, kitesurfing and windsurfing. Let us know if you’d like us to sort you and the boys out with some fun lessons. 

The fairytale castles of Sintra are one of the top tourism destinations in Portugal and just a short train ride from Lisbon. Bear in mind this beautiful town gets insanely busy in summer, but you can find some space, and cool shade, hiking in the wooded hills around it. There’s also some excellent golf in the resort town of Cascais just along the coast, easily reached by train as well, and blackjack and roulette at the prestigious Casino Estoril - come dressed-up, this is no Vegas casino.

Of course, if golf is your interest but you want to please the masses with something a little more unique, you could try footgolf in Lisbon. As the name suggests, you'll be kicking a football on a golf course, aiming towards the oversized holes (don't worry, they won't be the traditional golf ball size). You'll get 18 holes to target for, a great daytime activity which will cover off a good three hours.

Nightlife

The Portuguese nightlife is a little different to what we get up to over here in the UK. The sunny weather means balmy evenings, so much of the nightlife in Lisbon takes place in the streets. Bars serve drinks straight onto the pavement and there is plenty of music and dancing to go with it. The atmosphere is definitely more chilled and refined than the classic pub crawl in Blighty. And of course, as with many European countries, nights out in Lisbon tend to get going later than in the UK, and finish around dawn. So adjust your mindsets, and pack eyemasks. 

There are three key neighbourhoods to party on a Lisbon stag do, and the first two are likely to be of most interest. They are the riverside Cais do Sodre incorporating the city’s former red light district; the edgier Bairro Alto further uphill, and also the refurbished docks of Santos where there are also plenty of hip nightspots. 

A good way to start any night out on a Lisbon stag do is with a full stomach. You’ll find smaller outlets of some of Lisbon’s best restaurants at the vast Time Out Market, a teeming hubbub of locals and visitors. Secure yourselves some space at a table, then head out in teams to see what’s available.

Given that it’s the sunniest capital in mainland Europe, Lisbon naturally boasts dozens of stylish rooftop bars. Our Rooftop Bar Crawl is guided by a local, and a great way to get to know some of the trendiest nightspots in town for a few early evening cocktails to catch the sunset.

Pensao Amor on Pink Street is one of Lisbon’s most famous bars, a very touristy place but definitely worth a visit. It was once a brothel, and is now a three-storey cocktail bar full of little nooks and crannies, with burlesque shows common and a very lively ambience. Foxtrot is a very refined place, one of Lisbon’s oldest bars, where you’ll enjoy some exquisite cocktails in their garden. Come earlier in the evening to hang out with the after-work crowd.

The evocatively named Loucos e Sonhadores (Madmen and Dreamers) up in Bairro Alto is a favourite with the locals, who come to catch up with friends over beers, wine and free popcorn. Musa is a craft brewery and taproom in the industrial area of Marvila. Come midnight and the bar becomes a dance floor - another big local hangout.

The street-drinking scene goes on all night-long in Lisbon, but if you are looking for nightclubs you certainly won’t be disappointed here. Cais do Sodre is home to the eclectic MusicBox, which is open ‘til 6am if your legs can make it that long. Lux is a super-stylish venue, co-owned by the actor John Malkovitch for a touch of Hollywood glamour. And then there’s Ministerium Club, over in Praça do Comércio, which is open late, has free entry and naturally gets very busy. The doors amazingly don't shut until 8am. But heads up, it's only open Thursday-Sunday, so if you're doing a midweek visit, make sure to double check the club you're visiting is open.

FAQ

Is Lisbon good for a stag do?

Lisbon is one of our newest stag do destinations in Europe and is definitely becoming more sought-after. You’ve got it all here: sunny most of the year; beaches where you can sunbathe, surf and snack on seafood; great stag do activities, and a pulsating nightlife of rooftop cocktail bars and pavement drinking that gets going late and continues ‘til dawn. We love it, and you will too.

Where is the nightlife in Lisbon?

As far as stag groups are concerned, the best nightlife areas in Lisbon is centred around the riverside Cais do Sodre neighbourhood, which is where you’ll find the rowdy Pink Street, a former red light district, and Bairro Alto which attracts a more bohemian crowd. There are also plenty of other good areas to have a few drinks such as Principe Real and Santos, but most of our Lisbon stag do’s tend to congregate around Cais do Sodre and Bairro Alto.

How much is a beer in Lisbon

Expect to pay around 2.50 Euros for a pint (caneca) of Sagres or Superbock in Lisbon, and a little less for a cerveja (300cl), which tends to be what most people order. The local lagers are usually served ice cold and are deeply refreshing on a summer day. Cocktails in Lisbon’s rooftop bars meanwhile can easily cost 10-15 Euros. 

What are the best things to do in Lisbon on a Portugal bachelor party?

We can help you organise all your favourite stag do experiences in Lisbon, including Paintball and Bubble Football. But we can also arrange some uniquely Lisbon activities too, from Surf Lessons to Rooftop Bar Crawls and even Sea Kayaking. Footie fans might want to catch Benfica or Sporting in action, perhaps even a derby, while if you fancy a flutter, come suited and booted to the iconic Casino Estoril which has hosted royalty and many celebrities in its illustrious past.

Can we trust your Lisbon stag do reviews?

Our Lisbon stag do reviews come independently through Trustpilot, and we are unable to edit them, so what you see are genuine opinions from previous travellers. We’re amazingly proud of our average rating of 9.6 / 10 across more 2,000 reviews, and we’d love to hear how you get on on your own stag do in Lisbon.