5 things to know before spending New Year’s Eve in Lisbon

First off, let me say that just because I brought in this hellish year in Lisbon should in no way reflect badly on this beautiful city. Of course when the clock struck 12 we were all wishing for a great year ahead…little did we know about the shitstorm 2020 had in store for us.

This of course however, was not Lisbon’s fault.

The plan.

Like with every year, approaching the Christmas period in 2019 I was starting to book in nights out, festivities, and more importantly, New Year’s Eve plans.

To be honest, I’m not a MASSIVE New Year’s Eve fan…I’m more of a Christmas kind of gal. I soon discovered that a few of my friends felt the same, and so we started looking into getting out of Glasgow and heading abroad for the bells.

Lisbon came up pretty early on as somewhere we all wanted to go, and so we booked some flights, a city centre Airbnb, and the next thing we knew…it was NYE!

NYE Party in Lisbon

Praça do Comércio (Terreiro Do Paco)

Having already researched what to do, it was an obvious choice for us to head to the most popular party and fireworks display at Praça do Comércio (Terreiro Do Paco), which is the big square in the centre of Lisbon.

It did NOT disappoint!

With friends arriving on the last flight in to Lisbon from Manchester before the bells, we scoffed down some pizza, grabbed beers and joined the mass herd heading down Rua Augusta towards the square.

5 key things to know before you go:

1. It’s FREE!
   • The party is totally free to get in to, which is so fantastic for families and the likes of us who aren’t hugely organised! Once you get in, there is live music (usually a Portuguese act…we of course had absolutely no idea who they were, but other people were singing along), and there are a number of bars around the square where you can buy drinks and snacks…but be prepared to queue.

2. It’s REALLY busy.
   • I know you this might seem like an obvious point to make, but I’m not sure I was prepared for just how busy it would be, and found it a little overwhelming at times. There are thousands of people all having a good time, but it’s a hell of a crowd to be in the middle of if you find yourself on your own. Make sure to have a meeting point agreed in the event anyone gets split up from the group. Look out for each other!

3. The Fireworks are AMAAAAZING!
   • When the clock struck 12, the fireworks display started and I was immediately taken back to Disneyland and the amazing night time show you can see in front of the castle. In fact, I’m pretty sure they played the Shrek theme tune! The fireworks seemed to be perfectly in time with this dramatic, emotional music, and surrounded by some of my closest friends, I really felt so bloody happy and grateful. It felt like it went on for ages, which was absolutely perfect.

4. If a local hands you raisins, take them!
   • This lovely family standing next to us grabbed us all just before the bells and poured raisins in to our hands. Nervously looking at my friends, I wondered whether or not they were trying to drug us (the Glasgow in me showing). They looked pretty ‘normal,’ and after explaining that the raisins would bring us prosperity for the year ahead (Lollllll…hello Covid), we all went for it. It turns out this is a typical tradition, where at midnight you are to make a toast with champagne and eat the 12 raisins, making a wish with each raisin for each month of the coming year.

5. Finally, if you need to pee…hold it.
   • I’m not sure why, but there was a serious lack of toilets at the party. There are literally thousands of people and it took us SO long to find a loo, and as you can imagine with all the drinking of bubbly, you needed a lot more than usual. Unfortunately as the night went on we saw lots of party-goers just doing the toilet against any wall they could find (even if that was a Church). Just be prepared for this, and maybe take some baby wipes and a she wee.

There were just a few things I thought people might find useful / interesting, from my experience of New Year’s Eve in Lisbon.

I would 100% recommend it for New Years Eve to anyone and everyone!

Cara