Portugal’s Pink Street in Lisbon is hot and happening – you must’ve come across the photos on social media! But what’s the story? How to get to the pink street in Cais do Sodre and when is the best time to visit? It’s not just a picturesque street, it’s home to some of the best bars in Lisbon too! So if you’re looking for Lisbon nightlife – look no further. Let’s dive into everything you need to know about this quirky pink street.
Rua Cor-de-Rosa aka Pink Street
So how did the red light district turn pink?! Rua Nova do Carvalho was painted not that long ago actually! The painting started in 2011 and was finished by 2013. Since then, it has become locally known as Rua Cor de Rosa, meaning Pink Street. The project was supposed to make the neighborhood better – gentrification at it’s finest. And it has worked. Brothels closed, new bars opened and the street has replaced the shady nightlife and turned it into something hip.
It’s a bit over ten years since my last visit to Lisbon. That trip was with my ex-boyfriend, his new boyfriend, and another friend who had also once been in a long-term relationship with my ex-boyfriend. It had seemed like a good idea at the time, but obviously it wasn’t.
This trip I was travelling with Liviu. It was his first visit to Lisbon and I was excited to be rediscovering the city.
We had booked an apartment through misterb&b. It was easy enough to navigate our way from the airport, via the fast and efficient metro system to find our apartment on Rua da Oliveira ao Carmo. This turned out to be a great location – central, and within easy walking of everything that we needed.
Getting Our Bearings
Liviu was keen to hit the beach straight away, but this isn’t Barcelona, so I instead persuaded him that a walk around the city was a good way to get our bearings.
Rattling trams and buzzing tuk-tuks are on hand if you can’t quite face the multitude of steps, but if you’ve got the energy this a great city for working up an appetite while walking.
Lisbon, the 531,000-person strong capital of Portugal, is a city full of unforgettable sights and experiences. The immensely green Parque Eduardo VII; the colorful graffiti on huge buildings in Avenida Fontes Pereira de Melo; the pretty white houses of the Alfama area in the heart of the old Lisbon; the commanding Sao Jorge Castle perched on a hilltop.
Jump on a tram, talk to the locals – yes, the Portuguese speak great English – and follow the smell of grilled fish in its small alleys. Have you ever seen a real sunset? This is what you can admire, sometimes, from the Praca do Comercio, one of the main squares in the city. I could barely breathe for the enchantment.
The city will give you hundreds of sweet memories like these – the ones I’ve mentioned are some of the richest in my heart.