New Year’s Eve in Lisbon: Where to Watch the Fireworks

At Terreiro do Paço, the large riverside square at the foot of Rua Augusta that most visitors know as Praça do Comércio. That was the venue in both 2024-25 and 2025-26. The official Visit Lisboa listing for 2024-25 shows free entry, a concert at 21:30, the fireworks at 00:00 after the countdown and a second concert at 00:15.

The 2025-26 night followed the same shape with a different line-up: a DJ set at 21:30, a concert at 22:30, a drone show at 23:55 and fireworks at midnight, according to RTP. 24notícias described ten minutes of fireworks synchronised with the drones.

The performers change every year, but the structure has not: music in the evening, the countdown, then the display over the river.

By public transport, and earlier than feels necessary. In 2025-26 the authorities asked people to arrive by about 21:00 and to use public transport, because of the traffic cuts in the centre. The list below is what ran last year.

• Metro. It ran until 01:00 on 1 January, its usual closing time, with extra trains on the Blue line. Terreiro do Paço station was shut from 17:00.
• Night buses. Carris said its night network, including lines 201, 206 and 208, would run in full, with extra buses at Cais do Sodré, Rossio and Santa Apolónia.
• Trains. CP added late departures, including Rossio to Sintra from 01:20 and Cais do Sodré to Cascais at 02:00, 03:00 and 04:00.
• Ferries. Transtejo and Soflusa added extra departures on all river crossings.
• Scooters and bikes. Shared ones were switched off from 13:00 to 06:00, so plan to walk.

Inside the square there were bag and body searches at six entrances. In 2025-26 the police said sharp or dangerous objects, including champagne bottles, were banned. The 2024-25 list also named glass bottles, umbrellas, selfie sticks and chairs. Assume something similar and travel light. Our guide to getting around Lisbon covers the everyday network.

Mild by northern standards, but not warm after dark. Portugal’s weather service, IPMA, gives December averages for 1991 to 2020 at its Lisbon station. They are averages, not a forecast for the 31st, so check the forecast two days before.

Standing still for two or three hours feels colder than the average low suggests, so wear layers and a hat. A small umbrella may not get you through the gate if the 2024-25 rules repeat, so a hooded waterproof is safer.

Fireworks are hard on any camera, but four habits help.

1. Scout in daylight. Find open sky over the river with a landmark, such as a bridge or a rooftop, in the foreground.
2. Turn the flash off. It does nothing for a display hundreds of metres away. Wipe the lens and use Night mode if your phone has it.
3. Steady the phone. Lean on a railing, tuck your elbows in, tap the sky to focus and slide the exposure down so the bursts do not turn into white blobs.
4. Shoot video too. Record a short clip and save frames from it, or hold the shutter for a burst. Then put the phone away for the countdown.

Cold drains batteries, so charge fully in the afternoon and keep the phone in an inside pocket. For photos of the two of you, use daylight rather than midnight, when the fireworks are too far and too dark for a good portrait.

If you want ideas for where to stand, our top photo spots in Lisbon and our post on Christmas lights in Lisbon show how the city looks in festive light.