A Guide To Museu Do Fado, Lisbon

Things to do

Despite the age and historic value of the Alfama district, Fado is a relatively new genre of music. The style can be traced back to the early 19th century, and although there are likely earlier origins, the fact of the matter is that it is hard to trace down exactly where and when Fado started. But what scholars do know is that the genre likely started among sailors and maritime workers. Since the neighborhood of Alfama is historically a port area, the district became home to the first Fado bars and clubs.

Typically accompanied by the Portuguese guitar, Fado songs are usually simplistic and can be about anything under the sun, but they must always follow a traditional lyrical structure. Despite the fact that they can be about anything, the themes are mostly melancholic, such as feelings of loss or longing.

Look at the exhibitions

The Museum opened in 1998 and has been an important part of the cultural fabric of Lisbon for a while. Not only does the museum serve to preserve and tell the story of Fado but they have a huge musical archive, as well as multimedia presentations and informational materials all related to Fado. For guests already familiar with the style, there are sections of the museum dedicated to the most famous Fado artists from singers to composers. For people interested in the technical and musical side of things, the section on the Portuguese guitar is interesting; and for people interested in history, the museum showcases the influence of Fado in the 20th century and the origins of the “Fado houses”.

Attend an event

For Fado aficionados, the museum hosts a wide variety of events, from live shows to educational talks, and showcases from various artists from long ago to the present day. There are even live concert events on the waterfront nearby. If you’re not interested in live music there is also a wide variety of temporary exhibits hosted by the Museu do Fado. Their schedule of events can be found on their website.

Learn to play Portuguese Guitar

The Museu do Fado offers lessons for people looking to learn how to play Fado. From lyrical workshops to lessons on how to play the Portuguese guitar, guests can come to learn about the musical tradition of Fado from a hands-on perspective.

What to eat

A Travessa do Fado

The Museu do Fado has an on-site restaurant named “A Travessa do Fado”. The restaurant is pretty good with a wide variety of classic Portuguese dishes available as well as a nice outdoor seating area and terrace with views of the local houses and churches. Enjoy drinking coffee outside or an afternoon meal accompanied by the soothing sounds of Fado music. The restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday.

Things to buy

Music

Seeing as this is a museum dedicated to music, the museum shop has a wide array of Fado artists’ CDs to purchase. Find a new favorite or look for an old classic that might be hard to find elsewhere.

Books

If you’re looking to keep learning about this genre of music then check out the books they have on sale here. Everything from artists’ biographies to the history of Lisbon and Fado can be found as well.

Portuguese guitar

One important aspect of Fado is the accompaniment of the Portuguese guitar. If you’re looking to learn how to play or looking to become a Fado musician yourself, check out their selection of guitars available to buy.

Travelers tips

Wheelchair accessibility

The museum doesn’t have an elevator but for those with mobility issues, there are ramps at the museum. This makes it easy for people in wheelchairs or those with limited mobility to get around.

How to get there

By bus

Lisbon has a pretty extensive public transportation network and the Museu do Fado has a bus stop right in front of the building with several buses stopping there making the bus the best option for getting here. Take any of the 206, 210, 728, 735, 759, or 794 busses to Cais Lingueta. The museum is about 2 minutes away on foot from the said station.

By car

The streets in Lisbon are pretty dense, so if you’re going to be driving consider a taxi or Uber instead. Leave the driving here to the people that know the city. If you do have a vehicle, however, there is parking on the street nearby.

How to get tickets (from USD 8.0)

Tickets can be bought on-site when you arrive. Their tickets are priced at 7 EUR (about 8 USD). Tickets from third-party sellers are also available online.

Skip the Line: Fado Museum Ticket

Duration: 1 to 2 hours

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Museu Do Fado information

Museu Do Fado

Address: Alfama, Largo do Chafariz de Dentro 1, 1100-139 Lisboa, Portugal

Opening hours: Tue - Sun: 10am - 5:30pm (closed on Sun)

Price: 8 USD

Website: Official Website

Department of Tourism: Visit Lisbon