Festas de Santo António

What is Santo António in Lisbon?

Every June, Lisbon throws its biggest party of the year in honour of Saint Anthony, the city's best-loved saint. Born in Lisbon at the end of the twelfth century, Anthony is known in most of the world as Saint Anthony of Padua, but in Lisbon he is simply Santo António, patron of lovers and matchmaker of the city. On the night of June 12, the eve of his feast day, the whole city takes to the streets for the Festas de Santo António, the heart of a month of celebrations known as the Festas de Lisboa.

The old neighbourhoods, the bairros, are the soul of the festival. Alfama, Mouraria, Graça and the streets below the castle are hung with garlands, paper flowers and coloured lights, and their squares turn into arraiais, street parties with grills, music and dancing. The smell of grilled sardines, the symbol of the festival, fills the air, served on a slice of bread with a glass of wine or beer, and the parties go on until dawn.

The highlight of the night is the Marchas Populares, a parade on the Avenida da Liberdade in which the neighbourhoods compete with marching groups in costumes, with songs written for the occasion and decorated arches. The tradition began in 1932 with three groups, and today some 20 neighbourhoods take part, plus children's marches, in a parade lasting several hours. Each neighbourhood rehearses for months, and the winner is celebrated for the rest of the year.

Saint Anthony is also the patron of marriages, and since 1958 the city has held the Casamentos de Santo António, a ceremony on June 12 in which couples marry in the cathedral. Another tradition is the manjerico, a small pot of basil with a paper flower and a love poem, given to a sweetheart.

What to expect

The main celebrations take place on June 12 and 13, within a month of events across the city.

Planning your trip

Getting there

Lisbon's airport is close to the city centre, with metro connections, and has flights from across Europe and beyond. Trains connect Lisbon with Porto and the rest of Portugal. The festivities are in the centre, within walking distance of the main neighbourhoods.

Where to stay

Lisbon has hotels, guesthouses and apartments for all budgets, but June is high season, and the city fills up for the festival weekend. Book early, and stay in or near the old town to walk to the parties.

What it costs

Most events, including the marchas and the arraiais, are free. Sardines and drinks at the street stalls are cheap. Lisbon is moderately priced, though accommodation is expensive in June.

Go like you know

• Buy a manjerico from a street seller and read the poem on its flag.
• Ride tram 28 through Alfama earlier in the day to see the decorations.
• Eat grilled sardines on bread, the classic festival snack, with a bifana, a pork sandwich, if you're hungry.
• Visit the Igreja de Santo António, built on the site of the saint's birthplace near the cathedral.
• Porto's São João, on June 23, is Portugal's other great June street party.
• Tomar's Festa dos Tabuleiros is another Portuguese festival of saints and traditions.

Frequently asked questions

When is Santo António in 2027?

Every year on June 12 and 13: the marchas and the arraiais take place on the night of June 12, and June 13, the feast day, is a city holiday in Lisbon. In 2027, June 12 falls on a Saturday and June 13 on a Sunday, within the month-long Festas de Lisboa.

What are the Marchas Populares?

The Marchas Populares are a parade in which Lisbon's neighbourhoods compete with groups of marchers in costume, singing songs written for the year and carrying decorated arches. The tradition began in 1932, and today about 20 neighbourhoods take part on the Avenida da Liberdade on June 12.

Why sardines?

Grilled sardines are the symbol of the festival because June is the start of the sardine season, when the fish are at their best. Grilled on street barbecues and served on bread, they have become inseparable from the arraiais and the smell of Lisbon in June.