Coliseu dos Recreios

Going to a show at this theatre is a real treat. This is one of Lisbon's oldest entertainment venues. The original playhouse dates from 1890 and hosted plays, opera and classical music concerts for an appreciative public. Enlarged over the years, modernisation has, thankfully, not overtly altered the beautiful interior and visiting the Coliseu is as much about appreciating late 19th-century architecture as it is catching a live music act or a dance performance. Classical concerts are still performed here, although opera tends to be staged at the Teatro Nacional de São Carlos in nearby Chiado. The programme errs towards highlighting home grown talent, but the Coliseu remains a favourite option for international artists seeking a historical and more intimate place to perform.