You can’t say you’ve really heard fado until you’ve experienced it live in its birthplace, Lisbon’s historic Alfama or Mouraria. So to remedy that, you’ll join one of Lisbon’s local hosts for an evening listening to this melancholic music - it’s more fun than that makes it sound, promise.

Depending on your vibe, your host can show you to a famous casa de fado where you can enjoy a traditional Portuguese meal during a fado dinner show performed by well-known local artists.

Or, if a hidden gem sounds more like your style, spend the evening sipping ginjinha (the local sour cherry liqueur), nibbling on petiscos, and listening to less rehearsed, but no less moving fado in a tiny tucked away tavern where you’ll likely be the only person who doesn’t live in the city.

You’ll hear all about the history of the music, no matter where you go, but be sure to ask your host to translate the beautiful lyrics, that’ll give you an extra appreciation for the hypnotic sounds.

And you never know - in these parts, if you’re lucky, you might just stumble across someone playing fado in the streets, or walk into a bar at the right time to hear the locals singing just for each other. Magical.