If you’ve never bowled before, perhaps it’s because you’re unfamiliar with this fun game, which can be played either individually or in teams. Don’t worry! We’ll explain everything in the next few lines and show you a map of the best places to bowl in Lisbon.
First lesson: you don’t need a lot of strength to bowl. Marksmanship, skill and a bit of strategy are the right tactics to defeat your friends and brag about it for a long time.
A bit of history
The game is said to date back to Egyptian times, and some pins have been found inside sarcophagi.
Bowling lanes are generally made of wood or synthetic material and are around 20 meters long. The pins are made of wood or plastic and are about 60 centimeters high. The balls are made of rubber or plastic and weigh between 2.5 and 7.26 kilos.
In Lisbon, our earliest memories take us back to the first bowling alleys in the city: one of the largest in Europe, which existed in the city Parque das Nações, bowling Internacional de Lisboa and, of course, Bowling City Lisboa, which is still open in the Colombo Shopping Center and dates back to 1997.
That’s why bowling has been practiced in Lisbon for at least 26 years.
But how do you play?
Bowling is quite easy to learn and a lot of fun, but there are a few rules and terms you should be aware of. And that’s exactly what we’re going to teach you.
Bowling is a game that consists of knocking down ten pins lined up at the end of a lane by throwing a ball.
The game can be played in teams or individually, and the aim is to get as many points as possible over the course of a match, which is divided into 10 moves, the “frames”.
In each frame, each player has the right to make two throws to knock down the pins: if he knocks them all down on the first attempt, he gets a strike; if he also does it on the second throw, he gets a spare.
How much is each move worth?
- A strike is worth 10 points, plus the number of pins knocked down in the next two throws
- A spare is worth 10 points, plus the number of pins knocked down on the next throw
- If you don’t knock down all the pins in a frame, you only get the number of pins knocked down in the throw
- If you have the most points at the end of the match, you’re the winner
On the tracks we’re going to show you next, there are monitors that count the points automatically, so the table above is just for your information.
Oh, we forgot: don’t be surprised if you’re asked to wear special shoes. It’s a sacred rule in all bowling alleys in Lisbon, just so you don’t damage the lane and you don’t slip… that’s all!
Table Of Contents
Bowling City Colombo
Perfect for families and groups of friends, who fill the 16 bowling lanes every weekend, this space located in the Colombo Shopping Center is one of the largest in the country, with a total area of 2,059m2 and two floors, the first of which houses the gaming machines and other amusement equipment, and the second the bowling lanes.
Also upstairs is the lounge area with sofas and a small snack bar, perfect for a snack and a drink between games.
Secret Lisbon Tip: on weekends, try to go as early as possible to reserve your lane, because it’s always very crowded.
Address: Avenida Lusíada, Colombo Shopping Center, Floor 2, Shop A 204 (Military College)
Opening hours: every day from 11 a.m. to midnight
Joker Lounge
We’ve been to the Joker Lounge two or three times and enjoyed its four bowling lanes, as well as playing on the other entertainment equipment on offer, such as table football, snooker and air hockey.
The atmosphere is very familiar and lively, and the decor is reminiscent of the 90s: a giant guitar on the ceiling or the pictures of movies/series and superhero drawings on the walls immediately transport us to those times.
As well as bowling and having fun on the machines, you can also watch soccer matches on one of the many TVs and, of course, have a snack and drink between each strike.
Secret Lisbon Tip: it’s well worth staying for dinner while you play a game with all your friends.
Address: Avenida Marquês de Tomar 44C (Saldanha)
Opening hours: Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 2am; Friday from 6pm to 3am; Saturday from 4pm to 3am; and Sunday from 4pm to 2am
PlayBowling Cascais
There’s a lot more to enjoy at these bowling alleys in Cascais, from Laser Tag, Paintball or Archery &, as well as Arcade machines and the virtual reality e-Sports Arena.
But let’s focus on the 12 bowling lanes that you can enjoy with five other friends per lane, for a total of 72 people at the same time.
The lanes are also prepared for children aged 4 to 6, with ramps and barriers that prevent the ball from going into the side ditches, allowing everyone to have fun knocking down the pins.
Secret Lisbon Tip: take advantage of the bar area to cool off or have a snack between matches.
Address: Rua Chesol 35 (Cascais)
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday from 3pm to 1am; Fridays from 3pm to 2am; Saturdays from 10am to 2am; Sundays from 10am to 1am
Beloura Bowling Center
In Sintra since 2011, this bowling alley is already a benchmark in the Greater Lisbon area, with 10 approved lanes.
The venue is comfortable and allows both amateurs and professionals to show off their skills in this leisure sport, providing moments of great conviviality among all the fans.
At the Beloura Bowling Center, and thanks to the two support bars, you can also organize various types of events for groups, such as birthday parties or company parties, which will also be able to take advantage of various other entertainment facilities such as arcades, snooker tables and table football.
Secret Lisbon Tip: try one of the delicious cocktails or mocktails.
Address: Avenida Pedro Álvares Cabral 230, Pavilhão A (Sintra, Beloura-Linhó)
Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, from 3pm to 1am; Fridays and national holiday, from 2pm to 2am; Saturdays from 2pm to 2am; Sundays from 2pm to 1am
Map of the best bowling alleys in Lisbon, and the list for your phone!
5 locais em Lisboa onde podes praticar 5 modalidades desportivas diferentes