The Best Time to Visit Lisbon

Lisbon is one of Europe’s sunniest capitals, and there’s no truly bad time to visit. But each season feels different: purple jacarandas and warm afternoons in spring, street parties and beach days in summer, golden light and a warm sea in early autumn, and quiet, mild winters with Christmas lights. This guide covers every season and every month, so you can pick the right time for your trip.

Quick answer: the best months are April to June and September to October, with warm, sunny days (around 20 to 27°C) and fewer crowds than midsummer. June brings the Santo António festival. July and August are hot, busy and expensive. November to February is mild (around 14 to 17°C), cheaper and quieter, with some rain.

Lisbon at a glance

Season	Weather	Crowds and prices	Best for
Spring (Mar–May)	18–24°C, some showers early	Moderate	Sightseeing, Sintra, gardens
Summer (Jun–Aug)	26–30°C+, heatwaves possible	Highest	Festivals, beaches, nightlife
Autumn (Sep–Nov)	18–27°C, rain from late Oct	Moderate, falling	Beaches in Sept, walking, wine harvest
Winter (Dec–Feb)	14–17°C, wettest months	Lowest (except holidays)	Budget trips, museums, Christmas

Spring (March to May)

Spring is one of the loveliest times in Lisbon. March can still bring showers, but April is warmer and sunnier, and by May it often feels like early summer. Gardens bloom, café terraces fill up again, and the city is busy without being packed.

• Weather: around 18°C in March, rising to 23 or 24°C in May. Mornings and evenings are cooler, so bring a light layer.
• Jacarandas: the purple jacaranda trees usually bloom from late May into June, lining avenues and squares.
• Events: Easter, and Freedom Day on 25 April, celebrating the 1974 Carnation Revolution. See Easter in Portugal.
• Great for: walking the hills, viewpoints, gardens and day trips to Sintra, which is green and fresh in spring. See visiting Sintra and the best viewpoints.
• The sea: still cold, around 15 to 17°C, so it’s too early for most swimmers.
• Watch out for: Easter week, which brings European school holidays and higher hotel prices. Book early if your dates fall then.

Summer (June to August)

Summer is Lisbon at its liveliest: long evenings, street parties, open-air concerts and easy beach trips. It’s also hot, busy and the most expensive time to visit.

• Weather: highs of 28 to 30°C, sometimes much hotter during heatwaves, with warm nights around 18 to 20°C. A breeze from the river and the Atlantic helps.
• Santo António (12 to 13 June): the city’s biggest party, with grilled sardines, music and the Marchas parade. See the Santo António festival.
• Music festivals: big festivals by the river in July.
• Sport: the Estoril Open tennis tournament, just along the coast, has been held in July since 2026.
• Beaches: Cascais and Carcavelos by train, Costa da Caparica by bus, and Arrábida with the summer shuttle. See the best beaches near Lisbon.
• Beat the heat: sightsee early, rest in the afternoon, use air-conditioned sights like the Oceanário and the Gulbenkian, or book a hotel with a pool. See Lisbon hotels with a pool.
• Evenings: sunset sails on the Tagus and rooftop bars. See sunset cruises and rooftop bars.
• Book early: hotels and popular tours fill up, especially in June.

The whole of June is festival season, with arraiais (street parties) in Alfama, Mouraria, Graça and Bica on most weekends, not only on the main night. The night of 12 June is the loudest and busiest, with the Marchas parading down Avenida da Liberdade, and 13 June is a Lisbon public holiday. If you want to sleep, don’t book a room in Alfama for that night. The sardine season starts around now too.

Autumn (September to November)

Early autumn may be the best-kept secret. September is still summery, with the sea at its warmest and the crowds thinning. October is warm and pleasant, and November is cooler and wetter, but it’s chestnut season, with vendors roasting chestnuts on street corners.

• Weather: around 25 to 27°C in September, 22°C in October and 17 to 18°C in November, with rain becoming more frequent from late October.
• Beaches: September is excellent for swimming, with the sea at around 19 to 20°C.
• Wine harvest: a great time for wine trips. See wine tours in Portugal.
• Light: golden afternoons for photos. See the best sunset spots.
• Value: hotel prices drop after September.
• Events: the Lisbon Marathon usually runs in October, and the Web Summit tech conference usually fills hotels for a week in November. Check the dates before you book, as prices jump that week.
• Saint Martin’s Day (11 November): roast chestnuts and young wine, a small but much-loved tradition.

Winter (December to February)

Winter is mild compared with most of Europe, with plenty of sunny days between rainy spells. It’s the cheapest and quietest time to visit, apart from Christmas and New Year, when the city is decorated with lights and there are fireworks over the river on New Year’s Eve.

• Weather: highs of around 14 to 17°C and nights of 8 to 10°C. Many buildings aren’t well heated, so pack warm layers.
• Great for: museums, food and cosy fado nights. See Lisbon museums and Lisbon on a rainy day.
• Short days: the sun sets around 5:15 to 5:30pm in December, so start sightseeing early.
• More: see our full guide to Lisbon in winter and Christmas in Portugal.

Month by month

• January: mild, quiet and cheap. Good for museums and food.
• February: Carnival celebrations nearby, and the first almond blossom in the south. See Carnival in Portugal.
• March: warming up, with some showers and few crowds.
• April: spring flowers, Easter and Freedom Day. Pleasant for walking.
• May: warm and sunny, one of the best months overall.
• June: festival month, with jacarandas and the start of beach season.
• July: hot and busy, with music festivals.
• August: the hottest and busiest month; many locals go on holiday.
• September: warm sea, thinner crowds. Excellent all round.
• October: mild and pleasant, with the first rain.
• November: cooler and wetter, chestnut season, low prices.
• December: Christmas lights and markets, New Year’s Eve fireworks.

For more detail, see our guides to Portugal in January through Portugal in December.

Best time for...

• Sightseeing: April, May, late September and October.
• Beaches: July to September.
• Festivals: June.
• Budget: November to February, except the holidays. See Lisbon on a budget.
• Families: June and September, when it’s warm but not too hot. See Lisbon with kids.
• Photography: autumn and spring, for softer light and clearer air. See Lisbon’s best photo spots.

What to pack

• Shoes with grip in every season. Lisbon’s polished stone pavements are slippery, especially after rain.
• Spring and autumn: layers and a light waterproof.
• Summer: sun cream, a hat and a refillable water bottle. Tap water is safe to drink.
• Winter: a warm jumper for indoors, a proper rain jacket and a compact umbrella.

See our full Portugal packing list.

FAQ

What is the rainiest month in Lisbon?

November and December are usually the wettest months, with about 127mm of rain each and rain on 12 to 15 days. July and August are almost dry, with rain on only a couple of days.

Is October a good time to visit Lisbon?

Yes. Highs are usually about 22 to 23°C, the summer crowds have gone and hotel prices start to fall. The first proper autumn rain often arrives later in the month, so pack a light waterproof. See Portugal in October.

When is the cheapest time to visit Lisbon?

November to February, apart from Christmas, New Year and the Web Summit week in November. The city’s tourist tax is the same all year: €4 per adult per night, with children under 13 exempt.

Is Lisbon too hot in August?

Average highs are about 28°C, which most people find fine with a river breeze. Heatwaves can push it well past 35°C for a few days, though, so plan indoor sights for the afternoons.

Plan your trip

See things to do in Lisbon and where to stay in Lisbon. For the rest of the country, see the best time to visit Portugal.

See also: NOS Alive.

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.