“When is the best time to visit Lisbon?”

We get this question a lot, as we spent a month living in Lisbon as digital nomads. And here’s what we can tell you:

The best time to visit Lisbon is from March to June and September to October, because the weather isn’t too hot or too cold, there’s fewer crowds and hotel prices are reasonable. The worst time to visit Lisbon is July and August, because it’s very hot, the crowds are huge and accommodation prices are higher during these months.

A lot of people will tell you the weather is perfect year-round in Lisbon. And that can be true – it’s relatively warm for most months and the winters in Lisbon are pretty mild.

But…

The temperature is only one factor to consider when choosing the best time to visit Lisbon. There’s a lot of factors at play here and it can either positively or negatively affect your trip to this beautiful coastal city!

In this blog post, we are going to share the best time (and the worst time!) to visit Lisbon, 4x more factors you need to weigh up and our personal experience of the weather while living there.

Let’s get started!

Key Takeaways For The Best Time To Visit Lisbon

Why visit Lisbon, anyway? There’s lots of reasons and the weather is definitely one of them! When you are trying to plan your trip to Lisbon – the timing of when to go is one of the most important things to consider and can make or break your experience!

There’s a few factors to consider, like crowd levels, hotel prices, peak vs. low season and more. Here’s what you need to know about the best time to visit Lisbon:

• The best time to visit Lisbon is either from March to June or September to October. These months are considered the shoulder seasons where the average temperatures are around 72°F (22°C).
• Visiting in the shoulder months = cheaper hotel prices, fewer crowds and pleasant weather.
• The worst time to visit Lisbon is either from July to August or December to January. These are the hottest and coldest months in Lisbon. In the summer, it’s very hot and there are crowds on every shoreline. In the winter, it’s a tad too cold to stay outside or visit the beaches.
• Lisbon, Portugal gets an annual average of more than 300 sunny days. It doesn’t rain much, which means spring or fall are still great seasons to visit Lisbon!

Lisbon, the capital city of Portugal, consistently draws tourists because of its interesting history, stunning architecture and its pleasant weather year-round. Figuring out the best time to visit Lisbon can be challenging, but you simply need to decide what’s important to you.

For example, Matthew and I love visiting popular destinations during the shoulder months. Huge crowds of people tend to annoy us and we would rather have a few rainy days than deal with long lines and busy beaches.

Our best advice for choosing the best time to visit Lisbon is to figure out what you value most – warm weather vs. crowded beaches or cold weather vs. fewer crowds, to name some.

Here’s more statistics and information about the seasons, weather and events happening in Lisbon.

Quick Stats On Lisbon Weather & Seasons

Want a quick snapshot of Lisbon’s weather and seasons? You got it!

Lisbon’s weather can vary, but we’ve got the essential stats to help you plan your visit. These stats vary year to year, but this gives you a better idea of what to expect average temperature-wise. We’ve also added some other helpful stats here:

• Hottest month in Lisbon: July (74°F | 23°C)
• Coldest month in Lisbon: January (52°F | 11°C)
• Wettest month in Lisbon: December
• Driest month in Lisbon: August
• Most crowded months in Lisbon: July, August
• Least crowded months in Lisbon: December, January

One thing you should know: the whole of Europe basically goes on vacation in August. That’s when everyone takes a break – my sister lives in France and this is the norm. Most people travel to the coastal towns to get close to a beach and a lot of stores also close in August! That’s why it’s one of the busiest times to visit anywhere in Europe, including Lisbon.

The spring and fall seasons are the best times to visit Lisbon because it’s not as crowded, the hotel prices are cheaper and the weather is still pleasant. During the winter months, the country slows down as it gets colder and some activities might even close for the season, such as the sunset cruises.

That’s a quick round-up of statistics you need to know about Lisbon’s weather, seasons and crowds to help you plan your trip accordingly.

The Best Time To Visit Lisbon (When To Go Or Avoid)

Lisbon’s weather is actually pretty great year round – but it’s not perfect. There’s more to consider than simply the temperature when deciding when to visit Lisbon.

To help you plan your trip to Lisbon well, here are some questions to ask yourself so that you can choose the right time to visit:

• How much do crowds bother me – not at all, a little or a lot?
• Will I do more indoor or outdoor activities?
• Would the rain ruin my day?
• Do I want to attend events or festivals?

Now you can get a better picture of what your days in Lisbon entail and how the weather or crowds may affect your trip. But that’s not all! Here are some more things to consider:

• Hotel prices
• Humidity
• Water temperatures at the beach
• Peak vs. low season
• Crowds

Everyone has different preferences and you need to find out what works for you. For us, Matthew and I love visiting during the shoulder seasons because HUGE crowds tend to bother us. For some, crowds might not bother them and they value the guarantee of warm weather during their stay more.

It’s your trip and you’ve got to find the best time to visit Lisbon based on your preferences!

When Is The Best Time To Visit Lisbon?

The best time to visit Lisbon is during the spring (March to June) or fall (September to October) seasons. The average temperature during these months is around 74°F (23°C) which means you can enjoy the outdoors without the scorching summer heat blazing down on you.

If you visit during the shoulder months, you could also get cheaper prices for accommodation. As it’s not the high season, hotel prices are still very affordable!

One of the downsides is that it may be too cold to swim in the ocean during spring or fall. The ocean is already pretty cold throughout the year in Portugal since it’s Atlantic waters, but it’s especially cold during winter.

Best Things To Do In Lisbon During Spring/Fall Season:

• Go on a Lisbon sunset cruise and sail the Tagus River
• Take a trip to Sintra and/or many more nearby Lisbon day trip towns
• Visit the charming town of Cascais and lay on the beaches
• Go on a walking tour around the city
• Watch a movie at the outdoor cinemas in Lisbon
• Take Tram 28 (without so many other tourists)

Pros Of Visiting Lisbon During Spring/Fall Season:

• Fewer crowds around
• Shorter queues for activities and restaurants
• More affordable prices for accommodation

Cons Of Visiting Lisbon During Spring/Fall Season:

• It might rain for some days
• Some stores or activities might be closed still
• Less events and festivals happening

We think the best time to visit Lisbon is during the months of March to June and September to October. Matthew and I stayed in Lisbon for a month from September to October and the weather was still warm but there were fewer crowds around, for sure!

When we were looking for accommodation in Lisbon, September and October were noticeably cheaper than the other summer months such as July and August. Matthew and I also visited the beaches during these months and while the water wasn’t warm enough for me to swim (I’m very sensitive to cold water lol) – it was hot enough to lay on the beach all day!

When Is The Worst Time To Visit Lisbon?

The worst time to visit Lisbon is from July to August and November to February. During the summer months, this is known to be the hottest, most crowded and most expensive time to visit Lisbon. During the winter months, it’s pretty cold for Portugal (nothing like Scandinavia temperatures) and some activities or tours might shut down during this time.

One of the upsides of visiting during the height of summer is that it’s hot enough to swim in the ocean every day and there’s SO many activities on the calendar. And during the winter, you’ll enjoy walking around without constantly bumping into other tourists.

Lisbon, Portugal is a rising destination in Europe. I visited Lisbon back in 2015 and then again recently – it’s WAY more busy and packed than it used to be. Personally, we wouldn’t visit Lisbon during the height of summer (because of the crowds) or the winter (because of the cold). But sometimes, for some people, the savings can outweigh the weather – and that’s okay!

Temperature Year-Round

Lisbon weather is beautiful throughout the year. The summers are hot but the winters are mild compared to other European capital cities. The annual average temperature in Lisbon is around 68°F to 73°F (20°C to 23°C).

(Source)

The chart above shows the average temperature for each month of the year. As you can see, it’s pretty consistent and pleasant all year-round for a European destination!

Sunshine Year-Round

Lisbon boasts more than 300 days of sunshine in a year. The months with the most sunshine hours (10+ per day) are June, July and August. These are also the warmest months in Lisbon with a temperature high of 78°F to 83°F (26°C to 28°C).

(Source)

We were in Lisbon during September/October and the sun shined for us the entire time, even though the seasons were changing. You don’t have to worry too much about the sun shining on this city because it usually does throughout the year – even during the winter season! However, as you can see in the chart above – December does only get about 4 hours of sunshine. But that’s common for winter in some places.

Precipitation Year-Round

The rainiest months in Lisbon are November, December, January and February, with about 14 days of rain each month.

(Source)

If you are visiting during these months and you’re thinking about doing lots of outdoor activities, the rain is definitely something to consider more seriously.

The 4x Weather Seasons In Lisbon, Portugal

What’s the seasons like in Portugal? Well, it’s got 4 seasons – spring, summer, fall and winter. Although the best part about Portugal is that the weather is usually pleasant throughout the year. The temperatures may fluctuate based on the seasons but it’s never too extreme!

Spring in Lisbon (April – June)

The spring season is one of the best times to visit Lisbon because it’s warm and sunny and there’s only a slight chance of rain. If you love outdoor activities, day tours or plan on sightseeing, this is the perfect time to go because it’s not too hot like in the summer or too cold in the winter to stay outside.

During the spring months of April to June, the average temperature ranges from 60°F to 75°F (16°C to 24°C).

Summer in Lisbon (July – mid-September)

The summer is the most popular time to visit Lisbon because of the warm weather, plenty of sunshine and the endless number of activities to do like swimming in the refreshing Atlantic Ocean.

During the summer, the average temperature of July can get up to 86°F (30°C), which is very hot if you add humidity to the mix. It’s also the most crowded time in Lisbon as the August holidays generally draw crowds to Portugal.

Autumn in Lisbon (mid-September – November)

The fall season is my favorite time to visit popular destinations because there’s fewer crowds around, the weather is perfect and the prices are much more affordable. During the months of September to November, you’ll experience warm days and cool nights.

During the fall months of September to November, the average temperature ranges from 57°F to 73°F (14°C to 23°C).

Winter in Lisbon (December – February)

Lisbon, Portugal has very mild winters when compared to other European capitals. There’s fewer crowds around the city but it’s harder to stay outdoors and do sightseeing activities because of the cold.

During the winter months of December to February, the average temperature ranges from 52°F to 54°F (11°C to 12°C). There’s also a higher chance of rainfall during these months!

4x Things To Consider First Before Choosing When To Go

Choosing the right time to visit Lisbon can either make or break your trip. Before you book that trip to Lisbon for a certain date, here are 5x things to consider first:

1. Accommodation prices can change based on seasons.

That’s right, it is definitely more expensive to book hotels, hostels or Airbnbs during the peak months (July to August) in Lisbon.

2. Crowd levels can vary.

There’s bigger crowds in the summer months – especially in August, when most Europeans have a holiday break. The shorelines of the oceans in Portugal will get a little crammed. This also means longer queues for restaurants and/or activities like taking the famous Tram 28.

3. Check out events or festivals happening.

If you want to participate in local events or festivals – some popular ones are Festas de Lisboa in June or the Out Jazz Festival (weekends from May to September). September and October are when most film festivals occur too!

4. Spending your days at the beach.

If you want to swim in the ocean, I’ll be the one to tell you: it’s freezing no matter when you go. A lot say it’s because it’s the Atlantic Ocean, which means it’s easier to swim when it’s 86°F (30°C) outside. Otherwise, if you plan on swimming during the fall/winter months – it’s more like a polar plunge! Okay, maybe I’m exaggerating a little, but that’s what it can feel like.

These are just some factors to consider as you’re deciding the best time to visit Lisbon, Portugal. The crowds are definitely a big factor for us, but for others, it can be the accommodation prices. The most important thing is that you choose the best time for you and the kind of activities you want to do.

Conclusion: When Is The Best Time To Visit Lisbon?

The best time to visit Lisbon is from March to June and September to October because the weather is pleasant, there’s fewer crowds (compared to summer months) and accommodation prices are affordable. These are considered the shoulder months and it’s our favorite time to visit any popular destination!

The worst time to visit Lisbon is from July to August and November to February. During the summer months, you have the biggest crowds and the highest hotel prices. If you visit during the winter, it’s much colder so it’s harder to do outdoor activities and some tours may even close during the low season. The upside is that it is much cheaper to book accommodation during winter and there’s really no crowds either!

In conclusion, the best time to visit Lisbon really depends on your wants, needs, preferences and itinerary! However, the spring and fall seasons are ideal times that strike a good balance between pleasant weather, affordable accommodation and fewer crowds.

Whenever you decide to go, Lisbon is one of the best European cities and you will enjoy yourself regardless! We hope you have a great time visiting this capital city like we did.

Frequently Asked Questions: Best Time To Visit Lisbon, Portugal

Got questions about the best time to visit Lisbon…or the worst time? Here’s some answers to popular questions about Lisbon:

When Is The Busiest Time Of Year In Lisbon?

The busiest month in Lisbon is August. It has the highest number of tourists because it’s the holiday time for Europeans. It’s also the peak of summer which draws tourists from all over to explore this capital city, making it extra busy!

When Is High Season In Lisbon?

High season in Lisbon is from June to August. The prices for accommodation tend to be higher, there’s bigger crowds of people and activities get sold out quickly.

When Is Low Season In Lisbon?

Low season in Lisbon is from December to February. These are the coldest months of the year and this is good news for travelers willing to brave the cold (it’s honestly a pretty mild winter). Low season means cheaper accommodation and fewer crowds if you want a more relaxed experience touring Lisbon.

Is Lisbon Better In Summer Or Winter?

Summer is the most popular time to visit Lisbon because it’s hot and it’s the perfect time to visit the beach. Winter gets fewer crowds and it is typically cheaper to book hotels, hostels or Airbnbs. It depends on your preference and Lisbon travel goals as to whether you prefer warm or cold weather or if you can deal with the crowds around.

What Is The Cheapest Month To Visit Lisbon?

The cheapest month to visit Lisbon is typically December or January because it’s the coldest time of the year.

What Is The Coldest Month Of The Year In Lisbon?

January is generally the coldest month in Lisbon – temperatures get as low as 52°F (11°C).

Most Popular Time to Visit Lisbon?

The most popular time to visit Lisbon for tourists is during the summer months of June to August.

Least Crowded Time to Visit Lisbon?

The least crowded time to visit Lisbon is the winter months. If you don’t want to brave the cold, the spring and fall are also less crowded than during the summer months.

How Many Days In Lisbon Is Enough?

We recommend 3-4 days to tour Lisbon fully, especially if it’s your first time visiting this city. This gives you enough time to take in the city’s atmosphere, taste the delicious food, sightsee all the cool landscapes and get to know the wonderful culture.