The best time to visit Lisbon

Lisbon is a city you climb, so the month you pick depends on the heat far more than on the rain. Between May and September the hills of Alfama and Graça are dry enough to walk all day, and the choice narrows to how much sun you can take on a cobbled slope. In winter the question flips and rain decides, which is why the guidebook line about a sunny, mild Lisbon all year needs a footnote.

August is the hottest month, with a daily high of 29.0°C, and July follows at 28.3°C. The average hides the spread, because August brings 10.7 days at 30°C or more, and the record stands at 44.0°C, set on 4 August 2018. From June to August almost no rain falls, only 13, 3 and 5 mm, so no rain will cool the climb up to the castle and the miradouros.

Plan summer days like a local who values their knees. Walk up Alfama and Graça in the early morning, spend the middle of the day in the shade of Baixa or in a museum, and come back to the viewpoints at dusk. The nights bring little relief, since August has 5.9 tropical nights with a minimum of 20°C or more, so book a room that has air conditioning.

3 daysThe three-day itinerary strings the main sights together day by day, with the climbs placed among them.Lisbon in 3 days →

Spring and autumn

May and June are the sensible compromise for a city on hills. May reaches 22.8°C with 50.7 mm of rain, and June climbs to 26.1°C with only 13.4 mm, so you can stand at Portas do Sol or São Pedro de Alcântara without planning around the sun. September is almost as good at 26.8°C and 35.9 mm.

October is a gamble: the high is still 22.6°C, but the rain jumps to 102.9 mm. March and April are cooler, at 18.4 to 19.9°C, with 63 to 67 mm, so pack a jacket and expect a few wet afternoons. If you want one verdict, take late May, June or September.

Hidden gemsThe hidden corners of the hills are easier to enjoy in these months, and the guide to them lists the quieter ones.Lisbon without the queues: tram 12E and the Prazeres cemetery →

Day tripsSintra and Cascais are the usual trips out of the city, and the day-trip guide explains how to fit them in.Day trips from Lisbon →

Winter is mild, not warm. November is the wettest month with 114.6 mm, December has 100.0 mm and January 95.9 mm, while the daily highs sit between 14.4 and 15.7°C. Frost almost never happens, with 0.1 days a year, but wet cobbles and steep tram streets can turn slippery, so shoes with a grip matter more than a heavy coat.

New Year's Eve is the exception that draws people anyway. The countdown takes place on Praça do Comércio, entry is free, and fireworks go off over the Tagus. The tourist tax of €4 per person a night does not depend on the month.

Where to stayPick a neighbourhood for a stay with a view of the weather in the guide to where to stay.Where to stay in Lisbon →

Getting aroundTrams, metro and the walk between them are covered in the page on getting around.Getting around Lisbon →

Santo António in June

On the night of 12 June, twenty marching groups parade down Avenida da Liberdade in the Marchas Populares, and the avenue is closed to traffic from 6 pm to 8 am. The next day, 13 June, is the city holiday, with a procession through Alfama and around the Sé. Street parties, the arraiais, fill Graça, Mouraria, Alfama and Baixa. Come for the noise, or pick another month if you want a quiet Alfama.

1991–2020 average, station near the airport

BudgetWhat a day in the city adds up to, from tickets to meals, is worked out in the budget guide.What Lisbon costs →

FoodWhatever the month, the food guide shows where to sit down after the climb.What to eat in Lisbon →