Mowando

Climate & seasons

When to visit Lisbon?

By La rédaction · Updated 5/29/2026

The Editors
The Editorsauteur principal✓ Verified

"Janvier est le mois le plus calme à Lisbonne : musées peu fréquentés, Alfama presque pour soi, tarifs d'hébergement au plancher. Il fait frais (10-15 °C) mais les journées ensoleillées restent fréquentes — la ville arbore un charme hivernal très particulier."

Expert on Lisbon · 1 contributions

The best periods

The best time to visit Lisbon is April to June and September to October. The most recommended months are Juin, Juillet, Août, Septembre.

Avr, Mai, Juin

Printemps — saison idéale

  • Températures parfaites (18-25 °C), idéales pour parcourir les collines et les miradouros
  • Floraison des jacarandas violets — Lisbonne dans sa plus belle tenue en mai
  • Affluence croissante mais encore gérable, surtout avant Pâques
  • Pâques et ponts de mai très chargés, hébergements plus chers
  • Pluies printanières possibles en avril, surtout le matin
Jui, Aoû

Été — chaleur et foule

  • Longues soirées animées, terrasses jusqu'à minuit, festivals de plein air
  • Proximité des plages de la Côte d'Estoril et de Cascais (30 min en train)
  • Chaleur notable (30-35 °C), mais atténuée par la brise atlantique
  • Foule maximale, files d'attente sur les sites phares et dans le Tram 28
  • Hébergements à prix élevés en haute saison
Sep, Oct

Automne — douceur et authenticité

  • Températures agréables (20-27 °C), lumière atlantique dorée
  • Fréquentation en baisse après la rentrée, sites plus sereins
  • Gastronomie d'automne : raisins, châtaignes rôties, vins du Tejo
  • Pluies possibles en octobre, premières journées grises
  • Jours plus courts à partir de fin octobre

Month-by-month climate

Temperatures, rainfall and sunshine in Lisbon across the 12 months.

JanFévMarAvrMaiJuinJuiAoûSepOctNovDéc
Min9°9°11°13°15°18°20°20°18°15°11°9°
Max15°16°18°21°23°27°29°29°27°23°18°15°
Mer
Pluie100mm90mm70mm54mm39mm16mm4mm4mm26mm64mm92mm110mm
Soleil/j5.5h6.4h7.6h8.8h9.7h10.9h11.5h11h9.3h7.5h5.8h5.1h

Tourist crowds

Monthly attendance levels (0 = empty, 100 = saturated).

Jan
35
Fév
38
Mar
50
Avr
70
Mai
78
Jui
85
Jui
95
Aoû
92
Sep
80
Oct
62
Nov
42
Déc
48

Average flight prices

Average round-trip Paris → Lisbon by month.

Jan
$76
Fév
$81
Mar
$97
Avr
$130
Mai
$146
Jui
$167
Jui
$211
Aoû
$200
Sep
$157
Oct
$119
Nov
$92
Déc
$103

Frequently asked questions

How many days should I plan for Lisbon?+
Three days is the realistic minimum to cover the highlights: Alfama and the Castelo de São Jorge (one day), Belém and its UNESCO monuments (half a day), and the Chiado-Bairro Alto historic centre (one day). With five days you can add a full day in Sintra, a beach afternoon at Cascais and explore the LX Factory, the Time Out Market and the city's museums at a genuinely relaxed pace.
How do I avoid the crowds on Tram 28?+
In summer, Tram 28 is systematically packed and waiting times can hit 45 minutes. The best strategy: board at the terminal stops (Martim Moniz or Campo de Ourique) very early in the morning (before 9am) or in the evening. Electric tuk-tuks cover the same circuit with personalised stops and no queuing. Most of Alfama's lanes are genuinely pleasant to walk — the hills build the appetite for the pastéis de nata.
How do I visit Sintra from Lisbon?+
The CP train from Rossio station (city centre) runs to Sintra in 40 minutes for around €2.30 each way — one of the best-value journeys in Europe. In Sintra, bus 434 serves the Moorish Castle, the Pena Palace and Monserrate in a loop. Leave early (8-8:30am) to arrive before the tour groups. In high season, Pena Palace tickets sell out online — book the evening before.
When is the best time to visit Lisbon?+
April-May and September-October are the sweet spots: mild temperatures (18-25 °C), generous sunshine and manageable crowds. May brings the purple jacaranda blossom — a spectacular city-wide display unique in Europe. Avoid July-August if you dislike crowds and queues, though the Atlantic breeze keeps the heat from becoming oppressive (30-35 °C). Winter (January-March) is cool and occasionally rainy but very quiet and remarkably cheap.
Are the pastéis de nata from Belém really worth the trip?+
Yes — the Pastelaria de Belém (founded 1837) makes its pastéis to a secret original recipe that differs genuinely from the pastéis de nata served elsewhere: an exceptionally crisp layered pastry shell, a barely-set egg custard lightly caramelised on top, finished with cinnamon. The queue in peak season can be 20-30 minutes but the experience of eating one warm at the marble counter is something you'll remember every time you see a pale imitation in a chain café.
Which neighbourhood should I stay in?+
Alfama is the most picturesque but the steep lanes with luggage can be brutal. Chiado and Bairro Alto give the best walking access to restaurants and nightlife. Mouraria, between Alfama and the centre, is the most authentic and affordable. Belém is peaceful and good for a monument-focused stay but feels distant from the city's evening energy. Avoid booking far from the centre without checking the uphill walk back — Lisbon's hills catch out many first-time visitors.
How do I get around Lisbon?+
The city is best explored on foot within each neighbourhood. The metro (4 lines, €1.61 per trip, Viva Viagem card required) connects the key zones efficiently. The Bica, Glória and Lavra funiculars and the Santa Justa lift ease the steeper climbs. The Lisboa Card (24h €21 / 48h €35 / 72h €45) includes all public transport and entry to dozens of museums — it pays for itself by day two of a sightseeing-focused stay.
Are there good beaches near Lisbon?+
Yes — Lisbon is rare among major European capitals in offering good beaches within striking distance. The Cascais train line (from Cais do Sodré, 40 minutes, €2.30) serves the beaches of Cascais, Estoril and the Costa do Estoril — pleasant Atlantic beaches with calm waters. On the south bank of the Tagus, the Costa da Caparica beaches (ferry to Cacilhas then bus) are popular for surfing. Neither is a Mediterranean beach — the Atlantic water stays cool (18-20 °C) — but both are excellent for a beach afternoon in a coastal town.

Our verdict

Lisbon is one of contemporary Europe's great surprises: a capital that has preserved its neighbourhood soul while becoming one of the continent's most desirable cities. Its particular Atlantic light, its azulejos, its Fado houses and its pastéis de nata form a coherent whole that few European capitals can match at any price point. The friction is real — exhausting hills, overcrowded trams in summer, the accelerating gentrification of Alfama — but none of it diminishes an experience that ranks among the most memorable in Western Europe. Come in April-May or September, explore on foot and by tuk-tuk, and book at least one night in Sintra.

Réserver votre séjour

Liens partenaires — une commission peut nous être reversée, sans surcoût pour vous.

Similar destinations

Mowando Letter

Once a month: the right destinations for the right season + the best booking windows.

No spam. One-click unsubscribe. Your data is never shared.