Month guide · Lisbon · Portugal
Lisbon in January
What January is really like in Lisbon: weather, crowds, prices, events and what to pack.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Vitor Oliveira from Torres Vedras, PORTUGAL, CC BY-SA 2.0
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Quick answer
January is a quieter month with trade-offs. Expect average highs of 15°C (59°F), lows of 8°C (46°F), about 10 rainy days and roughly 9.7 hours of daylight. Mild by northern European standards, with sunny spells between Atlantic rain fronts; quiet sights and low hotel prices.
Key facts
- Average high / low
- 15°C (59°F) / 8°C (46°F)
- Rainy days
- About 10
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
- Sea temperature
- 15°C (59°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in January
January is the 11th-warmest month in Lisbon: days average 15°C (59°F) against a yearly average high of 22°C (72°F), and nights fall to about 8°C (46°F). Rain falls on roughly 10 of its 31 days. Compared with December (15°C (59°F)), January is about as warm; by February highs stay near 16°C (61°F).
- Sunrise (15 January)
- About 07:53
- Sunset (15 January)
- About 17:38
- Daylight
- About 9.7 hours
- Sea
- 15°C (59°F)
Winter (December–February). Mild and green with rainy spells; uncrowded sights, Christmas lights in the Baixa and the lowest hotel rates.
Crowds and prices
On a 1–5 scale, January rates 2 for crowds (the peak is June at 5) and 2 for hotel prices (highest in June). That makes January one of the better-value months to book.
Events in January
January has no major recurring festival in Lisbon, which usually means easier bookings.
What to do in January
With frequent rain, plan around indoor sights and keep outdoor time flexible.
Museum · Avenidas Novas
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum
Bring a picnic for the garden, one of the calmest spaces in Lisbon, which is free to enter.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
- Outdoors
Aquarium · Parque das Nações
Lisbon Oceanarium
Built for Expo 98, the Oceanário is one of Europe's largest aquariums, arranged around a huge central tank with sharks, rays and shoals of fish, surrounded by four habitats representing the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian and Antarctic oceans, with sea otters and penguins.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
Museum · Xabregas
National Tile Museum
It is east of the centre and away from the metro; take a bus or taxi and stay for lunch in the museum café's tiled courtyard.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Art
- Rainy day
- History
- Off the beaten path
Architecture · Belém
MAAT and the Tejo Power Station
The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology occupies a curving white building by Amanda Levete, opened in 2016, and the red-brick Tejo Power Station next door.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- Views
- Rainy day
What to pack
For highs near 15°C, lows near 8°C and 10 wet days: layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings; a packable rain jacket for showers; comfortable walking shoes.
Is January a good time to visit Lisbon?
A quieter month with trade-offs. If your dates are flexible, April–June and September–October are better overall. Compare every month.
Lisbon in other months
Questions travellers ask
+Is January a good time to visit Lisbon?
It is a quieter month with trade-offs. Mild by northern European standards, with sunny spells between Atlantic rain fronts; quiet sights and low hotel prices.
+How warm is Lisbon in January?
Average highs are around 15°C (59°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F).
+Does it rain a lot in Lisbon in January?
Expect rain on about 10 days of the month.