Rainy day · Lisbon · Portugal
5 things to do in Lisbon when it rains
Indoor sights that make a wet day feel planned rather than lost.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Georges Jansoone, CC BY 2.5
Quick answer
Start with Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon Oceanarium and National Tile Museum. Together the 5 picks below take roughly 8–12 hours across 5 areas; all charge for entry. January is usually the wettest month, with about 10 rainy days.
Key facts
- Places in this guide
- 5
- Free entry
- 0
- Time to see them all
- 8–12 hours
- Areas
- Avenidas Novas, Parque das Nações and Xabregas
Lisbon on a rainy day
Museum · Avenidas Novas
1.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
2.Lisbon Oceanarium
Book online for a timed slot and combine it with the riverside cable car and the Pavilhão do Conhecimento science centre nearby.
- Time needed
- 2–3 hours
- Cost
- Mid-priced
- Kids
- Rainy day
- Nature
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Museum · Xabregas
3.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
4.MAAT and the Tejo Power Station
Walk over the roof at sunset even if you skip the exhibitions, then continue along the river to Belém.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Architecture
- Art
- Views
- Rainy day
Market · Cais do Sodré
5.Mercado da Ribeira and Time Out Market
Arrive before noon or after 3pm to get a seat; the traditional market side is best early in the morning.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Grouped by area
| Area | Places | Time needed |
|---|---|---|
| Avenidas Novas | Calouste Gulbenkian Museum | 2–3 hours |
| Parque das Nações | Lisbon Oceanarium | 2–3 hours |
| Xabregas | National Tile Museum | 1.5–2 hours |
| Belém | MAAT and the Tejo Power Station | 1–2 hours |
| Cais do Sodré | Mercado da Ribeira and Time Out Market | 1–1.5 hours |
Booking and timing
Of these 5, 4 low cost, 1 mid-priced. Book ahead for Lisbon Oceanarium. The longest visit is Calouste Gulbenkian Museum; group the rest by area to save travel time.
- Lisbon Oceanarium: Weekends and school holidays sell out at peak times; reserve a slot online.
How to fit them into 3 half-days
Grouped by area and kept to about four hours each, so you walk more than you ride.
- Half-day 1 (Avenidas Novas): Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, at least 2 hours.
- Half-day 2 (Parque das Nações and Xabregas): Lisbon Oceanarium → National Tile Museum, at least 4 hours.
- Half-day 3 (Belém and Cais do Sodré): MAAT and the Tejo Power Station → Mercado da Ribeira and Time Out Market, at least 2 hours.
The wettest months
- January: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 10 rainy days, quiet crowds. Mild by northern European standards, with sunny spells between Atlantic rain fronts; quiet sights and low hotel prices.
- December: highs of 15°C (59°F), about 10 rainy days, moderate crowds. Mild and festive, with Christmas lights in the Baixa and Chiado; rain is common but rarely lasts all day.
- February: highs of 16°C (61°F), about 9 rainy days, quiet crowds. Cool and changeable, with almond blossom in the countryside and some of the lowest prices of the year.
The neighbourhoods they are in
- Cais do Sodré — Riverside transport hub, Time Out Market and the late-night Pink Street
- Belém — Riverside monuments, museums and gardens 6 km west of the centre
More of Lisbon
Questions travellers ask
+Where should I start in Lisbon?
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum. The oil magnate Calouste Gulbenkian's collection spans Egyptian antiquities, Islamic ceramics and carpets, European painting including Rembrandt, and a celebrated room of René Lalique jewellery.