Season guide · Lisbon · Portugal
Lisbon in winter
December–February: weather, crowds, prices and the best things to do this time of year.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Quick answer
Mild and green with rainy spells; uncrowded sights, Christmas lights in the Baixa and the lowest hotel rates. Expect highs up to 16°C (61°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 29 rainy days across December–February.
Key facts
- Months
- December–February
- Temperatures
- 8°C (46°F) to 16°C (61°F)
- Rainy days in the season
- About 29
- Sea
- 14°C (57°F) to 16°C (61°F)
- Crowds
- Quiet
- Hotel prices
- Low
Weather in winter
| Month | High | Low | Rainy days | Daylight | Crowds |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 15°C (59°F) | 8°C (46°F) | 10 | 9.7 h | 2/5 |
| February | 16°C (61°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 9 | 10.7 h | 2/5 |
| December | 15°C (59°F) | 9°C (48°F) | 10 | 9.5 h | 3/5 |
Compared with the rest of the year: average highs of 15°C (59°F) against a yearly 22°C (72°F), and 29 of the year's roughly 76 rainy days fall in these 3 months. Crowds rate 2/5 and hotel prices 2/5 on average.
What's on in winter
Recurring events; dates move from year to year, so confirm with the organiser.
- February: Carnival — parades in nearby towns such as Torres Vedras (February or March, depending on Easter)
- December: Christmas lights and markets in the Baixa (December)
- December: New Year's Eve fireworks at Praça do Comércio (31 December)
Good choices for winter
Aquarium · Parque das Nações
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
National Tile Museum
Housed in the Madre de Deus convent, the Museu Nacional do Azulejo traces five centuries of Portuguese tiles, from Moorish-influenced patterns to Art Nouveau.
- 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
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
Mercado da Ribeira and Time Out Market
Lisbon's 19th-century central market hall is split in two: one side is still a traditional market of fish, fruit and flowers in the mornings, the other is the Time Out Market food hall with stalls from well-known Lisbon chefs, bakeries and seafood bars around shared tables.
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- Rainy day
- Shopping
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
Day trips in winter
- Óbidos (About 1 hour by bus) — A whitewashed medieval town enclosed by walls you can walk along, with bougainvillea-draped lanes, a castle and bars serving ginja cherry liqueur in small chocolate cups.
- Setúbal and the Arrábida coast (About 1 hour by train, plus a bus or taxi to the beaches) — Setúbal is known for fried cuttlefish (choco frito) and boat trips to see the resident bottlenose dolphins of the Sado estuary.
What to pack
- Layers, a warm sweater and a jacket for cool evenings
- A packable rain jacket for showers
- Comfortable walking shoes
Other times of year
Questions travellers ask
+Is winter a good time to visit Lisbon?
It is a trade-off: Mild and green with rainy spells; uncrowded sights, Christmas lights in the Baixa and the lowest hotel rates. The best months overall are April–June and September–October.
+What is the weather like in Lisbon in winter?
Highs of up to 16°C (61°F) and lows around 8°C (46°F), with about 29 rainy days over the season.