Lisbon in winter: a complete guide for first-time visitors

Considering a trip to Lisbon in winter? The Portuguese capital is a treat to visit at this time of year, with mild weather, fewer tourist crowds, and some of the city’s most fun annual events happening. Whether you are looking to visit for a weekend break, a backpacking stop or a remote work trip, this Lisbon winter guide brings together our personal experiences and tips to help you make the most of it.

This article contains links to activities, tours and accommodation we recommend from our own experiences and research, and we may make a small commission at no extra cost to you.

Is it worth visiting Lisbon in winter?

Lisbon is lovely to visit in winter for many reasons. For me, the two main benefits of Lisbon at this time of year are its mild climate and the low numbers of tourists.

The first time I visited Lisbon myself was in January, and I didn’t know what to expect. I was a little surprised to find locals dining outside al fresco style in the evenings, with temperatures that would feel like springtime at home in the UK!

As Lisbon is Portugal’s capital city there is a busyness about it at any time of year, and so attractions and hotels stay open through winter. But there is a much lower volume of tourists compared to spring and summer, and rates for stays and tours tend to be lower.

Winter in Lisbon also sees one of the city’s biggest annual events: Lisbon Carnival. Although Brazil hosts the most renowned Carnival parties, the tradition actually has Portuguese origins, and was brought across the Atlantic by Portuguese settlers. So, every February or early March, Lisbon hosts one of the world’s oldest and most flamboyant Carnival parties, making it an extra-special time to visit.

Is it cold in Lisbon in winter?

Temperatures in Lisbon are typically mild in winter compared to many other European destinations. January is the coldest month, but even then, the averages are well above freezing, ranging from about 8°C to 15°C – similar to London in April.

In fact, there hasn’t been any significant snowfall in Lisbon since 1954!

This means you probably aren’t going to get a white Christmas in Lisbon. But, a big part of the city’s appeal at this time of year is precisely that you can escape the cold.

What to wear in Lisbon in winter

Lisbon is one of Europe’s sunniest cities, with around 300 days of sunshine per year on average. However, when visiting Lisbon in winter you might encounter some rain, as December and January are the wettest months of the year in the city.

With this in mind, we recommend bringing some rainproof gear, such as a waterproof jacket or coat, some waterproof shoes and an umbrella.

As Lisbon’s weather is milder in winter, you should pack accordingly for that. Bring lighter clothes for warmer days. It does get colder in the evenings though, and so bring plenty of layers, and maybe even a hat and scarf depending on the weather forecast.

Lisbon has a pretty casual vibe, so most of the time you’ll be very comfortable in jeans, tee-shirts and sweaters. You might want to bring something a bit more fancy if you’re planning to go to a fado night or for a posh dinner.

Importantly, make sure you bring some comfortable shoes for walking. Lisbon is an old city built across several steep hills, with a lot of cobbled alleyways, so you will need good grip and comfort.

What is Lisbon like at Christmas?

Lisbon is especially lively when it comes to the festive season. The Portuguese capital has many classic Christmas traditions associated with western European cities, like big street markets in public squares and colourful light displays, while also having various customs of its own.

One really cool thing you can see in Lisbon throughout December is the tallest Christmas tree in Europe! The 76-metre-high tree dominates Praça do Comércio, right on the waterfront. Elsewhere in the city, you can also see Christmas trees lined along Avenida da Liberdade.

There are lots of festive events in Lisbon throughout December, both indoors and outdoors. If you want to experience something traditional, you might want to go and see a Christmas concert at one of the city’s churches.

For something a little different, you can also take a Christmas lights tour by tuk tuk, one of the many quirky forms of transport you can use in Lisbon. This is a really fun way to see the lights around the old Chiado and Bairro Alto neighbourhoods, as well as the centrepiece in Praça do Comércio.

Lisbon food to try in the festive season

Many of Portugal’s Christmas traditions involve food. Stalls at Lisbon’s food markets sell various festive treats in December, like filhós, traditional dough snacks that are fried and dipped in brown sugar and cinnamon.

Also look out for street carts selling hot roasted chestnuts. Even if you don’t notice the smoke rising from the pans on wood-burning fires, you’ll smell the alluring aromas as you walk past. A generously portioned bag of chestnuts is typically around €2.50.

Things to do in Lisbon in winter

Our guide to the best things to do in Lisbon covers all of our favourite activities in city, but here are some recommendations that are especially suited to a winter trip:

See a traditional Fado show

Around Lisbon you will notice various fado houses, especially in the older neighbourhoods like the Alfama and Chiado, where you can see the city’s most traditional form of music played live.

Fado is a simple, storytelling style of music that typically comprises a lone vocalist accompanied by a guitarra player, and perhaps a viola or double bass. Its roots are in 19th-century working class Lisbon, when communities bonded over music.

On a winter visit to Lisbon I went to a fado show with a Portuguese dinner, which has become the classic way to experience the genre. You have a sit-down meal with multiple courses, and a fado ensemble plays during the breaks in between.

Some organised fado dinners also include a walking tour. If you want to learn even more about fado, you can also pay a trip to the Fado Museum in the Alfama. I really enjoyed spending a couple of hours here on my last morning in the city. Make sure you get an audio guide so you can hear snippets of fado music with the interactive displays.

Dine outdoors under streetlights

It’s warm enough in Lisbon in winter that many restaurants have outdoor seating, some under cover. If you walk around the central neighbourhoods like Chiado, Rossio and Bairro Alto and the Alfama, you will see tables and chairs spilling out into cobbled roads.

The light fades early in winter, so while it’s mild enough to sit outside, you also get to dine under atmospheric street lighting.

This was how I dined on my first night in Lisbon, on Rua Dos Correeiros, a narrow road just off Rossio square. The local restaurants around here serve delicious fish caught freshly from the Tagus River. I had a plate of grilled lemon sole.

Visit in February for Lisbon Carnival

Carnival is Lisbon’s biggest annual celebration, with parties and parades taking over streets across the city for more than two weeks.

Carnival is most commonly associated with Brazil, but some of its earliest roots are in Portugal, and it is celebrated in countries with Catholic ties all over the world.

The timing of Carnival changes each year according to Christian festivities. It begins just before lent, which is usually in February.

Lisbon Carnival isn’t actually the biggest in Portugal. That happens in a town called Torres Vedras, which you can reach in a 45-minute bus ride from Sete Rios station in Lisbon. It’s well worth the trip to see the country’s most extravagant display of parades, floats and masked parties, supercharged with political humour and fuelled with a LOT of food and drink.

Take a Pastel de nata baking class

If you are hoping to try plenty of Portuguese food while you are in Lisbon, you’ll be pleased to know that the country’s most famous baked treat originated right here in the capital city.

Pastéis de nata, baked custard tarts with sweet and spiced flavours, were first made at Lisbon’s Jerónimos Monastery in the 18th century. Catholic monks developed them as a way of repurposing leftover egg yolks after the whites were used to starch nuns’ clothes.

Pastéis de nata are rich, comforting and warm, and pair perfectly with a hot drink, making them the perfect for indulging in winter! And in Lisbon, you have the chance to learn the secrets of how they are made.

On a pastel de nata baking class you will learn everything from the texture of the pastry to the balance of the flavours, and have the chance to taste a variety of traditional local drinks.

Take a Lisbon winter workation

I first visited Lisbon on a workation in winter. The low season is ideal for a remote working trip, as you can enjoy the city slowly in a much calmer environment.

Lisbon is growing in popularity as a remote working destination thanks to its laidback lifestyle, warm climate and great facilities. Portugal was also one of the first countries to introduce a digital nomad visa, making it possible to extend a workation over a much longer period.

I had a great time visiting many of Lisbon’s coworking spaces. There are more than 100 across the city, most of which have day passes or flexible packages, so you can hire a hot desk for a short-term trip. And if coworking spaces aren’t your thing, you could stay in a hotel with desk space, or get to know the city’s café culture.

Hit the local coffee houses

Lisbon has a buzzing scene of independent coffee houses throughout its central neighbourhoods. The city’s coffee culture dates back to colonial times and its roots as a port city, and it still thrives today.

If you’re wandering around Lisbon on a crisp morning and you fancy stopping for a hot drink, you won’t have to look far. These are some of my favourite coffee shops in Lisbon to try:

• Simpli Coffee: hand-crafted coffee roasters with four rustic cafés in Lisbon. I enjoyed their Braamcamp coffee shop close to Parque Eduardo VII.
• Hello, Kristof: trendy coffee joint for magazine-reading and “no laptops”, as declared in a window sign! In a nice quiet spot between the Cais do Sodré and Estrela neighbourhoods.
• Copenhagen Coffee Lab: trendy coffee chain that now has cafés all over Europe, and a handful in Lisbon. They make great pastries!
• Fábrica Coffee Roasters: local coffee house with a rustic vibe, with bare walls and wooden furnishings, now with several outlets in Lisbon.
• Delta Coffee House: slick, modern coffee brand originating in Lisbon, with three stores around the city. I had a delicious lunch and coffee at their Prata Riverside café.

See crisp sunset views from a miradouro

Lisbon is an amazing city for sunset views thanks to its hilly terrain and multitude of miradouros (viewing points).

Have you ever noticed how sunsets in winter are better than any other time of year? There are good reasons for this, with the colder season bringing clearer air, thinner clouds, and better angles thanks to the Earth spinning closer to the sun.

There are many great viewpoints in Lisbon, but the ultimate spot for sunsets is at Miradouro da Senhora do Monte, the highest point in the city. Looming just above the Alfama neighbourhood, it is the spot where Portugal’s first king Alfonso I camped in the 12th century before he conquered the city.

You’ll find a great vibe here at sunset, with lots of people gathering to take photos, street food carts parking up, and musicians playing. And as the sun sets earlier in winter, you will still have plenty of time to enjoy the evening ahead.

Where to stay in Lisbon in winter

On winter trips to Lisbon I have stayed at several My Story Hotels, a Portuguese boutique hotel chain with beautiful premises and very reasonable rates. Read my review of My Story Hotels to see if this fits what you’re looking for.

These are our top recommended winter accommodation options in Lisbon at different price points:

• Yes! Lisbon Hostel – fun, friendly backpacker hostel in a fantastic location for exploring, with an in-house bar, and regular tours and activities organised for guests.
• My Story Hotel Figueira – conveniently located between the Alfama and Chiado, set in a traditional Portuguese townhouse with a great restaurant, and not too expensive.
• EPIC SANA Marquês Hotel – our favourite luxury hotel, with a wellness centre, restaurants and stunning views, also featured in our guide to Lisbon hotels with rooftop pools.

Prefer to have your own space? Check out some self-catered accommodation options in our guide to the best VRBO apartments in Lisbon.

Have you visited Lisbon in winter? Let us know about your own experiences in the comments below!

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