When to go · Lisbon, Portugal
Best time to visit Lisbon
The sweet spot is May, September and October — averages 20°C, 5 rainy days, moderate crowds.
March – June, September – October
Atlantic climate with mild winters (12°C) and warm, sunny summers (28°C). Lisbon gets more sunshine than anywhere else in Europe — even January averages 5 hours per day. July and August are peak season: hot, crowded, and expensive. March–June is ideal: wildflowers, festivals, and the city before the summer rush. The hills mean wind is always present.
The short answer
20°C · 5 rainy days · mid season
24°C · 4 rainy days · mid season
20°C · 7 rainy days · mid season
Hardest months: January and December. averages 12°C, 10 rainy days, few other visitors.
Month by month
| Month | Avg temp | Rain days | Crowds | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 12°C | 10d | low | Chilly |
| February | 13°C | 9d | low | Mild |
| March | 15°C | 8d | low | Mild |
| April | 17°C | 7d | mid | Comfortable |
| May | 20°C | 5d | mid | Comfortable |
| June | 24°C | 3d | high | Great weather, peak crowds |
| July | 27°C | 1d | high | Hot |
| August | 27°C | 1d | high | Hot |
| September | 24°C | 4d | mid | Comfortable |
| October | 20°C | 7d | mid | Comfortable |
| November | 15°C | 9d | low | Mild |
| December | 12°C | 10d | low | Chilly |
Verdicts are read off the three columns to their left — temperature distance from 21°C first, then rainfall, with crowds breaking ties. Averages, so any given week can differ.
If you'd rather go cheap than perfect
January, February, March, November and December are low season in Lisbon — thinner crowds, and the months where accommodation is easiest to book late. Budget travellers already work to about $35–60 a day here; low season is where the accommodation share of that goes furthest.
Book the month you picked
Fares move with the same seasons as the crowds — the quiet months above are usually the cheap ones to fly.