When to go · PT
When to visit Lisbon
May through September is the sweet spot for Lisbon. Days run 15-26°C with under 41mm of rain across the window, before the peak-season surge.
The year at a glance
- Excellent
- Good
- OK
- Avoid
How we score weather
How we score months: each starts at 50 and earns or loses points across three signals. Temperature in the 18 to 26°C comfortable band adds 30; 14 to 17°C adds 15; warm 27 to 30°C adds 10. Past 30°C or below 14°C the page starts taking points back, with a 30-point hit at the extremes (below 5°C or above 33°C). Rainfall under 60mm adds 15, 200mm costs 25, over 300mm costs 40. Sunshine over 240 hours adds 10; under 80 hours costs 20. The result lands in one of four bands: Excellent (80+), Good (60-79), OK (40-59), Avoid (under 40). Crowds and prices come from the events calendar, separately, so weather and busyness stay readable as two different signals.
Jan
14°
52mm
Feb
15°
54mm
Mar
17°
54mm
Apr
19°
65mm
May
23°
40mm
Jun
25°
14mm
Jul
27°
2mm
Aug
28°
2mm
Sep
26°
41mm
Oct
23°
74mm
Nov
18°
85mm
Dec
16°
79mm
Best to worst, by weather.
- Excellent
- January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Good
- November, December
- Busy
- June, July, August
- Quiet
- May, September, October
Peak demand in Lisbon starts in January. Lock flights and the room you actually want by September, or you'll pay for what's left.
What's worth timing
Shoulder · May-Jun
Spring shoulder
Lisbon and the Douro at their best: 25C, low rainfall, June 13 Santo Antonio festivities in Alfama.
Festival · Jun
Santo Antonio
Lisbon's saint's night, June 12-13. Alfama and Mouraria fill with grilled sardines and street parties until dawn.
Peak season · Jul-Aug
Algarve peak
Faro to Lagos packed and accommodation doubles. Inland Alentejo stays quiet and gets two-thirds the price.
Shoulder · Sep-Oct
Harvest shoulder
Douro grape harvest mid-September. Quinta stays book out a year ahead for the picking weeks.
Month by month
January
14°C days, 52mm rain. The window.
February
15°C days, 54mm rain. The window.
March
17°C days, 54mm rain. The window.
April
19°C days, 65mm rain. The window.
May
23°C and 40mm rain. Lisbon and the Douro at their best: 25C, low rainfall, June 13 Santo Antonio festivities in Alfama.
June
25°C and 14mm rain. Lisbon and the Douro at their best: 25C, low rainfall, June 13 Santo Antonio festivities in Alfama.
July
27°C and 2mm rain. Faro to Lagos packed and accommodation doubles. Inland Alentejo stays quiet and gets two-thirds the price.
August
28°C and 2mm rain. Faro to Lagos packed and accommodation doubles. Inland Alentejo stays quiet and gets two-thirds the price.
September
26°C and 41mm rain. Douro grape harvest mid-September. Quinta stays book out a year ahead for the picking weeks.
October
23°C and 74mm rain. Douro grape harvest mid-September. Quinta stays book out a year ahead for the picking weeks.
November
18°C, 85mm rain. Pack a shell.
December
16°C, 79mm rain. A solid pick.
Pack for the window
Light layers, with one warm piece for evenings. High-SPF, even when it's cool.
Ready to put it on the calendar?