Lisbon, the capital of Portugal is known for its rich history, fado music, architecture, and its sunny weather. But when is the best time to visit Lisbon? The best time to visit Lisbon is in the Spring between March and May and then again in fall September and October.
The best months to visit Lisbon, Portugal is either from March to May or September to October, when the weather is still warm, hotel rates are cheaper and tourist crowds are lesser than in summer.
The busiest times you might encounter are the summer months. It is a bit hotter during this time and prices skyrocket due to other European countries taking holiday around this time. Luckily, Lisbon does not typically get too cold.
Lisbon and Portugal do have its cooler weather which can drop to around 40°F. Visiting Lisbon in the Fall is ideal since the weather is still warm but peak season is over, so prices tend to drop around this time.
There are still plenty of activities and events happening year-round in Lisbon no matter what the weather is. On almost every season Lisbon has festivals, tours, and sightseeing.
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Average Temperature In Lisbon, Portugal
Portugal has a Mediterranean climate and is influenced heavily due to its close proximity to the Atlantic Ocean. In Northern Portugal you can find the weather on the cooler side and a bit rainy. Lisbon is located in Southern Portugal and enjoys a warm climate year-round. The warmer season lasts for about three months and is June, July, and August.
The average highs are between 79°F and 85°F. This is also the most expensive time to visit Lisbon. August is the priciest month to visit since many Europeans are taking their holiday around this time. Be prepared to visit packed beaches and pay top dollar for hotels.
From October all the way to about March Lisbon is chilly. Average temperatures range from 50°’s to 70°’s with lows being in the upper 40°’s. January is the coldest month in Lisbon with the temperature being around 55°.
Daily Chance Of Precipitation In Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon gets on average rainfall about 112 days a year, but most of this is just drizzle. The wet season begins in September and lasts until May which is one of the reasons the temperature is on the cooler side.
If planning a visit during these times your chance of encountering a rainy day is about 15% more than the rest of the year. A wet day is considered one that has received .04 inches of liquid to the ground.
December has the highest amount of precipitation of all the months where chances of rain have a probability of almost 29%. Most of the wet days in Lisbon is rainy only since Portugal does not typically see snow.
July is the driest month in Lisbon with less than one day reaching .04 inches of precipitation. Lisbon is still one direst and warmest countries in Europe so the rain should not affect most things that you have planned.
Humidity Comfort Levels In Lisbon, Portugal
According to Weather.gov the most comfortable humidity level is less than 55. Humidity is the water vapor that is in the air. Anything above 55 is where the air becomes sticky and muggy.
Humidity ranges based on the season in Lisbon and the Winter season faces a higher chance of being humid. Between June to almost November you can expect a 20% chance of the air being muggy.
The peaks season is when it is most sticky, but it is not unbearable. If you are planning a visit to Lisbon in the winter months, be prepared for chances of humidity to be about 70%. With rain brings humidity so December is the most humid month in Lisbon. The air in summer is dry but it is not so dry that it is uncomfortable.
Best Time Of Year To Lisbon, Portugal For Great Weather
If you are planning a trip to Lisbon, Portugal you are probably going to get reasonable weather. No matter if you are coming from the US or another European country or anywhere in the world. Lisbon enjoys long summers and pleasant autumns.
Many people visit Lisbon for its beautiful beaches and the best time to get good weather is in the summer months. If you want moderate temperatures with less tourists try to visit between the later months of Spring and the earlier months of fall.
As mentioned previously, tourists tend to not be as much during these months, and it is still an acceptable temperature to partake in outdoor activities. The tourist season in Lisbon has grown to be basically year around so no matter when you are planning to visit there will be others and pricing remains fairly consistent.
Summers in Lisbon are extremely hot, and winters are mild except with a higher amount of rainfall. Temperatures tend to be more bearable near the Atlantic Ocean, which is home to Praia de Carcavelos, one of the top beaches in Portugal. Do not worry Lisbon has a fantastic public transportation service that usually operates no matter what the weather situation is.
Best Time Of Year To Visit Lisbon, Portugal For Low Prices
Due to its mild climate year-round Lisbon has become a tourist destination for most of the year. You can still get lucky and visit Lisbon for some reasonably low prices. According to TAP air Portugal – the country’s flag carrier – the cheapest flights from New York’s JFK – LIS start at only $153 USD!
TAP services over 80 countries and often has excellent deals. Lisbon also has several hotel companies like Marriott’s and Hilton’s that offer deals on the off season. If you’re not feeling an American company in Portugal and want to experience something different contact a local hotel.
On off season they often hold discounts to travelers as well. Summertime is where pricing is usually extremely inflated due to the fact that Lisbon has a limited number of flights and hotels. Do not visit Lisbon during the holiday season as well – because even though the weather isn’t as ideal it is still an expensive time.
This goes for any holiday like Christmas, New Years, and Easter. Visiting in January, February and March can get you the most economical pricing. Lisbon is a very price sensitive city and if you are looking to travel on a budget there are a ton of free things to do no matter what time of year you are there. Setting aside a budget before you arrive can help you plan accordingly to not overspend.
When Is The Peak Travel Season In Lisbon, Portugal?
If you do want to visit Lisbon in the Summer, there are a ton of things to do and see. Prices for hotels in Lisbon during the peak season for flights are typically around $600 USD from JFK. Flights to Portugal are usually not too high from JFK so getting there can be inexpensive.
Hotels on the other hand range from $100+ for a nice hotel. You can find Airbnb’s in Lisbon as well, but they are often not much cheaper than hotels since there are way more tourists than there are properties to stay at.
You can expect hotels, flights, streets, museums, and beaches to be crowded since the weather is hot and school is out. Visiting during the peak season makes sightseeing difficult because you will have to wait in long queues and deal with other people in your way.
June is one of the most popular months to visit Lisbon because the sun is out for an average of about ten hours a day. Some of the top festivals during the peak season are Portugal Day – which is remembrance of one of Portugal’s most influential presidents and Festa de Sao Joao.
Visiting Lisbon on a solo trip will likely cost you around $1,500 USD on the peak season. While this can be on the expensive side for most people this price is for about one week. Visiting as a couple can range up to $2,000 USD and for a family of four about $3,0000 USD.
Visiting Lisbon is still cheaper than visiting other cities in Europe, and significantly cheaper than visiting other capital cities nearby such as Paris, London, or even Madrid. Once you arrive in Lisbon even in the peak season you can find that you are able to get by with many activities and even eating out or drinking on as little as €30 EUR per day.
When Is The Shoulder Travel Season In Lisbon, Portugal?
Don’t want to visit when it’s completely off season? That’s fine , Lisbon’s Shoulder season is between Spring and Autumn time. There are less tourists but beware you won’t get to enter the ocean as the water tends to dip into the cooler temperatures.
The water is never particularly warm in the beaches near Lisbon but visiting in the shoulder season is more of a sunbathing, museum, sightseeing time rather than playing in the water or surfing.
During the shoulder season you might run into some light rain, but it is likely not enough to deter you from your plans. There are still so many fun things to do in the Spring shoulder season like Día do Reis, and Portugal’s own Carnival.
Visiting Lisbon in the Spring is an amazing time since the country is coming out of the winter months and flowers begin to bloom, the days get a little longer the country begins to come back to life.
On the other hand, if you want to visit in Fall, tourists have dispersed a little and the country begins to get quieter. Do not fret, in the Fall shoulder season, there aren’t many festivals, but the grapes are in full bloom so it’s a great time to go on a winery tour.
When Is The Low Travel Season In Lisbon, Portugal?
The off season in Lisbon falls during the wet months which is during Winter. The only time during Winter where you can find a ton of tourist is during Christmas and New Year’s. In the off season the days are shorter with the average number of daytime hours being about 9.5.
Lisbon is still brighter and has better weather than most of Europe at this time. Visiting Lisbon during the off season gives you a much larger pool of flights and hotels to choose from. You also won’t have to stand in line as long during the winter months since there is half as many tourists than if you were to visit during June or July.
Lisbon is full of hills and walking around outside during the winter is much more comfortable than in summer even though it is a bit more humid. Lisbon is a very walkable city so if you are not interested in dripping in sweat then winter might be a better option for you. A couple of activities that happen during the off-season months are large Christmas celebrations and large New Year’s celebrations.
Best Months To Travel To Lisbon, Portugal
Lisbon is one of the most culture rich cities in Europe. You can find Lisbon to be busy most of the year and anytime you visit have good weather for the most part. The Winter months can get humid and have small showers and the summer months become full of tourists.
The number of hotels and flights are not enough to keep up with all of the visitors flocking to the country so keep that in mind when you want to visit during the sunny summer months. The average temperature in Lisbon’s Summer months is in the high 80°’s and can get low as the 40°’s when visiting during winter.
When you plan your trip to Lisbon it is important to consider what you want to do when you are there. If you are not planning activities that are at the beach or outdoors – it makes sense to steer clear of the peak season just so your holiday isn’t interrupted with long queues and outrages pricing.
If the humidity doesn’t bother, you or a slight dip in temperature Fall and Spring are the best times to visit without having rain! What are some of your favorite times to visit Lisbon? How was your weather experience? Let us know in the comments.
