Lisbon in Winter: Falling in Love with Portugal in Off-Season

Visiting Lisbon in winter gives you the best of both worlds. All the awesome sights in one of Europe’s most popular cities, at a cheaper cost and with fewer people.

Sure the weather is chillier than in the summertime, but Lisbon is still one of the warmest and sunniest capitals in Europe at this time of year!

I never thought twice about going to Lisbon during the winter, but then I live in Scotland and love travelling Europe in the off-season!

However, I fell in love with the city and with Portugal as a whole, and I want to share with you the reasons to visit Lisbon in the wintertime and the things to do in Lisbon in winter (spoiler alert, there’s not too much difference to summer!).

Why visit Lisbon in winter?

There are three main reasons to put Lisbon on your bucket list of European winter destinations.

Not because there’s snow (there’s not) or amazing Christmas Markets (yes, there are some, but not to the level of places like Germany), but because you can expect better weather, cheaper prices, and fewer crowds than many other places. 

Lisbon winter weather

Travelling to Portugal in winter means you can stock up on vitamin D! Lisbon is the sunniest capital city in Europe, and that includes throughout the winter.

The weather in Lisbon in December and January is still pleasant compared to many European destinations further north.

Temperatures still reach a high of 15/16 degrees Celcius (and even 18 in March and November!) and only go as low as 8/9 degrees.

Sunny but crisp days are some of the best days to explore because you won’t overheat, and it’s enjoyable to walk outside and see the sights.

Even if it’s cloudy or raining in Lisbon in the winter, the weather will likely change quickly, and it won’t be too cold.

You’ll still need to bring a coat, but on most winter days in Lisbon, I could get away with a lighter jacket and scarf and then something a bit warmer for the nighttime. Wrap up and still enjoy the European delight of dining outside, with the sound of Fado music filtering through the air.

More on what to wear in Lisbon in winter later in the post!

The cost of travel

Europe isn’t a budget destination compared to travelling around many other regions of the world, but by choosing to travel Europe during the winter or off-season you can usually save yourself some money.

Portugal is already one of the more comparatively cost-effective European destinations, and it gets even better in winter.

Although this is changing as it becomes more popular, you’ll find that winter is still the best time to make the most of this point.

Flights and accommodation in winter in Lisbon are less than what they are in the summer months, and you’re competing with fewer people for them. This leads me to my next point…

It’s less crowded

Lisbon has become an extremely popular destination. Concerns about over-tourism were brewing before the events of the past several years, when tourism did drop, although it’s now firmly on the rise again.

Areas of the city that were populated by locals are now almost exclusively catering for tourists. Airbnb has become a problem as it’s seen to drive locals out, and infrastructure like public transport isn’t keeping up.

While all of this sounds very negative, it’s important that we understand the impact we can have as tourists. Although I expect winter in Lisbon is also becoming more popular, by choosing to travel in the shoulder and winter seasons, we can at least help relieve some of the pressure on Lisbon in the summer months.

Without resurrecting the dreaded “tourist vs traveller” debate, most of us like to visit a city and not feel like we’ve walked into Disneyland with thousands of other travellers.

When I visited Lisbon in December, there were still tourists around, of course, especially because it was over the holiday period, but I am certain it was FAR less than there would be if I chose to visit in the European summer months.

So do yourself and Lisbon a favour and visit in winter!

Things to do in Lisbon in winter

What to do in Lisbon in winter – The usual sights to see

Sometimes, when we visit popular destinations in the off-season, we’re not able to take advantage of all the sights and activities that we would be able to in summer. For example, visiting somewhere like Iceland in winter is a very different experience compared to the summer!

Luckily with Lisbon, however, it’s still possible to do almost, if not all, of the usual things you’d want to see on a Lisbon itinerary. Unless you want to lie on a nearby beach and swim in the sea, it’s a little chilly for that! 

When we were planning what to do in Lisbon in January, I didn’t find anything that we weren’t able to do because of the season. The same goes for a trip to Lisbon in December! 

So here are the top things to do in Lisbon in winter:

• Visit São Jorge Castle: Holding a commanding position above the city, São Jorge Castle is a great place to start your explorations.
• Journey to Belém: There are the UNESCO World Heritage sites of Torre de Belém and the Jeronimos Monastery, plus the original Pasteis de Nata shop nearby. Further down the banks of the Tagus River, you’ll also find a monument in tribute to Portugal’s role in the Age of Discovery.
• Ride the Number 28 tram: These yellow trams are like a symbol of Lisbon the world over, and you can ride one through the steep streets! Just be mindful that these are also used as public transport by locals.
• Visit some of Lisbon’s most iconic neighbourhoods: The old district of Alfama has beautifully tiled buildings and cobbled streets, and Bairro Alto has some fantastic nightlife.
• Listen to Fado music: You may be more familiar with Flamenco in neighbouring Spain, but Fado is the traditional music of Portugal. Often just guitars and mandolins with one haunting singer, you’ll likely spot dinner shows advertised as well as be able to hear it in many more traditional restaurants.
• Try Portuguese specialities: Don’t miss the pastel de nata (custard tart), Bacalhau (cod, cooked in many ways, including codfish cakes), and Ginjinha, a sour cherry liquor.
• Admire the street art: Take an organised tour or simply allow yourself to wander through Lisbon’s centre and historic areas and discover for yourself!
• Take day trips: Lisbon is a great base for exploring more of nearby Portugal, and wintertime is no different. With its beautiful monuments and palace, Sintra is a popular day-trip destination, but check out even more day trips from Lisbon here and all about spending one day in Sintra here.

Walk the hills without the heat

Lisbon is built on hills; remember that when you’re planning any walking routes!

Walking is one of the best ways to discover the city (although you can jump on and off trams if you need to!). The benefit of visiting in winter is that you don’t need to walk those hills in 30-degree-plus heat. It’s chillier in winter, but you can always take a layer off, and you’re unlikely to overheat or feel driven indoors!

Warm up with delicious Portuguese specialities

You can enjoy some delicious Portuguese fare if you need to warm yourself up while discovering the best things to do in Lisbon in winter.

In summer, we tend to eat lighter, fresher meals, but visiting in the colder months means you can take advantage of delicious hot seafood meals and meat stews.

Caldo Verde, a delicious comfort food, also appears on many more menus (a green soup made of kale, onions, potato, garlic, olive oil, and often with local pork sausage).

And although its home is further north in Porto, there’s no reason not to warm up with a delicious Port!

New Year in Lisbon

Growing up in New Zealand means I’m used to a warm New Year’s Eve often spent outdoors. Although I’m lucky to now live in Edinburgh, where there are huge Hogmanay (New Year) celebrations, for the most part, I find a cold New Year spent indoors a bit uninspiring.

That changed when I visited Lisbon for New Year!

We attended a huge outdoor event Praça do Comércio, the large square in the middle of town, with live music (although some of it in Portuguese that I had never heard of!) and huge fireworks display at midnight.

There’s also a display along the river at Belém and lots of smaller New year celebrations across the city. We saw locals holding neighbourhood parties, and the bars were packed throughout the night. 

What to wear in Lisbon in winter

As a warmer winter destination in Europe, you don’t need to worry about special clothing for visiting Lisbon in the cooler months.

During the day, my usual outfit was a pair of jeans, comfortable boots or shoes, a fake leather jacket and scarf, or if I felt it was a chillier day, and I’d be outside a lot, then a slightly warmer lined coat.

Although not to the level of thick woollen coat I would wear in the UK with multiple layers underneath!

For a Lisbon winter packing list, you’ll need:

• Light coat and scarf for during the day
• Warmer winter coat for the night, chillier days, or day trips to places like Sintra
• A woollen hat if you feel the cold especially, or are taking day trips
• Gloves if you feel the cold especially (I like the touch screen kind)
• Comfortable winter boots or shoes with warm socks (I like these ones)

Where to go from Lisbon

You might be taking a winter city break in Lisbon or maybe planning to visit as part of a larger Portugal trip. If the latter is the case, then you have plenty of options!

Head further north to Porto, where it may be a little chillier and wetter, or south to the Algarve to enjoy the winter weather that’s even better than Lisbon, without the summer crowds.

Planning your Portugal trip? Check these out:

• 21 Things to Know Before You Visit Lisbon
• Lisbon Itinerary: The Best of Lisbon in 2 Days
• How to Spend One Day in Sintra
• 15 Awesome Day Trips from Lisbon
• Exploring the Port Wine Cellars in Porto
• 7 Things to Do in Porto That Don’t Involve Port Wine
• Algarve in Winter: The Best Things to Do
• Road Trip the Algarve: The Best Stops

Visiting a popular destination like Lisbon outside of the high season can often mean a better experience, thanks to fewer people, price, and in the case of Portugal, still decent weather.

Next time I plan to visit Lisbon again, I’ll be going in winter! How about you?

Sonja x

If you liked it, pin it!