TLDR: The best months for Lisbon are April, May, September and October — daytime 19-25°C, low rainfall, manageable visitor numbers. June is amazing for the Santo António and São João festivals but busier. July and August are hot (often 32°C+) and packed with cruise ships. November to March is mild (15-18°C daytime) and quiet but greyer with more rain in November-February. Casa Almada works year-round — air conditioning, blackout blinds, the rooftop terrace.
Planning your stay?
Luxury Apartment Stays at Casa Almada — check availability and book direct.
Insider tip from Casa Almada
Visit Lisbon in late April. The week after Easter is genuinely the best week of the year — daytime 19-22°C, cherry blossom along the river, jacaranda starting to flower in Largo do Camões, the cruise ships still on light schedule, and restaurants taking outside tables again. Casa Almada’s rooftop terrace becomes useful in this week. Hotel and apartment prices are also at the year’s low.
Lisbon has the most amazing climate of any major European capital — Atlantic-tempered, dry, and warm enough to walk the city in shorts seven months of the year. But the city has a very specific seasonal rhythm: which months work for you depends on whether you prioritise weather, festivals, prices, or escape from crowds.
I have lived this calendar for years and Casa Almada is open year-round with full air conditioning and blackout blinds. This is the local guide to month by month — what the weather is actually like, what festivals run, what to expect from the tourist density, and the genuinely amazing weeks worth booking around.
Spring — March, April, May
March: 12-17°C daytime, 8-10°C at night, 70 mm of rain across the month. Some days are amazing, some grey. Cruise-ship arrivals start light. Best for indoor-heavy itineraries (museums, Fado, cooking classes). Easter 2026 falls 5 April; the Holy Week processions are worth catching.
April: 14-19°C, 65 mm rain, jacaranda starts flowering mid-month, the cruise ships ramp up. The week after Easter (around 13-20 April) is the genuinely best week of the year — warm enough for outside meals, calm enough for restaurants to seat you without booking, and the cherry blossom along the Tagus is at peak.
May: 16-22°C, dry, sun every day. The most reliable spring month. Outdoor dining starts properly. The city stays busy but not yet at peak. The 1 May labour day is a public holiday with reduced public transport.
Planning a Lisbon stay?
Why not stay with me at Casa Almada?
220 m² luxury apartment in the heart of the old town, sleeping up to 9 guests plus 2 infants. Tram 28 at the bottom of the street, Sé Cathedral around the corner. From €219 per night.
Check Casa Almada availability →
FTC disclosure: this is our own apartment booking page.
Summer — June, July, August
June: 19-26°C, dry. The city’s biggest festival month. Santo António on 12-13 June and São João on 23-24 June are the two big patron-saint celebrations — grilled sardines on every cobbled street, paper lanterns hanging between buildings, marriages of São António brides on 13 June, and a city-wide street party that runs until 4am. Casa Almada sits in the heart of the Santo António parade area on Avenida da Liberdade.
July: 22-29°C, dry, the cruise ships at peak. Harsh midday sun, busiest restaurant tables, full attractions. The amazing nights for the locals are NOS Alive festival (10-12 July 2026 at Passeio Marítimo de Algés) and the Festival ao Largo outdoor opera in Largo de São Carlos in Chiado. Sea temperature 19°C — Cascais beach is for sunbathing not swimming.
August: 22-30°C, dry, the locals are away, the foreign tourists in. Often 32°C+ in heat waves. Many small Lisbon restaurants close 15-30 August for staff holidays. The city is busiest in the centre but quieter in the residential neighbourhoods. Cascais and the Algarve are at peak crowd.
Autumn — September, October, November
September: 19-26°C, dry, the cruise-ship volume drops sharply mid-month, restaurants reopen after the August closures. One of the best months to visit. Sea temperature still 21°C — Cascais swims well. Festival da Liberdade mid-month for free outdoor classical music in Praça do Comércio.
October: 16-22°C, the rain returns lightly (around 75 mm across the month). The most photographically beautiful month — golden light, autumn colours in the parks, the river at its most amazing colour. Restaurants accept walk-ins. The right month for first-time visitors who want everything to work.
November: 12-18°C, 110 mm of rain, the city is properly quiet, prices drop significantly. Greyer days but the painted facades against grey skies are oddly amazing. St Martin’s festival (Magusto) on 11 November means roasted chestnuts on every street corner — buy a paper cone for €2 and walk through Bairro Alto.
“Espais Roca have a handful of holiday properties dotted across Europe and I can honestly say they all deliver such an amazing experience. The attention to detail is incredible.”
westlee wallace · Family holiday (Espais Roca brand)
Winter — December, January, February
December: 10-15°C, 100 mm rain, mild compared to most of Europe. Christmas markets at Praça do Comércio, on Rossio, and at Belém. The 24 December dinner is the biggest family meal of the Portuguese year — most restaurants are closed on Christmas Eve, opening again on 25 December evening. New Year’s Eve fireworks over the Tagus from Praça do Comércio.
January: 9-15°C, 95 mm rain, the quietest tourist month and the lowest prices of the year. Some attractions close mid-January for annual maintenance. Casa Almada at €219/night is excellent value here for groups.
February: 9-16°C, 85 mm rain. The almond trees in the Alentejo flower mid-month, the daffodils start. Carnival (Entrudo) falls in February or early March 2026 — the Tuesday before Lent is a public holiday with traditional masked parades in some neighbourhoods, more visible in Setúbal across the river than in Lisbon proper.
- Best month for first-time visitors: May or October — warm, dry, manageable crowds.
- Best for festivals: June (Santo António 12-13, São João 23-24).
- Best for prices: November to February — apartment rates 25-35% below summer peak.
- Avoid: 15-30 August (many restaurants closed) and Christmas Eve to 26 December (everything closed).
- Hottest: July-August often 32°C+ at midday. Casa Almada’s air conditioning becomes essential.
- Coldest: December-February, daytime 9-16°C. Mild compared to most of Europe but bring layers.
- Wettest: November (~110 mm spread across 12-15 days).
- Driest: July (negligible rain).
- Sea temperature: warmest July-September (19-22°C). Too cold to swim Nov-May for most visitors.
- Sunset times: 6pm in winter, 9pm in summer.
Photos of Casa Almada
View the full Casa Almada gallery →
FTC disclosure: links to our own apartment booking page.
Stay with us in Lisbon
Casa Almada — luxury family apartment in the heart of Lisbon
220 m² of beautifully restored space across 3 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms, sleeping up to 9 guests plus 2 infants. Three super king beds that split into singles, blackout blinds throughout, original art by Lisbon artists, Egyptian cotton linens, Rituals products, and a stunning rooftop terrace with panoramic city views. Tram 28 at the bottom of the street, Sé Cathedral around the corner, Castelo de São Jorge ten minutes on foot. A far cry from the soulless chain hotels of yesterday.
From €219/night. FTC disclosure: this is our own apartment booking page.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time to visit Lisbon?
April-May and September-October. Daytime 16-25°C, low rainfall, the cruise-ship volume is manageable, and the restaurants and outdoor seating areas are open. Late April after Easter is genuinely the best week of the year. October is the most photographically beautiful month with the autumn light.
Is it too hot to visit Lisbon in August?
Hot but doable. July-August daytime regularly 28-32°C, sometimes 35°C+ in heat waves. Casa Almada has full air conditioning and blackout blinds throughout. The trick in August is to walk early (8-11am), shelter midday in cooler buildings (cathedrals, museums, the apartment), and walk again from 6pm onwards. Many small restaurants close 15-30 August.
When are the Santo António and São João festivals in Lisbon?
Santo António is 12-13 June (Lisbon’s patron saint, marriages of brides on 13 June, sardines on every cobbled street). São João is 23-24 June (also celebrated more famously in Porto, but Lisbon participates). Both nights are city-wide street parties running until 4am. Booking accommodation 2-3 months ahead is essential for these dates.
What is the weather like in Lisbon in winter?
Mild compared to most of Europe. December-February averages 9-16°C daytime, 5-10°C at night, with around 90-100 mm of rain spread across the month. You can still walk the Old Town comfortably with a light jacket. Casa Almada has central heating and the rooftop terrace becomes a sun-trap on clear winter afternoons.
When is Lisbon least crowded?
November to early March is the quietest. Apartment rates drop 25-35% below summer peak, restaurants accept walk-ins, museums and the castle have no queues. The 7-21 January window after Christmas/New Year and before Carnival is the single calmest stretch of the year.
If you are planning your stay around this, take a look at the rest of our Lisbon travel blog for itineraries, restaurants and seasonal tips.