Lisbon holidays
Hilly riverside capital for neighbourhood-hopping, viewpoints and trams rather than resort-style beach downtime.
Prices on this page are shown from the UK. Change market
26°C SeptemberBest May, Jun, Jul, Aug3–4 nightsRecent nonstop return fare from London Gatwick
At a glance
- neighbourhood-focused city breaks
- first-time Portugal trips
- spring or autumn stays
Trip cost
- Return flight
- ≈€75
- Stay
- ≈€448
- Food & local
- ≈€96
Includes the return fare from London Gatwick. An estimate, not a quote — each booking happens separately with its supplier. How we work this out.
Prices shown on this page are indicative estimates in euros, not quotes. Every booking happens separately with its own supplier, at that supplier's own live price. How we work this out.
Stays
Stays in Lisbon
Typically around €61/night, a Portugal-wide estimate · €112 mid-range — not a live listing price
Map
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Self-catering
Prefer a place of your own? Browse holiday homes and apartments in Lisbon on Holidu.
Getting to Lisbon
- AirportHumberto Delgado Airport (Lisbon Airport) (LIS)
- Transfer optionsMetro, bus, taxi
The airport connects directly to the city via the metro's Red Line, urban buses and taxis.
Indicative, per traveller. You book with Aviasales.
Areas of Lisbon
A few places people base themselves, and who each tends to suit.
- BaixaFlat central grid best for first-time visitors who want straightforward access to major sights.
- ChiadoNeighbourhood that blends Baixa convenience with more character, suiting longer or return stays.
- AlfamaOld hill district for travellers who prioritise historic alleys and views over quiet nights.
- Bairro AltoCompact area north of Chiado known for busy evenings, fitting those who enjoy bar-heavy nights.
- BelémRiverside district west of the centre that suits visitors who want museums and monuments with more space.
Lisbon weather by month
Lisbon is warmest in July, when daily highs average 29°C, and coolest in January at 16°C. October is the wettest month at about 119 mm, August the driest at 0 mm. Taking warmth and rainfall together, May, June, July, August score best for a trip.
- Best overall
- May · June · July · August
- Hottest
- July · 29°C
- Wettest
- October · 119mm
- January: average daily high 16°C, 60mm rainfall.
- February: average daily high 17°C, 41mm rainfall.
- March: average daily high 18°C, 77mm rainfall.
- April: average daily high 21°C, 30mm rainfall.
- May: average daily high 24°C, 10mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- June: average daily high 25°C, 31mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- July: average daily high 29°C, 5mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- August: average daily high 29°C, 0mm rainfall. Good month for weather.
- September: average daily high 26°C, 56mm rainfall.
- October: average daily high 24°C, 119mm rainfall.
- November: average daily high 19°C, 71mm rainfall.
- December: average daily high 16°C, 112mm rainfall.
How these figures are worked out
Monthly averages — ERA5 reanalysis, 2022–2024, a three-year average, not a standard 30-year climate normal or a forecast. Gold months are the best weather fit: each month scores on how close its average daily high sits to about 27 °C, with heavy rainfall counting against it, and months far outside that range are not ranked at all.
What each season is like
- Spring
- One of the best times, with comfortable conditions and active street life before full summer crowds.
- Summer
- Peak season brings hot days and heavy visitor numbers, especially around central viewpoints and tram routes.
- Autumn
- Early autumn is often a golden period with warm light and fewer tourists than summer.
- Winter
- Quieter and cheaper, with some rain but fewer visitors, suiting budget-minded travellers willing to accept cloudier days.
What’s on in Lisbon
See all events in Lisbon on Wanderistan (opens in a new tab)
Compare Portugal destinations
Still deciding? Other Portugal destinations, with the same weather and typical-stay data behind them.
| Destination | Aug | Typical stay |
|---|---|---|
| Faro (Algarve) | 30°C | 2–3 nights |
| Funchal (Madeira) | 25°C | 2–3 nights |
| Porto | 25°C | 2–4 nights |
Nearby and alternative destinations
More from the UK
Good to know about Lisbon
Why go
- Offers layered historic districts and miradouros rather than a single compact centre like Faro or Porto.
- Balances urban life with nearby beaches and day trips, so you can mix city walking with coastal escapes.
- Feels larger and more varied than Porto, suiting longer city breaks focused on areas rather than one riverfront.
- Sintra's palaces and parks, among them Pena, the Moorish Castle and Monserrate, are separate sites managed by one authority, Parques de Sintra, so a day there means choosing among several sites rather than one visit.
- Carris, the city's transport operator, runs Lisbon's trams, funiculars and a street lift as well as its buses, which help with the steepest climbs between the lower town and the hill districts.
Worth knowing
- Steep hills and cobbled streets can be demanding for some travellers, particularly in older districts.
- Central areas see significant tourist pressure in spring and summer, affecting queues and ambience.
- Night-time noise in parts of Alfama, Bairro Alto and similar districts can be high, so careful area choice matters.
- In Belém, the Jerónimos Monastery opens Tuesday to Sunday and closes on Mondays and several public holidays, while the Belém Tower, which shares its official visitor site, was temporarily closed for conservation works when checked in September 2026, so check that site before planning around either.
Official references
Authoritative pages worth checking before you go to Lisbon.
- Jerónimos Monastery and Belém Tower opening hours and tickets (opens in a new tab) — Museus e Monumentos de Portugal
- Sintra parks and palaces (opens in a new tab) — Parques de Sintra – Monte da Lua
- Lisbon trams, funiculars and buses (opens in a new tab) — Carris