The best time to visit Lisbon is May through mid-July and September through mid-October. May gives you 22°C (72°F) highs, 39mm of rain, 285 hours of sunshine, and manageable crowds. September offers 26°C (79°F) highs, warm sea at 19°C, and 33mm of rain with smaller crowds than August. These windows avoid the peak summer crush while delivering reliably good weather.
Best Time to Visit Lisbon for Good Weather
June through September delivers the most reliable sunshine and warmth. July and August are the warmest at 28°C (82°F) with almost zero rain (4-6mm). The Atlantic breeze keeps summer comfortable compared to inland Mediterranean cities. May and October are transition months: pleasant temperatures (22°C/72°F) but with some rain risk (39mm and 80mm respectively). November through February are the wettest: 85-118mm per month, though temperatures remain mild at 15-16°C (59-61°F).
Best Time to Visit Lisbon for Lower Prices
Hotel rates drop 30-40% from November through March (excluding Christmas/New Year). A 4-star Baixa hotel costing 150-200 EUR in August drops to 80-120 EUR in January. Flight prices from North America are lowest November through February. The cheapest window with good weather is March (highs of 18°C/64°F, moderate rain) and November (highs of 18°C/64°F, but 114mm of rain). Avoid the Web Summit tech conference (early November) when the entire city sells out and hotel rates triple.
Best Time to Visit Lisbon for Fewer Crowds
Lisbon’s overtourism peaks June through August, especially in Alfama, Belem, and on Tram 28. Queue times at Jeronimos Monastery can exceed 90 minutes in July. The quietest months with acceptable weather are March, April (before Easter), October (after the first week), and November. Christmas markets in December draw local crowds but not international ones.
Months to Avoid in Lisbon
August is the most crowded and expensive month, with daytime highs of 28°C (82°F) and some days reaching 35°C (95°F). Many small Portuguese businesses close for the last two weeks of August. December through February are wet (85-118mm per month) with the shortest days, though temperatures remain mild. The Lisbon weather by month guide has detailed monthly data.
