Lisbon
Capital of Portugal
Lisbon, the capital of Portugal, is a city with a population of about 546,000. Visitors come to see its historic UNESCO-listed sites, expansive bridges, and museums.
What to see
The city features several UNESCO World Heritage sites, including the Belém Tower, the Jerónimos Monastery, and the historic Alfama district. Visitors can explore landmarks such as São Jorge Castle, the Lisbon Cathedral, the Carmo Convent, and the Águas Livres Aqueduct. Architectural points of interest include the 25 de Abril Bridge, the Vasco da Gama Bridge, the Monument of the Discoveries, and the Praça do Comércio. For city views and transit, the Santa Justa Lift is available. Cultural collections are housed at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum.
When to go
Lisbon experiences its warmest and driest weather from June through September, with daily highs ranging from 23 °C to 26 °C and very little rainfall. The period from October to January is wetter, with November and December seeing the highest precipitation levels, reaching up to 119 mm. Spring months like May offer mild temperatures around 20 °C with lower chances of rain, making it a suitable time for travel before the heat of summer.
Getting there
Lisbon is served by Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport, located 8 km from the city center.
Top sights in Lisbon
Weather by month
The warmest month is August, with an average high of 26 °C. The wettest is December, with about 119 mm of rain.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average high, °C | 14 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 20 | 23 | 25 | 26 | 24 | 21 | 17 | 15 |
| Average low, °C | 9 | 9 | 11 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 18 | 15 | 12 | 10 |
| Rainfall, mm | 90 | 73 | 55 | 68 | 48 | 15 | 4 | 6 | 33 | 98 | 116 | 119 |
| Rainy days | 9 | 7 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 10 | 12 | 9 |
Temperatures and rainfall: 1981–2010 averages for Lisbon (4 km grid), from CHELSA. Rainy days: 2015–2024, NASA POWER.
Also worth a look
- Bairro Alto
- Belém Cultural Center
- Berardo Collection Museum
- Church of Nossa Senhora da Conceição Velha
- Church of Santa Engrácia
- Edward VII Park
- Estrela Basilica
- Lisbon Baixa
- Lisbon Oceanarium
- Lisbon Zoo
- Marquis of Pombal Square
- Monastery of São Vicente de Fora
- Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology
- National Coach Museum
- National Museum of Ancient Art
- National Museum of the Azulejo
- Navy Museum
- Prazeres Cemetery
- Praça da Figueira
- Restauradores Square
- Rossio
- Rossio railway station
- São Bento Palace