Portugal, Europe

Lisbon in August

Peak crowds and prices, some family businesses on vacation, and heat that punishes the hills. The beaches absorb some of it.

Think twiceHot, highs near 83F (28C), heat waves possible

Rua Augusta Arch on Praca do Comercio, Lisbon — LisbonPhoto: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0

The straight answer

August is a month to think twice about visiting Lisbon. Peak crowds and prices, some family businesses on vacation, and heat that punishes the hills. The beaches absorb some of it.

Weather: Hot, highs near 83F (28C), heat waves possible
Crowds: 5 of 5
Prices: 5 of 5

What August is like in Lisbon

August is Lisbon's toughest month. Highs are about 83F (28C) with heat waves possible, and the hills make every walk harder. Crowds and prices are at their yearly peak, and some family-run restaurants and shops close for vacation weeks. The beaches soak up some of the crowd, but trams and the main sights stay jammed.

If you must travel in August, plan a beach-heavy trip and keep city sightseeing to early mornings and evenings. Otherwise, pick September, which has similar warmth, the warmest ocean, and fewer people. June is the other alternative if you want summer energy and a festival along with the heat.

Make the most of August

What is especially good about Lisbon this month.

Beach days on the coast

The Cascais and Costa da Caparica beaches are the best use of an August afternoon. The ocean breeze beats the heat in the city.

Late-night dinners

Locals eat late in summer, and the evenings are warm and lively. Plan your main outing after sunset.

Sunrise walks in Alfama

Alfama's lanes are nearly empty and cool at dawn. It is the one time of day the old quarter feels calm in August.

What to pack for August

High-SPF sunscreen and a hat
A large refillable water bottle
Light, loose clothing
A swimsuit and beach towel
Sandals with grip for hot cobbles

Our timing tip

If you are locked into August, book a hotel with air conditioning and a pool, and plan to be off the hills between noon and 5pm.

Book Lisbon for August.

Sponsored links to Expedia and Vrbo. We may earn a commission; it never changes a verdict.

Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Lisbon
Opens a hotel search for Lisbon in August, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for August
Vacation rentals. Vrbo
Vacation rentals in Lisbon
Whole homes, condos and villas. Usually the better deal for families and groups, with a kitchen and room to spread out.
Rentals on Vrbo
Tours and tickets. Expedia
Tours and tickets in Lisbon
Timed-entry tickets, day trips and guided tours in Lisbon for August. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in August

Summer beach season

June through September

The Cascais and Costa da Caparica beaches fill; the Atlantic stays refreshingly cool even in August.

Things to do in Lisbon

Full guide

Alfama and the castle

Wander the oldest quarter up to Sao Jorge Castle in the morning before the heat and crowds; the view down the Tagus is the city's establishing shot.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Belem: Jeronimos Monastery and the Tower

Both closed Mondays. Go at opening, monastery first, and collect the original pasteis de nata as the reward.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Tram 28

The famous rattling tram crosses the whole historic city. Ride at 8am or after 8pm; midday in season means long stops and pickpocket-density crowds.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

A fado night in Alfama or Mouraria

Book a casa de fado for dinner, or find the smaller tascas with amateur singers. The mournful music is the city's soul, worth one late night.

Tickets and tours →

The miradouro circuit

Senhora do Monte, Graca, and Sao Pedro de Alcantara at sunset. Bring a drink from a kiosk and settle in like a local.

Tickets and tours →

Sintra day trip

Forty minutes by train. Book Pena Palace's timed entry ahead and go early; midday coach crowds are serious in season. One palace plus the Moorish castle is a full day.

Official site ↗Tickets and tours →

Beat the crowds

Ride Tram 28 at 8am from its Martim Moniz start, or ride the nearly identical routes on foot: most of its famous corners are better lingered over than glimpsed from a packed window.
Do Belem on a weekday at opening, monastery before tower, and be eating pasteis by 11am as the coach groups arrive.
Book Sintra's Pena Palace for the first slot and take the early train; by midday in season the hilltop shuttles and lines consume hours.
Alfama's lanes are calmest before 10am and after dinner; cruise-day crowds concentrate there and in Baixa from late morning through afternoon.

Know before you go

Lisbon has no meaningful seasonal shutdown: mild winters keep the city, its restaurants, and its sights fully open all twelve months. Winter changes prices and rain odds, not access.
Mondays close the Belem headliners, Jeronimos Monastery and the Belem Tower, along with several museums. Make Monday your Alfama, tram, and miradouro day.
June 13, Santo Antonio, is a Lisbon municipal holiday: many businesses close while the city parties. The surrounding festival nights keep old-quarter restaurants packed.
Fixed holidays to plan around: January 1, April 25, May 1, June 10 (Portugal Day), June 13 (Lisbon), August 15, October 5, November 1, December 1, 8, and 25.

Lisbon in August, quick answers

Is August a good time to visit Lisbon?

August is a month to think twice about visiting Lisbon. Peak crowds and prices, some family businesses on vacation, and heat that punishes the hills. The beaches absorb some of it.

What is the weather like in Lisbon in August?

Hot, highs near 83F (28C), heat waves possible.

Is Lisbon crowded in August?

August is peak crowd season in Lisbon; expect lines at the headline sights.

What is happening in Lisbon in August?

Summer beach season (june through september).