Portugal, Europe

Lisbon in November

Green hills, moody light, low costs. Bring a rain layer and shoes with grip for the wet cobbles.

Quiet valueMild, highs near 64F (18C), the rainiest month

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

The straight answer

November is a quiet, good-value month to visit Lisbon. Green hills, moody light, low costs. Bring a rain layer and shoes with grip for the wet cobbles.

Weather: Mild, highs near 64F (18C), the rainiest month
Crowds: 2 of 5
Prices: 2 of 5

What November is like in Lisbon

November is Lisbon's rainiest month, but it is still mild, with highs near 64F (18C). Rain tends to come in bands, with bright breaks between them. The hills turn green, the light is moody, and costs drop to near their lowest. Crowds are light and nothing closes. Late in the month, the Christmas lights start going up in Baixa and Chiado.

This month suits budget travelers and people who care more about food, museums, and fado than sunshine. Beach lovers and anyone who hates getting wet should pick October or wait for spring. Pack for rain and slippery cobbles, and you will still have plenty of good days.

Make the most of November

What is especially good about Lisbon this month.

Holiday lights arriving

Christmas lights go up across Baixa and Chiado in late November. The squares feel festive without the holiday crowds.

Low prices, open everything

Hotels and flights get cheap, and every sight and restaurant keeps normal hours.

Cozy fado and tasca nights

Rainy evenings are perfect for a small tasca in Mouraria or Alfama with a fado singer.

What to pack for November

A waterproof jacket
Shoes with strong grip for wet cobbles
A warm layer for evenings
A compact umbrella

Our timing tip

Plan indoor backups for each day, such as the tile museum or Time Out Market, and switch to outdoor plans whenever the rain breaks.

Book Lisbon for November.

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Hotels. Expedia
Hotels in Lisbon
Opens a hotel search for Lisbon in November, dates filled in. Book early for the best months: the good rooms go first.
Hotels for November
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 November. Popular slots sell out in the best months.
Tours and tickets

What's on in November

Christmas and New Year season

Late November through early January

Lights across Baixa and Chiado, and a big New Year's Eve fireworks show over the Tagus.

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 November, quick answers

Is November a good time to visit Lisbon?

November is a quiet, good-value month to visit Lisbon. Green hills, moody light, low costs. Bring a rain layer and shoes with grip for the wet cobbles.

What is the weather like in Lisbon in November?

Mild, highs near 64F (18C), the rainiest month.

Is Lisbon crowded in November?

November is one of the quieter months in Lisbon; most sights can be done without long waits.

What is happening in Lisbon in November?

Christmas and New Year season (late november through early january).