We have read the guide books and it seems that much is written about the wonderful tourist destination Lisbon is in the summer months: the festivals, the outdoor sights and sounds etc. We are going at the end of March. Will we find ourselves indoors most of the time because things are not opened yet? What can we expect weather-wise? Will a trip to Sintra and Estoril be a waste at that time of year?
Thank you.
SG

We have been to Lisbon in April-May(twice) and in August. Although we love it no matter when we go, August was very, very hot. Be thankful you are not going then.

I am really answering this to bump it up so those of us who have experience with March can be more specific.

But I think Spring in Lisbon will be very nice and you do not have to even consider air conditioned lodgings.

I've spent the entire month of March in Lisbon twice -- once in 2005, once in 2008, and I routinely spend two and a half weeks in March in Lisbon, usually in the middle or end of the month. The weather has ranged from grey/rainy nonstop to warm/sunny nonstop, with the most prevalent weather pattern being a mix of both. I don't think you'll get really cold weather, but anything else is possible. I guess it'll just depend on how el nino o la nina decides to mess it up for us.

I'll be there March 10-28 next year, so maybe the best we can do is make daily offerings to the rain gods starting now and hope for the best.

Sher's absolutely right that there is unlikely to be any need for AC. That narrows things down a bit! Laurie

Thanks! On those warm, sunny days, does the temperature permit outdoor cafes etc. to serve meals or is still a bit too chilly for that type of thing in March? I am wondering if we will see the "real" Lisbon at that time of year. Is there enough indoors for us to do if outside is really rainy/awful?
S

Hi, S,

Cafe tables are out year round, with the numbers of takers depending on the weather. Some cafes and restaurants have outdoor heaters that work surprisingly well. Obviously the street life in March won't be what it is in the summer, but I think there will be plenty of people out and about.

If you get days of rain, there are many museums, monasteries, and palaces in and near Lisbon. The aquarium is really nice, too. Lisbon is more than anything a walking city, so it would be a bummer to have a whole week of rain, but that seems pretty unlikely. I bet you'll get lots of time be out and explore.

Laurie