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We Travel With Loveletters to the places we love
Letter No. 26Written in July 2026

Lisbon, Portugal

Dear Lisbon in January

Reading time
3 minutes
Lisbon winter Tagus
Photo: F Mira from Lisbon, Portugal, CC BY-SA 2.0

Dear Lisbon, in January,

In January, you are quieter. The cruise ships are fewer, the tram queues shorter, and the smell of roasting chestnuts drifts from carts on street corners.

You are mild by northern European standards, but winter here can be rainy and damp, and many older buildings are not well heated.

This is a letter about off-season Lisbon: what changes, and what to expect.

Lisbon Praca do Comercio
Lisbon Praca do Comercio. Photo: Diego Delso, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What we love

  • ♥Castanhas assadas

    Chestnuts roasted in street carts, served in paper cones. The smoke smells of winter.

  • ♥Empty viewpoints

    On a clear winter day, the miradouros are calm and the light is sharp and low.

  • ♥Museums on rainy days

    The Gulbenkian, the National Tile Museum and MAAT make wet afternoons easy.

Alfama Lisbon winter
Alfama Lisbon winter. Photo: Plaats, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What we'd tell a friend

Weather
Expect mild days, some rain and cool evenings. Check the Portuguese weather institute for forecasts.
Indoors
Many older apartments are chilly. Ask about heating when booking.
Shoes
Wet calçada is very slippery. Grip matters even more in winter.

This is general guidance. Prices, timetables, opening hours and entry rules change, so please check the official sources below before you travel.

Handle with care

Winter is when many residents get their city back. Travelling off-season spreads visitor spending more evenly through the year, which helps local businesses.

Before you go

Open Lisbon, Portugal in Google Maps ↗

Lisbon in January, you smell of chestnuts and rain. We like you very much this way.

With love,

The WTWL Team

Written July 2026

Spotted something out of date? Send us a correction.

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