Rain in Lisbon: 15+ things to do rainy day Lisbon!

Thanks for sharing!

Discover Portugal is fully reader-supported. For that reason, this article contains some affiliate links. I may earn a small commission when you purchase through links on this page at no additional cost to you. All revenue is used to keep this website free and updated. I only recommend products or services that I would use myself. You’ll be able to read the full disclaimer here. Thanks for your support!

Things to do with rain in Lisbon

The sun can´t always shine, but thankfully, you won´t have to hide in your room all day or leave Lisbon. There are plenty of things to do in Lisbon when the weather is playing tricks. Especially during the winter months, you can expect some wet days in the city. Just be careful when heading out, as the roads can get very slippery. As much as the Portuguese cobblestones in the narrow streets look nice, the so-called calçada portuguesa also gets slippy. So get an umbrella or grab a taxi, and let´s head out to the city centre! But what to do in Lisbon when it rains? Let´s have a look!

1. The National Pantheon

The Pantheon in Alfama is a great spot to start your rainy day in Lisbon! Not only will you learn more about the history of the building and the Portuguese culture, but you’ll also discover the beautiful multicoloured marble interior and many tombs. Although the view from the roof is stunning, the tour of Lisbon’s Pantheon is mainly indoors.

Visiting the Pantheon is free for Lisboa Card holders, or you can buy tickets online and at the entrance. The National Pantheon in Lisbon is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 AM until 6 PM, and the nearest metro station is Santa Apolónia. Do you come by tram? The famous tram 28 stops just around the corner! 

Read the full story → National Pantheon

2. São Vicente de Fora

You’ll find São Vicente de Fora, a monastery full of surprises just around the corner from the Pantheon. And if you like beautiful azulejo tiles, you’ll have a fantastic time during your visit. There are more than 100,000 on display! You’ll also discover colourful courtyards, the cistern, the entrance hall, and a small exhibition. Don’t forget to visit the Royal Pantheon of the Bragança. It’s the final resting place for King Carlos I of Portugal, Prince Royal Luís Filipe, Queen Amélie of Orléans, and other members of the House of Bragança.

On the first floor, you can find one of the best secrets of the monastery, the Fables of La Fontaine. Thirty-eight glazed tile panels are on display, which all contain a fable. From here, you can also visit the roof. You might want to skip this, depending on how much it’s raining. São Vicente de Fora is open from Tuesday to Sunday, and tickets cost € 5,00 per adult.

Read the full story → São Vicente de Fora

3. Sé de Lisboa

In the heart of Alfama, you can visit Lisbon’s oldest church, Sé de Lisboa, on a wet day in Lisbon. The iconic religious building is open from Monday to Saturday, and it costs € 5,00 to visit Lisboa Cathedral. Tram lines 28 and 12 or bus line 37 all stop in front of the cathedral in Lisbon. The walls really have a story or two to tell! Inside, you’ll see an exhibition with artistic and religious art pieces, the sacristy, the ambulatory, and nine radiant chapels. The rosary is one of the highlights and contains a scene with the twelve Apostles. 

Read the full story → Sé de Lisboa

4. Jerónimos Monastery

When you’re in Belém, you cannot miss visiting the Jerónimos Monastery! You’ll learn more about the Portuguese Gothic Manueline style of the former monastery, and you can visit the church. The church is free to see, and here you’ll discover the tombs of Luís de Camões, writer Fernando Pessoa, and explorer Vasco de Gama. The UNESCO World Heritage Site is often very busy, so buying an online ticket upfront is an excellent idea if you don’t have the Lisboa Card! The Jerónimos Monastery is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 9:30 AM to 6:00 PM. On Sundays, the church opens a little later. If there is a queue for the entrance, there is no place to shelter from the wet weather, so bring an umbrella!

Read the full story → Jerónimos Monastery

5. Pastéis de Belém

Did you know there is a link between the famous Pastéis de Belém and the Jerónimos Monastery? If you just came from the monastery, you may already know! Nonetheless, a visit to the bakery Pastéis de Belém is highly recommended. You’ll enjoy a cold drink, a warming coffee, and famous custard tarts. The menu contains many other delicious snacks such as bolo de arroz, mil folhas, rissóis, pastéis de bacalhau, and coxas da galinha.

6. Join a pastel de nata baking class

Even better, take a pastel de nata baking class! Learn how to make custard cakes from scratch to enjoy some Portuguese treats even when you return from your holiday! Workshops usually last around 2 hours, and you’ll learn more about Portuguese gastronomy and culture.

7. A wine-tasting tour

If you prefer something stronger when you visit Lisbon, you can join a wine experience. During a wine-tasting tour, you´ll learn more about Portuguese wines, and you can, of course, taste several of them.

8. Visit Oceanário de Lisboa

One of the favourite places to visit on a rainy day in Lisbon is the Oceanário de Lisboa, an aquarium close to Parque das Nações and Esplanada Dom Carlos. The aquarium holds a whopping 5 million litres of seawater, and you’ll see colourful fish, jellyfish, amphibians, and plants up close. The sea otters and penguins show their tricks, and it’s an educational day about marine life for all ages. Therefore, buying an online ticket for Oceanário de Lisboa is highly recommended as it can get busy here, especially on a wet day.

Children between 0-2 can visit the aquarium for free. The ticket price for children between 3-12 is € 15,00, and adults pay € 22,00. Oceanário de Lisboa is open daily between 10 AM and 8 PM. The last admission is at 7 PM.

Read the full story → Oceanário de Lisboa

9. Pavilhão do Conhecimento 

Let’s stay a little longer at Parque das Nações, as you can also visit the Pavilhão do Conhecimento or the Pavilion of Knowledge around the corner. It’s a scientific and technological space where you can see exhibitions, join workshops, and overcome challenges. This place of innovation and creativity is fantastic for families! Depending on your age, tickets cost between € 8,00 and € 11,00. Family tickets are available for € 28,00, and children under 3 have free admission.

10. The best museums with rain in Lisbon

Rainy days are fantastic for museum lovers! Especially in Belém, you’ll find a wide range of world-renewed museums. Examples are Museu de Arte Contemporânea MAC/CCB, Quake, the National Coach Museum, and MAAT, which are all easy to reach by public transportation. Smaller but no less exciting museums are the Popular Art Museum, the National Museum of Archeology, the Navy Planetarium, Belém Palace, and the Bom Sucesso Fortress. Let’s take a closer look at some of the fascinating museums in Lisbon.

Museu de Arte Contemporânea MAC/CCB

Museu de Arte Contemporânea MAC/CCB (formerly Museu Coleção Berardo) is one of the best art museums in Belém. The collection consists of works of prominent Portuguese artists but also many international artists. It is a wonderful museum in a modern building. Inside, you discover art galleries with modern and contemporary art.

Read the full story → Museu de Arte Contemporânea MAC/CCB

Museu Nacional dos Coches

The Coach Museum, or Museu Nacional dos Coches, contains an incredible collection of coaches from many centuries. Many of these coaches were used by the Portuguese monarchy. You can visit two buildings: the National Coach Museum and the Old Royal Riding School. Both buildings are within walking distance of each other.

Read the full story → National Coach Museum

MAAT

Another museum with modern art to highlight in Belém is MAAT. This museum boasts many temporary exhibits, so check the current calendar before you go. The Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology is located in a stunning modern building and partially in the repurposed power station Central Tejo.

Read the full story → MAAT

Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian

The Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian Museum is a favourite of many. You can reach the museum easily by the blue and red metro lines, and the museum is located close to the São Sebastião metro station, within a beautiful park. You´ll enjoy a collection of Western and Eastern art, and temporary exhibits are on display.

The National Tile Museum

The Azulejo Museum is a must-see for anyone who loves azulejo tiles. The museum offers visitors an incredible display of tiles from throughout the centuries. The tile museum contains not only colourful tiles, but you can also see the Madre de Deus convent, in which the museum is located. A must-see when you like decorative arts!

Read the full story → Azulejo Museum

The Fado Museum

Another fascinating museum is the Fado Museum in Alfama. Here, you will learn everything about traditional Portuguese music and the instruments. Listen to beautiful songs, discover the history and discover educational exhibits. Afterwards, you can join a Fado show in Alfama. A Fado show is often combined with dinner, so it´s a great spot to finish your wet day in Lisbon and make it your final stop!

Read the full story → Fado Museum

Other museums of interest

In the rest of Lisbon, you’ll find even more museums! Art lovers will enjoy the National Museum of Contemporary Art, Museu do Oriente, Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga, the Frida Kahlo experience, Museu do Palácio Nacional da Ajuda on Largo da Ajuda, and the Bordalo Pinheiro Museum. Museums with special interests are the Pharmaceutical Museum, the Money Museum, and Museu da Água. Or discover a 2500-year-old history at the Núcleo Arqueológico da Rua dos Correeiros, where you can even discover Roman mosaics (by appointment only). Lisbon Quake is fantastic to learn more about the 1755 earthquake.

Do you travel with kids? The 3D Fun Art Museum is the best! You’ll easily spend a few hours taking fun pictures here. Or visit the escape rooms to keep them busy! There are several escape rooms in the city, so you can pick one that suits all ages. You might start wishing for a few days of rain to visit all the attractions, as this list isn’t even complete! Lisbon on a rainy day is far from boring!

11. Go Bowling!

Can’t sit still, and you want to go bowling? Can you keep the ball out of the gutter and throw a strike? You can rent a lane for a couple of hours in a few places. An example is the shopping mall Colombo, which has a giant bowling alley, arcade hall and lounge bar. Afterwards, you can hit the shops, grab dinner, or watch a movie. Centro Colombo is located on the blue line at the metro station exit Colégio Militar/Luz.

12. Watch a movie

Watching a movie is another great way to spend the day! If you’re already in the shopping mall Centro Colombo, you can visit the cinema on the 3rd floor. You can book your tickets online at Cinemas NOS or in the cinema itself. This cinema also has an IMAX! 

You can visit UCI El at El Corte Inglés closer to the city centre. It’s also located at the Blue Line, and you exit the metro station at São Sebastião station. Are Arthouse films more your thing? Then a visit to the Cinemateca should not be missed. Besides watching movies, you can also visit the Cinema Museum here!

13. Shop till you drop on a rainy day in Lisbon

One last thing you can do at Centro Colombo is go shopping! Here, you’ll find the most high-street shops and some luxury brands. Another favourite mall is located at Parque das Nações. Centro Vasco da Gama is located next to Oriente train station and has various high-street shops.

If you want to stay in the city centre during a rainy day in Lisbon, you can have a look at Armazéns do Chiado. It’s a small shopping mall with 55 shops and 15 restaurants. You’ll find more shops in this area, so bring an umbrella to stay dry!

Technically, it’s not indoors, but the LX Factory is another excellent place to shop. Aside from walking from shop to shop, you’ll stay dry! Campo de Ourique Market in the city centre is fabulous if you’re looking for a bite to eat. Mercado de Campo de Ourique is a bit like Time Out Market, but at Campo de Ourique, you’ll see fewer tourists and more locals. Or visit the nearby Campo Pequeno Shopping Mall in an iconic building. There are more than 80 shops, 20 restaurants, and a cinema. Amoreiras Shopping Center is very close to Marquês de Pombal and offers more shops.

If you’re looking for luxury brands, Avenida de Liberdade is typically the place to be. However, staying dry in the rain on this beautiful street is hard. A great solution is visiting the Strada Outlet outside the city centre. You’ll discover all national and international brands with up to 70% discount! Other favourite shopping spots are Amoreiras Plaza, El Corte Inglés, Atrium Saldanha, and Almada Fórum on the other side of the river Tagus.

14. Explore Lisbon by tram

If you still want to see something of Lisbon but stay dry, you can take a ride on an iconic tram! Tram 28 is the most famous of all, as it follows a gorgeous route through the windy streets of Alfama. Tram 12 follows a similar course, and Tram 15 to Belém runs often with the historical tram. Please note that even these old trams are a mode of transport for locals. Tram 28 gets so busy that you, A, must wait a long time to board, and B, it’s a paradise of pickpockets.

For that reason, the Historic Hills Tram Tour is recommended, and you’ll see many famous sights! You’ll travel through Lisbon on a historic tram, and your ticket also includes 24-hour access to the Bica, Glória and Lavra funiculars and the Santa Justa Elevator. You’ll discover all the top districts, including Baixa, Graça, Alfama, and Estrela, and one loop takes around 1.5 hours. An audio guide in Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, or Swedish is included.

15. Time Out Market

When it’s time to eat, visiting Time Out Market close to Cais de Sodré is nice. The food court contains 26 restaurants, 8 bars, and some shops. You will enjoy it here if you’re craving a hamburger, sushi, steak, or a traditional meal! Some favourites are Manteigaria for pastéis de nata, Croqueteria, Marlene Vieira, and Manteigaria Silva. On a rainy day in Lisbon, this is the perfect place to warm up and eat some of the best meals you’ll find in Portugal! Bom appetite!

Do you want to visit more markets? → Read the full story

16. Visit a bookshop

There is no lack of bookshops in Lisbon, and with a history of famous writers and poets like Fernando Pêssoa, Luís de Camões, and José Saramago, it comes as no surprise. What might be a surprise is that the oldest operating bookshop in the world is located in the heart of Lisbon. Livraria Bertrand in Chiado has been selling books since 1732, and you can still do so today. When you purchase a book, your book will even receive a stamp!

Other fabulous bookshops in town are Ler Devagar at the LX Factory, Menina e Moça, which turns into a vibrant bar at night, and Palavra de Viajante, with a fantastic scale of travel books. Is your Portuguese a bit rusty? Then Bookshop Bivar will be your best friend as all the books are in English!

17. Enjoy a night of Fado

There is no better way than to enjoy a night of Fado to complete your day. Most Fado houses are in Alfama, Moreira and Bairro Alto. And while listening to famous Portuguese songs, you’ll enjoy a fabulous traditional meal with excellent regional wines. Some recommended Fado houses are Bohemia LX, Clube de Fado, and A Baiuca. Or book this fantastic experience below!

Bonus tips!

18. Book a massage

Instead of doing many things, it’s also nice to relax. That makes a rainy day in Lisbon perfect for an hour-long massage or spa treatment! For a fantastic massage, you can visit EcoMassage, which has two locations: one on Rua dos Franqueiros and one on Rua Aurea. They have a vast amount of massages to choose from, such as hot stone massage, therapeutic massage, Ayurvedic massage, and Chi Nei Tsang massage. Classic relaxation massages and couples massages are also available.

19. The ultimate spa experience in Lisbon

There are some beautiful places to visit for the ultimate spa treatment. Besides massages, you can enjoy salt baths and several body and facial treatments. Corinthia Lisbon and the Four Seasons have excellent facilities if you wish to combine treatments with swimming pools and saunas.

20. Enjoy a day in your hotel

Do you prefer to hide for a day in a stunning hotel in Lisbon on a rainy day? Then you’re in for a treat! Also, when you venture out and return to your hotel, it’s fabulous to feel home away from home. Check the offers below and book your dream spot in the capital! Even better, book a hotel with a sauna, spa, or indoor pool and take some time to relax! This sounds like the perfect way to end a wet day in the city!

Tips for getting around with rain in Lisbon

Taxis are widely available in the city and are relatively cheap. Especially Uber and Bolt offer competitive prices in Portugal. Besides taxis, public transportation is easy to use, and many attractions are easy to reach by tram, metro or bus. That makes Lisbon on a rainy very easy to explore. Don´t forget to wear some proper shoes, as mentioned, the streets can get very slippery!

Things to do in Lisbon with kids with rain

Read the full story → Things to do with kids

Conclusion

As you can see, staying indoors on a rainy day in Lisbon is no excuse. Sure, it’s nice to cuddle up in bed and hide under a fluffy duvet. But before doing so, you can still enjoy many fantastic Lisbon sights. When it really is time to turn off the lights, you can stay in one of the fabulous hotels above. In winter, it might rain in Lisbon a little more often. And maybe you’ll be in the city during the holidays! If you need tips for your Christmas trip to Lisbon, check this article with plenty of suggestions! Or enjoy the winter in Lisbon with plenty of activities. Click here for more information.

Pin to read later

Thanks for sharing!