Lisbon in Spring: Why Spring Might Be the Best Time to Visit Lisbon
There is a moment in Lisbon when you suddenly realise that winter is over.
You are walking down one of the old streets, the sun is already warm on the buildings, people are sitting outside with a coffee, and then you notice the trees.
Purple flowers everywhere.
This is Lisbon in spring.
I live in Lisbon, and one of the things I love about spring here is that the city doesn’t feel like it is trying too hard. There is no dramatic change. Lisbon just slowly becomes brighter, greener and more alive.
And then, almost without noticing it, you are spending most of your day outside.
If you are wondering about the best time to visit Lisbon in spring, I would say March, April and May each have their own personality. But April and May are particularly special.
Why Visit Lisbon in Spring?
Lisbon is a city made for being outside.
The hills, viewpoints, small cafés, tiled façades and narrow streets all become more enjoyable when the weather is comfortable enough to walk for hours.
Summer can be hot and busy. Winter can be rainy and unpredictable.
Spring sits somewhere in between.
You can have breakfast outside, walk through Alfama, take the tram towards the city centre, stop for lunch and still have several hours of daylight left.
This is one of the reasons I think Lisbon spring travel works so well for a city break.
You don’t need to plan every hour.
Actually, I think you shouldn’t.
Leave some time to get lost.
Lisbon in March: The Beginning of Spring
Lisbon in March can be a little unpredictable.
Some days feel almost like summer. Other days remind you that winter has not completely left yet.
This is also why I like March.
There are fewer expectations.
You can walk around the city in the morning wearing a light jacket and end up sitting outside in the afternoon with your sunglasses on.
The days are getting longer and the city starts waking up again after the quieter winter months.
March is a good month for museums, cafés and neighbourhood walks, but you can also have beautiful sunny days for exploring the viewpoints.
If you are planning a Lisbon spring itinerary, March is especially good if you prefer a quieter version of the city.
Lisbon in April: When the City Starts to Bloom
April is probably where spring really starts to show itself.
The temperatures are generally more comfortable for walking, the days are getting longer and the city becomes noticeably greener.
And then there are the jacarandas.
The famous purple jacaranda trees are one of the most beautiful signs of spring in Lisbon. Their flowering can be seen in different parts of the city, with places such as Largo do Rato, Parque Eduardo VII, Largo do Carmo, Avenida D. Carlos I and the area around Belém highlighted by Lisbon’s official tourism organisation.
For a photographer, this is a big deal.
Lisbon already has plenty of colour because of its azulejos, painted façades and yellow trams. Add purple flowers to that and suddenly the city feels almost unreal.
Not in a polished, perfect way.
In a Lisbon way.
Lisbon in May: My Favourite Kind of Spring
By Lisbon in May, you can really feel that summer is getting close.
The days are longer, outdoor terraces are full again and there is usually a lot more life on the streets.
But the intense heat of July and August hasn’t arrived yet.
For me, May is one of the easiest months to enjoy the city.
You can start the morning in Alfama, walk down towards Baixa, have lunch near the river, visit Belém in the afternoon and finish the day watching the sunset from a miradouro.
And you don’t feel like you need a holiday after your holiday.
That’s important.
The Jacarandas: Lisbon Turns Purple
If you are searching for the best places to see jacaranda trees in Lisbon, spring is the time to pay attention.
The trees were introduced to Lisbon from Brazil in the 19th century and have become one of the city’s most recognisable spring sights. Lisbon’s tourism authority notes that the flowering can continue into June, depending on conditions.
Some of the best-known locations include:
- Largo do Rato
- Parque Eduardo VII
- Largo do Carmo
- Avenida D. Carlos I
- Torre de Belém
There are also jacarandas in other parts of the city, so you don’t necessarily need to follow a specific route.
Sometimes you just turn a corner and there they are.
And that is part of the fun.
The Best Thing About Lisbon in Spring? The Light
This is probably where I become a little biased as a photographer.
Lisbon has beautiful light all year, but spring gives the city a very particular feeling.
The sun is stronger than in winter, but it is not yet as harsh as in the middle of summer.
The combination of warm sunlight, white façades, colourful tiles and fresh green trees can make even an ordinary street look photographic.
Early morning is beautiful.
Late afternoon is better.
And the hour before sunset?
That’s when I would take my camera out.
If you are interested in Lisbon photography in spring, don’t spend the whole day looking for famous monuments. Look at the light hitting a wall. Look at a tram passing under a jacaranda tree. Look at somebody sitting at a café.
These are often the photographs that say more about Lisbon.
Things to Do in Lisbon in Spring
One of the best things about spring is that you don’t need a special list of attractions.
The city itself becomes the activity.
1. Walk Through Alfama
Start early if you can.
Alfama is beautiful at almost any time of year, but spring mornings are particularly pleasant.
Walk through the narrow streets around the Cathedral and Santa Luzia, then continue towards the viewpoints.
Don’t worry too much about following a route.
The streets are confusing anyway.
In a good way.
2. Explore Graça and Its Viewpoints
Graça is one of my favourite areas for seeing a different side of Lisbon.
The neighbourhood has a more local feeling than some of the busiest parts of the historic centre, and the views are fantastic.
Miradouro da Senhora do Monte is one of the obvious choices, but sometimes the best view is from a street you weren’t planning to walk down.
Spring is a perfect time to walk uphill.
Well… as perfect as walking uphill in Lisbon can be.
3. Spend Time Around Praça do Comércio
Come down from the old neighbourhoods and eventually you reach the river.
Praça do Comércio is one of those places where you can simply stop.
Look across the Tagus.
Watch the boats.
Have a coffee.
And then continue walking along the waterfront.
Spring evenings are particularly nice here because there is still plenty of daylight after dinner.
4. Visit Belém
Belém is an easy addition to a Lisbon spring itinerary.
You can combine the Jerónimos Monastery, Belém Tower, the waterfront and the gardens into a relaxed half-day.
Spring also makes the area much nicer for simply walking around.
And yes, you should probably have a pastel de nata while you are there.
It would be rude not to.
5. Find a Garden
This is something visitors sometimes miss.
Lisbon has a surprising amount of green space.
The city council describes Monsanto Forest Park as Lisbon’s largest green area, covering more than 1,000 hectares and combining woodland, biodiversity, historical remains, trails and viewpoints over the city and Tagus.
You don’t need to go all the way there every time, of course.
There are smaller gardens and parks throughout the city.
Spring is when these places really make sense.
Lisbon’s Spring Events
Spring is not only about flowers and weather.
There is a lot happening culturally as well.
In April, Lisbon has its annual celebrations around 25 April, the anniversary of the Carnation Revolution. The city’s official tourism programme includes music, theatre, literature, comedy and other cultural events across Lisbon, with the large march along Avenida da Liberdade on 25 April as one of the main moments.
May is also a good month for discovering Lisbon’s gardens.
The Jardins Abertos (Open Gardens) festival opens normally private or less-known gardens to visitors, with guided visits, workshops and activities connected with gardening and sustainability.
This is one of those Lisbon experiences that you probably won’t find on every standard tourist itinerary.
And that is exactly why it is interesting.
Is Lisbon Warm in Spring?
This is probably the most common question.
The answer is: sometimes.
Spring weather in Lisbon changes quite a lot from March to May.
March can still have cooler mornings and some rainy days. April is usually a nice balance between sunshine and cooler weather, while May starts to feel much closer to summer.
But don’t come expecting guaranteed beach weather every single day.
Lisbon has a little moodiness.
One morning can be bright blue and the next one can be cloudy.
Personally, I don’t mind.
Cloudy skies can actually make the colours of the city more interesting for photography.
What to Wear in Lisbon in Spring
This is where people sometimes get it wrong.
Don’t pack only summer clothes.
For what to wear in Lisbon in spring, I would think in layers.
A light jacket.
Comfortable shoes.
T-shirts or shirts underneath.
Something slightly warmer for the evening.
And if you are visiting in March or April, a compact umbrella or light waterproof jacket isn’t a bad idea.
The most important thing is the shoes.
Lisbon’s streets are beautiful but the hills and cobblestones are not very forgiving.
You have been warned.
Is Spring the Best Time to Visit Lisbon?
There isn’t one perfect season for everyone.
But if you want comfortable walking weather, flowers, longer days, outdoor cafés and a city that is becoming lively without reaching the intensity of peak summer, spring is a very good choice.
For me, Lisbon in spring is less about ticking off attractions and more about being outside.
You walk more.
You sit outside more.
You notice the trees.
You stay longer at viewpoints.
You have another coffee because the weather is too nice to go back to the hotel.
And suddenly it is evening.
That is probably what I like most about Lisbon.
The city doesn’t need to entertain you all the time.
It just gives you enough reasons to stay outside.
A Few Things I Would Do on a Spring Trip to Lisbon
If I had only three days, I wouldn’t try to see everything.
I would do something like this:
Day 1: Alfama → Santa Luzia → Cathedral → Baixa → Praça do Comércio → sunset by the Tagus.
Day 2: Graça → Senhora do Monte → historic centre → Avenida da Liberdade → Parque Eduardo VII.
Day 3: Belém → Jerónimos → waterfront → gardens → sunset somewhere overlooking the river.
And I would leave several hours with no plan.
Because some of my favourite Lisbon moments happened when I wasn’t trying to find anything.
Lisbon in Spring for Couples and Photography
Spring is also a beautiful season for couples visiting Lisbon.
The combination of softer light, flowers and colourful streets gives you plenty of possibilities without needing to make the photographs look overly staged.
Alfama works beautifully in the morning.
Graça is great later in the day.
The river gives you a completely different background.
And when the jacarandas are flowering, you can add a little colour without doing anything complicated.
For couples who want a Lisbon couple photoshoot in spring, I would always recommend walking rather than staying in one location.
Lisbon gives you a lot of variety within a relatively small area.
One street can look completely different from the next.
So, Should You Visit Lisbon in Spring?
Yes.
Especially if you like cities where you can spend most of the day outside.
Spring gives Lisbon a very nice balance.
It is warm enough to enjoy the streets, cool enough to walk, green enough to feel fresh and colourful enough to keep your camera busy.
And then there are the jacarandas.
Once you see Lisbon covered in purple flowers, you understand why spring here has a special feeling.
Come for the architecture.
Stay for the light.
And don’t be surprised if you end up staying outside much longer than you planned.
That happens in Lisbon.