Activities for Rainy Days in Lisbon

Arriving in Lisbon and encountering unsettled weather may not be the best plan, but it is a common occurrence in autumn and spring. However, even in situations like this you can still enjoy many things to do in Lisbon and your holiday will not be affected.

I suggest you explore the local traditions and sign up for a cooking class focused on making pastel de nata. Or attend a Fado concert and discover the genre that resonates in the blood of the Portuguese.

You can also take advantage of various indoor activities such as a visit to the main monuments including the Belém Tower, the Oceanarium, the Estadio da Luz and the Jerónimos Monastery. On these days tourists often take refuge in the Monet and Klimt exhibition, although the more adventurous prefer to take a virtual reality flight. If the rain isn't too heavy and you want to get out and about, you can opt to take the tourist shuttles that offer complete tours of the city.

Taking part in a pastel de nada cooking class is a great way to immerse yourself in Portuguese gastronomy while discovering a traditional recipe. This activity requires no previous experience and is a perfect way to escape the bad weather.

Pasteles de nata are small tartlets made with a crispy puff pastry dough. They are usually filled with pastry cream and you can sprinkle ground cinnamon to intensify their flavour. You will learn how to prepare the dough and the cream, as well as how to fill them without breaking them.

And don't forget that, every time you go to Lisbon, you have to make the most of it and try this delicacy to feel the explosion of flavours that no other dessert in the world can match. Leaving without trying them is considered a waste because they are even sold in supermarkets. As a recommendation, the most famous ones are those of the Fábrica de Nata (Cream Factory) and that is why tourists often queue up.

Interesting details

• Price: from 51 €.
• Duration: approximately two hours.
• What's included: ingredients and cooking equipment, coffee or tea and tasting the result of your own preparation.

If you want to see Lisbon by night, but the rain is in the way, you can treat yourself to a Fado concert. This genre is present in every corner of the city, and you can find everything from street shows to private performances in theatres and halls. Of course, the best alternative is to book a concert and relax to the sound of the guitar and the voices of the local artists.

You can also opt for a Fado dinner, so you don't have to worry about where to eat. To give you an idea of what you're going to see, you should know that Fado singing mixes everyday stories that convey love, frustration and nostalgia. Don't be surprised if you feel like you're bobbing on a boat, as the rhythms are inspired by fishermen and other elements of the sea.

Interesting details

• Price: from €24.
• Duration: at least 50 minutes.

Lisbon is a charming city and its tourist transport offers a comfortable and efficient alternative to get to know the city at your own pace. There are several routes available and you can usually hop on and off at stops of interest. However, there is the possibility of taking a full tour, which is appreciated during rainy days when it is difficult to walk up and down the steep streets. This way you won't have to get wet or lose a day of your itinerary.

If you want to take advantage of Lisbon' s best sightseeing buses and other dynamic transport, you can choose from:

24-hour sightseeing bus

Booking Lisbon's 24-hour sightseeing bus and taking the opportunity to see the outside of the most important monuments during a two-hour ride is an excellent option on wet days. This ticket also gives you access to some of the city's trams, funiculars and lifts, as well as discounts in shops and restaurants. Seeing the city from the comfort of your seat while it's raining is a beautiful experience that allows you to see another side of Lisbon.

48-hour sightseeing bus

If you plan to spend at least 2 days in Lisbon and it happens to rain on both days, you can take advantage of the 48-hour passes. In general, you have several options:

• Hire the 48-hour sightseeing bus: you can take the single option and do the whole trip, which lasts two hours. It has a route through Modern Lisbon and another one that takes you to the Belém area. Alternatively, you can get on and off at the specified stops.
• Book the tourist bus and tram: you can go past the Belém Tower, St. George's Castle and Parque Eduardo VII. In general, it has stops near more than 50 monuments and you can use Lisbon's iconic public trams.
• Book the sightseeing bus with tickets to the Oceanarium: a great way to save money is to opt for combined experiences. This way you can also stay out of the rain and visit one of the most impressive aquariums in Europe.

72-hour sightseeing bus

This is a complete experience that allows you to see Lisbon from different angles. Booking the 72 hour ticket gives you access to a savings pack which includes the sightseeing bus, tram and boat. This option is ideal if you are visiting Lisbon in 3 days, opting for a different route and transport each day:

• Modern Route and Belém Route of the tourist bus.
• Tramvia Hills Route by tourist tram.
• Yellow Boat Route of the tourist boat on the Tagus River, which I recommend you to book for the day with the lightest rainfall.

Tourist tram

You can't miss Lisbon's most traditional tourist transport, which dates back to the 19th century and was originally horse-drawn. Buying a ticket for the tourist tram allows you to hop on the yellow line of the Carris Metropolitana for 24 hours so you don't have to rely on individual tickets.

The hills and steep streets are often slippery on rainy days, but you can avoid them while still enjoying the views. If the rain isn't too heavy, you can hop on and off to explore the sights of your choice on foot.

Interesting details

• Price: from €24 per person.
• Timetable: Tour buses run from 9am to 7pm, with a frequency of 20 to 30 minutes. Meanwhile, the tram runs from 6:00 to 23:00.
• Duration: 24, 48 or 72 hours, depending on the pass selected.
• What it usually includes: each pass has its own benefits, usually with your ticket you can get discounts and tickets for other attractions, audio guide on board and a map of Lisbon.

In such a multifaceted city, rain needn't spoil your day. Immerse yourself in an unforgettable gastronomic journey and taste wines from 6 regions of Portugal. Each one has its own touch and you can experience how an oenologist will explain the best way to taste so that you can differentiate between a variety of smells, tastes and colours.

Cheese is the best accompaniment to a glass of wine, so you'll probably have a combined board with charcuterie and other appetizers. At the end, you can buy Portuguese wines and return to your hotel more de-stressed.

Interesting details

• Price: from 55 € per person.
• Duration: about two hours.
• What it usually includes: lunch with cheeses, cold meats and snacks to accompany the tasting, as well as a tasting of wines from different Portuguese regions.

If you plan to visit Lisbon with children and it rains during your trip, you must take a tour of the largest indoor aquarium in Europe (although if it doesn't rain, it's also a must for the little ones). It houses around 450 species in large pools and tanks. It is also divided into four themed habitats:

• North Atlantic.
• Antarctic.
• Pacific.
• Tropical Indian.

It is important to buy tickets for the Oceanarium in advance to avoid queues at the ticket office. This way, you will be able to immerse yourself in its pools and underwater tunnels where corals, penguins, otters and colourful fish live.

Interesting details

• Price: from €25 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from 10:00 to 19:00, with some variations depending on the season.
• Duration: around one to three hours, depending on the time you spend on each attraction.
• What it usually includes: access to the permanent and temporary exhibitions.

The Jerónimos Monastery is one of the most impressive buildings in the city. Inside you can feel like you are in a fairy tale, as you explore elements from the 16th century. You will also witness ornaments and symbols that can only be seen in Portugal, such as tiles depicting biblical scenes and maritime symbols.

Buying tickets for the Jerónimos Monastery allows you to avoid queues at the ticket office and explore:

• The Church of Santa María, which is located at the entrance to the monument and stands out for its Manueline architecture.
• The tombs of historical figures.
• The cloister, considered one of the most spectacular in Europe.
• The Chapter House and Refectory, where you can discover the history and evolution of the monastery.

Details of interest

• Price: from 20 €, but there are discounts for children, young people and seniors. If you decide to book the Lisbon Card you can use it to access this attraction.
• Duration: about an hour if you visit it quickly and about three hours if you experience it in more detail.
• Opening hours: 10.30am-5.30pm, but opening hours may change on public holidays and seasonally.

Visiting the imposing Belém Tower which offers panoramic views of the Tagus River is one of the best things to do in Belém, and the best thing is that it is very close to Lisbon, only about 25 minutes away. It was used as a protective fortress for the Portuguese city during the 16th century. This is evident in its Manueline architecture and today you can see the Governor's and King's Chambers, the chapel and the lower and upper batteries.

To avoid the crowds I recommend scheduling your visit early in the morning or mid-afternoon, as well as buying tickets for the Belém Tower in advance.

Details of interest

• Price: from €10 per person.
• Duration: between one and two hours.
• Hours: daily from 10:00 to 17:30, hours may change depending on the season.
• What it usually includes: access to the tower chambers.
• How to get there: depending on where you are, you can choose between bus, tram or taxi.

A rainy day is the perfect day to visit Lisbon's football stadiums, including the Estadio da Luz. Its red structure is unmistakable and owes its fame to being the home of local team Benfica. It has also hosted concerts by renowned artists such as Taylor Swift, Madonna and The Rolling Stones.

Inside the stadium you will see the pitch which seats over 64,000 spectators and then you can visit the Benfica Museum, which houses over 30,000 pieces related to the history of the club. During the visit you will have access to the players' tunnel, dressing rooms and VIP lounges.

Interesting details

• Price: from €20 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from 9:00 to 19:00.
• Duration: around two and a half hours.
• What's usually included: skip the line access, tour guide, entrance to the Estadio da Luz and the Benfica Museum.

If the bad weather spreads, you can look for alternatives such as buying tickets for the Monet and Klimt exhibition. It's an immersive activity that won't leave you indifferent with 360º exhibits inspired by the works of artists Monet and Klimt. You can enjoy the animations and visual effects, as well as a floating platform. There are several types of tickets:

• General admission: access to the exhibition and temporary projections.
• Premium ticket: take advantage of the exhibition and get access to the floating platform of the Mãe d'Água de Lisboa.
• Reduced admission: special prices are offered for residents, children, seniors and family combos.

Interesting details

• Price: from €16 per person.
• Duration: from 30 minutes to two hours.
• Opening hours: daily from 10:00 to 19:00.
• What's usually included: skip-the-line access and admission to temporary exhibitions. Access to the floating platform is usually only included in Premium tickets.

Among the best museums in Lisbon is the Royal Treasury Museum, which has three floors with interactive exhibits where you can have a great time and forget about the rain. In each corridor you'll find valuable pieces that belonged to the Portuguese royal family, such as Queen Mariana's emerald headdress. There are also precious stones, coins, furniture and other utensils and furnishings.

It is divided into 11 thematic rooms and it is easy to enjoy a tour. During the visit you can discover the history of the museum and anecdotes about local developments. In addition, you will understand the relationship between Portugal and Brazil in the context of the Portuguese Empire. By purchasing tickets to the Royal Treasury Museum you can even learn about the most ancient rituals of the monarchy such as:

• Religious ceremonies.
• The proclamations and coronations.
• Banquets in palaces.
• The handing over of keys to the king or queen symbolising the transfer of authority.
• Court parades.

Details of interest

• Price: from €11 per person.
• Duration: between one and two hours.
• Timetable: every day from 10:00 to 18:00.
• What's usually included: audio guide.

You can fly over Lisbon in a virtual reality experience so that the rain won't interrupt your itinerary. You will board a self-propelled hydraulic platform that offers real images of the city, made with a high-tech drone. As the ride progresses, landmarks such as the Belém Tower, Commerce Square, Christ the King and the 25th of April Bridge will come into view.

You'll even leave Lisbon and discover all there is to see and do in Sintra, as the simulation passes the romantic Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. It's as much fun as a helicopter or hot air balloon ride, but much cheaper. Plus, the experience is not just about seeing, you can also feel the twists and turns, weather changes and aromas that characterise these places.

Interesting details

• Price: from 10 € per person.
• Duration: the activity lasts approximately 20 minutes.
• What's usually included: access to the flight simulator and an audio guide.