If you are moving from Paris, Amsterdam or Berlin, one question comes up before anything else: what is winter in Portugal actually like? The answer is in the numbers. In Lisbon, the average January high is 14.8 degrees, against 7.2 in Paris and 3.0 in Berlin. The city gets around 142 hours of sunshine in January, more than twice as much as Paris. In practice, you keep eating on terraces, running along the Tagus and going out at weekends without fighting the cold. Here is the month by month data, what you can still do outdoors in December and January, and what really belongs in your suitcase.
Real month by month temperatures in Lisbon and Porto
The Portuguese coast has a mild Atlantic and Mediterranean climate: short, bright winters and no frost in the cities. In Lisbon, temperatures almost never drop below zero, and days above 18 degrees in the middle of January are common when the wind turns southerly. Porto, 300 kilometres further north, is slightly cooler and wetter, but still far milder than anywhere in northern Europe.
| Month | Lisbon high / low | Porto high / low | Sea | Sunshine per month |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| November | 17.4 / 11.1 | 16.3 / 8.8 | 17 degrees | 170 h |
| December | 15.3 / 9.0 | 14.3 / 6.6 | 16 degrees | 146 h |
| January | 14.8 / 8.2 | 13.8 / 5.6 | 15 degrees | 142 h |
| February | 16.2 / 9.2 | 15.0 / 6.3 | 15 degrees | 150 h |
| March | 18.6 / 10.6 | 17.0 / 7.7 | 16 degrees | 200 h |
These are the official climate normals published by the Portuguese weather institute, IPMA. One figure says it all: the coldest month in Lisbon is milder than April in Amsterdam. Portuguese winter is also short, concentrated in December, January and the first half of February.
Sunshine, the real difference with northern Europe
Cold is rarely the hardest part of a northern winter. Darkness is. That is exactly where Portugal changes everything. Lisbon records around 2,800 hours of sunshine per year, one of the highest figures in mainland Europe. On the shortest day, 21 December, the sun sets at 5.20 pm in Lisbon, against 4.56 pm in Paris and 3.53 pm in Berlin. You gain more than an hour and a half of daylight compared with Germany, and above all you get clear light instead of a permanent grey ceiling.
| City | Average January high | Average January low | January sunshine | Daylight on 21 December |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lisbon | 14.8 | 8.2 | 142 h | 9 h 30 |
| Porto | 13.8 | 5.6 | 125 h | 9 h 15 |
| Paris | 7.2 | 2.7 | 62 h | 8 h 14 |
| Amsterdam | 6.1 | 0.8 | 62 h | 7 h 45 |
| Berlin | 3.0 | minus 1.9 | 47 h | 7 h 39 |
A January morning in Lisbon usually means a blue sky at 10 degrees climbing to 17 degrees by 2 pm. Terraces stay open all year, cafes put their tables out, and a bica costs well under one euro whether you drink it in December or in June.
The rainy season, and what it really looks like
Yes, it rains in Portugal, and most of the annual rainfall arrives in winter. But Atlantic rain has nothing in common with northern drizzle: it comes in short, intense bursts, often overnight or late in the day, and then the sky clears. Lisbon averages about 11 rainy days in January, Porto about 15. Put differently, in a typical January you still have around twenty days in Lisbon when you leave home without an umbrella.
The habit to pick up is simply checking the forecast in the morning: two clear windows a day is the norm. Temperature swings are small, and public transport runs normally whatever the weather. Our guide to public transport in Lisbon explains the metro, tram and bus network that gets you under cover in five minutes.
What you can still do outdoors in December and January
This is the part northerners underestimate most. Outdoor life in Portugal does not stop in winter, it barely slows down.
- Run or cycle along the Tagus between Cais do Sodré and Belém, at 15 degrees in full sun.
- Surf at Carcavelos or Costa da Caparica: the sea sits at 15 or 16 degrees, a 3 millimetre wetsuit is enough, and winter swell is the best of the year.
- Hike in Sintra, 40 minutes by train from Lisbon, without summer crowds or summer heat.
- Take the train to the Algarve for a weekend: Faro regularly passes 18 degrees in January.
- Play football, swim or climb all year round, as our article on sports in Lisbon shows.
Weekends stay open too, on the coast and inland, as you can see in our selection of weekend trips from Lisbon.
What to pack for a Portuguese winter
The classic newcomer mistake is bringing a full northern wardrobe. You will need neither a thick down jacket, nor a wool hat, nor lined boots. Layering is what actually works here: you add a jumper in the morning and take it off at midday, when the thermometer climbs seven or eight degrees in a few hours.
| Item | Useful in Portugal? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Light waterproof jacket | Essential | Short showers from November to February |
| Two or three thin jumpers | Essential | Layers you take off at midday |
| Shoes with real grip | Essential | Lisbon cobblestones are slippery when wet |
| Sunglasses | Essential | Low winter sun, and plenty of it |
| Heavy down jacket, wool hat, scarf | Useless | There is no frost in the cities |
| Pocket umbrella | Useful | Atlantic wind destroys large ones |
Winter outings: Christmas, markets and culture
December is one of the best months of the year in Lisbon. The lights of Praça do Comércio and Avenida da Liberdade go on in late November, Christmas markets open at Rossio and Campo Pequeno, and the city stays busy late into the evening. On the menu: bolo rei, rabanadas and a hot chocolate for about 2 euros in a historic cafe.
Culturally, winter is the richest season: concerts, exhibitions at MAAT and the Gulbenkian foundation, Liga football at Estádio da Luz or Alvalade, and a very active music scene in Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré. National museums are free on Sunday mornings for residents. The prato do dia, 8 to 12 euros, remains the best way to have lunch, outside whenever the sun allows.
Spending your first Portuguese winter on a real contract
Many young Europeans discover this climate because they came to work here. We recruit French, German and Dutch speakers for customer advisor and content moderator roles in Lisbon and Porto, working in their native language with English used internally. The contract is a 12 month fixed term contract, renewable, with paid initial training and a salary of around 1,060 euros gross per month paid 14 times a year. Shared accommodation is provided for the whole duration of the contract, with bills and internet included, the flight is paid directly by the company for German and Dutch speaking candidates and reimbursed for French speaking ones, and the partner company handles the NIF, the NISS, health cover and the airport pick up. You need to be an EU citizen and to have finished secondary school.
To prepare your arrival properly, read our guide on settling in Portugal. On your rights, the EURES portal and the work section of Your Europe summarise what an EU citizen can do in another member state.
FAQ
Is Lisbon cold in January?
Not in the sense you know in Paris or Berlin. The average high is 14.8 degrees and the average low 8.2 degrees, and frost is almost unheard of in the city. A jumper and a light waterproof jacket are enough during the day, and terraces stay open.
How many rainy days should I expect in winter?
Around 11 rainy days in January in Lisbon and 15 in Porto, and they come as short showers rather than all day drizzle. Over a month, that leaves roughly twenty usable outdoor days in Lisbon, often with sunshine in the afternoon.
Is it better to arrive in Portugal in winter or in summer?
Winter is an excellent time to arrive. Cities are far less touristy, transport is calmer and the weather stays mild. You settle in quietly and you reach spring in March with 200 hours of sunshine a month already.
