11 Best Rainy Day Activities in Lisbon

Arriving in Lisbon and encountering unstable weather may not be the best plan, but it is common in fall and spring. However, even in situations like this, you can enjoy many things to do in Lisbon so that your vacation is not affected.

I suggest exploring local traditions and signing 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 different indoor activities such as a visit to the main monuments including the Belém Tower, the Oceanarium, the Estadio da Luz, and the Jerónimos Monastery. These days, tourists tend to take refuge in the Monet and Klimt exhibition, although the more adventurous prefer to opt for a virtual reality flight. If the rain isn't too heavy and you want to go out, you can choose to use the tourist transport services that offer complete tours of the city.

Taking part in a cream pastry cooking class is an excellent way to immerse yourself in Portuguese cuisine while discovering a traditional recipe. This activity requires no previous experience and is a perfect plan for taking refuge from bad weather.

Cream pastries are small tartlets made with crispy puff pastry. They are usually filled with custard cream and can be sprinkled with ground cinnamon to intensify their flavor. You will learn how to prepare the dough and 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 take advantage of the opportunity to try this delicacy and experience an explosion of flavors unlike any other dessert in the world. Leaving without trying them is considered a waste because they are even sold in supermarkets. As a recommendation, the most famous ones are from the Fábrica de Nata, which is why tourists often queue up to buy them.

Details of interest

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

If you want to experience Lisbon at night, but the rain is getting in the way of your plans, you can enjoy a Fado concert. This genre can be found in every corner of the city, from street performances to private shows in theaters and salons. Of course, the best option is to book a concert and relax to the sound of the guitar and the voices of local artists.

You can also opt for dinner with Fado, 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 rocking on a boat, as the rhythms are inspired by fishermen and other elements of the sea.

Details of interest

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

Lisbon is a charming city, and its tourist transport offers a comfortable and efficient alternative for exploring it at your own pace. There are several routes available, and you can generally hop on and off at stops of interest. However, there is also the option of taking a complete tour, which is appreciated on rainy days when it is difficult to walk through the steep streets. This way, you won't get wet or lose a day of your itinerary.

If you want to take advantage of the best tourist buses in Lisbon and other dynamic transportation options, you can choose between:

24-hour tourist bus

Booking the 24-hour Lisbon tourist 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 certain trams, funiculars, and elevators in the city, as well as discounts in shops and restaurants. Getting to know the city from the comfort of your seat while it rains is a wonderful experience that allows you to see another side of Lisbon.

48-hour tourist bus

If you plan to spend at least two 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:

• Take the 48-hour tourist bus: you can take the easy option and do the entire two-hour trip in one go. It has a route through modern Lisbon and another that takes you to the Belém area. Another alternative is to hop on and off at the specified stops.
• Book the tourist bus and tram: you can visit the Belém Tower, São Jorge Castle, and Eduardo VII Park. In general, it has stops near more than 50 monuments, and you can use Lisbon's iconic public trams.
• Book the tourist bus with tickets to the Oceanarium: a great way to save money is to opt for combined experiences. This way, you can also stay dry in the rain and visit one of the most impressive aquariums in Europe.

72-hour tourist bus

This is a complete experience that allows you to see Lisbon from different angles. When you book the 72-hour ticket, you will have access to a savings pack that includes the tourist bus, tram, and boat. This option is ideal if you are visiting Lisbon for 3 days, choosing a different route and mode of transport each day:

• Modern Route and Belém Route on the tourist bus.
• Hills Tram Route on the tourist tram.
• Yellow Boat Route on the tourist boat along the Tagus River, which I recommend booking for the day with the least amount of rain.

Tourist tram

Don't miss Lisbon's most traditional tourist transport, which dates back to the 19th century and was originally pulled by horses. When you buy a tourist tram ticket, you can ride the yellow Carris Metropolitana line for 24 hours, so you don't have to worry about buying individual tickets.

The hills and steep streets tend to be slippery on rainy days, but aboard this tram you can avoid them while still enjoying the views. If the rain is not too heavy, you can hop on and off to explore your favorite places on foot.

Details of interest

• Price: from €24 per person.
• Timetable: tourist buses run from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., every 20 to 30 minutes. The tram runs from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.
• Duration: 24, 48, or 72 hours, depending on the pass selected.
• What's usually included: each pass has its own benefits, but generally with your ticket you can get discounts and tickets for other attractions, an audio guide on board, and a map of Lisbon.

In such a multifaceted city, rain doesn't have to ruin your day. Immerse yourself in an unforgettable gastronomic journey and taste wines from six regions of Portugal. Each one has its own unique touch, and you can learn from a sommelier how to taste wine in order to distinguish between a variety of aromas, flavors, and colors.

Cheese is the perfect accompaniment to a glass of wine, so you'll probably be served a platter with cold cuts and other appetizers. At the end, you can buy Portuguese wines and return to your hotel feeling more relaxed.

Details of interest

• Price: from €55 per person.
• Duration: around two hours.
• What's usually included: lunch with cheese, cold cuts, and appetizers to accompany the tasting, as well as a wine tasting from different Portuguese regions.

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

• North Atlantic.
• Antarctica.
• Pacific.
• Tropical Indian Ocean.

It's important to buy tickets for the Oceanarium in advance to avoid queues at the ticket office. This way, you can immerse yourself in its pools and underwater tunnels, home to corals, penguins, otters, and colorful fish.

Useful information

• Price: from €25 per person.
• Opening hours: every day from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., with some variations depending on the season.
• Duration: around one to three hours, depending on how much time you spend at each attraction.
• What's usually included: access to permanent and temporary exhibitions.

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

By purchasing tickets for the Jerónimos Monastery, you can avoid queues at the ticket office and explore:

• The Church of Santa Maria, located at the entrance to the monument and notable 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 purchase the Lisbon Card, you can use it to access this attraction.
• Duration: approximately one hour if you visit quickly and around three hours if you take your time.
• Opening hours: from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but hours may change on holidays and depending on the season.

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 part 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 can be seen 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 purchasing tickets for the Belém Tower in advance.

Useful information

• Price: from €10 per person.
• Duration: between one and two hours.
• Opening hours: every day from 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., hours may change depending on the season.
• What's usually included: access to the tower's chambers.
• How to get there: depending on where you are, you can choose between bus, tram, or taxi.

A rainy day is perfect for :::link|text=visiting Lisbon's soccer stadiums|element=sc-138-5412:::, among which Estadio da Luz stands out. Its red structure is unmistakable and owes its fame to being the home of the local Benfica team. In addition, concerts by renowned artists such as Taylor Swift, Madonna, and The Rolling Stones have been held here.

Inside, you'll see the field, which can hold more than 64,000 spectators, and then you can visit the Benfica Museum, which houses more than 30,000 pieces related to the club's history. During the visit, you'll have access to the players' tunnel, locker rooms, and VIP rooms.

Details of interest

• Price: from €20 per person.
• Hours: every day from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• Duration: approximately two and a half hours.
• What's usually included: skip-the-line access, tour guide, admission to Estádio da Luz and the Benfica Museum.

If the bad weather continues, you can look for alternatives such as buying tickets for the Monet and Klimt exhibition. It is an immersive activity that will not leave you indifferent, with 360º exhibitions inspired by the works of the 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: enjoy the exhibition and get access to the floating platform at Lisbon's Mãe d'Água.
• Reduced admission: special prices are offered for residents, children, seniors, and family combos.

Details of interest

• Price: from €16 per person.
• Duration: 30 minutes to two hours.
• Hours: every day from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
• What's usually included: skip-the-line access and admission to temporary exhibitions. Access to the floating platform is usually only included with Premium tickets.

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

It is divided into 11 themed rooms and is easy to enjoy a tour. During the visit, you can discover the history of the museum and anecdotes about local developments. You will also understand the relationship between Portugal and Brazil in the context of the Portuguese Empire. When you buy tickets for the Royal Treasury Museum, you can even learn about the oldest rituals of the monarchy, such as:

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

Details of interest

• Price: from €11 per person.
• Duration: between one and two hours.
• Hours: every day from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• What's usually included: audio guide.

You can fly over Lisbon in a virtual reality experience so that the rain doesn't interrupt your itinerary. You'll climb onto a self-propelled hydraulic platform that offers real images of the city, taken with a high-tech drone. As the tour progresses, monuments such as the Belém Tower, Commerce Square, Christ the King, and the 25 de Abril Bridge will appear.

You will even leave Lisbon and discover everything there is to see and do in Sintra, as the simulation takes you past the romantic Pena Palace and Quinta da Regaleira. It's as much fun as climbing into a helicopter or hot air balloon, but much cheaper. What's more, the experience is not limited to seeing, you can also feel the twists and turns, changes in weather, and aromas that characterize these places.

Details of interest

• 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.