10 Things to Do in Lisbon in March

If you’ve decided to visit Lisbon in March, you probably already know that it’s a great month to welcome spring, which arrives a little early in the Portuguese capital, allowing you to enjoy rising temperatures starting at the beginning of the month. Beyond the good weather, March is a month when culture also flourishes in Lisbon.

I’ve compiled the activities in Lisbon that catch my eye the most, so you can combine the city’s springtime charm with its more cultural and modern side.

Every morning on March 28, just like the rest of Europe, Lisbon and Portugal change their clocks to adjust for daylight saving time. What does this mean? It means that on the 28th, the day will have an extra hour of daylight that you can use to extend your traditional boat ride on the Tagus River. Trust me, there’s no better plan than enjoying an extra hour watching the sunset over Lisbon.

In addition to watching the sunset as you glide along the river, you’ll pass by the city’s most iconic landmarks. From aboard the cruise ship or sailboat, you’ll be able to see the Tower of Belém, the 25 de Abril Bridge, and the Cristo Rei statue. Plus, these tours usually have a small capacity, which is perfect for clearly hearing the guide’s explanations and enjoying a more relaxed atmosphere.

At other times of the year, when night falls earlier, these cruises aren’t as enjoyable, since it gets dark quickly and, by the time you disembark, it’s too late to do anything else. However, if you go after the time change, you can make the most of the last hours of daylight in Lisbon and then embark on this sunset cruise.

One of Lisbon’s greatest attractions is the art of its tiles. Never seen them before? Once you arrive in the city, you’ll have no choice but to appreciate them, as they adorn every corner. With their colors, shapes, and designs, they tell stories—which is why Lisbon has been recognized as the World Capital of Tiles. The spring sun that arrives in March casts a unique light that lets you admire their colors in a truly beautiful and romantic way.

The tiles are always there, of course, but in March the light is different and fills the city with a special glow and energy—that’s why I love this time of year for exploring the Alfama neighborhood. This area is one of the most traditional and, in my opinion, the one with the houses featuring the most beautiful tiles. However, the entire city is full of color on its facades, so be sure to take a tour of the whole city.

You don’t have to wait until summer for your first swim of the year, do you think? If you’re visiting Lisbon in March, you can also do so in Sintra, a city designated a World Heritage Site. Aside from the Pena Palace, its major tourist attraction, Sintra is a place where the nice weather arriving at the end of this month encourages you to take a dip at its natural beaches.

My advice is that if you’re staying in Lisbon for more than a day, book an organized tour to Sintra and take a trip there to explore it, since it’s only half an hour away. You won’t regret it, I promise; its natural and architectural beauty have made it a unique vacation destination that you can enjoy as soon as the temperatures start to rise.

Its beaches

Praia Grande is wild and has big, powerful waves, so you might not feel like swimming, but you might want to rent some surf gear and give the sport a try. However, there is a more sheltered and protected swimming area. What you might not have imagined is that the sand here contains dinosaur footprints dating back over 110 million years.

Much better for swimming, Praia da Adraga surprises with its crystal-clear waters and a stretch of fine sand perfect for walking or lying down to soak up the first rays of spring sunshine. The best part is that, since it’s not peak season, you’ll have almost the entire beach to yourself.

Pena Palace

Did you know that the Pena Palace is the most visited site in Portugal? That’s right, and it’s no surprise because its history and architecture are well worth a visit. The best part is that it’s situated on high ground, so from there you can see the coast and the city of Sintra spread out below you.

The most impressive feature is the building’s design, which combines romantic, baroque, and even Mudejar elements with other, much more traditional Portuguese features, such as the azulejos. However, to me, the truly beautiful part is its exterior, where in March you can see a blooming botanical garden.

January and February in Lisbon bring a lot of rain, so hiking trails tend to take a backseat among Lisbon’s plans. However, March marks the start of the season when you can go out for a walk and explore Lisbon’s more natural surroundings, such as Arrábida and the west coast.

The hike along Lisbon’s west coast isn’t short, especially if you want to explore it thoroughly. I recommend setting aside at least half a day for the trip, but the route is fairly easy, as it’s mostly flat and runs along the Lisbon coast. The best part of this hiking excursion is the beauty of the landscape.

You’ll get to explore Lisbon’s wild beaches and see fossilized remains of the creatures that once inhabited the area. You can also take a trip to Arrábida and Sesimbra from Lisbon with a kayak tour or even this private wine and food tour to Arrábida from Lisbon.

With the arrival of good weather comes the season for terraces in Lisbon, which typically remain closed until March due to the city’s constant winter rains—a climate that doesn’t encourage locals to enjoy a drink or a snack outdoors. However, as the weather improves, you can join in the Lisbon lifestyle and spend the afternoon at one of the many terraces that dot the city, offering views from above.

Don’t assume that all of Lisbon’s terraces are at street level. In fact, you might be surprised to find that in March they’re still a bit empty. That’s normal—most people prefer to go to bars whose terraces are on the rooftops of buildings. As you’re probably already imagining, the views are much better—and so is the atmosphere.

While the terraces and rooftops in the traditional neighborhoods have a certain charm, you can also find some that are more modern and have a more alternative vibe. My advice is to take a food tour of Lisbon to discover the most historic spots.

There’s one event you can’t miss if you’re visiting Lisbon in March: Monstra, the city’s animation film festival. Since 2000, this film festival has celebrated animation through premieres as well as workshops and lectures. It’s a true national landmark!

With over 20 editions under its belt, through films, masterclasses, and conferences, the organizers have managed year after year to highlight the power this medium has to convey emotions.

If you’re traveling to Lisbon with children, know that they’ll really enjoy this festival. Not all the films are suitable for them, but in general, they always find it fascinating to see the advancements in digital animation, visit the exhibitions, or try to guess which films will win in the different categories of the competition.

When you arrive in Lisbon, you’ll realize it has become a modern, inclusive, and youthful city. In fact, the LGTBI Film Festival takes place in March. I highly recommend attending, as it will help you broaden your perspective and open your mind even further. Since its first edition in 2004, this festival has sought to shed light on the realities of people in the community.

The festival was created with the goal of sparking discussions, and that’s exactly what happens after each film screening. The truth is that it’s a fantastic opportunity to return from your trip to Lisbon with many new ideas and having encountered different perspectives.

Additionally, the films are often directed by fairly young Portuguese artists, so you have no excuse not to get to know Lisbon’s most current culture better while broadening your horizons and helping to give voice to their realities.

Do you like festivals? I’m sure you’d love to go to one, but I’m suggesting something much more interesting and unique: going to a festival about festivals. Because yes, that’s exactly what the Lisbon International Music Festivals Forum is all about—every March, it brings together experts in the field, organizes film screenings, and connects festival lovers. Are you going to miss it?

Lisbon is a city where music matters, and in fact, when summer arrives in Lisbon, there are several festivals throughout the city. Perhaps for this reason, there’s no better place to host Talkfest, where you can learn a lot about them—from the scientific side (even if that sounds odd) to the most creative aspects.

Honestly, it’s a real treat to get an inside look at how a festival works by listening to industry professionals, attending exhibitions, and even watching a documentary. Of course, there will be more than one concert, and you’ll also have the chance to discover the best festivals, as the forum will be awarding prizes to the most outstanding ones in various categories.

What’s happening on March 20? If, like me, you’re not too fond of the cold, you surely know the answer: spring is here! And with it come the flowers and lush greenery in Lisbon’s gardens and parks. How could you miss it? If you’re traveling to the Portuguese capital in late March, get ready to see its green spaces in full bloom.

Having a spring picnic is one of my favorite things to do wherever I am, but if the setting is one of Lisbon’s parks, I’m even more set on it. Like you, you’ll see that many families and groups of friends have decided to organize a picnic or simply visit one of the gardens. Let me tell you which ones are my favorites!

Eduardo VII Park

Everyone will recommend that you visit Eduardo VII Park. I particularly love it for its vastness; it feels like the green grass goes on forever. Plus, there you’ll find the Estufa Fría, a greenhouse spanning over a hectare that uses no modern climate control systems—just a wooden framework. Inside, you can get a close-up look at tropical plants like mangoes and camellias.

On the other hand, this park is also home to one of the best viewpoints over Lisbon. From there, you can see the Arrábida mountain range in the distance on a clear day. In any case, you’ll have incredible panoramic views of the city’s hills and gardens.

Near Graça

When spring arrives at this esplanade, greenery takes over everything. Additionally, 180 trees have been planted here over the past few years, so if you’re looking for some shade on a sunny March day, you’ll find it here.

Right in the heart of Lisbon’s historic center, this park features a large picnic area. I encourage you to grab some food and head there one afternoon to relax after a full day of walking around Lisbon.

Monsanto Forest Park

The largest in the city and so impressive that it’s a protected forest. That means it’s the ideal place to understand the importance of ecology and the environment around us. I recommend spending at least a full afternoon exploring its ecosystems and, while not all of them, at least part of its 900 hectares.

Don’t be surprised to see squirrels or rabbits hopping around you, as there are many species living in the park and, just like you, they come out to celebrate as soon as spring arrives.

I know St. Patrick’s Day is an Irish holiday, but did you know that the Portuguese also have Celtic origins? This shared heritage, along with the fact that they share the Atlantic Ocean (and good diplomatic relations), means that Lisbon is filled with green and beer on March 17, the day St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated. Of course, if you’ll be there on that date, get ready to have a great time and raise plenty of toasts.

St. Patrick’s Day is a special date for Irish people all over the world, which is why cities like Lisbon also turn green. In fact, in recent years the city’s most important landmarks have literally done so, as local institutions have sought to support this holiday by projecting green light onto the Cristo Rei statue, for example.

Beyond the lights, Lisbon’s nightlife—always lively—celebrates St. Patrick’s Day with the best pints of beer. If you don’t want to wait until dark, you can check out the activities organized during the day, such as Irish poetry readings or concerts.

Spring may officially begin on March 20, but in Lisbon, rising temperatures start to be noticeable from the beginning of the month. The average temperature is 18°C, and the rain forecast is quite favorable (only about 10 rainy days a month), so it’s common for more and more Lisboners to head out to enjoy the city’s outdoor areas.

For me, March is one of the best months to visit Lisbon because of the nice weather and the fact that, little by little, the days are getting longer, so you can make the most of them.

Since the high season hasn’t started yet, March is fairly quiet. That said, with the mild temperatures of the month and the arrival of spring, you’ll find many more people out on the streets.

The lower number of tourists means that flight and accommodation prices haven’t yet reached the peak they experience starting in April, when the Easter holidays and then the summer holidays attract many travelers to Lisbon. So if you’re looking to save money on your trip without having to give up the nice weather, March is a highly recommended month to visit Lisbon.

What are your plans for your trip to Lisbon in March? I hope I’ve given you some ideas—let me know how it goes when you get back!