At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season
Lisbon in March — Travel Guide
#At a Glance
March marks the start of Lisbon's spring — and the start of the city's best six-week stretch. Temperatures climb from a 10°C morning to an 18°C afternoon by month-end, rainfall drops sharply from winter levels (51mm across 7 wet days), and outdoor café terraces start filling up. Daylight stretches from 11h45 at the start of the month to 12h45 by month-end (and the clocks spring forward in late March, suddenly giving Lisbon long evening light). The big dates are St Patrick's Day on March 17 (lively in Cais do Sodré's Irish pubs) and the possibility of Easter in late March, which spikes Sintra and the city's heritage hotels for that single week. Tourist numbers are still well below the June peak, hotel rates are 25–35% below summer high season, and the city has a noticeably warmer mood than January and February.
#Weather & Climate
March averages 10–18°C with about 7 wet days and 51mm of rain — visibly drier than the wet winter months. The first week typically still feels like late winter (10–16°C, occasional rain); by mid-month, afternoon temperatures push consistently into the high teens; by the final week, dry sunny days at 19–21°C are common. Mid-to-late March sees the first reliable beach days at Costa da Caparica — sea temperature is still cold (15°C) but air temperature is comfortable. Daylight savings time begins on the last Sunday of March, suddenly lengthening evenings.
#Getting Around
Arriving: Lisbon Airport, 20 minutes from the centre. Metro red line €1.65, Aerobus €4, taxi/Uber €12–18. Slightly busier than January–February but still light.
In the city: Viva Viagem card with Zapping for short stays. Lisbon Card (24h €22, 48h €37, 72h €46) for museum-heavy trips.
Tram 28 starts to fill on weekends but weekday mornings remain peaceful — ride it before 10am.
The Cais do Sodré train to Cascais (€2.40) is at its loveliest — calm sea, clear light, fewer crowds than April–May.
The Rossio train to Sintra (€2.40) takes 40 minutes; book Pena Palace timed entry online to skip queues.
#Top Activities
Solo Travellers
Take Tram 28 from Martim Moniz through Alfama in early-morning light (8–9am, before the crowds).
Climb to Castelo de São Jorge (€15) for the city's best panorama. Walk the Calçada do Combro across into Príncipe Real, stopping at Embaixada (concept store in a Moorish palace) and A Vida Portuguesa.
Spend the afternoon at the Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (€10) and its gardens — March light is perfect for photographing the modernist sculptures along the lake.
End with fado at Tasca do Chico in Bairro Alto (no cover, just buy drinks).
Couples
March is one of the best months for Sintra — cool, often misty, romantic, and uncrowded. Spend a full day: train from Rossio (€2.40), then bus 434 up to Pena Palace (€14, book ahead), Quinta da Regaleira (€15) with its famous Initiation Well, and a late lunch at Tacho Real in old Sintra.
Back in Lisbon, dinner at Cervejaria Ramiro (shellfish institution, €25–40pp) or Mesa de Frades for fado dinner in a former tile-lined chapel (€45–80pp).
End with golden-hour drinks at Park Bar rooftop in Bairro Alto.
Families
Belém district is at its loveliest in March — Pastéis de Belém has manageable queues (15–20 minutes), the riverside walk between the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (€12) and the Torre de Belém (€8) is perfect in the longer evening light.
The Oceanário de Lisboa (€22 adult, €14 child) and the adjoining Pavilhão do Conhecimento science museum (€11/€7) at Parque das Nações reliably fill rainy days.
The Jardim Zoológico (€22.50/€17) reopens to good weather and is a half-day.
For active kids, Costa da Caparica beaches on a sunny weekend afternoon are warm enough for walks and sandcastles.
Groups
St Patrick's Day on March 17 turns Cais do Sodré into a pub crawl — Hennessy's, O'Gilins, and The George all run live Celtic music, Guinness promotions, and green-dyed everything from 4pm.
Earlier in the day, LX Factory in Alcântara is a perfect group lunch and shopping stop.
Time Out Market is at its busiest yet of the year but still manageable.
For nightlife, Pink Street and Lux Frágil run full schedules. The end of March brings the first warm enough evenings for rooftop drinking at Topo Chiado (Largo do Carmo) and Park Bar.
#Food & Dining
March is the start of the spring vegetable season at Lisbon's markets — fresh fava beans, asparagus, and the first artichokes appear at Mercado da Ribeira and the smaller neighbourhood mercados.
Cervejaria Ramiro (Av. Almirante Reis) — much easier to walk into than April onwards.
Time Out Market with 30+ chef stalls (€8–18 per dish).
Solar dos Presuntos for traditional Portuguese — bacalhau à brás and arroz de pato (€18–28).
A Cevicheria in Príncipe Real for Peruvian-Portuguese fusion.
Pastéis de Belém original 1837 bakery (€1.40 a tart).
Manteigaria for the city's other top contender.
Pastelaria Versailles (Saldanha) for the belle-époque café experience.
Belcanto (José Avillez, two Michelin stars) — book 6+ weeks ahead, tasting menus from €185.
#Nightlife
March nightlife picks up noticeably from February.
Bairro Alto weekends are visibly busier; weekday nights still calmer than summer.
Cais do Sodré stays consistent year-round: Pensão Amor, Sol e Pesca, Pink Street.
Park Bar rooftop in Bairro Alto starts opening its outdoor section on warm March nights.
Lux Frágil runs major club nights through March (€10–15 cover).
For fado, Tasca do Chico (no cover, Bairro Alto) is the most accessible; Mesa de Frades (Alfama, €45+ dinner) the most atmospheric.
#Shopping
The end of the saldos sales arrives by mid-March — stock is thin but final markdowns can hit 70%. New spring collections arrive at independent boutiques in Chiado and Príncipe Real.
A Vida Portuguesa for curated Portuguese gifts.
Embaixada for independent designers in a Moorish palace.
Feira da Ladra flea market (Tuesday/Saturday mornings) for vintage tiles and antiques.
Manteigaria for boxes of pastéis de nata to take home.
Cortiço & Netos in Intendente for authentic discontinued azulejo stock.
A Outra Face da Lua for vintage clothing.
#Culture & Etiquette
- The clocks spring forward on the last Sunday of March — suddenly evening light extends to 8pm.
- St Patrick's Day is celebrated in expat-friendly bars, not as a Portuguese tradition.
- Easter, when it falls in March, is family-focused — many smaller restaurants close on Easter Sunday.
- Greetings: handshake, or one kiss on each cheek (right then left) between friends.
- Lunch is the main meal (1–3pm); many restaurants close between lunch and dinner.
- Tipping: round up or 5–10% in restaurants.
- Couvert charges (bread, olives, cheese at the start of a meal) are not free — €2–6pp.
#Essential Local Phrases
| Portuguese | English | When you'll use it |
|---|---|---|
| Bom dia | Good morning | Mornings before noon |
| Boa tarde | Good afternoon | After lunch until dusk |
| Obrigado / Obrigada | Thank you (m/f) | Standard thank you |
| Por favor | Please | Asking for anything |
| Está aberto? | Is it open? | Restaurants and shops in shoulder months |
| Faz favor | Excuse me / waiter | Getting attention politely |
| Quanto custa? | How much? | Markets, taxis, shops |
| A conta, por favor | The bill, please | Restaurants |
#Packing List
- Light waterproof jacket — March still averages 7 wet days
- Layers — mornings 10°C, afternoons 18°C
- Comfortable walking shoes with grip — calçada cobblestones are slippery when wet
- Sunglasses — March light is sharp
- Light scarf for early mornings and evenings
- Smart-casual outfit for fado houses or rooftop bars
- Compact umbrella
- Reusable water bottle — Lisbon tap water is safe
- Adapter (Type F European two-pin)
#Backup Plans (Rainy Days)
March still has rainy days, and Lisbon's indoor culture is exceptional.
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (€10), Museu Nacional do Azulejo (€8), MAAT in Belém (€11), Coach Museum (€8), Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (€6) — all rewarding and uncrowded.
Time Out Market for a lazy lunch.
Cinema São Jorge and Cinemateca Portuguesa for repertory films (€4–5).
Estufa Fria (Parque Eduardo VII greenhouse, €3.10) for a tropical escape.
LX Factory is mostly covered and works as a rainy-day hangout.
#Budget & Costs
March is one of Lisbon's best-value months — shoulder-season rates with spring weather.
Budget: hostels €18–32/night — €55–95/day.
Mid-range: 3-star hotel €70–120/night — €110–170/day.
Comfortable: 4-star €130–230/night — €210–330/day. Easter week (when it falls in March) sharply spikes hotels and Sintra rentals — book 6+ weeks ahead. Specific costs: pastel de nata €1.40. Bica €0.80–1.20. Bifana €2.50–4. Time Out Market dish €8–14. Lisbon Card 48h €37. Sintra day trip €30–40. Castelo de São Jorge €15. Mosteiro dos Jerónimos €12.
#Safety & Health
March is one of Lisbon's safer months — pickpocket activity stays moderate but the same hot spots apply: Tram 28, Santa Justa lift queue, Rossio, the airport metro. The friendship bracelet and rosemary scams still operate at miradouros and Praça do Comércio.
Wet calçada cobblestones remain the biggest underrated injury risk. Pollen allergies start to appear in late March; pharmacies sell antihistamines over the counter. Tap water everywhere is safe to drink.
Emergency: 112 (operators speak English). Pharmacies (green cross) run a 24-hour rota — the on-duty pharmacy is posted on the door of every closed one.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the weather like in March in Lisbon?
March is the start of Lisbon's spring — temperatures climb from 10°C mornings to 18°C afternoons, rainfall drops sharply from winter levels (51mm across 7 wet days), and the city feels visibly warmer by the end of the month. Daylight hours extend from 11h45 to 12h45 by month-end, and outdoor café terraces start filling up. Mid-to-late March sees the first reliable beach days at Costa da Caparica.
Does Lisbon celebrate St Patrick's Day?
Irish pubs across Cais do Sodré (Hennessy's, O'Gilins) and Bairro Alto host St Patrick's celebrations on March 17, with Guinness promotions, live Celtic music, and green-dyed drinks. It's a smaller affair than Dublin or Chicago but the expat crowd turns it into a genuine pub crawl. Cais do Sodré bars fill from 8pm onwards.
Is Easter in March in Lisbon?
Easter can fall in late March or April depending on the year. The Portuguese Easter traditions include Via Sacra processions on Good Friday (notably in Óbidos and Braga), Folar de Páscoa sweet bread, and Easter Sunday lunch with lamb or roast kid. Lisbon Cathedral (Sé) holds the most solemn Holy Week services; the best-known processions happen in northern cities and the Alentejo.
Can I visit Sintra in March?
Yes — Sintra in March is cool, uncrowded, and often misty, which suits its romantic Gothic atmosphere perfectly. Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira (with its famous Initiation Well), the Moorish Castle, and the Monserrate gardens are all open year-round. Book Pena Palace slots online to skip queues. The train from Rossio station takes 40 minutes and costs €2.40 each way.