At a Glance
Compared to this destination's peak season
Lisbon in March — Travel Guide
By Harry Nara · Last updated
Lisbon in March offers some of the best conditions of the year, ideal for early-spring travellers. Expect temperatures of 11–19°C, around 8 days of rain, and low-medium crowds across the city. Daily budgets typically land around €55–125 for mid-range travellers. Rooms are easy to find last-minute and hotel prices stay noticeably softer through the season.
Contents14 sections
#Weather & Climate
March is when Lisbon's grey winter genuinely lifts. Daily highs climb from around 14°C in the first week to 19°C by month-end; overnight lows hold at 9-13°C. Rainfall drops sharply from winter levels (about 50mm spread across 7-9 wet days), and the long Atlantic-low cloud sequences of January and February break into bright sunny stretches. Mid-to-late March often delivers consecutive 19-21°C afternoon days that feel genuinely summery in the city's south-facing miradouros, and the first reliable beach afternoons appear at Costa da Caparica (sea temperature still cold at ~15°C, air temperature comfortable).
The clocks spring forward on Sunday March 29, 2026 (the last Sunday of March), suddenly extending evening daylight from sunset around 6:50pm to past 8pm. The shift coincides with Palm Sunday this year, doubling the change in the city's energy.
#What's Changed for 2026/2027 Travellers
A handful of post-2024 changes affect every March visitor.
- Lisbon City Tax doubled to €4 per night. Since September 1, 2024, every visitor 13+ pays €4 per person per night (up from €2). 7-night cap means the maximum charge is €28 per person per trip. Most booking sites don't include this in their displayed price; pay at hotel checkout. Source: Lisbon City Council via Locke Living.
- Airbnb / Alojamento Local rules tightened. The 2023 Mais Habitação law established containment zones in Alfama, Bairro Alto, Mouraria, and Madragoa where new short-term rental (AL) licences are frozen. Existing Airbnb stock has shrunk and prices have risen ~20% since 2024. Hotel inventory is growing instead. Source: Hostaway 2026 compliance guide.
- Lisbon Airport (LIS) is approaching capacity. Reported 4-hour security queues for non-Schengen departures during peak periods. The new Aeroporto Luís de Camões at Alcochete was approved late 2025 with ground-breaking 2030 and opening late 2036, but for now LIS remains the only option. Source: The Portugal Post.
- EDP Lisbon Half Marathon falls Sunday March 8, 2026. 35,000 runners plus spectators flood central Lisbon. Hotel rates spike for the weekend; road closures restrict Belém and 25 de Abril Bridge access. Plan accordingly.
#Getting Around
Lisbon Airport (LIS) is 20 minutes from the centre via the Metro red line (€1.65), Aerobus (€4), or taxi/Uber (€12-18). The Metro is reliably fastest and cheapest.
Arrive 3 hours early for non-Schengen flights in 2026; the airport's 4-hour security queues during peak departure windows are a real risk.
In the city, the Viva Viagem card with Zapping balance works for short stays (€0.50 card fee).
The Lisbon Card (24h €22 / 48h €37 / 72h €46) covers all metro/bus/tram/train including Sintra, plus free entry to most major museums.
Tram 28 from Martim Moniz through Alfama starts to fill on weekends but weekday mornings before 10am remain peaceful.
The Cais do Sodré train to Cascais (€2.40) and the Rossio train to Sintra (€2.40) take 40 minutes each. Both are at their loveliest in March.
#Activities
Lisbon Half Marathon Weekend (March 6-8, 2026)
The 35th edition of the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon takes over central Lisbon on Sunday March 8, 2026. The route is one of the world's most photogenic: 35,000 runners cross the 25 de Abril Bridge (closed to cars for the morning), descend along the Tagus, and finish at the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos in Belém. Source: Running Portugal official.
Even if you're not running, the impact on March 6-8 is real:
- Friday-Saturday March 6-7: Sport Expo and kit pickup at Centro de Congressos de Lisboa (Junqueira). Worth a visit even as a non-participant: running brands, free samples, race-day buzz.
- Sunday March 8 morning: 25 de Abril Bridge closed to traffic from ~7am to 1pm. Belém access restricted. Don't try to visit Jerónimos or the Pastéis de Belém before noon.
- Sunday March 8 afternoon: the post-race city is electric. Cafés along Avenida da Liberdade and in Príncipe Real fill with finishers in foil blankets.
- Hotel rates for the March 6-8 weekend spike 30-50% above the monthly baseline. Book by January for these dates.
Holy Week and Palm Sunday in Alfama (March 29 – April 5, 2026)
Holy Week begins on Palm Sunday, March 29, 2026 and runs through Easter Sunday, April 5. While Easter itself falls in April this year, the late-March ramp-up is genuine.
The signature Lisbon procession is the Procissão do Senhor dos Passos (Procession of the Lord of the Steps) at Igreja de São Roque in Bairro Alto, running on Palm Sunday afternoon and again on Good Friday. Statues representing scenes from the Passion are carried through the steep streets of Bairro Alto and into Alfama.
The historic neighbourhoods of Alfama and Mouraria are particularly atmospheric in Holy Week. Even outside the formal processions, you'll see palm fronds tied to balconies, candlelit altars in small chapels, and slow traditional family meals at neighbourhood tascas.
If you're visiting in 2027, Easter Sunday is March 28. The entire Easter weekend falls in March that year, so plan accordingly.
Sintra in March: The Misty Window
Sintra's March is genuinely better than its peak summer. The cool, often misty mornings (Sintra sits at altitude, regularly 4-6°C cooler than central Lisbon) suit the romantic Gothic atmosphere of Pena Palace perfectly. Photographs through fog of the palace's red and yellow towers are the iconic Sintra image; you won't get them in July's blue-sky tourist crush.
A full-day plan:
- 8:30am: Train from Rossio (€2.40, 40 min)
- 9:30am: Bus 434 to Pena Palace (€14, book ahead via parquesdesintra.pt for a Tuesday-Thursday morning slot)
- 12:30pm: Quinta da Regaleira (€15) with the famous Initiation Well
- 2pm: Late lunch at Tacho Real in old Sintra (Portuguese, €18-25 mains)
- 3:30pm: Monserrate Palace gardens (€10), far less crowded than Pena
- 6pm: Train back to Lisbon for dinner
Tram 28 Through Alfama (Before 10am)
Lisbon's iconic yellow Tram 28 runs from Martim Moniz through Alfama, Graça, and Estrela. The full ride takes about 60 minutes, but the visually rich Alfama section — Largo das Portas do Sol, the Sé Cathedral curve, the Miradouro de Santa Luzia — runs in the first 20 minutes.
Ride before 10am on a weekday for an empty tram and good light. By 11am the queues at Martim Moniz reach 30-45 minutes, the tram is standing-room-only, and pickpocket risk is genuinely elevated.
Belém: Pastéis, Mosteiro, Tower (Avoid Sunday March 8)
The Belém district is at its loveliest in March.
Pastéis de Belém (the original 1837 bakery, €1.40 per tart) has manageable 15-20 minute queues.
The riverside walk between the Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (€12) and the Torre de Belém (€8) is perfect in the longer evening light from late March.
The MAAT modern art museum (€11) is an underrated indoor option with free riverside terrace access.
Calouste Gulbenkian + Príncipe Real Walk
The Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (€10) houses one of Europe's finest private art collections (Egyptian to Impressionist) in a modernist garden setting. March light through the lake-side sculptures is exceptional.
From Gulbenkian, walk south to Príncipe Real: stop at Embaixada (concept store in a Moorish palace) and A Vida Portuguesa for design shopping.
End the afternoon at Park Bar rooftop in Bairro Alto (Calçada do Combro 58, atop a multi-storey car park). The terrace opens its outdoor section on warm March afternoons; sunset across the river is one of Lisbon's underrated views.
#Food & Dining
March is the start of Lisbon's spring vegetable season. Fresh fava beans, the first asparagus, and early artichokes appear at Mercado da Ribeira (Time Out Market) and the smaller neighbourhood mercados (Mercado de Arroios, Mercado de Campo de Ourique).
Cervejaria Ramiro (Av. Almirante Reis 1) is the city's mandatory shellfish institution at €25-40 per person for a stack of percebes (gooseneck barnacles), camarão tigre, and lagostim. Walk-in is genuinely possible in March (versus 90-minute waits in summer); arrive at 7pm or 9:30pm.
Time Out Market at Cais do Sodré has 30+ chef stalls (€8-18 per dish) and remains the easiest entry point to the modern Lisbon food scene.
Solar dos Presuntos for traditional Portuguese (bacalhau à brás, arroz de pato, €18-28).
A Cevicheria in Príncipe Real for Peruvian-Portuguese fusion (€15-25).
For pastéis de nata: Pastéis de Belém (the heritage 1837 bakery, €1.40 each) versus Manteigaria (multiple locations, €1.30, hot from the oven every 5 minutes). Both are excellent; locals are split. Try both.
For fado dinner: Mesa de Frades in Alfama is the most atmospheric option (former tile-lined chapel, €45-80pp including dinner).
Tasca do Chico in Bairro Alto is the no-cover walk-in alternative; buy drinks, listen to amateur and semi-professional fadistas through the night.
Belcanto (José Avillez, two Michelin stars) is Lisbon's tasting-menu peak. 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 (decadent old brothel-turned-bar), Sol e Pesca (canned fish and beer), and the bars along Pink Street.
St Patrick's Day on Tuesday March 17, 2026 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 drinks from 4pm. Note: this is a Tuesday in 2026, so the lead-in weekend (March 14-15) sees most of the celebration.
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 is the no-cover walk-in option; Mesa de Frades is the atmospheric reservation.
#Shopping
The end-of-saldos sales arrive by mid-March, with winter stock thin but final markdowns hitting up to 70% at department stores like El Corte Inglés and FNAC. New spring collections arrive at independent boutiques in Chiado and Príncipe Real through the second half of the month.
A Vida Portuguesa for curated Portuguese gifts (soaps, ceramics, sardine tins).
Embaixada in Príncipe Real for independent designers.
Feira da Ladra flea market (Tuesday and Saturday mornings at Campo de Santa Clara) for vintage tiles, antiques, and old fado records.
Cortiço & Netos in Intendente for authentic discontinued Portuguese azulejo (tile) stock from the 1950s-1970s.
A Outra Face da Lua for vintage clothing in Baixa.
Manteigaria sells boxes of pastéis de nata to take home (€7.50 for six). They survive 24-hour flights better than Belém's heritage version.
#Culture & Etiquette
- The clocks spring forward on Sunday March 29, 2026 (the last Sunday of March, also Palm Sunday this year). Suddenly evening light extends to 8pm.
- St Patrick's Day is celebrated in expat-friendly bars, not as a Portuguese tradition. Don't expect Portuguese friends to wear green.
- Holy Week (March 29 – April 5 in 2026): family-focused. Many smaller restaurants close on Easter Sunday (April 5). Book Easter Sunday lunch in advance if eating out.
- Greetings: handshake with strangers, or one kiss on each cheek (right then left) between friends. Two kisses, never one.
- Lunch is the main meal (1-3pm). Many traditional restaurants close between lunch and dinner (3-7pm).
- Tipping: round up or 5-10% in restaurants. €1 per drink at a bar.
- Couvert charges (bread, olives, cheese at the start of a meal) are not free. €2-6 per person typical.
- The Lisbon City Tax (€4 per person per night, 7-night cap) is paid at hotel checkout. Children under 13 exempt.
#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 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 |
| Não obrigado | No thank you | Declining the couvert |
#Packing List
- Light waterproof jacket; March still averages 7-9 wet days
- Layers (mornings 10°C, afternoons 18-19°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 everywhere
- Power adapter (Type F European two-pin)
- Extra €30-40 cash budget for the city tax (€4/night × stay) and couvert charges
#Backup Plans
If the Half Marathon weekend disrupts your plans (March 6-8, 2026): Avoid Belém Sunday morning.
Use the day for Sintra (the train still runs from Rossio), the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, the Museu Nacional do Azulejo, or the Cascais coast train (€2.40, 40 min) for a quiet seaside afternoon.
If it rains (likely on 7-9 of the month's days): Lisbon's indoor culture is exceptional.
Calouste Gulbenkian Museum (€10), Museu Nacional do Azulejo (€8), MAAT in Belém (€11), Coach Museum (€8), and Museu Nacional de Arte Antiga (€6) are all rewarding and uncrowded.
Time Out Market for a long lazy lunch.
Cinemateca Portuguesa for repertory films (€4-5).
Estufa Fria (Parque Eduardo VII greenhouse, €3.10) for a tropical-conservatory escape.
LX Factory in Alcântara is mostly covered and works as a rainy-afternoon hangout.
If you wanted Easter in Lisbon and it's 2026: Easter Sunday falls on April 5, so push your dates to early April. Or look at Easter 2027 (Sunday March 28) for a March-Easter trip.
#Budget & Costs
March is one of Lisbon's best-value months, with shoulder-season weather at shoulder-season pricing. Half Marathon weekend (March 6-8) and Holy Week (March 29 – April 5) are the only meaningful spikes.
Budget travellers: ~€55-95/day. Hostels run €18-32/night, set-menu lunches €8-12, Time Out Market dishes €8-14, transit Viva Viagem €5-7/day, casual dinners €15-25.
Mid-range: ~€110-170/day. Three-star hotels run €70-120/night, restaurant dinners €25-40, museum entries €8-22, Sintra day trip €30-40.
Comfortable / 4-star: ~€210-330/day. Four-star hotels €130-230/night, fine-dining mains €35-60, rooftop drinks €10-15.
Specific costs for 2026: City tax €4/night per person (7-night cap = €28 max), pastel de nata €1.30-1.40, bica (espresso) €0.80-1.20, bifana sandwich €2.50-4, Castelo de São Jorge €15, Mosteiro dos Jerónimos €12, Lisbon Card 48h €37, Belcanto tasting menu €185+. Half Marathon weekend hotels spike 30-50%; book by January for those dates.
#Safety & Health
Lisbon is one of Europe's safer cities and March is one of its safer months.
Pickpocket activity stays moderate but the same hot spots apply: Tram 28 at peak hours, Santa Justa lift queue, Rossio, the Metro red line from the airport. Wear bags cross-body, keep phones in zipped pockets.
The friendship bracelet and rosemary scams still operate at miradouros (Miradouro de Santa Luzia, Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara) and Praça do Comércio. The friendship bracelet is tied to your wrist before you can refuse, then payment demanded. The rosemary sprig is offered, then a "donation" requested. Politely walk past anyone offering either.
Wet calçada cobblestones remain Lisbon's most underrated injury risk. The Portuguese stone pavement is slick when wet, and Lisbon's hills compound the risk. Wear shoes with proper grip; avoid leather soles in rain.
Pollen allergies start to appear in late March (olive, plane tree, grass). Pharmacies (green cross) sell antihistamines over the counter.
Tap water is safe to drink everywhere in Lisbon. Bottled water is common at restaurants but never necessary.
Emergency: 112 (operators speak English). Pharmacies run a 24-hour rota; the on-duty pharmacy is posted on the door of every closed one.
Travel insurance is recommended for all visitors. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC) covers EU/UK travellers for state emergency care.
#About This Guide
Research for this guide combined first-hand traveller reports from r/Portugal, r/PortugalExpats, and Tripadvisor's Lisbon forum threads with primary sources: Idealista PT for Easter 2026 dates and Holy Week traditions, PublicHolidays.pt for Easter 2026/2027 calendar, Running Portugal for the EDP Lisbon Half Marathon March 8 2026 dates and route, Locke Living for the Lisbon City Tax €4 doubling in September 2024, The Portugal Post for 2026 Lisbon Airport queue reality, Hostaway for 2026 Alojamento Local containment-zone rules, and Parques de Sintra for Pena Palace booking and pricing. Climate figures use Instituto Português do Mar e da Atmosfera (IPMA) 1991-2020 normals.
This guide is reviewed twice yearly, ahead of and after Easter.
Last reviewed: May 2026. Next scheduled review: November 2026. If you spot something out of date, email contact@when-to-wander.com and we'll correct it.
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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.
How much does it cost to visit Lisbon in March?
Budget-conscious travellers can expect daily costs of €55–125, covering accommodation, food, and local transport. Quieter periods usually push prices toward the lower end of this range.