What to Wear in Lisbon
Before anything else, think about your soles. Lisbon's pavements are made of calçada portuguesa, small cubes of white limestone and black basalt laid in waves and patterns. They're beautiful, and they're polished smooth by centuries of feet. On a steep street, even a dry one, a flat leather sole is like walking on soap. After rain it's worse. Wear trainers or walking shoes with a rubber tread, and leave smooth sandals and heels at home.
The second thing is wind. Lisbon faces the Atlantic, and even on a hot day the breeze on the viewpoints and along the river can be cool, especially in the evening. A light layer or a thin jacket earns its place in the bag from October to May, and on summer nights at the miradouros too. In winter, add a waterproof jacket, since rain comes in hard showers, and a warm layer for indoors, because many older buildings are poorly heated.
Summer is warm but less humid than the Mediterranean, so light cotton and linen are enough. Bring a hat. Shade is scarce on the climb up to the castle, and the Belém waterfront has almost none.
Locals dress casually and neatly. Nobody will look twice at shorts, though a shirt rather than a vest is more usual in restaurants. Churches ask for covered shoulders, including the Jerónimos Monastery and the Sé cathedral, and a scarf solves that. For Sintra, pack an extra layer: the hills are several degrees cooler than Lisbon and often wrapped in mist.
Packing list
- Walking shoes with a grippy rubber sole
- A light windproof jacket or jumper
- A small umbrella or rain jacket from October to April
- Sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen from May onwards
- A scarf for churches and cool evenings
- Swimwear for Cascais or the Caparica beaches in summer
- A bag that zips shut for tram 28 and the Baixa