February keeps January’s low prices and empty monuments while adding a degree, an hour of evening light and a noticeably better chance of dry days. About 16°C, around 85 mm of rain, and Carnival on 9 February 2027 – which in Portugal means leaving Lisbon for the day if you want the real thing.
The weather, precisely
February is the point at which the Lisbon winter starts to break. Still wet, but less so than January, and the sun has enough strength by midday that a sheltered terrace in Chiado or Príncipe Real is genuinely pleasant. By the end of the month the sun sets after 18:20.
The calçada warning stands: polished limestone cobbles on steep hills, treacherous wet. Grippy shoes remain the single most useful thing you can pack.
Carnival, and why it is not in Lisbon
Entrudo – Portuguese Carnival – peaks on Shrove Tuesday, 9 February in 2027. It is widely treated as a holiday, though it is granted locally rather than being a fixed national one, so expect patchy closures rather than a shutdown.
Lisbon itself does relatively little. The celebrations worth travelling for are elsewhere, and all are day-trippable:
- Torres Vedras, about 50 km north – the most traditionally Portuguese carnival in the country, satirical and unpolished, with matrafonas and political floats.
- Sesimbra and Ovar – large, long-established parades.
- Loulé in the Algarve and Funchal in Madeira – the Brazilian-influenced, feathered end of the spectrum.
Check the parade dates before committing: most run across the weekend and Tuesday rather than on a single day.
What February is for
- Belém without the wait. Jerónimos and Belém Tower still have short queues; from March that changes. Remember that most Lisbon monuments close on Mondays.
- Sintra, still uncrowded, still wetter and mistier than the city. Take a waterproof.
- Almond blossom – not in Lisbon, but the Algarve’s almond trees flower in February and the Douro follows in March. If you are combining Lisbon with a wider Portugal trip, February is the Algarve’s prettiest inland month.
- Fado and food. Still winter cooking – cozido à portuguesa, caldo verde, salt cod every way there is.
- Prices, which stay at January levels apart from Carnival weekend.
The Atlantic in winter
The sea is 15°C and will not change materially until June. What February does bring is the best surf of the year: the winter Atlantic swell peaks in these months, and Ericeira – an hour north and a World Surfing Reserve – and Nazaré further up the coast are at their most serious. Nazaré’s giant waves are a winter phenomenon and a spectator sport; you watch them from the Forte de São Miguel Arcanjo headland.
Prices and crowds
Still low season and among the cheapest months. Carnival weekend is the exception, and it affects the towns holding parades far more than Lisbon itself. See what a trip to Portugal costs.
What to pack
Shoes with grip, a waterproof, and layers. Something warm for indoors, because Portuguese buildings are poorly insulated and central heating is far from universal. An umbrella works here – Lisbon is much less windy than northern Europe.
The February 2027 calendar
- Weekend of 6–7 February and Tuesday 9 February – Carnival parades at Torres Vedras, Sesimbra, Ovar, Loulé and Funchal. Closures in Lisbon are patchy rather than total.
- Through February – about 85 mm of rain, drier than January; low-season prices continue.
- Through February – peak Atlantic swell; Ericeira and Nazaré at their biggest.
- Through February – almond blossom in the Algarve.
- End of February – sunset after 18:20.
- No national public holidays fall in February in Portugal.
Read alongside
- Lisbon in January – wetter, cheaper, quieter still.
- Lisbon in March – the spring turn and Easter.
- Lisbon in April – Liberty Day and the best of spring.
- Best time to visit Lisbon – all twelve months compared.
- Lisbon itinerary – how to structure the days.
- Lisbon travel guide – the neighbourhoods and how they differ.
- Trip to Portugal cost – low-season numbers.
Frequently asked
How warm is Lisbon in February?
About 16°C by day and 10°C at night, with around 85 mm of rain – drier than January and with the midday sun already usable on a sheltered terrace.
When is Carnival in Portugal in 2027?
Shrove Tuesday, 9 February 2027, with parades typically running across the preceding weekend too. It is granted locally rather than as a fixed national holiday, so closures are patchy.
Where is the best Carnival near Lisbon?
Torres Vedras, about 50 km north, holds the most traditionally Portuguese carnival – satirical and unpolished. Sesimbra and Ovar are the other big mainland parades; Loulé and Funchal are the feathered, Brazilian-influenced version.
Is February a good time to visit Lisbon?
Yes, if you accept the rain risk. It keeps January’s low prices and queue-free monuments while adding light and slightly better odds of dry days.
Can you swim in Lisbon in February?
No – the Atlantic is about 15°C. It is, however, the best surfing month of the year, with the winter swell peaking at Ericeira and Nazaré.
Is it still slippery underfoot in February?
Yes. The polished calçada cobbles are hazardous whenever wet, and February is still a wet month. Grippy shoes matter more than warm ones.
Are the Lisbon monuments busy in February?
No – Jerónimos, Belém Tower and Sintra are all still quiet. That changes from March. Most monuments close on Mondays year round.
Is Lisbon cheap in February?
Yes, among the cheapest months of the year, with Carnival weekend the only bump – and that mainly affects the towns holding parades.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.
