We visited Lisbon this past October over our Thanksgiving break. Lisbon is known for warm weather and hilly terrain. It is also one of the oldest cities in Western Europe with lots to see like Castle San George and Jeronimos Monestary. Plus you need to try all the pasties de nata while you can! These are some outfit ideas perfect for sight seeing in Portugal, this is what to pack for Lisbon in Autumn.
What to pack for Lisbon in Autumn
When I first started packing for Lisbon in mid October the forecast was for a very pleasant 20 degrees Celsius. However I had to adjust my planned packing when we got closer to our departure date and I saw temperatures between 25 and 30 degrees for the week we were visiting. When we were talking to our tour guide he said it is usually more rainy in October. So keep in mind that the autumn season can still be quite warm in Lisbon but it could also be rainy. Watch the forecast and pack accordingly.
- Stripe tee – I pack a mixture of stripe and solid tees to mix and match accordingly. I usually pack enough tees for the amount of days we are away.
- Linen Culottes – I mostly packed linen for our week in Lisbon because of the heat. And because I prefer loose pants to shorts. If you prefer shorts you may want to pack a pair instead. Both my husband and son wore shorts on our trip.
- Silver sneakers – one things you need to know about Lisbon is that you need grippy shoes. Not just because of the hilly terrain, but because of the tile sidewalks. Cute sneakers are your best bet. If you are packing sandals make sure you have something with treads. Not flat leather sandals as those will be too slippy.
- Merino wool tee – I usually wear these tees on the plane because I can wear them for an overnight flight and they won’t stink. In fact I have taken a flight while wearing one of these tees and worn the tee again during the vacation. They don’t get that I have already worn this texture so you can rewear more than cotton. See my full review here.
- Cotton pull on pants – These pants are a great alternative to jeans. Not as light as linen of course but still loose and relaxed.
- Sneakers – yes I packed a second pair of more athletic wear sneakers. The thicker soles give your feet a break when they are worn out after multiple days of over 20,000 steps.
- Crewneck sweater – I didn’t end up needing a sweater while in Lisbon but I did use it while on the airplane. At the very least I pull out the layers for the plane. But if the weather had been rainy and more in the low 20 degrees Celsius, then the sweater would have gotten more use. I wouldn’t pack multiple sweaters unless you are travelling later in autumn.
- Jeans – For the most part I stuck to the loose linen and cotton pants while sightseeing. I packed the jeans in case but again only wore them on the plane.
- Rain coat – All of us travelling together had rain jackets just in case. Again our Sintra tour guide said that the hot weather we experienced was not the norm for mid October so a rain jacket is a good idea.
- Cross body bag – this bag was the exact one I carried for the week in Lisbon and it was perfect. It looks lovely and is big enough for the essentials without being a huge bag. Note that my husband carried a backpack. I carried the phones and sunscreen and sunglasses while my husband had lunches and water.
- Packable hat – all of us had hats because again Lisbon was sunny and hot. But keep in mind that on the top level of a hop on hop off bus you will need to have a hat that doesn’t fly off your head.
- Sunglasses – see above, sunny and hot. Sunglasses are a must. I tend to pack my cheap sunglasses that way if I lose them it isn’t the end of the world.
- Sunscreen – I feel like a broken record but again sunny and hot. Sunscreen was also needed. I love this option for my face. It feels so lightweight. The sunscreen sticks are perfect for reapplying when you are outside all day sightseeing.
- E reader – I know what you are thinking what does an e-reader have to do with packing for Lisbon but honestly I think they are an essential item to pack for any long plane trip. The time in the airport, the time on the plane, these are excellent times to catch up on reading. Even after a long sightseeing day when you need to decompress, zone out with a book.
Other items not show are socks and underwear, sleepwear, and toiletries. You might want to pack a lightweight scarf or as mentioned above add some shorts or a dress. These are the items that worked for me but substitutions can be made to suit your needs.
What do you think of what to pack for Lisbon in autumn? Do you have anything to add?