Lisbon is not immune from experiencing the occasional wet and rainy day, especially during the winter months, but do not despair, there is a lot to do and see within the city. When it rains, you can still explore Lisbon while avoiding soaking. For instance, many stations of the city’s subway system are located near popular tourist attractions.
Here’s a list of some of the things you can do on a rainy day in Lisbon;
Oceanário de Lisboa in Parque das Nações is a wonderful aquarium which, within its huge tanks, exhibits the five oceanic habitats of the world. The magic of these aquatic exhibitions is that they are viewed from above and below the waterline. At the surface penguins and adorable sea otters can be seen playing, while the submerged level shows the extensive marine life, including menacing sharks, stingrays, and shoals of spadefish.
The Ciência Viva-Agência (€9/€6 adult/child), is a family-focused science museum and one of the hidden gems of Lisbon. The exhibits are interactive and engaging and will entertain children of all ages. The Ciência Viva-Agência is housed in the Pavilhão do Conhecimento (Pavilion of Knowledge), in the Parque das Nações. This is close to the Oceanário de Lisboa, and when combined they provide the perfect wet day activities for families.
A ride on the 28 tram, as it rattles and screeches through the narrow streets of the Alfama district, is one of the highlights of Lisbon. On a wet day, the team will be significantly less busy, and there is the real possibility of a seat for the whole route, which never happens in the summer.
The Museu Calouste Gulbenkian (€12.50 adult admission) houses one of the largest private art and artifact collections and is Lisbon’s finest museum. The varied exhibits include a selection of ancient artifacts (Egyptian, Persian and Asian) and classic European art (Rubens, Rembrandt, and Van Dyck). The scale of this extraordinary collection of Eastern and Western art is staggering and one could spend several hours meandering the galleries.
The Timeout Market is a bustling food court, which brings together dishes created by some of Portugal’s finest chefs. The numerous food stalls within the market provide their signature twists on regional Portuguese dishes and use quality local produce.
The Mosteiro dos Jerónimos (€10 adult admission) is an extravagant monastery situated in the Belem district. This magnificent religious building is Portugal’s finest example of Manueline architecture and incorporates ornate stone carving and elaborate decorative features.
Fado is a traditional and emotional style of Portuguese music, which has a lone female singer accompanied by a classical Portuguese guitar. The basis for this haunting genre of music is the sorrow felt by a sailor’s wife, whose husband is out at sea, and originated in the Alfama district. Attending a performance of this powerful music is a great activity for a rain-filled day. If you wish to learn more about the history of Fado, consider visiting the Fado museum. For live music & late-night bars, head to Music Box or Pink Street.
Azulejos are the traditional blue and white painted tiles that adorn countless Portuguese buildings, and the fascinating Museu Nacional do Azulejo details the history of this art form. The museum is housed in a grand 16th-century baroque convent and the exhibits display the progression of Azulejos tiles from the Moors era through to the present day. You can also visit the Museu dos Coches, which exhibits a unique collection of lavish horse-drawn carriages, which were used by the Portuguese nobility and other European royal households.
Within Lxfactory are artisan studios, specialist gift shops, and alternative restaurants, along with thought-provoking street art, whereas Bounce is a huge indoor trampoline park with over 100 interconnected trampolines. You can also consider them for indoor activities.
