8 Rainy Day Ideas in Lisbon

Lisbon gets most of its rain between November and March, usually in bursts rather than all day. A wet morning is rarely a lost day, but the cobbles get slippery and the viewpoints stop earning their keep. Eight alternatives.

## The eight 1. The Oceanarium, one of the largest in Europe and the safest choice with children. 2. The Gulbenkian Museum, a collection built by one man, with a garden for when it clears. 3. The National Tile Museum, which explains why the whole country is covered in azulejos. 4. The Coach Museum in Belem, an unexpectedly impressive collection of royal carriages. 5. Time Out Market, for a long lunch under cover. 6. The Jeronimos Monastery, where the cloister is partly sheltered and far quieter in bad weather. 7. A port and wine tasting room, a good use of an hour when the street is not appealing. 8. The Berardo or MAAT contemporary galleries by the river, when you want something modern.

## Practical notes Most Lisbon museums close on Mondays. Bring shoes with grip rather than an umbrella: the polished limestone pavement is the real hazard, not the rain itself.

Rain also empties the famous sites. Sintra in light rain, with mist in the forest, is one of the better versions of Sintra.

## If your day is already booked On a private day the plan can be reordered on the morning. We usually move the indoor visits forward, keep the viewpoints for the clearing, and adjust lunch accordingly. Nothing needs to be cancelled.