10 Things to Do in Lisbon in November

Lisbon receives fewer visitors in November than in summer, but if there's one thing the Portuguese capital stands out for, it's its off-season charms. There's so much to see in Lisbon beyond the summer months!

In this article, I'm going to show you everything Lisbon has to offer in November. If you find one of the usual cheap flights to Lisbon for travelling in November, you're in luck: there's so much to see and do in Lisbon.

Lisbon Bullring (also called Parque Pequeno Square) kicks off the Christmas markets on 29 November. It is located on Avenida da República and is the perfect place to immerse yourself in Portuguese tradition. Especially because it is a market that focuses on Portuguese products. There, among around 100 stalls, you will find:

• Crafts
• Food
• Shows
• Crafts
• Restaurants
• Cinema

As you can see, it's an ideal place to spend a few hours, as you can browse, shop and even eat there. There is an entrance fee, but it's very reasonable. Tickets start at €1. You can also take one of the tours of Lisbon that pass through Avenida da República to learn more about this place.

This festival takes place on 1 November and, as in many other Christian countries, is dedicated to commemorating ancestors and the deceased. In Lisbon, this celebration takes on a particularly colourful form, as it is traditional for children to visit homes with a bag in which they can collect sweets or chestnuts as gifts. As you can see, it's not very different from Halloween. This day also has its own gastronomic customs. Among them:

• Cinnamon sweets.
• Wine and roasted chestnuts.
• Pan de Deus (God's Bread), typical of All Saints' Day.

I recommend discovering these specialities through the many gastronomic tours that take place in the Portuguese capital. You can find out about your options in this article on the best gastronomic tours in Lisbon.

This religious festival takes place on 11 November and is summed up in the following phrase from Portuguese folklore: "pelo São Martinho, castanhas, pão e vinho". In other words, "for Saint Martin, bread, chestnuts and wine". As you can see, it's very clear what you'll be able to enjoy. In fact, there are often events where you can get your hands on these products to taste them.

I also recommend taking advantage of Saint Martin's Day to explore Portugal's rich and prestigious wine tradition. In fact, there are numerous wine tastings that will introduce you to exquisite Portuguese wines. Here you can discover the options for the best wine tastings in Lisbon.

A great plan for lovers of the seventh art. This film festival is held in Estoril, just a 20-minute drive from Lisbon. It is dedicated to all kinds of audiovisual creations such as fiction, documentaries and animation. The Lisbon and Estoril Film Festival is held in November, often starting in the second week of the month, although I recommend checking the festival's official website for the dates of each edition, as there may be changes.

This festival is usually accompanied by events such as conferences and even concerts. There are different types of tickets depending on the event you want to enjoy, although all of them can be purchased from €5.

In addition, if you go to Estoril, I recommend that you do not miss the opportunity to visit Sintra, just a 15-minute drive away, and book your ticket for the Pena Palace in Sintra. Although it is not essential to go to Estoril to visit Sintra, there are many excursions to Sintra from Lisbon! Or you can also do it on your own. Here is the information you will need to do so:

• How to get to Sintra from Lisbon.
• What to see and do in Sintra.

Also known as the Lisbon Triennale, this is one of the Portuguese city's cultural highlights during the winter. In this case, the focus of the event is architectural design. There are not only exhibitions but also talks and presentations by internationally renowned professionals. As its name suggests, this triennial takes place every three years, so it is highly advisable to check whether there will be an edition in the year you plan to travel.

The event lasts for three months, from October to December, so if you travel in November, you will find it in full swing. As for prices, some events are free and others require payment (the latter are often conferences). Daily or three-day passes are also available. With regard to daily passes, pay close attention to the prices, as they may vary depending on the month. You will basically find these types of passes:

• Daily pass: Available from €30.
• Three-day pass: Available from €90.

There are several venues throughout Lisbon. I recommend that you check this carefully, as it may change depending on the edition. The venues are usually the following:

• Sintel de Cordes Palace.
• Belém Cultural Centre.
• MAAT Museum of Contemporary Art.
• Chiado Museum.

A perfect event not only for photography lovers but also for bibliophiles in general. The Lisbon Photography Book Fair takes place on 26, 27 and 28 November. However, it is best to check this information before you go, in case there are any changes. At the fair, you can enjoy the following:

• Photography books.
• Exhibitions.
• Markets.
• Talks and conferences.
• Workshops.
• Children's activities.

Most activities are free and take place in two main locations:

• The Municipal Archive
• Avenida Conde Valbom 120

If there is one advantage to travelling to Lisbon in November, it is that you will find the city much more enjoyable. This is especially true because you will not have to deal with the queues and waiting times that characterise the summer months. Therefore, you will be able to enjoy everything in a less stressful way. I recommend that you take advantage of this to visit the museums. I would highlight the following:

• Benfica Museum in Lisbon: Learn all about the history of the legendary football team with a guided tour of the Estádio da Luz and the Benfica Museum.
• Calouste Gulbenkian Museum in Lisbon: A significant number of pieces from the Greco-Roman era, the Middle East and the Far East, and more than 10,000 Portuguese works of art await you in this popular museum.
• Royal Treasury Museum in Lisbon: Discover a complete collection of priceless royal artefacts and jewels.
• Museu do Oriente: More than 1,400 pieces of Asian art resulting from Portugal's historical colonial relations.
• National Archaeology Museum: I recommend it because the building, the Jerónimos Monastery, is a work of art in itself.
• Tile Museum: You cannot visit Lisbon without visiting a museum dedicated to one of the most characteristic and universal Portuguese products: the tile.

Scientific Culture Day takes place on 24 November and consists of various events, some for schools and teachers and others for the general public. The epicentre of the latter is the National Museum of Natural History and Science. This museum is well worth a visit if you like science, as Portugal has a significant scientific collection, largely drawn from its colonial era in America, Africa and Asia. At this museum, you can enjoy the following:

• Botanical Garden.
• Tropical Botanical Garden.
• Astronomical Observatory.
• Chemical Laboratory.

So there is plenty to see. The museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. in winter. Tickets are available from £4.

Fernando Pessoa is perhaps one of the most famous Portuguese people in the world. Considered one of the most important poets of the 20th century, he is an institution in Portugal. Given that the poet died on 30 November, there are events related to him that may be of interest if you are a lover of Pessoa's work. Lisbon is Pessoa's city par excellence, so there is no shortage of places to remember the poet.

Without a doubt, the most important is the Pessoa House Museum. You can find the planned programme on their website. The building is located at 16 Coelho de Rocha Street and is open from 10:00 to 18:00. Tickets can be purchased from €3.

This is a highly relevant event, attracting tens of thousands of people every year. It usually takes place in the first week of November, although it is best to check the official website for the dates when you are planning to visit Lisbon. It brings together large investment and technology companies, start-ups and digital entrepreneurs from more than 150 countries. The programme is extensive and includes:

• Thematic conferences.
• Hundreds of exhibiting companies.
• Dozens of speakers.

In short, it is an exceptional event for learning about new trends and the future prospects of new technologies. In fact, it is considered one of the most important European events in this sector. It takes place in Lisbon's Parque das Nações, and tickets are available from £9.

It is very likely that your motivation for travelling to Lisbon in November is precisely to attend this exceptional event. If you don't have much time to visit the charms of Lisbon, I recommend taking one of the many tourist buses. In a short time, you can see everything there is to see in Lisbon.

The weather in Lisbon in November is characterised by a drop in temperatures. However, they remain mild. Average high temperatures reach 17 degrees, while lows reach 11 degrees.

As you can see, it's warm enough to visit Lisbon without freezing to death. However, the proximity to the Tagus estuary causes significant humidity, which can make it feel colder. The weather can also be quite cloudy and windy.

While regions of Portugal such as the Algarve are subject to strong seasonality given their sun and beach charms, the same is not true of Lisbon. The main attractions of this city are its streets, art and architecture. Therefore, although visitor numbers drop in November, tourism remains steady.

In any case, if your main concern is crowds, you won't find them when travelling in November. In fact, it can be a great time to visit Lisbon at a different pace, avoiding queues and waiting times.

Above all, warm clothing to make your experience as enjoyable as possible. In any case, temperatures are not excessively low (the minimum is usually around 11 degrees). Even so, I recommend that you take the following with you:

• Warm clothing.
• Closed-toe shoes.
• A raincoat.

This will be more than enough for visiting Lisbon in November. Even for the rest of the winter. If you end up visiting the Portuguese capital in December or January, these clothes will serve you well. However, in terms of plans, I recommend that you find out more about what to see and do in Lisbon in winter.