10 Things to Do in Lisbon in January

Are you planning the first trip of the year and the chosen city is Lisbon? You're right. The Portuguese capital enjoys mild temperatures all year round and, although January is a little colder and rainy, it is a month in which to enjoy the end of Christmas and the arrival of the Three Wise Men.

Without a doubt, one of the great advantages of going to Lisbon in January is that it is much less crowded, so you can enjoy the museums and the trip in general with more peace and quiet. You might be a bit cold, but you don't have to worry; I have found many alternatives to get to know Lisbon in the warmth of tradition.

Just like anywhere else, New Year's Eve in Lisbon is celebrated on the 1st of January at one of the parties that take place in the early hours of the morning of the 1st, after toasting with champagne in Praça do Comércio and watching the fireworks over the Tagus River. My advice is to get your best clothes ready and go to the various concerts around the city, where you'll also find stalls to have a few shots or drinks.

We usually think of New Year's Eve parties as expensive, but in Lisbon you'll be surprised to find that many of the concerts and parties are free of charge. However, you might be a little chilly as they are held outdoors. Nevertheless, you can't miss this opportunity to enjoy Lisbon's nightlife and welcome the New Year in its streets full of music, dancing and fun.

Once it's daylight and you've had a chance to rest a bit, remember that it's a family holiday, so Lisboners will be at home celebrating with their loved ones. As there will be many places closed, I recommend you to book a place to eat in advance or take advantage of the quietness of the city to walk around.

Did you know that in Portugal the Three W ise Men also come on the night of January 5th? Although this celebration is becoming more and more homely and there are usually no parades or big events, it is very common for groups to get together to sing janeiras, the traditional Christmas carols. If you're in Lisbon that night, go to one of these concerts to listen to the beautiful melodies accompanied by cavaquinhos, an instrument similar to the ukulele.

In the past, the tradition was more deeply rooted; groups formed by professionals from the same trade or neighbourhood would go from house to house singing these songs and asking for a Christmas bonus during the first days of January.

Nowadays there are fewer and fewer groups left and they no longer go from house to house, but in Lisbon it is very common for a concert to be organised in the Belem Palace, as the tradition of singing the janeiras, whose lyrics refer specifically to Epiphany, is not to be lost.

When Lisbonites wake up on the 6th of January, the first thing they do is open the presents the Three Kings have left them, but then it's time to savour a piece of rich bolo rei, which is similar to the traditional Spanish roscón de reyes. The difference is that the Portuguese cake is harder and not as spongy. If you fancy trying it you can buy it in one of the many bakeries in the city.

Although the recipe for bolo rei seems to have originated in France, 1869 is the year in which this dessert first appeared in Lisbon. It is made with sultanas and dried fruits, but also with Port, so you will notice a slight (and tasty) difference with our roscón de reyes.

My recommendation is to book your bolo rei in advance, as on January 6th the bakeries are only open to deliver orders and there is usually a high demand for these cakes, so you don't want to miss out!

In January there are still some remnants of the Christmas festivities in Lisbon, such as the Christmas lights and Christmas markets. You can take the opportunity to stroll around them or do some shopping and bring a nice souvenir for your family. Also, as they are about to close, there may be some discounts.

Without a doubt, the Christmas market par excellence in Lisbon is Wonderland, which is more like a full-fledged Christmas village. It's still open in January, at least for the first few days, so don't miss the chance to check it out before it disappears until the following year. In Wonderland you will find many wooden stalls where you can buy decorations, handicrafts, clothes and, of course, sweets and typical Lisbon food.

On the other hand, you will also have the chance to skate on the ice rink, something I especially recommend if you are travelling with children to Lisbon, they love it!

Going to Lisbon in January has a great advantage: being able to visit the museums without the crowds. As it is low season, you won't find so many tourists trying to get in at the same time as you or standing in front of the work of art you want to see. Lisbon is a very artistic city for all tastes, so it has different museums according to historical periods or styles. Shall I make my recommendations?

Calouste Gulbenkian Museum

For me, the Calouste Gulbenkian is one of the best museums in Lisbon, and I'm sure you'll think the same when you enter and contemplate the amount of art and history inside. There are actually two large collections: one more ancient and the other more modern.

The ancient collection has Egyptian objects but also works by Rembrandt or Rubens. The modern collection, on the other hand, includes pieces by contemporary Portuguese artists, so if you want to get to know the more contemporary culture of the country, you should visit this museum.

National Museum of Ancient Art

If you don't have much time, this museum is a good option, as it is small but full of interesting pieces. The main highlights are the paintings, mainly by Portuguese artists but also some international ones.

Other collections that also caught my attention were those of a more decorative nature, such as goldsmithery or textiles.

Fado Museum

Never heard Fado before? That needs to be changed, but not only by going to a Fado concert but also by visiting the museum in Lisbon dedicated to this traditional style of music. Fado is a sad and melancholic song, but it is beautiful to listen to.

There may be many remedies for the cold, but one of the best is undoubtedly good wine, don't you think? For those winter days that January brings to Lisbon, when the normally mild temperatures drop a little, my advice is to book a wine tasting in or around Lisbon and warm up quickly.

Lisbon, and Portugal in general, is known for being one of the best wine cities in the world, so you can't miss the chance to do a wine tasting. I assure you that its intense flavour will surprise you and also its price, since normally the export of these wines brings with it a much higher price than in Portugal.

Besides, wine tastings in Lisbon usually include wines from more familiar wineries and not so industrial, so they are more exclusive and will allow you to know better the culture (and the taste) of this country.

No matter the time, having a coffee with Pastéis de Belem is always a good plan if you're in Lisbon. However, January evenings make it even more appetising. Bear in mind that, if you're travelling at this time of year, the evening will be dark around 6pm, just when it's time for a snack and when tiredness and the cold start to take their toll after a day of walking around Lisbon.

You've probably heard of Pastéis de Belem, a very traditional pastry in Lisbon since the 19th century. Made with cream, these pastries have a secret recipe (in fact, bakers have to sign a confidentiality agreement) and are especially famous in the Belem neighbourhood on the banks of the Tagus.

I can't think of a better plan than letting a freshly baked Belem pastry warm your stomach while looking out over the Tagus.

If you're travelling to the Portuguese capital in January you may not need to get up so early to avoid the crowds at the viewpoints. Why? Because there aren't as many tourists and, consequently, the city's best viewpoints are emptier, waiting for you to take photos.

Known as the city of seven hills, Lisbon is a city of slopes rising to high points, from where the views (and the photos) are magnificent.

Taking advantage of the low season in January, I recommend you take your camera to some of its viewpoints, especially those in the Alfama neighbourhood, and capture the perspectives. My favourites are undoubtedly:

• The Portas do Sol viewpoint: where you will have incredible views of the sunrise.
• Santa Luzia: the panoramic view is also perfect for a photo, although I also recommend stopping among the street artists' stalls that gather there.

The forecast indicates that, on average, it rains in Lisbon for half of the month of January. Although for me the city is best experienced by walking through its streets, I understand that in a downpour it can be difficult. As you're quite likely to find yourself in this situation in January, I recommend booking a seat on the Lisbon tourist bus (or other means of transport) so that you can get around Lisbon's most important sites without getting soaked to the bone.

Of course, the bus is always the most affordable option, as for around 20€ you can tour the city and, as an added bonus, listen to the explanations of a guide. However, there are other transport options in Lisbon such as its historic tram, which will keep you under cover as you head up and down the hills.

I'm sure you've heard that Lisbon is a great city to buy fabrics or towels. I don't know if that's exactly what you'll need, but if you want to treat yourself to a shopping sp ree during your visit to Lisbon in January, you should take advantage of the sales that start the year.

The winter sales are usually pretty good and you'll find bargains, including on luxury brands. If that's what you're looking for, I recommend going to the centre of Lisbon, specifically Avenida da Liberdade, where you'll find brands such as Gucci and Chanel.

If you're on a tighter budget, head to more traditional neighbourhoods with smaller shops, such as Chiado. This is a way to support local commerce and also to find a special item of clothing or object that will serve as a souvenir of your trip to Lisbon. Another alternative is to take a trip to the outskirts of the city and go to an outlet store.

Lisbon is famous for its mild temperatures all year round. January is no less so, and you won't usually experience extreme cold (lows of around 5ºC). However, you should be aware that temperatures are lower in January than in summer or spring, when most people travel to Lisbon.

Apart from the drop in the thermometer, which is not a problem either, what you should be aware of is that it rains quite a lot, around half of the month. To avoid being caught out by inclement weather, pack a mackintosh and some warm clothes.

If you're going to Lisbon in January and don't have a big budget, don't worry. This month is low season, just after Christmas and before the good weather arrives, so prices for accommodation and flights are quite cheap (for around 40€ you can get return tickets).

The good thing is that prices remain affordable throughout the month, even if you look for transport or a hotel at the last minute, something that in other cities means not finding a place or having to pay a lot for it. On the other hand, the city's restaurants and businesses also tend to lower their prices at this time of year, offering more affordable menus.