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. And there's a lot to see in Lisbon beyond the summer period!

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

Lisbon's 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 for an immersion in Portuguese tradition. Especially because it is a market with a strong focus on Portuguese products. There, among around 100 stalls, you will find:

• Handicrafts
• Food
• Shows
• Handicrafts
• Restaurants
• Cinema

As you can see, it is an ideal place to spend several hours, as you can browse and shop, or eat there. Of course, you have to pay an entrance fee, although it's very cheap. You can buy it for as little as €1. You can also take advantage of one of the Lisbon tours that pass through Avenida da República to learn more about this place.

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

• Cinnamon sweets.
• Wine and roasted chestnuts.
• Pan de Dios, typical of All Saints' Day.

I advise you to discover these specialities through the many gastronomic tours that take place in the Portuguese capital. You can discover your options in this article about the best gastronomic tours in Lisbon.

This religious festival takes place on 11 November and is summed up in the Portuguese popular tradition as follows: "pelo São Martinho, castanhas, pão e vinho" (for Saint Martin, chestnuts, bread, chestnuts and wine). In other words, "for Saint Martin, bread, chestnuts and wine. As you can see, it is very clear what you will be able to enjoy. In fact, there are many events where you can get hold of these products to taste them.

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

A good plan for lovers of the seventh art. This film festival is held in Estoril, just 20 minutes by car from Lisbon. It is devoted to all kinds of audiovisual creations such as fiction, documentaries and animation. The Lisbon and Estoril Film Festival is held in November, often from the second week of the month, although I advise you to check the festival's official website for the days 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 €.

Also, I recommend that if you go to Estoril, do not miss the opportunity to visit Sintra, just 15 minutes away by car and book your ticket for Palacio da Pena in Sintra. Although you don't have to go to Estoril to visit Sintra, there are many excursions to Sintra from Lisbon! Or you can do it by yourself. 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 subject of this event is architectural design. There are not only exhibitions but also talks and interventions by internationally renowned professionals. This triennial, as its name suggests, takes place every 3 years, so it is highly advisable to check if there is going to be an edition in the year in which you are planning to travel.

The event lasts 3 months, from October to December, so if you travel in November, you will find it in full swing. In terms of prices, there are free and paid events (the latter are very often conferences). Day passes and 3-day passes are also available. With regard to day passes, look carefully at the prices, as they may vary depending on the month. Basically you will find these types of passes:

• Day pass: Available from €30.
• 3-day pass: You can buy it from €90.

As for the places where it takes place, there are several and they are spread throughout Lisbon. I advise you to check this aspect 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.
• Museu do Chiado.

A perfect event not only for photography lovers but also for bibliophiles in general. The Lisbon Photo 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. You will be able to enjoy the following:

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

Most of the activities are free of charge and are located in two main locations:

• The Municipal Archive
• 120 Conde Valbom Avenue

If there's one advantage of travelling to Lisbon in November, it's that you' ll find the city much more enjoyable. Especially because you won't experience the queues and waiting times that characterise the overcrowded summer months. Therefore, you will be able to enjoy absolutely everything in a less overwhelming way. I advise you to focus this advantage on visiting 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 large number of pieces from the Greco-Roman, Middle Eastern and Far Eastern periods and more than 10,000 works of Portuguese art await you in this popular museum.
• Royal Treasure Museum in Lisbon: Discover a complete collection of priceless royal pieces and jewellery.
• Museum of the Orient: More than 1,400 pieces of Asian art 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 pass through Lisbon without visiting a museum dedicated to one of the most characteristic and universal Portuguese products: the tile.

The Scientific Culture Day takes place on 24 November and consists of different events, some of which are school and teaching events and others of a public nature. The epicentre of the latter is the National Museum of Natural History and Science. This is a place that is well worth visiting if you like science, given that Portugal has an important scientific collection, much of it taken from its colonial period in America, Africa and Asia. In this museum you can enjoy the following:

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

So, there is a lot to see. The Museum is open from 10:00 to 17:00 in winter. You can buy a ticket from 5 €.

Fernando Pessoa is perhaps one of the most famous Portuguese poets 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 his figure that can be very interesting if you are a lover of Pessoa's work. Lisbon is Pessoa's city par excellence, so there will be no shortage of places to commemorate the poet.

The most important of these is undoubtedly the Pessoa House Museum. You can find the programme on its 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.

An event that is more than relevant, given the tens of thousands of people who attend every year. It usually takes place in the first week of November, although it's best to check the official website for the dates when you're planning to visit Lisbon. It brings together everything from large investment and technology companies to startups and digital entrepreneurs from more than 150 countries. Its programme is extensive and includes:

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

In short, an exceptional event to learn 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 at the Parque das Nações in Lisbon and you can buy tickets from €9.

It is very likely that your motivation for travelling to Lisbon in November is precisely to attend this exceptional event. If in the end you don't have much time to visit Lisbon's charms, I suggest you take one of the many tourist buses. In a short time you will be able to see all there is to see in Lisbon.

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

As you can see, that's enough to visit Lisbon without freezing to death. However, the proximity to the Tagus estuary does bring significant humidity, which can cause the wind chill to be colder. Also, the weather can be quite cloudy and windy.

While regions of Portugal, such as the Algarve, are subject to strong seasonality due to their sun and beach charms, Lisbon is not. Lisbon's main attractions are its streets, art and architecture. Therefore, although visitor numbers drop in November, tourism remains strong.

However, if you're worried about overcrowding, you won't find it in November. It can be a great time, in fact, to visit Lisbon at a different pace, saving you from queues and waiting.

Above all, warm clothes to make your experience as optimal as possible. In any case, temperatures are not too low (minimum temperatures are usually around 11 degrees Celsius). Even so, I advise you to take the following with you:

• Warm clothes.
• Closed shoes.
• A mackintosh.

This will be more than enough to visit Lisbon in November. Even for the rest of the winter. If you are finally going to visit the Portuguese capital in December or January, these clothes will be enough for you. However, as far as plans are concerned, I advise you to find out more about what to see and do in Lisbon in winter.