Smiling service, snacks, and a great movie selection: these small things make hours spent on a plane just a little more bearable. But the experience can vary wildly depending on which carrier you pick.
25.06.2024 - 11:35 / cntraveler.com
While I am, admittedly, biased as a lover of the city, the best time to visit Lisbon is really any time. The Portuguese capital is a hybrid of activity at all times, with warm temperatures outside even in the winter months, and a seemingly endless list of great hotels and restaurants to visit no matter what month you arrive. Plus, Portuguese warmth and hospitality is a year-round thing, so you can expect a sunny welcome whether it’s July or January.
While the summer months are a great time to enjoy festivities and visit nearby beaches—and therefore the busiest—visiting in winter will mean fewer tourists and an ability to bag a reservation you likely couldn’t during peak months. With the advice of some locals, we look at the best time to visit Lisbon, depending on what you’re looking for.
A version of this article originally appeared in Condé Nast Traveller UK.
As someone who has spent June in Lisbon for the past three years, there’s nowhere I’d rather be during this month of plentiful celebrations. Throughout Portugal, locals celebrate various saints in June; in Lisbon, the patron saint Santo Antonio is celebrated on June 13, with a parade the evening before on the 12th. But the celebrations aren’t limited to just these two days; for the whole month of June, people take to the streets to dance, feast on freshly grilled sardines and enjoy the atmosphere. Expect to see streets of the oldest Lisbon neighborhoods (bairros) adorned with red, green, and yellow decorations, streets abuzz with life, and a constant, distinct smell of grilled sardines in the air.
Rui Sanches, founder and CEO of restaurant group Plateform, agrees: “Every time is good to visit Lisbon because it’s sunny most of the time, even in the winter,” he tells Condé Nast Traveller UK. “But I would recommend May and June so you can join the local happiness, celebrating the warm weather and the return of the festive season. The late lunches and dinner parties last all summer.”
If you want to soak up the atmosphere and experience a celebration completely unique to Portugal, immerse yourself in the city throughout June. However, be warned that this is a busy time, and the streets will be full of locals and tourists alike. There’s also a lot of partying happening, so most central hotels will be surrounded by noise; if you need peace and quiet when you travel, this might not be the right time for you.
For the whole festive month of June, people in Lisbon take to the streets to dance, feast on freshly grilled sardines and enjoy the atmosphere.
“Definitely May,” says Armando Ribeiro, founding partner and CEO of Portuguese communications agency O Apartamento. “Lisbon Design Week, LISBON by DESIGN, and Arco International Art Fair are all happening,
Smiling service, snacks, and a great movie selection: these small things make hours spent on a plane just a little more bearable. But the experience can vary wildly depending on which carrier you pick.
Every year, the aviation ranking website Skytrax compiles and analyzes thousands of customer satisfaction surveys to determine the best of the best among some 350 airlines.
This article is part of our airport food survival guide, which includes tips and tricks—even a hot take or two—that challenge the notion that airport meals are always dull, overpriced, and tasteless.
“Low-cost” and “long-haul” can feel like oxymorons when it comes to airlines, with seat comfort often sacrificed for affordable fares. But with several new budget international airlines launching around the world in recent years, it’s possible to snag perfectly-bearable long-haul flights for under $500 roundtrip.
Lufthansa is adding an environmental charge to its ticket prices. The German airline group says the funds are needed to comply with EU regulations on reducing emissions.
Finnair is showing off its new Schengen Lounge at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport (HEL) that's slated to open on July 9. The lounge will primarily serve customers traveling on short-haul flights within Europe and passengers connecting in Helsinki from the U.S. and traveling onward to Finland's Lapland and the wider Nordic and Baltic regions.
The British Airways and British Airways Holidays summer sale has launched to brighten the mood and lift dampened spirits, forecasting blue skies and sandy toes for all those who book.
Delta Air Lines announced it would launch a new seasonal service between Orlando International Airport and London Heathrow Airport (LHR), starting on October 26.
As someone who's spent their entire life in the tristate area, I'm always interested in comparing other metropolitan areas to New York City.
The 332 miles between London and Edinburgh show a particularly narrow difference when traveling via train or plane.
The Happiest Place on Earth will be connected to Big Ben via new nonstop flights on Delta Air Lines.
The UK economy is poised for a significant boost as fans prepare to spend big during the Summer of Sport. According to Experian Economics, the European Championships in Germany and the upcoming Paris Olympics are expected to drive an additional £233 million in spending over the next three months.