10 Things to Do in Lisbon in February

Lisbon in February is full of celebration and love. The arrival of Valentine's Day and Carnival come together with the arrival of slightly warmer temperatures than in December and January.

Also, as it is considered a low season month, you will be able to enjoy yourself without so many tourists. Just pack a warm jacket and come and enjoy all there is to do in the bohemian city of Lisbon.

Lisbon has a charm that mesmerises all its visitors. You can imagine that on the day of love, February 14th, you can offer your partner a wide range of options to make them fall in love with you.

Many restaurants offer romantic dinners and on every street corner they will sell flowers and boxes of sweets. However, despite the typical, there are tourist plans such as a cruise that, on this special day, take on an extra meaning for all couples who come to Lisbon for a date.

Sailing on the Tagus

The Tagus River, which crosses the entire peninsula, flows into Lisbon in a spectacular way. This makes it a city with a deep-rooted river tradition and, of course, it has some beautiful walks and cruises on the river that, during the 14th of February, take on a much more romantic air.

• Sunset sailboat ride - from £41
• Lisbon sunset sailboat ride with wine - from £40.
• Lisbon boat party - from £25

And if you want to complete the experience... visit the Miradouro da Graça

This imposing viewpoint, also called Miradouro Sophia de Mello Breyner Andresen, is one of the best places from which to see the whole city, with a privileged view of the Alfama district. Taking your partner to watch the sunset on Valentine's Day is one of the most romantic plans in Lisbon at night.

If the February cold in Lisbon doesn't allow you to continue touring and walking around this beautiful city, you can always book one of the many tourist buses that are available in the city of Lisbon and that will take you around two hours to visit some of the main places in Lisbon. That way, you can take shelter from the cold and see all the most emblematic places at a good pace.

Besides, this kind of tours are quite cheap and there are several options and packs with other attractions so, either because the weather is not good or because you have little time to visit the city, this can always be a good alternative for sightseeing in Lisbon in February. You will save time and money.

Even though Lisbon is full of sights whenever you go there, don't forget that in February, despite being the end of winter, it's still quite cold, so it's never a bad idea to make a stop to get to know one of its most famous liquors and warm up a bit.

Port is a wine that has been in the fermentation process and has a high alcohol content, so you should drink it in moderation. There are many places in Lisbon where you can order a glass and take shelter from the cold at a fairly cheap price, such as the famous Arcaz Velho bar in Santa Apolonia.

Wine tasting

If port is too strong for you but you don't want to give up tasting the typical drinks, don't forget that you are in an area with a wine with a designation of origin. It won't be hard for you to find a wine tasting on your trip to Lisbon in February, which will let you taste the essence of this land and, while you're at it, will warm you up a bit with the joy of wine. Here are some options:

• Wine and cheese tasting -from £56.
• Wine tour to Setúbal from Lisbon -from £77.

Fado is the most characteristic folk music of Portuguese culture and whenever you come to Lisbon, you can't miss it. However, in February with the cold and the short days, it is one of the best plans as you will be able to enjoy the different live Fado shows that take place all over the city while you take shelter from the cold. Sometimes you also have the opportunity to dine while watching a Fado concert.

Some of **Lisbon'**s most beautiful and touristic neighbourhoods, such as Chiado, have different venues that offer from around 20€ an incredible show where Portuguese guitars accompany the wonderful and sad voices of this world famous song.

If you've come to spend a few days in Lisbon in February, you can't miss the opportunity to do one of the city's most popular excursions in the low season, without the crowds and with the city seeming like it's exclusively for you. Sintra is located just 25 kilometres from Lisbon and getting to Sintra from Lisbon is much easier than you think.

For less than 5€ you can take a train or a bus that will drop you off in no more than 40 minutes in this stunning town for you to explore at your leisure with the peace of mind of being one of the few tourists who have taken a few days off in February to come and visit. There are also several tour options, so you can make the most of your trip.

• Sintra and Cascais Tour -from £62
• Sintra, Cascais and Cabo da Roca Tour -from £74.
• Excursion to Sintra, Cascais, Pena Palace, Cabo da Roca and Regaleira -from £56.

Sintra is a place that looks like something out of a fairy tale. It has long since been declared a World Heritage Site and just strolling through its streets is worthwhile. The highlight, however, is the Palacio da Pena, which has become a symbol of the town. Entrance to the interior costs less than €15 but I can assure you that seeing this architectural marvel up close will be well worth it, especially if you can see it without so many people in high season. You can also visit the Parque da Pena and the Castelo dos Mouros, Sintra is a must see!

During February, Lisbon, like many other cities around the world, celebrates the arrival of Carnival, a colourful and joyful festival where people celebrate the end of winter and take to the streets to party and have fun.

The Lisbon Carnival is usually held in mid-February between the 10th and 20th and is commonly known as the "Carnival of the Villains". Its main focal point is in the Parque das Nações area, where parades, concerts and costume contests are organised.

Also, during this week you won't fail to hear all kinds of rhythms in the streets and there will be no shortage of special plans and events organised around this energising party. Check the dates and come and enjoy the Lisbon Carnival!

February is an ideal month to come and visit Lisbon as many people are reluctant to come thinking that it will be too cold and unpleasant. However, the temperatures are a little warmer and more bearable than in previous months.

Precisely because of this idea, the city is usually quite empty and it can be a perfect time to take a tour of the most famous museums without having to wait in long queues and without having to book well in advance.

Lisbon is a cultural capital in the European panorama and there are many museums that you can't miss if you come during the low season of February. Here is a list of the main ones so that you can choose the one that best suits your tastes:

• Calouste Gulbenkian Museum: it has a huge collection of pieces and works of all ages and paintings by artists such as Rembrandt, Renoir or Rubens. The entrance fee is approximately €10.
• National Museum of Ancient Art: brings together paintings and decorative arts, mostly by Portuguese artists from several centuries of history. Admission is around €5 although on Sundays it is free until 2pm.
• Fado Museum: has a permanent exhibition and several temporary exhibitions on the history and cultural legacy of Fado in the history of Portugal. Admission is approximately €5.
• Berardo Collection Museum: one of the best museums in Lisbon to appreciate contemporary art with works by Portuguese artists and others such as Dalí. Admission costs approximately €5 although it is free every Saturday.
• Royal Treasure Museum: where the country's most valuable jewels are housed. It has 11 themes and has interactive exhibitions and three floors to learn more about the history of Portugal.

Despite the city's tourist plans, if you are passionate about music and want to discover the latest trends in urban and electronic beats, don't miss the ID NoLimits Festival, an event that takes place every year for two days at the end of February and has become a platform for the newest and most experimental bands.

Normally, this festival takes place at the Estoril Congress Centre, just one hour by public transport from the centre of Lisbon. This festival is not only about music, but also about art and a mix of styles.

The Sao Carlos theatre is a must-see in Lisbon if you are a lover of culture and art as it is considered one of the most beautiful in the whole city. Throughout the year, they offer a wide range of theatre, dance and music performances.

However, during February there are several opera cycles that you cannot miss if you are coming to Lisbon during this month. Whether you come with your partner in the month of love and want to offer them a special plan or you want to do more indoor winter tourism.

This theatre opened its doors in 1793 to replace the old theatre that was destroyed in the Lisbon earthquake and, since then, it has not ceased to be a cultural reference for the whole city. You can't miss its curtain fall!

Antena 2 is one of the most famous radio stations in Portugal. It has been broadcasting Portuguese popular music for many years and is a reference point for its people.

If you come to Lisbon in February, you'll be in luck, as this is the month in which the station's annual festival is held, with live concerts of the best national groups of the year. A great way to get a better insight into Portuguese culture and understand the rhythms and customs of the neighbouring country.

This festival usually takes place over two or three days in the first week of February and different events are organised in different locations both in Lisbon and in the other big city, Porto. Tickets to the concerts usually cost around 5€ per person, so if you are interested in this plan, find out more about this year's dates and the concerts you are most interested in.

February is a generous month for Portugal and more specifically for Lisbon, as it is located in a central part of the country and has fairly stable temperatures. Despite being winter, the average daily temperature is around 10ºC, with highs of 13ºC and lows of around 9ºC.

Being a river city, the temperature ends up being warmer and more humid. So with a good coat you can be comfortable in the street without having to take shelter.

However, you should keep in mind that at the end of February the rainy season begins and it can be frequent that some days may be a little cloudy or sparkling. In this case, I recommend you to look for indoor plans such as museums, theatres or exhibitions, which will not be crowded with tourists.

Portugal is our neighbouring country and has all kinds of basic necessities available in supermarkets, shops and pharmacies. I recommend you to travel as light as possible, have good waterproof shoes in case it rains one day and, above all, comfortable and light clothes so you can move from one place to another and not regret the temperature changes.

Always carry a folding umbrella in your bag in case it starts to rain and don't forget your camera to immortalize this beautiful city.

February is a great month if you want to come to Lisbon. Don't think about it too much because this city will make it easy for you to have a great time and have a beautiful experience full of joy, love, culture and gastronomy.