Your April weather guide
MildWeather in Lisbon in April
April is a good time for Lisbon if you want mild weather for exploring the city, rather than heat or swimming. Daytime highs average 18°C, falling to around 12°C at night, so pack layers rather than relying on summer clothes. The catch is rain: expect about 8 rainy days across the month. For a UK traveller, it offers a warmer change of scene, but not a reliable warm-weather holiday.
Long-term climate averages for Lisbon, not a forecast · 1991-2020
Lisbon, month by month
Your snapshot
At a glance
The useful details for Lisbon.
- Average daytime high
- 18.1°C
- 9 in 10 days stay below 23°C
- Average night-time low
- 12.3°C
- coldest 10% of nights: 10°C or lower
- Compared with London
- +4.6°C
- London averages 13.5°C in April
- Sea temperature
- 15.3°C
- year to year: 15°C to 16°C
- Sunshine per day (est.)
- 6.7h
- 52% of 13.0 h of daylight
- Rainy days (1 mm+)
- 8
- 53 mm over the month
- Humidity
- 75%
- Days over 25°C
- 2%
- none over 30°C
- Record high 1991-2020
- 27.8°C
- 1997-04-30
- Record low 1991-2020
- 7.2°C
- 2020-04-03
- Flight from London
- ≈ 2 h 42 min
- 1549 km, short-haul (estimate for a direct flight)
Records are observed extremes within 1991-2020, not typical holiday conditions. Warm-day percentages are shares of days, not day counts.
How April compares
April is the 7th warmest month of the year in Lisbon and ranks 88th of 134 destinations we compare for April - see where else is hot in April. Within Portugal it is 12th of 13 (Portugal in April). Against London's average high of 13.5°C in April, Lisbon is 4.6°C warmer by day and 7.2°C warmer at night.
Daytime and night-time in April
The typical April day in Lisbon peaks at 18.1°C, but that is an average: the warmest 10% of days reach 22.9°C or more. Roughly 1 in 43 days top 25°C. Nights average 12.3°C; one night in ten drops to 10.0°C or lower, so pack a layer for evenings - it is genuinely cool after dark. Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day here reached 27.8°C (1997-04-30) and the coldest night 7.2°C (2020-04-03).
Rain in April
Wet (more than 8 rainy days): about 8 days with 1 mm or more, 53 mm in total. Year to year it varies a lot - the wettest April was 2000 with 144 mm, the driest 2017 with 4 mm. Humidity averages 75%.
Sea temperature in April
The sea averages 15.3°C - too cold for most (under 18°c). Depending on the year it ranges from 14.6°C to 16.4°C. For the warmest sea here, come in August (19.2°C).
Sunshine and daylight
Around 6.7 hours of sunshine a day (estimated from cloud cover), 13.0 hours of daylight: the sun rises about 07:00 and sets about 20:13 local time in mid-April. Average cloud cover is 49%.
Is April a good time to visit Lisbon?
April is not the strongest month here: mild days and frequent rain. The best months for Lisbon on our scoring are July, August, September; months averaging 25°C or more: Jul, Aug.
Comfortable for walking, cool after dark
Lisbon's April temperatures suit travellers who prefer walking without strong heat. A light top may be comfortable during warmer spells, but keep a jumper or jacket handy for cooler conditions and evenings. The warmest days reach around 23°C or more, while colder nights can drop to 10°C or below, so packing only for the average would leave you short. Days reaching 25°C account for just 2% of the month, making proper summer heat an unlikely feature of your trip. Plan outdoor time around the warmer part of the day if you feel the cold, and take an extra layer when staying out after dark.
Useful daylight, but keep your plans flexible
April gives you about 6.7 hours of sunshine within 13 hours of daylight, leaving plenty of room to move outdoor plans around the weather. That is not a promise of clear skies: rain is a real consideration, so bring a light waterproof and shoes you are comfortable wearing in wet conditions. Keep your schedule flexible rather than making every day depend on dry weather. The coast is better treated as somewhere to spend time beside the water than a reason to pack for swimming. At around 15°C, the sea is cold, even when the air feels pleasant. April therefore suits a city break with outdoor time, not a holiday built around warm-water dips.
A little perspective
Lisbon through the year
April is highlighted. See how it compares with the rest of the year.
| Month | Day | Night | Sea | Sun/day | Rain mm | Rainy days | Days 25°C+ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 13.6°C | 9.1°C | 14.5°C | 4.6 | 68 | 9 | 0% |
| February | 14.4°C | 9.2°C | 14.0°C | 5.3 | 52 | 7 | 0% |
| March | 16.7°C | 10.8°C | 14.4°C | 5.9 | 53 | 8 | 0% |
| AprilSelected | 18.1°C | 12.3°C | 15.3°C | 6.7 | 53 | 8 | 2% |
| May | 20.8°C | 14.4°C | 16.7°C | 7.8 | 44 | 6 | 17% |
| June | 23.9°C | 16.7°C | 18.0°C | 9.7 | 11 | 2 | 33% |
| Julybest | 26.0°C | 18.1°C | 18.7°C | 11.1 | 2 | 1 | 56% |
| Augustbest | 26.6°C | 18.7°C | 19.2°C | 10.2 | 4 | 1 | 63% |
| Septemberbest | 24.7°C | 17.8°C | 19.2°C | 7.9 | 29 | 4 | 42% |
| October | 21.2°C | 15.7°C | 18.2°C | 5.5 | 78 | 9 | 12% |
| November | 16.9°C | 12.4°C | 16.6°C | 4.8 | 84 | 10 | 0% |
| December | 14.5°C | 10.2°C | 15.2°C | 4.1 | 79 | 9 | 0% |
Day = average daytime high, night = average night-time low, 1991-2020.Sun is hours per day; rainy days count 1 mm or more.
Day, night and sea
Monthly average temperatures, 1991-2020
- Day
- Night
- Sea
Best months here
On warmth, low rainfall and sunshine, start with these.
Keep exploring
Similar in April
Closest matches on daytime temperature, sea temperature and sunshine, in other countries.
A little more detail
Lisbon in April FAQs
Plain answers, grounded in the averages.
Is Lisbon hot in April?
Lisbon is mild in April: the average daytime high is 18.1°C and nights average 12.3°C. Roughly 1 in 43 April days reach 25°C.
Can you swim in the sea in Lisbon in April?
The sea around Lisbon averages 15.3°C in April, which is cold for swimming without a wetsuit. Between 1991 and 2020 it ranged from 15°C to 16°C depending on the year.
How much does it rain in Lisbon in April?
Lisbon sees about 8 rainy days (1 mm or more) and 53 mm of rain in a typical April. The wettest April between 1991 and 2020 was 2000 (144 mm) and the driest was 2017 (4 mm).
How sunny is Lisbon in April?
Lisbon gets around 6.7 hours of sunshine a day in April out of 13.0 hours of daylight (estimated from average cloud cover).
How does Lisbon compare with the UK in April?
Lisbon is on average 4.6°C warmer than London by day in April (18.1°C against 13.5°C).
What is the hottest April on record in Lisbon?
Between 1991 and 2020 the hottest April day in Lisbon reached 27.8°C on 1997-04-30, and the coldest night dropped to 7.2°C on 2020-04-03.
Is Lisbon noticeably warmer than London in April?
Yes. Lisbon's average daytime high is 18.1°C, compared with 13.5°C in London, a difference of 4.6°C. That makes it a milder option for outdoor plans, although cool evenings and rain mean you should still bring layers.
Is the sea warm enough for swimming?
Not for a comfortable warm-water swim. April's sea temperature averages 15.3°C, with a year-to-year range of 15°C to 16°C. Treat swimming as a cold-water activity rather than expecting the pleasant air temperature to mean pleasant water.
Should I choose April or go later in the year?
Choose April if mild daytime weather matters more than heat, and you can work around rain. July, August and September rate best overall for holiday weather here. April is a reasonable fit for a city break, but less suited to summer-style expectations.
About these averages
ERA5-Land climate reanalysis via Open-Meteo (11 km grid) and NOAA Coral Reef Watch 5 km sea temperatures, 1991-2020
Averages computed from daily values at Lisbon. Sea temperature from the nearest 5 km sea cell, 2.1 km from that point. Sunshine hours are estimated from average cloud cover.Records are the highest and lowest daily values in that 30-year period, not all-time records. These are climate averages, not a forecast for your trip. How we measure holiday weather
- Hot · 25°C+
- Warm · 20°C to below 25°C
- Mild · 15°C to below 20°C
- Cool · below 15°C