Lisbon Awaits - Week of January 27, 2025

⭐️ Main Events

Carminho – Portuguesa | Há Fado No Cais

In a quest to delve deeper into this musical style, the album features 14 tracks, including lyrics she wrote and new compositions for traditional Fados.

By exploring various combinations within the canon, she has toured extensively with this album and was nominated for a Latin Grammy in the Best Portuguese-language Roots Album category.

🎭 Theater, Opera and Dance

The Nutcracker and the Mouse King

At the home of young Clara and Fritz, Christmas Eve holds an enchanting adventure, triggered by the arrival of Clara's Godfather, a former Magician and owner of a toy store.

As a gift, Clara receives an unusual Nutcracker. After the 12 chimes, everything transforms and comes to life to defeat the fearsome Mouse King and save the Kingdom of Fantasy.

On this journey, Clara meets fantastic characters and discovers the true spirit of friendship and mutual help.

🎉 Festivals

🎶 Music and Concerts

The Portuguese | Rodrigo Leão

Drawing on memories of the 1970s, the landscapes, conversations, and shared emotions serve as the starting point.

In a show featuring visual production, lighting, and sound, some of the themes explored on this album, along with other well-known instrumental pieces to his audience, will be performed on stage.

Dire Straits Legacy

Following their tour of Brazil, the group brings together musicians from different stages of the band’s career for a show that recreates their unique atmosphere and attempts to keep the memory of Dire Straits alive.

Mainstreet Festival Portugal

With a program full of surprises, Mainstreet Festival brings some of the most acclaimed artists on the current hip-hop scene, whose names dominate the TOPs of the streaming platforms, featuring performances by rap giants such as Orochi, Poze do Rodo, Borges, Oruam, Cabelinho and many others, promising a show full of energy and emotion, with a production of lights, sounds and beats that will make the audience vibrate and create unforgettable memories.  

Street culture will prominently feature in the show, providing a unique experience. Rap's vibes, style, and adrenaline will echo through the heart of Lisbon, ensuring that the excitement is at its peak every minute of the event.

This is the time to live the epic Mainstreet Festival experience, the biggest rap celebration of the year, in the center of the capital.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this historic party! 

🏛️ Exhibitions

The Science of Pixar

Split into eight zones with more than 50 interactive experiences, visitors can explore the world of Toy Story, Monsters and Co., Finding Nemo, and Inside Out.

From the story and characters to their design and modeling, right up to the moment when technology brings them to life, in The Science of Pixar, visitors follow the entire film production process and discover various fascinating facts about their favorite characters.

Archive of Helena Almeida

Photographs of artworks and exhibitions, press cuttings and reviews from 1967 to 2018, and correspondence with entities, institutions, and gallery owners are some of the documents from Helena Almeida’s archive, which is now part of the Art Library’s collection.  

To celebrate this donation to the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, the Art Library displays some of the documents from the Archive, along with some artworks from the collection of Centro de Arte Moderna.

🗓️ Upcoming

Lisbon Half Marathon ‘25  - (March)

Speaking in competitive terms, the course is flat and very fast. The Start is at the tolls’ square of the bridge and the Finish Line is in front of the Jerónimos Monastery.

Surely one of the most attractive races in the world.

❄️ Weather in January: Lisbon's Winter Tranquility

Average High: 15°C / 59°F
Average Low: 8°C / 46°F
Average Rainfall: 100 millimeters / 3.9 inches

January in Lisbon showcases the city's serene winter character, offering visitors a mild Mediterranean winter experience that sets it apart from much of Europe. While the rest of the continent often shivers in freezing temperatures, Lisbon maintains a gentle climate with average highs of 15°C (59°F), perfect for exploring the city's historic streets. Nights are cool but rarely bitter, with lows around 8°C (46°F), encouraging visitors to seek out Lisbon's cozy tascas and warm, inviting fado houses.

Rainfall reaches its peak during January, with an average of 100mm spread across the month. While wet days are common, Lisbon still enjoys plenty of crisp, sunny winter days, with the city's famous light reflecting brilliantly off its white limestone buildings and tiled facades. The occasional rainy spell provides the perfect excuse to discover Lisbon's rich indoor cultural scene, from the Maritime Museum to the Gulbenkian Foundation.

Packing for January requires thoughtful layering. Bring warm sweaters, a waterproof coat, and a good scarf and gloves for the cooler mornings and evenings. While snow is extremely rare in Lisbon, the humidity can make it feel chillier than the thermometer suggests, so warm layers are essential. Don't forget a sturdy umbrella and water-resistant footwear for navigating the city's characteristic calçada portuguesa (Portuguese pavement).

January offers visitors a uniquely authentic experience of Lisbon. With fewer tourists, you'll find yourself sharing the narrow streets of Bairro Alto and Chiado with locals going about their daily lives. The quieter atmosphere allows for unhurried exploration of major sites like São Jorge Castle, where winter views across the city are exceptionally clear on sunny days.

This is the prime season for Lisbon's hearty winter cuisine. Traditional dishes like bacalhau à brás (shredded salt cod with eggs and potatoes) and cozido à portuguesa (Portuguese stew) come into their own. Street vendors roasting chestnuts provide both warmth and sustenance on chilly afternoons, while pastéis de nata taste even better alongside a steaming bica (Portuguese espresso) in a warm café.

January sees Lisbon's cultural calendar starting fresh, with theaters, concert halls, and cultural centers offering rich programs. The cooler weather creates perfect conditions for exploring indoor markets like the Time Out Market or the historic Mercado da Ribeira, where you can sample the best of Portuguese gastronomy while staying warm.

Whether you're admiring the winter light from the Santa Catarina viewpoint, exploring the covered galleries of Praça do Comércio, or taking a day trip to Belém (less crowded than in peak season), January in Lisbon offers a peaceful, authentic experience of the city. The cooler temperatures and occasional rain are more than compensated for by the opportunity to experience Lisbon at its most genuine when its true character shines through in the winter light.