What to do in Lisbon on a rainy day

Hello, readers!

If you are around the Lisbon area these couple of days, or have been following the news about the city, you know what the weather currently looks like. It has been aggressively raining and not at all the best weather for a stroll around town. Today is actually nice, but I’ve seen the forecast and the rain will be visiting the next couple of weeks. So, I decided to make a small list of things I am planning on doing to get me out of my house, but not leave me dripping - I am sharing these things so you can also enjoy the city without risking getting a cold!

Brunch at Boutik

Boutik is a brunch cafe that I went to once and had a really nice experience! Me and my friend Mariana ended up here since the original cafe we were planning on going to lost our reservation, but we were pleasantly surprised with this short notice alternative. It is located in São Bento, and not only are they a cafe but also a small shop with many boho clothes and accessories, which is so fun to explore! Both me and Mariana asked for the brunch menu, that included a plate of pancakes, a delicious avocado toast, a yogurt bowl, fresh juice and a warm drink. This menu is 15 euros, but if you ask for additional toppings (for example, eggs on your avocado toast) it might slightly increase. Everything was delicious, the staff were super friendly and the ambiance was very chill, I can’t wait to come back here!

Book a show at Coliseu dos Recreios

Now, this is a place that I haven’t been to in ages! Coliseu dos Recreios (literal translation: recreation colosseum) is one of the most famous show arenas in the city. It opened way back in 1890 and has mainly hosted operas, but nowadays you can go to many different types of shows here - I’ve watched many musicals such as Cats and Miss Saigon, went to a James Morrison concert here and recently watched the opera Turandot. It has a very classical and fancy design, but it is comfortable and a beautiful structure! Don’t miss opportunity to spend a nice evening at this site: you can check their schedule here.

Escape Room at Game Over

I have been recently going to a few escape rooms and they are so much fun, especially when you have a fun group of friends to go with - and, since they are indoors, this is the perfect rainy day plan. If you are not familiar with escape rooms, you go into a room where you are locked inside, and you have to decode a bunch of clues in order to get yourself out. In the majority of escape rooms, you go from one room into another until you are able to finish. My favorite ones are from Game Over, which is a company right in the heart of Lisbon (near Príncipe Real). I went to the Saw and Forbidden Temple of Montezuma (Indiana Jones inspired) and I have been waiting for too long to go to the next one! Prices vary depending on the number of people, but for this escape room specifically you can check out their prices here.

Visit a museum

There are endless museums that you can visit in Lisbon, so it’s hard to recommend a specific one! Although I’ve lived here my whole life, there are not that many museums I have visited. It’s a shame that sometimes we neglect our own patrimony, isn’t it? If you’re trying to stay on a budget, I am linking this list where you can check out some free admissions for museums in Lisbon, this might help you narrow down your choice. I have recently visited the Museu Nacional do Azulejo and loved it (you can check out my blog post about this one by clicking here). The next one on my list is Museu de Arte Antiga (Ancient Art Museum)!

Watch the fish at Oceanário de Lisboa

This is the perfect family plan for a rainy day. Not only kids love watching sea life, I am 25 years old and I couldn’t love it more as well! I am starting with a little disclaimer informing that I don’t always support paying to watch wildlife inside four walls, however it is known that the Lisbon Oceanarium supports ocean sustainability, sea life reproduction and sustainable fishing. If you decide to visit this amazing attraction, be prepared to be amazed by the cutest otters, penguins and, most of all, the massive main tank where you can spot thousands of different ocean species. Adult rates are 19 EUR, kids’ rates range from free admission to 10 EUR and there’s also a family pack. BUT, this month (October 2020) you only pay 5 euros if you are under 25 years old, and 13 EUR during happy hour (17h-19h) if you are over 26 years old.

Instagram @oceanariodelisboa

I guess there’s a ton of different things you can do during rainy days - however, Lisbon is not that rain-friendly and it might be hard to find different and fun things to do during these days. If anybody has any suggestions, feel free to email me at joana@eyesofjane.com with your ideas in case we make a new post in the future - I would love to help Lisbon visitors make the most of their time even when the sun is not around!