Weather | 18–28°C (64–82°F), warm and mostly dry | 14–23°C (57–73°F), mild with some showers | 10–18°C (50–64°F), cooler and wetter |
Crowds | Moderate, especially early month | Moderate; comfortable in most areas | Low to moderate, except Web Summit week |
Atmosphere | Beachy, easygoing, still summery | Film-festival month, chestnut smoke, lighter evenings | More indoor, more local, early festive build-up |
Key events | MOTELx, film and music season starts | Portuguese Republic Day, EDP Lisbon Marathon, DocLisboa, André Rieu | Web Summit, São Martinho, Christmas lights begin late month |
Public holidays | None major citywide | October 5: Portuguese Republic Day | November 1: All Saints’ Day |
Budget | Better than August, but warm-weather demand stays high | Good shoulder-season value outside event dates | Usually budget-friendly, except November 9–12 |
Best for | Warm-weather city breaks and beach add-ons | Balanced city trips, museums, walking, and Sintra day trips | Budget travellers and museum-heavy itineraries |
Book early? | Yes for late-summer weekends | Yes for October 5 and October 10–11 | Yes if staying during Web Summit |
Transport tips | Easy to combine city and coast | Marathon weekend can affect road access from Cascais into Lisbon | Rain slows walking days more than transit |