12 Things to Do in Lisbon in October

The month of October is a good time to travel to Lisbon Why? Because besides the more international dates like Halloween, the Portuguese capital celebrates during this month other important events with a great cultural value for the city.

If you are looking for alternative plans for October or want to visit a unique Lisbon that is not available the rest of the year, you have chosen a good month to go. My favorite plans include lots of movies and the occasional late night party, but don't worry you will also have the chance to see more rural areas around Lisbon.

Lisbon has many good things, and one of them is its food. It is clear that you don't need to go in October to enjoy its gastronomy, but if you travel that month I have good news: the city's tapas route takes place. What does it consist of exactly? For a fairly affordable price that combines a drink and a tapa in different places, you can take a gastronomic tour and savor Lisbon.

Actually the Portuguese call tapas petiscos, as they are like small dishes that are eaten in one bite. Although there are all kinds of them, for me the best and the ones you can't miss are the ones with seafood, which in Lisbon is a high quality product.

The October tapas route is a very good alternative to make sure you try different petiscos. The bars of the Portuguese capital usually devise and cook new proposals exclusively for this event, fulfilling the objective of uniting the pleasure of tapas and having a few beers while touring Lisbon; in short, a way to enhance the value of its culture and gastronomy. Are you going to miss it?

If it rains one of the days you are going to be in Lisbon, which is quite likely if you go to Lisbon (the forecast is for at least 8 days of rainfall) I advise you to opt for a plan that will keep you entertained for at least half a day. Where? Book tickets to the Oceanarium. You will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of life in its 5 million liters of water.

With species from all the world's oceans, the Lisbon Oceanarium has become one of the city's major attractions for both children and adults. The best thing is that the natural habitats of marine animals have been recreated very well, so that under its tunnels and in its rooms, you can find penguins, rays and even a sunfish.

A runner always travels with his running shoes... Is this your case? Well, you're in luck because in October Lisbon celebrates its marathon. Not only will you have the opportunity to beat your personal best, but you will do it while seeing one of the most beautiful areas of the city: its coast. Because yes, the 42 kilometers run through beautiful scenery, starting in Cascais and finishing in the center of the capital.

Every year thousands of runners, some from different parts of the world, meet in Lisbon to add one more marathon to their back. The good thing is that if you don't dare with the long course, you have two shorter ones: the Half Marathon, which crosses the Vasco da Gama bridge, and the 10 kilometers of the Vodafone race, which crosses the 25th of April bridge.

I won't fool you, the hilly profile of Lisbon is tiring and complicated, but it is worth it if you have trained for it and want to do some sightseeing in the city and its surroundings while running a marathon at the same time.

Catholics know that on October 13, 1917 something important happened at the Shrine of Fatima. On that date it is said that the "Lady of the Rosary" appeared for the first time before her faithful and then she did it on several other occasions also on the 13th. Since then, it is very common to go to the sanctuary on that date. Maybe you will see the virgin!

Whether or not you are lucky enough to have the virgin appear before you, this is a must-see if you are in Lisbon, as it will take you about an hour to get there by booking an excursion to Fatima from Lisbon. Of course, I warn you that because of the importance of that date you will meet many other pilgrims. Still, it is a good opportunity to contemplate their devotion and also to see the sanctuary itself, which is quite beautiful.

The apparition in Fatima

It was in 1917 when three little shepherd children, Lucia de Jesus, Francisco and Jacinta Marto were lucky enough to have the Virgin Mary appear to them in the village of Fatima. On that first visit, she told them to pray hard and that they would see her again in a month's time. When that day came, she asked them to build a basilica in her honor.

The Chapel of Apparitions

It is the most important place and the first to be built. You will find an image of the Virgin in the place where she appeared to the little shepherds; nowadays this place is like an altar to which pilgrims pray when they arrive at Fatima, on foot, by one of the four routes.

The Basilica of Our Lady of Fatima

It was erected after the chapel to accommodate the large number of faithful who came to see the Virgin. It was designed by Gerard Van Kriechen in a baroque style and Moimento, the most famous stone in the region, was used to construct both the building and the sculptures inside.

Inside the basilica are also the tombs of the three children who first saw the virgin.

October is the beginning of the season of castanhas assadas in Lisbon, so you will find it hard to resist buying them at some of the wooden stalls that fill the city. Although November in Lisbon is when most chestnuts are consumed, October is the month when they start to be harvested, so get ready to taste tender and full of flavor chestnuts.

When you arrive in Lisbon you will see that roasted chestnuts are a delight, their smell spreads all over the city! Be careful not to end up buying them in the most expensive and less quality stalls. My advice is to start wandering the streets and, in crowded and traditional areas, such as Largo do Chiado or Rua Augusta, get a newspaper cone full of chestnuts.

Who wouldn't want to enjoy Lisbon? If you go in October you will, and with a wonderful temperature. During this month the capital of Portugal has quite pleasant temperatures, even at night (around 16ºC), which will allow you to experience Lisbon's nightlife like never before.

The Portuguese capital is famous for its intense nightlife. If you feel like dancing to the rhythm of the music, or just hanging out in the city's bars, you can do so without being too cold in the street or too hot inside the bars. No matter what kind of party you like, after dinner you can choose between having a few beers on a terrace, paying the entrance fee to a discotheque or simply going from pub to pub.

Where to go out? It could be said that Lisbon's party scene is concentrated in four neighborhoods; which one to choose will depend on your mood, the atmosphere you are looking for and the budget you can afford.

• Bairro Alto: the students' favorite and, therefore, the most affordable and trendy. Here you will find many nightclubs, bars with live music and also a LGTBIQ+ area.
• Docas: in this area you will need to take out your savings and also your best looks, because they usually have admission policies.
• Santos and Cais Do Sodre: the newest and most alternative places are in this neighborhood.

If you like surfing, the town of Cascais, very close to Lisbon, is an idyllic destination to enjoy the waves in October. Its fame is such that for years in this same month, has been held there some of the most important international surfing championships. Even if you do not want to participate, you can always take an excursion that leaves from the Portuguese capital and spend a day surfing.

A few years ago Cascais, and the rest of the Portuguese Riviera, was known for being a tourist destination for the aristocracy, but today is a much more modern and surfing town. October is a month in which many water sports lovers come here to take advantage of its waves.

If there is a beach that has the surfers in love that is Carcavelos, where every morning the locals gather. If you also want to join them, you won't have any problem; there are several surf schools and surf stores nearby where you can rent equipment. When you finish catching waves, remember that Cascais is a fishing village, so you can taste delicious dishes in one of its restaurants.

You can also book a surf lesson in Lisbon on the coast of Caparica, the ideal place to practice this sport by the extension of its beaches and the proximity to the Portuguese capital.

The streetcar is undoubtedly one of the most identifying symbols of the city of Lisbon. Its use as public transport is vital in the city, but what do you think about enjoying it by taking a sightseeing tour on it?

Booking a streetcar tour in Lisbon you will have 24 hours to use it and get on and off as many times as you want. Among the stops along the way you will find emblematic places of the city such as the Alfama district, which you can see from the Mirador de Portas do Sol, the great Castle of St. George and the Elevador de Santa Justa, among many other attractions.

Fado is an artistic genre that unites poetry with music and is practiced in most of the country. It is an Afro-Brazilian songs and dances that are considered since 2011 as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity by UNESCO and that, if you travel to the Portuguese capital, you can witness in many shows.

If you book tickets to attend a fado concert in Lisbon you can discover one of the greatest jewels of Portuguese culture. You will attend a live music concert, with local singers and guitarists to experience firsthand this traditional art.

The scariest night of the year also arrives in Lisbon. Every October 31, the Portuguese capital celebrates Halloween with multiple themed parties. If you are going to be in the city around that time, don't forget to wear your best costume and get ready to spend the whole night among ghosts, good music and plans that will keep you awake at night.

Lisbon is a city with a great nightlife and, on Halloween, it is not unusual to find everyone dressed up in costumes, going from bar to bar and going to parties. Beyond these, there are other activities and events happening around the city, from trick-or-treating house tours (something recommended if you go to Lisbon with children) to tours of Lisbon's legends and scary stories.

My advice is to enjoy a bit of everything. When night starts to fall, put on your costume, if you don't already have one, and book a night tour of Lisbon. The guide will surely also dress up in costume and will try even harder to put fear in your body while explaining the spookiest stories of the city. When you finish, take the opportunity to have some dinner and join the party.

How's the world? It's complicated to answer this question, but they say that by attending the International Film Festival held every October in Lisbon, you can have a little clearer answer. This meeting is focused on documentary cinema and it screens films that portray the most immediate reality.

In addition to the many (and very interesting) films that you can see at DocLisboa, this festival is known for having also become a place for debate, reflection and activism. Without a doubt, it is a clear example of the idea that art can change the world. In total, the festival runs for 11 days, so there is time for films from different authors and countries to be exhibited and compete in the different categories.

If you feel like doing something different in Lisbon and see the premieres of documentaries that, quite possibly, will later be nominated for major international awards, you can not miss DocLisboa.

Do you like fashion? The beauty of visiting different cities is to see how their people adapt the different trends or develop their own style according to the place. In Lisbon it also happens, and if you travel in October you will also have the opportunity to see it during its Fashion Week. In it different Portuguese designers present their proposals in parades sometimes open to the public.

Of course, you will have to prepare your best outfits, because during the week that lasts the Moda Lisboa event, emblematic places of the city, such as the Parque Eduardo VII, are filled with creativity, elegance and originality. If you also want to attend, you can check on their website the calendar of events, the location and also if you need an invitation or you can attend freely during the schedule.

In addition to the artistic values, this Fashion Week is very involved with sustainability, inclusion and training of young talents, so you can attend a workshop or conference on the subject. Another aspect that might interest you is that they are opening a pop-up store where you can buy designs by Portuguese creators.

You're in luck! October is quite a pleasant month in Lisbon. Why? Because the temperatures are autumnal, neither too cold nor too hot. Most days you will find highs of 23ºC, being able to walk around the city without a coat even, and lows of 16ºC, especially at night.

There is only one downside, rain is common. Approximately 8 days a month, although in short periods that will not prevent you from enjoying the city. My advice is to carry a raincoat in your suitcase, instead of an umbrella, which is always more bulky and you will only need it a few hours a day. Of course, when the October sun comes out in Lisbon you will need glasses, believe me.

In general I already tell you that Lisbon, even being a European capital, is quite cheap, so it is easy to find flights and hotels at good prices throughout the year, but especially in October. Not being summer in Lisbon or coinciding with vacations like Easter or Christmas in Lisbon, the city is quiet and with it its prices.

My recommendation is always to book everything in advance to get the best deals, but even planning a weekend in Lisbon at the last minute you can find airplanes for about 50€ (round trip) and accommodation also with reduced prices out of season. My advice is to take advantage of this circumstance to sleep in more central and historic areas, such as Chiado, Alfama and Bairro Alto.