What’s on in Lisbon

Dates shift a little every year, so treat this as a planning guide rather than a fixed calendar - check exact dates closer to your trip.

Mild, sunny days and thinner crowds than summer make spring the best value season to visit. IndieLisboa, the city's independent film festival, runs through April, and Easter week brings processions to the older neighbourhoods.

Lisbon's biggest month. Santo António on the 12th and 13th fills Alfama, Graça and Mouraria with street parties, grilled sardines and paper decorations strung between the buildings - book Fado tables and pass redemptions further ahead than usual.

The hottest, busiest months. Music festivals such as NOS Alive and Super Bock Super Rock draw crowds to the city's outskirts, and day trips to the beaches at Cascais or Costa da Caparica are in full swing. Start sightseeing early to beat the heat.

Still warm, noticeably quieter, and generally our pick for the best value trip. Lisbon Fashion Week and the grape harvest in nearby wine regions both fall here.

One of the world's largest tech conferences takes over the city for a week, pushing hotel prices up sharply - book well ahead if your trip overlaps. The Lisbon Half Marathon also runs across the 25 de Abril Bridge this month.

Christmas lights along Rua Augusta and the riverside, seasonal markets in the main squares, and a fireworks display over the Tagus at Praça do Comércio on New Year's Eve.