Make your Lisbon trip fantastic. The streets are uneven hills are real and the light is beautiful. What you wear needs to work with all that.
Lisbon is not a flat city. You will walk a lot more than you expect, and the sidewalks are slippery; rain or sunshine.
This is not a for stiff outfits nor a place to break-in your shoes.
AVOID in Lisbon
Lisbon’s calçada, the traditional sidewalks are beautiful but not forgiving.
Portugal has no dress code—Lisbon and Porto do not have dress codes!
In the summer, many tourists wear shorts and bermudas, oversized T-shirts, and sneakers. I also see many women wearing lovely summer dresses and people wearing as little as possible.
Are you going to Albufeira this summer?
Albufeira wants people to have fun and enjoy the beach, but they want people to cover up when they are in town, restaurants and public places.
Wear a dress over your suit when walking around town.
The truth is that it’s tough to look like part of a culture you do not belong to.
Don’t worry about blending in.
Be stylish, but remember to dress in a comfy manner.
Dress according to what you will do!
If you go hiking, wear the appropriate clothes to protect your body and wear your fantastic swimsuit (bikini, whatever) when you are off to the beach.
Are you going to walk around a village after a swim in the ocean?
Wear a dress over your swimsuit so that you can go to a restaurant or go shopping.
Keep it simple.
I have never seen anyone ask a woman to cover up before entering a church. Having said that, I always carry a long light scarf should anyone ask me to.
This packing list will be great for your Lisbon stay, and day trips near Lisbon.
Choose a color theme. A color theme will help you combine all your clothes. You can choose dark blue as the color theme.
Tips for combining according to a color theme
Pack dark blue summer trousers, a dark blue skirt, and at least one blue T-shirt.
Your dress can be any solid color or have tiny patterns. The idea behind the tiny patterns is that they will make the dress look more neutral, and you can change the look with a belt and a scarf. Large patterns are fun but more challenging to wear a few times.
In this case, dark blue is the main color, and it will be easy to dress it up or down because it’s neutral.
Blue T-shirt for a monochrome look
Wear one of the shirts over your trousers or knot it in the front
Shirt and scarf
T-shirt + blazer+ scarf+ belt
sandals or sneakers
T-shirt + blazer + belt
T-shirt + scarf
Blue T-shirt for a monochrome look
Shirt tucked in + belt
sandals or sneakers
T-shirt + blazer + belt
T-shirt + scarf
Shirt tucked in + belt
sandals or sneakers
Blazer
Blazer+ belt+ scarf
Scarf
sandals or sneakers
Accessories will help you look more elegant. A lovely light scarf always looks beautiful in anything you wear. If you want a special necklace, buy it here in Lisbon.
I buy many things at Soul Mood in the Chiado, where an artist makes the accessories locally, and the prices are great.
You may find some lovely pieces when you are out and about, and accessories are a great souvenir.
Put your outfits on and photograph yourself. Look at the photos and edit your clothes.
Keep the photos of the different outfits and combinations so that you can refer to them during your trip.
I find that if I’m not careful I end up using the same combinations and I get bored!
So play with your clothes- you will be amazed to see how many combinations you can do with few clothes.
Lisbon can get scorching during the summer.
You might arrive in the middle of a heatwave or be lucky to have a typical summer day and a cooler evening.
Be prepared for the hot days!
The heat can make you dehydrated, sick, and tired, so it’s okay to slow down.
Wishing you a fantastic Lisbon trip!
.
Are you coming to Portugal and need help in planning your 14 day vacation? I have some good tips for you: How to plan a fun solo vacation for women over 50
.
Updated April 2026
Light clothes! Linen shirts or cotton wrinkle free shirts, t-shirts, skirts are better than shorts and a light pair of trousers. Sneakers or walking sandals.
It does not rain in the summer in Lisbon. Having said that, bring a light raincoat or one of those plastic ponchos.
Most Portuguese will dress nicely for dinner. Many tourists do not bother dressing up for dinner, and some do.
I suggest that you bring a few nice things for going out to dinner. Why not? It’s fun to look great!
It gets cooler at night.
Bring a light jacket to wear in the evenings and a cashmere or wool shawl (Pashmina).
If you have a light cashmere sweater, bring that too!
Yes! Bring a large-brim hat, and if you don’t want to bring one, get a hat here in Lisbon!
I would not pack a hair dryer! Your hotel or Airbnb will have a hair dryer.
Yes. Many small restaurants do not have AC.
Some Airbnb’s have decided not to install them, so be careful about choosing where to stay! Ask a lot of questions.
How do I get to Lisbon center from the airport?
You can take the metro (RED line) but be advised that many elevators and escalators break down often.
Take an UBER.
Yes. Many tourists wear tank tops in the summer.
| Topic | Details |
|---|---|
| General Dress Code | No official dress code in Lisbon. Common to see tourists in shorts, t-shirts, dresses, and comfortable shoes. |
| Blending In | No need to worry about blending in. Dress comfortably, considering comfort for sightseeing. Dresses and skirts can make you look more dressed up but remain practical. |
| Packing Essentials |
|
| Footwear | Comfortable walking sandals and sneakers with good grip (big grooves for anti-slip). Avoid slip-prone footwear, especially on Lisbon’s sidewalks. |
| Accessories |
|
| Jewelry | Avoid bringing valuable jewelry. Light, easy-to-pack accessories are ideal. |
| What to Wear by Activity |
|
| Packing Tips | Choose a color theme (e.g., dark blue) to easily mix and match clothes. Photograph yourself wearing outfits for easy decision-making. |
| Heatwave Tips | Sightsee early morning, do indoor activities 11 am-5 pm. Walk on shady side of streets, drink water, take breaks. Consider evening activities to avoid midday heat. |
| Daytime Activities During Heatwave |
|
| FAQ: Important Items to Pack |
|
| Extras to Pack |
|
| Handling Cool Evenings | Carry a light shawl or scarves to layer up during cooler evenings. |
Marguerite Beaty, Blogger, Photographer & Artist
Welcome to the sunny side of life for women over 50! We aim to create a space where women feel empowered, supported, and inspired to lead their best lives after 50. Join our Instagram!
Share this article with your friends!
By providing your email here, you will receive a notification every time Marguerite posts a new article :)
By providing your email here, you will receive a notification every time Marguerite posts a new article :)
