That time of year has arrived: cities are filled with lights and sparkles and squares and gardens host the most enchanting Christmas Markets. From appetizing sweets to the most tempting regional products, handicrafts or fashion and accessories, this will be the perfect excuse to leave the house and check off the list of Christmas gifts, while Mariah Carey (All I Want for Christmas is You) or Wham! (Last Christmas) remind us that, on this date, you must celebrate love, in all its forms.
If you have children, get ready to leave them crazy with the illuminated trees the size of buildings, with the trains driven by elves, ice rinks that inspire the most acrobatic pirouettes (or falls), carousels, lots of joy and of course, Santa, the party star willing to fulfill everyone's wishes!
Join our Christmas Markets itinerary, from north to south of the country, but remember that there are many, many more! Choose one… or, bet everything you've got and, go on a tour!
Wonderland Lisboa
Set in Parque Eduardo VII, it is a Christmas classic in the capital city and one of the most popular Christmas Markets. Its ex-libris is its huge Giant Wheel, from where you will have privileged views of Lisbon! But this is just one of the immense entertainments that you can find here: the Ecological Ice Rink, the Christmas Train, Santa's House, the Market or a Christmas Tree (19 meters high!) are other options that will delight children and adults alike.
Christmas Palace (Porto)
Magic spreads around Invicta City, in the form of Christmas Fairs, and the Palácio de Cristal Gardens are the center of the party. In Tenda de Cristal you will find a set of workshops that invite you to write letters to Santa Claus, play percussion and create soaps, candles, ornaments or puppets, Avenida das Tílias hosts a Christmas Market and in Tenda de Neve, the program will present storytellers, actors, clowns, magicians, musicians, dancers and even a caricaturist. Music will be a constant presence and the program is completely free and designed for all ages.
Perlim (Santa Maria da Feira)
Another classic Christmas Market is Perlim, which makes Santa Maria da Feira the true Portuguese Christmas Lapland. Fantasy, dream and magic is what awaits us in this enchanted world, where you can hear sensational stories, dazzling musicals, surprising shows and lots of perlim-pim-pim magic powders. This edition also extends to the historic center of the city and will feature, for the first time, Circo Magikal.
Penela Presépio (Penela)
Just over 30 km from Coimbra, the castle of Penela becomes the largest animated nativity scene in Portugal, which attracts thousands of people every year. The event recreates representative pictures of the traditional Portuguese crib and tells us stories of the time. And in addition to the usual entertainment at the Christmas Markets – shows, trains, workshops – one of the highlights of this event is the live nativity scene, where we can see daily Hebrew routines – labor and crafts, trade and customs.
Christmas Magic Center (Tomar)
In the city of the Templars, December is time for one of the Christmas Fairs that will transport you to a Christmas tale, where there will lots of music, entertainment, cultural activities for children and traditional cuisine. Venture out on the Parisian Carousel, take an unforgettable trip on the Christmas Train or trust your most secret wishes at Santa Claus House. At the base of the Christmas Tree, over 11 meters high, you will find the original Atelier dos Duendes, with several activities for the youngest!
Óbidos Vila Natal
A picturesque medieval village – one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal – together with the shine of one of the most enchanting Christmas Markets in the country. In addition to the regulars of the time – such as the Apeadeiro das Guloseimas, the Quinta Mágica, the Classic Carousel, the Santa Claus Chalet, shows, workshops, face painting and much more – this year's novelty is the "Christmas Wood". A tribute to a community custom, known as a "madeiro" (a huge open-air bonfire), which is still celebrated in some parts of the country.
Magic Castle (Montemor-o-Velho)
The beautiful fortress of Montemor-o-Velho will become a magical place, where you can breathe Christmas throughout the month of December. Fascinating for children, and for those who look forward to this season full of dreams and color, here there will be many activities for the whole family: shows, ice rink, inflatables or rides on animals and you can even dream in the Planetarium and meet Santa Claus. And after the fun, there's also room for them to taste some of the delicacies on sale!
Kingdom of Christmas (Sintra)
The Kingdom of Christmas is installed in the Historic Center of Sintra, with sports activities, games, workshops, concerts, Christmas Markets and theatrical moments. The event spreads across Parque da Liberdade, Largo do Palácio Nacional de Sintra and NewsMuseum, where there are lots of fairies, elves and a giant Christmas tree installed near the National Palace of Sintra, in Largo Rainha D. Amélia. Admission is free, but visitors are invited to contribute with animal food to support solidarity associations.
Market Night (Funchal)
It is one of the most traditional Christmas Fairs on Madeira Island and a real “warm-up” for Christmas Eve: the "Festa da Noite do Mercado" is a celebration that takes place on the 23rd of December (only!), in Funchal, and lasts all night. For several hours, the Mercado dos Lavradores and surrounding streets are filled with people who come together to sing Christmas carols, dance and drink in what is the longest night on the island. The bars serve traditional drinks (such as poncha) and the delicious “carne vinha d’alhos” sandwich, typical of Christmas. During the day, around the market, regional fruits and vegetables are impressively displayed for last-minute purchases.
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