Lisbon embraces the Christmas season with a genuine warmth and enthusiasm that transforms the entire city. Christmas is a season cherished by the Portuguese, filling the city with a festive energy that’s evident in everything from its bustling markets to its unique local traditions.

In the lead-up to Christmas, the city is draped in elaborate light displays and the main squares come alive with festive markets. As December progresses, the energy intensifies. The streets fill with festive shoppers, and by night, the districts of Bairro Alto and Cais do Sodré overflow with revellers enjoying the celebratory atmosphere.

A significant part of Lisbon's appeal is its mild winter climate. While much of Europe is under heavy cloud, the city often enjoys crisp, sunny days with temperatures mild enough for comfortable sightseeing, sometimes without the need for a heavy coat.

Visitors should be aware, however, that this popular festive period is also a peak tourist season. The spirited atmosphere is accompanied by higher prices for flights and accommodation, costing significantly more than a trip in November or January

Ultimately, a Lisbon Christmas offers a unique and memorable alternative to a traditional winter holiday. It’s an invitation to swap frost and gloom for the vibrant glow of city lights, cherished local traditions, and a festive atmosphere that is uniquely spirited and Portuguese.

Insight: The Portuguese for Merry Christmas is "Feliz Natal", and Happy New Year is "Feliz Ano Novo."

The Rua Garrett is always beautifully illuminated for Christmas

There will be many Christmas markets hosted throughout the city such as this one in Rossio plaza

When planning for Christmas in Lisbon, it's best to expect a bit of everything from the weather. While it is deep winter, the city's climate remains mild but notoriously unpredictable, offering an equal chance of crisp, sunny days and cool, wet ones. Do not expect a winter sun destination, but a festive city break with a pleasant climate.

On average, you can expect daytime highs of around 15°C (59°F), which is perfect for exploring the festive markets, while evenings become noticeably chilly, dropping to a brisk 9°C (48°F). Perhaps the most significant factor for a Christmas trip is the limited daylight, with the sun setting before 5:30 PM.

Be prepared for rain, as December is one of Lisbon's wettest months. There is some rainfall on approximately 14 days of the month, contributing to an average precipitation of 127mm.

A Christmas trip to Lisbon blends festive cheer with sightseeing. Here are some of the best activities and attractions to include in your holiday itinerary

• Festive atmosphere: Stroll through the Baixa and Chiado districts to admire the city's grand architecture, which is beautifully illuminated by the festive light displays. The main squares, particularly Rossio and Praça do Comércio, host traditional festive markets where you can shop for handicrafts and enjoy seasonal food and drinks.

• Alfama & São Jorge Castle: Wander the maze-like streets of Alfama, Lisbon’s oldest neighbourhood, making your way up to the commanding São Jorge Castle. The clearer winter air often provides fantastic visibility from the castle walls, offering sweeping views across the city’s rooftops to the Tagus River - Alfama guide.

• LX Factory: For unique Christmas shopping, head to the creative hub of LX Factory. The independent boutiques and concept stores housed in this repurposed industrial complex offer a fantastic selection of locally designed goods, art, and books, far from the typical high-street crowds.

• Oceanário de Lisboa: An ideal escape on a wet winter’s day, this world-class aquarium is renowned for its innovative design. The main attraction is an enormous five-million-litre central tank, home to sharks, rays, and massive sunfish.

• Wonderland Lisboa: Get into the festive spirit at Wonderland Lisboa, the city's largest Christmas-themed park. Located in Parque Eduardo VII, it features a giant Ferris wheel offering fantastic city views, an ice-skating rink, and dozens of stalls selling gifts and seasonal treats.

• Jerónimos Monastery: A masterpiece of Manueline architecture, this UNESCO World Heritage site is a monument to Portugal’s Age of Discovery. Its highlight is the two-story cloister, where every column is intricately carved with maritime and royal motifs.

• Sintra Day Trip: If the forecast promises a clear day, take a trip to the enchanting town of Sintra. The cooler winter weather is ideal for exploring the romantic Pena Palace and mystical gardens of Quinta da Regaleira without the intense heat and crowds of summer.

• Tram 28: A journey on the historic number 28 tram is a quintessential Lisbon experience. During the winter low season, you have a genuine chance of securing a window seat as the iconic yellow carriage rattles and sways through the narrow, winding streets of Alfama.

• A Festive Ginjinha: On a cool December day, enjoy a glass of Ginjinha, a sweet cherry liqueur that provides an authentic taste of Lisbon. Served from tiny, historic bars, this liqueur offers a welcome burst of warmth against the winter chill.

Lisbon’s Christmas tree in the Praça do Comércio

The Christmas and New Year period is one of the most popular times to visit Lisbon, with demand for accommodation rivalling the peak of summer. The most desirable hotels and apartments, especially those in central locations like Baixa and Chiado, are often fully booked months in advance. To secure the best prices and your preferred location, early booking is strongly recommended.

The map below shows live availability and prices for accommodation across Lisbon. By adjusting the dates to your planned holiday, you can get an accurate overview of what is currently available and make your booking.

Booking.com

For visitors to Lisbon, it is useful to know that Portuguese Christmas traditions centre overwhelmingly on Christmas Eve, with Christmas Day being a much quieter, family-focused occasion.

Christmas Eve (Véspera de Natal):
For most Portuguese families, the 24th of December is the high point of the holiday season. In the evening, families gather for the 'Consoada', the traditional Christmas dinner, with the centrepiece dish typically being Bacalhau (salted cod). In a tradition that differs from many countries, presents are exchanged as the clock strikes midnight. Children often stay up late specifically for this exciting moment, making the evening, rather than the following morning, the focus of gift-giving.

For many, the evening also includes attending the 'Missa do Galo' (Mass of the Rooster) at midnight. Historically, the family meal would precede the mass, with presents opened upon returning from church.

Insight: The name 'Missa do Galo' (Mass of the Rooster) is said to come from the legend of a rooster that crowed at midnight on the night of Jesus's birth. During the service, an image of the baby Jesus is often presented for the congregation to kiss.

For visitors in the city centre, this translates into a vibrant night out; while families are at home, Lisbon's bars and nightlife districts are filled with younger crowds, making Christmas Eve one of the liveliest party nights of the year.

Christmas Day (Dia de Natal): A City at Rest
In contrast to the lively celebrations of the night before, Christmas Day is a very tranquil affair. It is a public holiday dedicated to family, and the city becomes remarkably peaceful. For visitors, this requires careful planning.

Virtually all of Lisbon's public life pauses. All museums, monuments, and shops will be closed, and public transport operates on a significantly reduced schedule. Finding a restaurant for Christmas lunch or dinner is the main challenge and requires forward planning. Your first step should be to ask your accommodation for recommendations, as they will have the most up-to-date knowledge of which local restaurants are open. For any restaurant you choose, booking is absolutely essential and often required weeks in advance.

Finding a restaurant for Christmas lunch or dinner is the main challenge and requires forward planning. Your first step should be to ask your accommodation for recommendations; they will have the most up-to-date knowledge of which local restaurants are open. For any restaurant you choose, booking is absolutely essential. Reservations are often required weeks in advance, as the few establishments that open are in very high demand.

The city-wide closure is brief. On the 26th of December, Lisbon springs back to life. Shops reopen for the start of the sales, and museums and attractions resume their normal operating hours.

The Christmas shops start opening in November

No Portuguese Christmas celebration is complete without Bacalhau (salted cod), the undisputed king of the festive table. While there are hundreds of ways to prepare it, the most traditional Christmas Eve dish is the simple but revered ‘Bacalhau da Consoada’, where boiled cod is served with potatoes, cabbage, and chickpeas, all generously drizzled with olive oil. Throughout the season, you'll also find countless other rich variations in restaurants, such as the creamy ‘Bacalhau com Natas’.

The quintessential Christmas sweet is the ‘Bolo Rei’ (King’s Cake), a magnificent, crown-shaped brioche-style cake that you will see in every pastelaria window from late November. It is adorned with glistening candied fruits that resemble jewels, while its dough is rich with nuts and often infused with port wine. Traditionally, a dried fava bean (fava) was hidden inside; whoever found it was tasked with buying the Bolo Rei the following year.

Beyond the Bolo Rei, look out for other seasonal sweets like ‘filhós’ (puffy, fried dough sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon) and ‘rabanadas’ (a delicious Portuguese take on French toast), which are also staples of the festive season.

The Bolo Rei

Lisbon is a wonderful city for festive shopping, from browsing traditional market stalls for unique handicrafts to exploring its elegant boutiques and grand shopping centres.

Winter Wonderland – Parque Eduardo VII
The city's largest festive event is Wonderland Lisboa, held in the expansive Parque Eduardo VII. This is much more than a market; it’s a large-scale winter park with fairground rides, a gigantic Ferris wheel offering city views, an ice-skating rink, and numerous food and gift stalls. While dates can vary, it typically runs from late November until early January, but it is always best to check the official schedule for the year of your visit. Entry is free, with rides and activities priced individually.

Rossio Christmas Market
For a more conventional Christmas market head to Rossio plaza for live local music, festive food, For a more traditional experience, head to Rossio Square in the heart of the Baixa district. Here you’ll find classic wooden chalets selling festive food, local handicrafts, and gifts, often with live music adding to the charming atmosphere. The market is usually open daily with extended evening hours until the 23rd of December.

Colombo shopping centre
As Lisbon’s largest shopping centre, Colombo is a one-stop destination for Christmas shopping. This enormous indoor complex has all of the major high-street brands, numerous toy shops for children, a bowling alley, a cinema, and a large food court. The centre goes all out with its decorations, usually featuring a spectacular central Christmas tree.

Armazens Do Chiado
Situated in Lisbon's historic centre, this elegant shopping centre is renowned for its beautiful Christmas lights. It houses around 50 shops and a selection of restaurants, and from here, you are perfectly placed to admire the festive decorations all along the upmarket Rua Garrett.

Avendue de liberade
For a luxury shopping experience, there is nowhere better than the Avenida da Liberdade. During the Christmas period, this beautiful tree-lined boulevard is famous for its stunning light displays and the elaborate festive windows of its designer boutiques. It’s the perfect place for an evening stroll to soak up the city's sophisticated festive atmosphere.

Centro Vasco da Gama
Located in the contemporary Parque das Nações district, the Centro Vasco da Gama offers a striking, modern shopping experience. Its light-filled design, under a spectacular glass roof, provides a unique and airy backdrop for its festive decorations. With a huge range of international and Portuguese brands and a large food court overlooking the river, it is an ideal stop for some Christmas shopping.

The nativity scene, or Presépio, is one of Portugal’s most cherished and artistic Christmas traditions, deeply rooted in popular custom. Far more than simple decorations, these are often elaborate, handcrafted scenes that families and churches take great pride in creating and displaying.

Traditionally, the Presépio is set up at the beginning of Advent, but the manger remains empty. The baby Jesus figure is only added after the family returns from Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, and it is around the completed scene that presents are often exchanged.

In Lisbon, you can see magnificent examples in major churches like the Basílica da Estrela and the Sé Cathedral. For those travelling further, the city of Évora is famed for its collection, with the Igreja de São Francisco displaying hundreds of unique nativity scenes.

Lisbon’s vibrant nightlife makes it a fantastic destination for New Year's Eve, when the city hosts a massive public celebration that lasts long into the night.

The focal point of the celebration is the Praça do Comércio, where thousands gather for free concerts and a spectacular fireworks display that lights up the Tagus River at midnight. After the fireworks, the party spills into the surrounding streets and nightlife districts. For the most energetic atmosphere, head to the narrow lanes of Bairro Alto or the bustling Pink Street in Cais do Sodré, where countless small bars are filled with a celebratory mix of locals and visitors.

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