The preparations for the Christmas holidays are already in full swing. If you are looking for a destination with a pleasant climate all year round and within a 3 hour flight at most, you will quickly find Portugal. In addition to the diversity that the country has to offer, anticipation is complete when you see the many Christmas activities planned throughout the country. From enjoying different music and cultural activities to doing the very last Christmas shopping.
The 5 nicest 'Christmas' in Portugal tips:
1. A city trip to Lisbon or Porto during the Christmas period is like visiting a winter wonderland. The cities are then beautifully lit, especially around the well-known shopping streets. The many Christmas markets offer a great solution for the last Christmas shopping. An absolute must-do in Lisbon is a visit to Quinta da Regaleira (Sintra). Several live concerts are given in this beautiful castle. A musical accompaniment to a visit to the capital.
Palácio da Regaleira, Sintra_Credit John Copland
2. Looking for the ideal Christmas atmosphere but staying away from the hustle and bustle of the capital, visit the town of Viseu and the town of Óbidos. The town of Viseu, voted one of the best towns in Portugal to live in, is then completely decorated with traditional lighting. Various Christmas concerts are given every day throughout the city. With the arrival of December, the town of Óbidos turns into a fantasy world, a magical place for young and old. Here the house of Santa Claus is being recreated, you can walk past the nativity scene, participate in games, skate in your t-shirt on the ice rink or enjoy various shows.
Óbidos
3. Most Portuguese have a nativity scene at home during the festive period. The Nativity Scenes made in Alentejo, Estremoz have an extraordinary reputation and are even on the Unesco list of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. The craftsmanship of Estremoz clay figures dating back to the 17th century are clay figures dressed in the regional dress of Alentejo or the clothes of religious Christian iconography.
Estremoz clay figures
4. Whoever chooses the southernmost point of Portugal, Algarve, is almost assured of a Christmas with plenty of sun. If you want to experience culture in addition to strolling along the beaches, golfing and cycling, a visit to the 'Século dos Mares' (Century of the Seas) exhibition is recommended. This exhibition with images from ceramic stoneware surprises the visitor with the originality with which the sea creatures are shown. At the same time, it makes you think about the impending pollution of our environment and the ocean.
Exhibition 'Século dos Mares' (Age of the Seas) | Studio Bongard
5. Have you always wanted to celebrate New Year's Eve on an island? Then visit the Portuguese island of Madeira or the nine pearls of the Azores island in the middle of the ocean. The amphitheater of Funchal in Madeira is transformed into a veritable Christmas hall lit up with thousands of lights that run throughout the city. The new year is ushered in with a special fireworks display of more than 10 minutes that paints the sky over Funchal in all colors. When you wake up the next day, you couldn't ask for a better place to start the new year.
Christmas &New Year_Funchal 1_Credit AP Madeira
