You may think as an atheist that I’d hate Christmas…but I love it. I was born in into a Roman Catholic family Colombia and Christmas, the Novena and all its religious aspects are still a big part of my life. I love spending time with my family, singing…and eating – of course. When I moved to New York, I loved the regalia of the holiday; particularly walking the snow in Central Park and checking out the windows at Bergdorf’s. I would not call Lisbon the best city for Christmas, but each year, the celebrations get better and better. Here is a list of the things you can do to celebrate Christmas in Lisbon.
Christmas in Lisbon
Aldeia Natal – Wonderland Lisboa
This Christmas market is fairly new; I think it only started about 3 years ago. It’s not a proper Strasbourg level Christmas market, but it is charming and there’s plenty of tasty food to try. A few highlights are:
- 30-meter wonder wheel
- Ice skating rink
- Carousels
- 10-meter Christmas Tree
- Food stands
When you go, I highly recommend the Vinho Quente stand that makes it with white wine (the others are too sweet), the Nutella Waffles, Pao de Chorico, and the Pina Coladas (they’re made with Cachaca, coconut milk, and the core of a full pineapple).
Cost – Free entry, you pay for whatever you want to eat or purchase.
Location – Parque Eduardo VII (Avenidas Novas Neighborhood)
Dates – Dec 1 to Jan 1.
Hours of Operation: Open on – Thur noon to 9 pm, Fri noon to 10 pm, Sat 10 am to midnight, Sun- 10 am to 10 pm. Christmas Eve & New Year’s Eve 10 am to 4 pm, Christmas & New Year 4 pm to 10 pm.
Miradouro de São Pedro de Alcântara Christmas Village
Not only does the miradouro at São Pedro de Alcântara have one of the best views in the city, but it also hosts an incredible (but tiny) Christmas village. If you’re near Avenida Liberdade and you don’t want to walk up the hills, take the Ascensor da Glória to get there. Once you do, you will enjoy a few artisanal shops, plenty of Portuguese food (like bifanhas, morcilla, and ginja), and live music quite often. This is already my favorite Miradouro in the city, so I highly recommend visiting.
Cost – Free, you pay for whatever you want to eat or purchase.
Location – Miradouro at São Pedro de Alcântara (Principe Real – Bairro Alto)
Dates – Dec 1 to Jan 1.
Christmas Tree at Praca Da Comercio
The buildings around Praca da Comercio are decked out in lights and frame Europe’s largest Christmas tree. It measures a whopping 76 meters. Sure…it’s artificial (and tbh after Rockefeller Center’s tree not impressive at all), but it is still fun to see. There will also be events there like concerts, but you need to keep an ear open to find out when they will happen. From here, you can walk up to Baixa and enjoy the many shops and lights that decorate the city.
Cost – Free
Location – Praca da Comercio
Dates – Dec 1 to Jan 1.
Hours of Operation: 24-hours
Nativity Scene at Estrela Basilica (Estrela-Campo de Ourique)
The Basilica of Estrela is a beautiful church, and its crown jewel is the Baroque Presepio (Nativity scene) done at the request of Queen Mary. It is the work of Machado de Castro (1731-1822). The thing is HUGE. It is 16 feet wide and 13 feet long. There are over 400 pieces that make up the Nativity scene and tell biblical stories related to the birth of Christ. I forget the exact price to see the manger, but it is very little to pay to see such a beautiful piece. I highly recommend this. After, go walk the neighborhood. Estrela is one of the best neighborhoods in Lisbon with a gorgeous park right outside the street that’s great for people watching. This is a great way to enjoy Christmas in Lisbon.
Cost – €3 (I think)
Location – Praça da Estrela
Dates – Dec 1 to Jan 1.
Hours of Operation: Usually 10 am to 7 pm.
Mercado Natal – Praça da Figueira & Praça Rossio
At these great little markets, you can pick up the most amazing Portuguese goods including cheeses, cured meats, soaps, wines, and much more. They are perfectly located too and a mere 3 minute walk from each other so you can see plenty of other sites in the area.
Cost – Free entry, you pay for whatever you want to eat or purchase.
Location – Praça da Figueira, Rossio
Dates – Dec 1 to Jan 1.
Hours of Operation: 8pm
If you’re spending Christmas in Lisbon, make sure to stop by LX Factory for some incredible shopping.LXMarket Natal Criativo Christmas Market
This is not a month-long event, but LX Factory will be running a Christmas market on Sunday the 16th & 23rd that will complement its regular weekend market.
Cost – Free
Location – LX Factory – Rua Rodrigues Faria – Alcantara
Dates – Dec 16 to Dec 23.
Hours of Operation: 10 am to 6 pm.
The actual days of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day are quite quiet in Lisbon. Most restaurants and stores will be closed as this is seen as a day to spend with family, so make sure to plan ahead and have food at home. Sure, some places will be open…but they are few and far between.
This is a living document and I will update it as I find more worthwhile things. In the meantime, if you know of other cool events going on in Lisbon for the Christmas holiday, leave a comment with details.