Porto at Christmas

Visit Porto at Christmas. Christmas is a magical time to tour Portugal and discover this city and the north of the country, a region full of traditions and artisan wonders, delicious traditional and Porto wines, and to enjoy the festive atmosphere.

A visit just before Christmas is the perfect time to finish your gift list. But enjoying Porto at Christmas and New Year will be something you will never forget, on top of enjoying the wonderful traditions and the thrilling fireworks.

Why go to Porto at Christmas

• Three times awarded Best Destination in Europe.
• Thousands of charms to discover in the capital of the north of Portugal.
• Besides history and culture, Porto is also leisure, fun and nightlife.
• Advent traditions and cuisine

The streets of all of northern Portugal already glow with Christmas lights when the end of November arrives. In Porto, monuments such as the iconic Baroque Clérigos Tower and the impressive Porto City Hall at Christmas are clad in festive decorations, and the city is lit with colourful lights. The historic Avenida dos Aliados brims with Christmas cheer; here you will find one of the two open-air seasonal skating rinks in Porto and the city's Christmas tree.

Christmas is one of the best and most fascinating times of the year to visit the historic centre of Porto, walk along its wide avenues and enjoy its lovely cobbled streets, as well as shopping at its craft stores and admiring the seasonal delights such as shiny royal cakes with pieces of fruit. You cannot miss a visit to the huge and beautiful Lello bookshop, the historic bookshop that is said to have inspired J. K. Rowling to design the Hogwarts library, as well as a visit to the Ribeira boutiques.

By mid-December, we find Porto at Christmas with many street fairs and the Porto Craft Fair, where artists exhibit their creations. If you cross the river and head to Vila Nova de Gaia you can taste wonderful Port wines and other seasonal drinks at one of the many historic inns of the Porto producers along the riverbank, with their names printed on the rooftops.

Christmas Eve

In Portugal, gifts arrive at midnight on 24 December. On Christmas Eve, families gather for the traditional feast of cod, potatoes and vegetables before attending the traditional Midnight Mass. In churches, each member of the congregation kisses the baby Jesus before placing him in the manger.

Recommendations

• Enjoy the traditional Christmas Eve feast of cod, potatoes, vegetables and olive oil.
• Enjoy francesinhas, custard cakes and other local delights.
• Listen to traditional Christmas music, "Janeiras", during the first days of January.
• Try the traditional Epiphany delicacy: the Bolo Rei (king cake).

Christmas and Boxing Day

Shops, restaurants and tourist attractions close early on 24 December and reopen on 26 December. So, if you are staying in Porto at Christmas, make sure you buy enough supplies — or book a table at a hotel restaurant in advance.

On 25 December, the traditional lunch dish is Roupa Velha. It is a dish made from the leftovers from the night before, before the meat is baked for dinner. Traditionally, the meat was lamb or kid in most regions of northern Portugal, but today turkey is very popular. The tables are heaped with sweets, nuts and fruit to nibble on, as well as holly decorations and colourful ribbons.

Happy New Year

New Year is a family celebration, with parties and fireworks. Welcome the New Year with good luck by eating 12 grapes at midnight. Many Portuguese cities have impressive New Year fireworks and, in that sense, Porto at Christmas is no exception.

Head to the banks of the Douro river to stand among the crowds watching the colourful fireworks over the river, near Ribeira. Or, at the Avenida dos Aliados next to the City Hall, where there are also more concerts and fireworks in central Porto. Without a doubt, these are the best places to watch the New Year fireworks in Porto.

Restaurants will be packed, so book in advance. Or how about enjoying a cruise along the Douro river? A perfect way to enjoy the riverside fireworks from the comfort of your own deck.

Epiphany

Three Kings' Day, on 6 January, is almost as important as Christmas Eve and Christmas Day; it marks the Epiphany and the arrival of the Magi to meet Jesus. Some Portuguese children receive gifts on this day, to symbolise the gifts offered by the Kings to the baby Jesus.

This is the ideal day to enjoy a warm and freshly baked Bolo Rei from a local bakery. This ring of soft dough with a heavenly aroma, Port wine and dried and candied fruit is a colourful treat, traditionally filled with symbolic delights.

Home-made versions may contain a lucky charm, a bean hidden inside; whoever finds it will take on the task of baking the cake the following year.

What to do in Porto at Christmas

Beyond all we have already mentioned, if you are staying a few days in Porto, you cannot overlook other "less typical of Christmas" things:

• Visit the World Heritage sites
• Get to know the landscape where Port wine is born
• Take the chance to visit Porto's wine cellars and the city's historic centre.

At this time, moreover, Porto's streets are not only full of the rich aromas of fruitcakes, but they also blend with the sounds of the Janeiras choir, the traditional January songs — do not return from Porto without having seen this fabulous show.