here’s a complete list of the christmas markets and decorations around porto and gaia for 2025: everything you need to dive into the season, wander through cozy streets, and soak up all the sparkly magic the city has to offer.

christmas lights program

official christmas lights in porto

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porto officially lights up the city on 29 november 2025 at avenida dos aliados. the ceremony starts at 18:00, with a concert by mariza and other artists.

a giant 30-metre tree stands at praça general humberto delgado, and around 94 streets and squares will be illuminated with 2.4 million led lights.

daily lighting schedule:
– 17:30–23:00 (sun–thu)
– 17:30–00:00 (fri–sat)

lights remain until 6 january 2026, with free concerts throughout december at aliados.

📍main location with christmas lights

  • rua dos clérigos

  • rua das flores

  • rua de santa catarina

  • area near santo ildefonso church

🎁 christmas markets in porto

mercado da alegria

one of porto’s most traditional christmas markets, with wooden stalls selling crafts, regional sweets, toys, and nativity pieces.

dates: 29 nov – 29 dec (some sources mention 28 nov – 28 dec)
hours: sun–thu 10:00–20:00; fri & sat until 21:00; 24 dec until 17:00; closed 25 dec
location: praça da batalha, porto

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cordoaria christmas market

set in one of porto’s prettiest gardens, featuring a market, ice rink, parisian carousel, workshops, theatre, and dance.

dates: 29 nov – 30 dec
hours: mon–thu 11:00–20:00; fri/holidays 11:00–21:00; sat 10:00–21:00; sun 10:00–20:00; closed 24–25 dec
location: jardim joão chagas (campo dos mártires da pátria)

christmas design market at palácio de cristal

dates: 29 nov – 29 dec
hours: wed–sun 11:00–20:00
location: rosa mota pavilion / palácio de cristal

artes & ofícios do porto

a sustainable crafts fair with ceramics, woodwork, cork products, and textiles.

dates: 1–23 dec
hours: 11:00–19:30; fri & sat open until 23:00
location: av. d. afonso henriques, next to são bento station

mercado do sol

dates: 1–31 dec
hours: mon–wed 10:00–18:00
location: praça de parada leitão / praça carlos alberto

serralves christmas market

dates: 6–8 dec
hours: 6 dec 10:00–22:00; 7–8 dec 10:00–19:00
location: serralves museum

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bolhão christmas market

dates: 19–21 dec
hours: 11:00–22:00
location: mercado do bolhão

ferreira borges market

dates: 15 nov – 6 jan
hours: 10:00–20:00
location: mercado ferreira borges

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urban market x-mas edition / time out market porto

a brand-new christmas edition with portuguese designers and artisans inside the future time out market at são bento.

dates: 29 nov 2025 – 5 jan 2026
hours: mon–thu 10:00–19:00; fri–sun 10:00–23:00
location: south wing of são bento station (praça almeida garrett)

renaissance christmas market

date: 15 dec (one day only)
hours: 15:00–19:00
location: renaissance porto lapa hotel

🎁 christmas markets in gaia

wow é natal

dates: 22 nov 2025 – 6 jan 2026
highlights: lights-on ceremony on 22 nov at 18:30, 13-metre tree, carousel, craft market, concerts
location: world of wine (wow)

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el corte inglês christmas market

dates: 15 nov – 24 dec
hours: according to store schedule
location: av. da república, gaia (near joão de deus metro)

gaia vila natal

dates: 29 nov – 28 dec
hours:
mon–thu 13:00–20:00
fri 13:00–22:00
sat–sun 11:00–22:00
24 dec 11:00–16:00
closed 25 dec
location: civic centre behind gaia city hall

boeira wonderland

dates: 30 nov 2025 – 5 jan 2026
hours:
mon–fri: sessions at 15:00, 18:00, 21:00
sat–sun: 09:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00, 21:00
closed 24, 25, 27, 31 dec
location: boeira garden hotel
extra: 3-hour sessions; kids under 2 enter free; tickets from €11.90

🎄other fun christmas themed events

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  • zoo santo inácio – “wild lights” lightshow (nov 1–feb 28, from 12€)

  • estás duendo da cabeça theatre at teatro sá da bandeira (9€)

  • roubaram o natal! – musical (from 12,50€)

  • the little mermaid on ice show at mar shopping (from 16€)

  • daily pipe organ concert at clérigos church at 12pm

  • spiritus immersive light show at igreja dos clérigos (10€)

  • candlelight concerts (including the nutcracker from 19€)

  • ballet of lights: sleeping beauty (from 19€)

  • christmas concerts at casa da música

  • “in the christmas mood” at coliseu (from 20€)

  • christmas concert at igreja da trindade (dec 13, from 13€)

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