Lagos is a beautiful destination with a rich history and stunning coastal scenery. While Christmas may not be as extravagant as in some other places, there are still several enjoyable activities you can partake in during the holiday season. Here’s a quick list of things to do in Lagos, Portugal, for Christmas!
Visit the Christmas market
If you have some young ones who you’d like to offer a semblance of Christmas cheer, then the Christmas market at the Dom Henrique plaza will do just the trick!
While for anyone who isn’t single-digit in age it may be underwhelming, children will be happy to ride on the miniature train ride, slide down the inflatable toboggan run, or lace up some skates to stumble around a dry rink.
Charming, cute, and a good effort put forth in an otherwise warm climate – it’s worth popping by the Lagos Christmas market for a moment to see if anything grabs your eyes. It runs from December 1st to December 24th.
Attend Christmas Mass
All around the Portugal the cathedrals and churches will be holding their Christmas Mass. For Christmas Mass in Lagos you can see the times here (or for all over Algarve here).
Mass will be of course in Portuguese – a good time to brush up on your linguistic skills and have a new festive experience!
Visit Portimão, Faro, or Lisbon
With higher populations comes bigger events, markets, and celebrations! Take a quick train or bus ride to Portimão, Faro, or Lisbon to see what they have in store as they’ll certainly be larger than what’s in Lagos.
Go on a trip to Madeira!
Okay, technically not in Lagos (or Portuguese mainland for that matter), however Madeira island honours a surprisingly festive atmosphere which is sure to be a unique and charming experience! Hearty Christmas markets, millions of lights, and enough Poncha to get a whole nation tipsy – Madeira is a fantastic way to spend holidays – especially if you catch one of those €10 flights from Lisbon to Madeira!
Dinner with friends or strangers
Lagos is a town composed with a wide mix of people from all over the world. As such there are many people who are here without family to have a Christmas dinner with.
Spontaneous groups pop up all over on the various social media apps at this time of year with community dinners happening at private residences.
So check the Socialize in Lagos page to find people to meet up with for a holiday dinner!
List of Christmas events in Lagos
Here’s a consolidated list of events happening around Lagos during December.
Check the official CM-Lagos.pt website to see all newly added or changed events!
CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
- December 1st to 24th
- Monday to Thursday 12pm-8pm | Friday 12pm-9pm | Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10am-9pm | Day 24 10am-5pm
- Location: Praça do Infante
Santa Claus’s house, grocery store, ecological ice rink and ramp, train, face painting, jugglers, photospots and entertainment for the little ones.
- Arrival of Santa Claus with distribution of gifts | December 2 | 15:00
- Entertainment circulating through the streets of the historic center and Mercado da Avenida | December 8th to 10th and 16th and 17th | 11am-1pm and 3pm-5pm
- Shows “Santa Claus and the Elves” (3pm) and “Pirates Save Christmas” (6pm) | Regimental Warehouse | December 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17 and 23
- Reading Christmas stories with Márcia Gamito | Regimental Warehouse | December 3, 8, 9, 10, 16, 17 and 23 | 4:30 p.m.
- Performance by the Children’s Choir of the Coral de Lagos Group | December 16 | 17h00 | Regimental Warehouse
CHRISTMAS ATELIER
- December 1st to 24th
- Monday to Thursday 12pm-8pm | Friday 12pm-9pm | Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10am-9pm | Day 24 10am-5pm
- Location: Rua Portas de Portugal
Workshop with face painting, balloon modeling, creation of badges, hats, plasticine nativity scenes, finger puppets, Christmas pine cones and a letter to Santa Claus.
EVENTS AT LAGOS MARKETS
Viv’o Mercado
- ÀMODAANTIGA Group | December 6 | 6:00 p.m.
- Jessica Barreto | December 13th | 5:30 p.m.
- Lagos Coral Group | December 20 | 6:00 p.m.
- Cláudio Rosário | December 27th | 5:30 p.m.
Santo Amaro Market
- Lacobrigense Philharmonic Society 1st May | December 9th and 16th | 10:00
Levante Market | Christmas Craft Show
- December 9th | 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- December 10th | 2:00 pm to 8:00 pm
- Org.: Association of Artisans of Barlavento
Other December and Christmas Events in Lagos
JOSÉ CORTES’ CHRISTMAS NATISE
- November 28th to January 13th | 10am to 6pm | Tuesday to Saturday
- Location: Lagos Cultural Center
- Free entry
TOM FITZPATRICK AND ALGARVE JAZZ ORCHESTRA
- December 1 | 7pm | M6
- Location: Lagos Cultural Center
- Ticket: €10
IV SONS D’AQUÉM MAR – CHRISTMAS CONCERT
- December 2 | 4:30 pm | M6
- Location: Bensafrim Church
- Ticket: €5 (free < 16 years old)
NATALÂNDIA AT LAGOS ZOO
- December 9th to 25th | 10am-5pm
- 50% discount for Algarve residents
CHRISTMAS PARADE, by the Moto Clube de Lagos
- December 9th | 17:00
- Location: Meeting at the MCL headquarters arriving at Praça do Infante
- Free entry
HOLY NIGHT, by Orquestra Ligeira de Lagos
- December 9th | 9:30 pm | M6
- Location: Lagos Cultural Center
- Ticket: €10
GUIDED TOUR “DISCOVERING CHRISTMAS IN LAGOS”, by Artur de Jesus
- December 16th and 19th | 10:00
- Location: Cultural Center (departure)
- Free entry with online registration here and here
CHRISTMAS COUNTRY BICYCLE TOUR, by the Association of Friends of Almádena
- December 17th | 9:30 am
- Location: Freguesia da Luz (Concentration in the Social Center of Almádena)
- Free entry
FLYFLY NIGHT: THEY WILL BE A CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, with Nelda Magalhães, Bruno Batista, Carlos Norton and Vasco Ramalho
- December 15th | 9pm | M6
- Location: Lagos Municipal Library
- Free entry
CHRISTMAS SOLIDARITY CONCERT, by Grupo Coral de Lagos
- December 15th | 9pm | M6
- Location: Santa Maria Church
- Free entry
DANCE TRAILERS, by the Lagos Dance Association
- December 15th and 16th | 7:30 pm | M6
- Location: Lagos Cultural Center
- Ticket: €12 (€10 members)
MUSICAL SESSIONS: CHRISTMAS IS COMING!, with Ana Correia
- December 16 | 10:00 am (2-23 months) and 11:30 am (2-3 years)
- Location: Lagos Municipal Library
- Free entry
CHRISTMAS CONCERT, by the Band of the Lacobrigense Philharmonic Society 1st of May
- December 20 | 9pm | M6
- Location: Lagos Cultural Center
- Ticket: €5 (free for members)
MAGNIFICENT CHRISTMAS, by Orquestra do Algarve
- December 22 | 7pm | M6
- Location: Lagos Cultural Center
- Ticket: €6
CHRISTMAS IN LOCAL BUSINESSES:
December 1st to January 5th
If you make purchases worth €10 or more at establishments participating in the campaign, you will receive participation coupons that allow you to be eligible to win vouchers worth €100 to discount in our stores. The draw will be held on January 6, 2024, Three Kings Day. Check the participation rules and participating establishments here.
FREE PARKING:
Free parking between December 1, 2023 and January 5, 2024, for a period of 2 hours, for users of the Frente Ribeirinha Car Park who present receipt(s) for purchases over €10 made on the same day, in stores local.