While without snow and frigid cold, there are still several enjoyable activities you can partake in during the holiday season in the cozy Algarve. 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!
It is open beginning 30 November until 06 January, 2025.
For those of single-digit age, one can have a festive 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!
December and Christmas Events in Lagos
The official Câmara Municipal de Lagos has a full list of events occurring right here. For conveniences sake, they have been translated to English below.
To view more information about a particular event, visit the above linked webpage. Most events are free, but some may require a paid ticket or contribution.
CYCLE “À CONVERSA NO MUSEU”
- Date: 5th December
- Time: 6:30 PM
- Location: Museu de Lagos – Núcleo Dr. José Formosinho
SEMI-OPERA: “VENCER O DIA”
- Date: 6th December
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Location: Centro Cultural de Lagos – Auditório Duval Pestana
SOUNDS OF APRIL – THE SPIRIT OF FREEDOM IN 4 MOVEMENTS
- Artists: Carlos Norton, Vasco Ramalho, Inês Graça
- Date: 6th December
- Time: 9:00 PM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
MAMAS CAFÉ MEET-UP
- Date: 7th December
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
GUIDED TOUR: “LET’S DISCOVER LAGOS – SYMBOLS AND LETTERS FROM THE TIME OF THE KINGS”
- Guide: Artur de Jesus
- Date: 7th December
- Time: 10:00 AM
- Starting Point: Praça do Infante
WORKSHOP: AUDIO AND SOUND TECHNIQUES
- Instructor: Sebastião Costa
- Date: 7th December
- Time: 10:30 AM
- Location: LAC – Laboratório de Actividades Criativas
CHRISTMAS PARADE BY MOTO CLUBE DE LAGOS
- Date: 7th December
- Time: 5:30 PM
- Location: Praça do Infante
“CHEGA DE SAUDADE. PORTUGAL TODAY”
- Speakers: Carlos Tê, Miguel Carvalho
- Date: 7th December
- Time: 3:30 PM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
WORKSHOP: ORIGAMI – PACKAGING & MORE
- Instructor: Odete Azevedo
- Date: 7th December
- Time: 6:00 PM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
CONCERT BY ÂNGELA SILVA
- Date: 7th December
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Location: Centro Cultural de Lagos
CHRISTMAS HANDICRAFT FAIR
- Dates: 7th – 8th December
- Location: Mercado de Levante
ARTISTIC SKATING GALA: “THE LION KING”
- Dates: 7th – 8th December
- Time: 6:30 PM
- Location: Pavilhão Municipal de Lagos
STORIES FOR ALL AGES: “THE JOURNEY OF A STAR”
- Narrator: Márcia Gamito
- Date: 8th December
- Time: 10:30 AM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
BREATHING AND POSTURAL CORRECTION WITH YOGA TECHNIQUES: MORE VITAL ENERGY
- Instructor: Rui Guimarães
- Date: 8th December
- Time: 3:30 PM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
CHRISTMAS PETANQUE TOURNAMENT
- Date: 8th December
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Location: Petanque Field near Mercado de Santo Amaro
BOOK PRESENTATION: “ALSTAR, UM REINO DIVIDIDO”
- Author: Mónica Ribeiro
- Date: 13th December
- Time: 7:00 PM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
GUIDED TOUR: “DISCOVERING CHRISTMAS IN LAGOS”
- Guide: Artur de Jesus
- Date: 14th December
- Time: 10:00 AM
- Starting Point: Igreja de S. Sebastião
FAMILY YOGA: “WHAT TO DO WITH THE TREASURE”
- Instructor: Rui Guimarães
- Date: 14th December
- Time: 10:30 AM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
“ROOTS” – MEDIATED VISIT
- Date: 14th December
- Time: 10:30 AM
- Location: LAC – Laboratório de Actividades Criativas
SANTA’S TOYSHOP
- Date: 14th December
- Location: Centro Cultural de Lagos – Auditório Duval Pestana
FAMILY CONSTELLATIONS: “BEYOND”
- Instructor: Rute Cabrita
- Date: 14th December
- Time: 3:00 PM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
WORKSHOP: FREE SINGING
- Instructor: Dalila Coutinho
- Date: 14th December
- Time: 3:00 PM
- Location: LAC – Laboratório de Actividades Criativas
READING CLUB: “REVOLUTIONS AND REFLECTIONS ABOUT QUALITIES”
- Speaker: Patricia Portela
- Date: 14th December
- Time: 6:00 PM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
V SONS D’AQUÉM MAR: “BACH | MUFFAT”
- Date: 15th December
- Time: 5:30 PM
- Location: Igreja de S. Sebastião
WOODY + ALLEN
- Dates: 14th – 15th December
- Location: Teatro Experimental de Lagos
SANTA CLAUS BICYCLE RIDE
- Date: 15th December
- Time: 9:00 AM
- Starting Point: Centro Social de Almádena
CHRISTMAS WORKSHOP & BOOK PRESENTATION
- Host: Fernanda Botelho
- Date: 15th December
- Time: 10:30 AM
- Location: Biblioteca Municipal de Lagos
DUSK SOUNDS: “SLAVIC MUSIC BY TRIO MARGARIDA PRATES”
- Date: 15th December
- Time: 4:00 PM
- Location: Centro Cultural de Lagos
CHRISTMAS CHARITY CONCERT
- Date: 15th December
- Time: 9:00 PM
- Location: Igreja de Santa Maria
ONGOING AND SPECIAL EVENTS
- “CHRISTMAS IN LOCAL TRADE 2024”: 30th Nov – 6th Jan
- “ROOTS EXHIBITION”: 23rd Nov – 30th Dec
- “COLOR IS LIFE EXHIBITION”: 9th Nov – 28th Dec
- “A LYRICAL WHITE CHRISTMAS”: 21st Dec at 7:00 PM
- “PASSAGE PARTY WITH RICHIE CAMPBELL”: 31st Dec at Praça do Infante
See the other Christmas events calendar!
On the website Algarvevents.pt/ you can see a full calendar of events happening for Christmas around Lagos and the Algarve as a whole – from choir performances to flea markets, painting workshops, and more!
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.
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.