{"id":17192,"date":"2019-11-06T10:00:42","date_gmt":"2019-11-06T10:00:42","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/devourlisbonfoodtours.com\/?p=1720"},"modified":"2022-12-05T12:53:04","modified_gmt":"2022-12-05T12:53:04","slug":"lisbon-in-december","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/lisbon-in-december\/","title":{"rendered":"What to Do in Lisbon in December"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This blog post was originally posted on December 4, 2018 and was updated on November 6, 2019. <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisbon in December is a city of contrasts, from the busy last-minute Christmas shopping to almost-empty streets in the days that follow the holidays.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With national holidays on the 1st and the 8th, and kids off school during the last two weeks of the month, Lisbon in December is all about celebration, shopping for gifts and deals, preparing for Christmas Eve dinner and New Year\u2019s, and enjoying the not-so-cold weather (temperatures rarely drop under 9\u00b0C\/48\u00b0F here!).<\/p>\n\n\n

\n
\"If<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Photo credit: Sandra Henriques Gajjar<\/a>; Text overlay: Devour Lisbon Food Tours<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Stroll in the Baixa neighborhood to see the Christmas lights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Christmas is probably the only time of year that some lisboetas<\/em> don\u2019t mind being stuck in traffic. Days are shorter in December, which means it\u2019s dark by 6 p.m. and the end-of-the-day commute home is made under Christmas lights. The Christmas decorations are lit at the end of November and get turned on every evening until January 6.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Christmas lights and decorations take over the streets from Marqu\u00eas de Pombal, down Avenida da Liberdade to all the streets in Baixa. The favorite of kids and grownups, though, is the Christmas tree at Pra\u00e7a do Com\u00e9rcio.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"We
Lisbon in December comes alive at night with Christmas lights. Photo credit: jorgempf<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. Discover the Best Bolo Rei in the City<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Bolo Rei<\/em> (King Cake) is the official cake of Christmas in Portugal. Shaped like a crown, its consistency and flavor is more of a sweet bread than an actual cake. It’s baked with dry fruits, raisins, and some candied fruit. More candied fruit, large chunks of it, and powder sugar go on top. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Traditionally, the person who got the slice with the fava bean had to buy or bake next year\u2019s Bolo Rei<\/em>. As food laws in the EU have changed over the years, it\u2019s unlikely you\u2019ll find an uncooked fava bean in your cake. However, if you do, keep up your end of the deal next year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lisboetas<\/em> will swear that the best Bolo Rei<\/em> in town is the one from Confeitaria Nacional<\/a>. They sell it by the slice so taste it for yourself with a cup of tea or coffee while admiring the original and quite spectacular 1800s interior d\u00e9cor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SEE ALSO<\/em><\/strong>: A Guide to Portuguese Christmas Food & Traditions<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Eating
Kick off the Christmas spirit with a slice of “Bolo Rei” at Confeitaria Nacional! Photo credit: Sandra Henriques Gajjar<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

3. Find Original Gifts at Christmas Markets<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Christmas markets tradition in Lisbon isn\u2019t as big as in other European capitals, but it\u2019s been garnering the attention and enthusiasm of locals in recent years. It\u2019s a great alternative to overcrowded shopping malls and brings back life to the old shopping streets of Lisbon. As a bonus, it\u2019s an opportunity to find Lisbon souvenirs<\/a> that make the perfect Christmas gifts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most famous Christmas markets in Lisbon<\/a> take place in Rossio square (also known as Pra\u00e7a Dom Pedro IV) and in Pra\u00e7a do Munic\u00edpio (the City Council square), both in the Baixa neighborhood. A bit further uptown but reachable via Metro (green line), the Mercado de Natal de Alvalade takes over Avenida da Igreja with local small businesses, artisans, food and music during the second and third weeks of December.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Mercado
Mercado de Natal de Alvalade is one of the most popular Christmas markets to visit in Lisbon in December.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

4. Explore a Sleepy City on December 25th<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

On the 24th it\u2019s not unusual to see Lisboetas<\/em> busy buying last minute gifts or bacalhau<\/em><\/a> (the traditional dish of Christmas Eve). Shops and pastelarias<\/em> are open until later that day, although if you haven\u2019t pre-ordered your sweets, you\u2019re pretty much stuck with whatever is left.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then, on Christmas Day, everything almost goes silent. Public offices and most shops, caf\u00e9s and restaurants are closed all day. Weather permitting, local families go out on leisurely strolls while kids proudly show off their Christmas presents from the evening before.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Ring in the New Year with Free Concerts and Fireworks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Advertising for special New Year Eve\u2019s parties in nightclubs, restaurants or hotels starts as early as October. But locals\u2019 favorite place to ring in the New Year still is Pra\u00e7a do Com\u00e9rcio, where the dress code is not a requirement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like December 25, January 1 is also a public holiday. Therefore, no matter how late the party ends, most people don\u2019t have to work the next day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Bring your own bottle of espumante<\/em> (the Portuguese version of champagne) and don\u2019t forget the 12 raisins: you must eat one for each strike of the clock while making your wishes. According to local tradition, wearing blue underpants also guarantees a prosperous year ahead. Success is, of course, what you make of it, so embrace the moment and the free show of fireworks on both banks of the River Tagus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Enjoying
Lisboetas<\/em> ring in the New Year with fireworks and live music at Pra\u00e7a do Com\u00e9rcio. Photo credit: Sandra Henriques Gajjar<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This blog post was originally posted on December 4, 2018 and was updated on November 6, 2019.  Lisbon in December is a city of contrasts, from the busy last-minute Christmas shopping to almost-empty streets in the days that follow the holidays. With national holidays on the 1st and the 8th, and kids off school during the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":86,"featured_media":17183,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","inline_featured_image":false},"categories":[1723,1742],"tags":[9,1729,1751,1753,1748],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nDevour Tours<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"http:\/\/dev.devourtours.com\/blog\/lisbon-in-december\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Lisbon in December: What to do During the Holiday Season\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Lisbon in December is bursting at the seams with celebration and festive cheer. 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