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For those lucky enough to visit the wonderful Portuguese city of Porto during Christmas time, many surprises await, from fun arts and crafts markets to beautiful illuminations across the city.
And while (generally speaking) Christmas market traditions in Portugal pale in comparison to the extravagant offerings found in central Europe, in recent years Christmas markets and events have become a lot more popular, and today the Porto Christmas Market scene offers plenty of choices for locals and visitors alike.
So whether you’re currently planning your own trip, or simply curious about what Porto Christmas Market is like, then we’re here to help.
Read on for an overview of Porto Christmas Market, with official dates, hotel recommendations, and locations.
NOTE: This is a Christmas market we haven’t personally visited yet, so all the information below is taken from official sources for your reference! If you have any personal tips from first-hand experience to add, let us know in the comments so we can improve this guide!
Porto Christmas Market Dates 2024
TBA: (Previous year’s event: from December 1 – 23)
There will be other smaller Christmas markets as well, with varying dates. Check out our full list of Portuguese Christmas Market opening dates for more info.
Porto Christmas Market 2024 Hotels
Looking for a place to stay nearby while you visit Christmas markets? Here are some recommendations:
- Budget: Click here to check prices and availability
- Mid-Range: Click here to check prices and availability
- Luxury: Click here to check prices and availability
Porto Christmas Market Locations
There’s no shortage of unique and fun Christmas markets in Porto to visit. Here are the most popular ones to put on your list.
Porto Christmas Market
On Avenida das Tílias, in the Palácio de Cristal Gardens, you’ll find the main Christmas market of Porto’s festive season, with various stalls selling an assortment of food, drink and gifts.
Mercado da Alegria (Joy Market)
Held in Praça da Batalha, the Mercado de Alegria (literally translated to Joy Market) showcases 40+ vendors selling handmade crafts, jewelry, clothing, gifts, and tasty regional specialties.
On weekends, visitors can also look forward to street entertainment and performances.
(Artes e Ofícios) The Porto Arts and Crafts Fair
Along Avenida Dom Afonso Henriques, close to São Bento Station, you’ll find another excellent Porto Christmas Market to visit if you’re looking for unique gifts to bring home to friends and family.
Organized by the the Santa Clara Association, the Porto Arts and Crafts Fair lasts several weeks, and puts a spotlight on locally made handicrafts from ceramic and stone crafts to homemade liqueurs.
Fundação de Serralves Christmas Market
For a Porto Christmas market with a keen emphasis on sustainability, the Fundação de Serralves Christmas Market is a must visit. In addition to various vendors selling delicious products, organic/seasonal foods, and sustainable gifts, there are also workshops and fun programming suitable for visitors of all ages.
Urban Markets (Christmas Edition)
Another set of markets worth visiting in Porto is ‘Urban Markets’, which typically host at least one Christmas edition. The offerings here range from fashion and wellness to jewelry and paintings. This is definitely one of the best Christmas markets to visit in Porto if your goal is to shop!
Praça de Natal Gaia (Gaia Christmas Square)
While not in Porto proper, it’s worth noting that there’s a special Christmas market event that takes place each year at Vila Nova de Gaia Civic Center known as Praça de Natal Gaia (Gaia Christmas Square).
This festive event has a fun, varied program that’s perfect for those visiting with children – from a mini Christmas train and carousel to fun performances and an ice rink. There are (of course) wooden market stalls as well to browse, with a nice selection of handmade gifts.
Matosinhos Christmas Market
Lastly, for those who don’t mind travelling a bit further afield, the Christmas Market in Matosinhos is also worth adding to your list.
Located in Parque Basílio Teles, the Matosinhos Christmas Market showcases almost 90 artisans from all over Portugal selling a variety of wonderful products, from cheese and sausages to handmade jewelry and decorations.
Help Us Improve This Porto Christmas Market Guide!
We’re constantly striving to make articles on this site more informative for our readers, so let us know in the comments if you’ve been to Porto Christmas Market and if there are any tips or must-knows you’d like to share.