8th December is a nationwide public holiday in Portugal, and it tends to kick-start the festive season. It’s rooted in Catholic tradition, but it’s observed broadly, so you’ll notice quieter streets in residential areas and fuller Christmas markets in city centres.
What is the 8 December bank holiday in Portugal?
Known as the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, or Imaculada Conceição, this is one of Portugal's statutory days off. It falls in Advent, so you’ll see nativity scenes and lights appearing in neighbourhood squares. While the holiday has religious roots, not everyone takes part in services, and many families simply use the day for seasonal shopping or a day trip.
What’s open and closed nationwide
Across Portugal, you can expect public services and many offices to pause for the day. In 2025, the special day falls on a Monday, making it a long weekend. Big-city shopping centres often trade on festive hours, while smaller independent shops may close or keep shorter schedules. Museums and monuments vary by city, so opening times are best checked locally the week before.
- Public administration and banks: generally closed
- Post offices and town halls: mostly closed or reduced counters
- Shopping centres and supermarkets: usually open with seasonal hours
- Museums and monuments: mixed openings, often reduced hours
- Restaurants and cafés: many open, especially in tourist areas
Schools, healthcare and municipal services
The holiday also affects daily routines for families and anyone dealing with appointments.
- Schools and universities: closed for the day
- Hospitals: emergency and urgent care open, non-urgent appointments often reduced
- Rubbish collection and street cleaning: may run on holiday schedules
Travel and what to expect if you’re visiting that weekend
The 8th December holiday often creates a long-weekend feel, so intercity routes can be busier as people visit family or take short breaks. City centres draw crowds for Christmas lights and markets, while coastal towns see a gentle uptick if the weather is fair.
Public transport and airports
Urban networks in Lisboa and Porto often switch to a holiday timetable, which means slightly fewer services and different first and last trains or buses.
Intercity rail and long-distance coaches can see higher demand, especially late on the 7th and on the evening of the 8th.
Airports handle strong winter traffic thanks to returning students and the Portuguese diaspora, so security and boarding queues can be longer than on a normal weekday.
Seasonal events and traditions
December brings a lively calendar of markets, concerts and church services, and the 8th is a natural focal point. Those deciding on where to spend Christmas in Portugal gravitate to bigger cities for light shows, market villages and choirs, while smaller towns stage nativity scenes and parish celebrations that feel more local.
In Lisbon, lights and markets cluster around Baixa and Rossio, while Porto’s Avenida dos Aliados fills with stalls and music. Travellers visiting Portugal in December often add a quiet countryside stop or a coastal break, and several Portuguese cities to visit in winter lean into cosy food festivals and festive programming. On the islands, Funchal is known for early light displays, and mainland towns such as Guimarães and Braga run family-friendly activities.
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