Cultural events in Portugal

Carnival in Lisbon isn’t a single huge Rio‑style parade. It’s more a patchwork of street bands, neighbourhood parties and a few big anchor events.

Carnival in Portugal is one of those times of year when the country drops its guard a bit.

National holidays are only half the story in Portugal. The real curveballs for work, school and travel plans are often the regional and municipal holidays – the days when one city is completely shut while the next town over is business as usual.

Portugal has a knack for turning public holidays into proper occasions, with everything from quiet family lunches to all‑night street parties.

New Year’s Eve in Portugal, or Réveillon, is one long slow build.

If you spend December in Lisbon or Porto, you’ll notice people quietly clutching strips of coloured paper, comparing numbers in cafés and kiosks. That’s the Lotaria Clássica de Natal, Portugal’s Classic Christmas Lottery, and it’s much more than a quick flutter.

Lisbon’s festive season returns with scale and pageantry across the city centre.

If you’re hunting for things to do this Halloween in Portugal, think candlelit traditions and cheeky night-outs side by side.

Portugal increasingly embraces Halloween with costumes, parties and themed attractions—especially in Lisbon, Porto and the Algarve—while traditional observances like All Saints’ Day and Pão‑por‑Deus remain central to the season.

October in Portugal has that first-hint-of-autumn feel. Grape juice on your trainers in the Douro, chestnut smoke in the lanes, soft light on the castles, and a steady run of food and film events in the cities.

With National Castle Day on the horizon, picture Portugal’s hilltop fortresses and coastal bastions opening up with special goings‑on behind the gates.

Commemorating the 1910 revolution that ended the monarchy, Portugal’s Republic Day sits at the heart of the national calendar.

Getting to grips with Portuguese wine is a fantastic way to understand the country itself. And while many people first think of Port from the terraced vineyards of the Douro Valley, that’s only scratching the surface.

September in Portugal marks a gentle shift from the peak summer season, offering a more relaxed experience. As the holiday crowds thin out and the intense heat of August subsides, you'll find a more laid-back pace, especially in popular coastal areas.