During the holidays, I don’t need a reason to go to the Christmas markets in Porto. I like to go there to see happy faces, friends gathering together, the charming Christmas lightnings…
And Porto, with its mild temperatures and airy squares, is asking for you to go shopping on the small markets, instead of going to shopping malls where all the shops look exactly the same!
So I decided to write this article of the best Christmas markets in Porto. But before we get there, a few important things…
Most hotels in Porto are already sold out for Christmas 2022
I have been getting a lot of emails from the local hotels and even apartments telling me that they are already sold out for 2022.
If you are not from Porto and you haven’t booked your place to stay during Christmas holidays in the city, I want to help out. I cannot possibly know what properties are available every single until Christmas, but I can connect you to Porto’s page on Booking.com so that you can find the best deals still available.
The best way to enjoy your Christmas in Porto is to go around with a local friend
The best way to explore Porto during the holidays is to join one of our private tours, where me and my fantastic team will give you insider information on how to best take advantage of your time in our city. Let’s meet soon! 🙂
What you should know about Christmas in Porto
Christmas season is very strong in the city, don’t expect it to be as in Central Europe.
We don’t have a centralised Christmas market in Porto but rather small markets spread all over the city, where you can find traditional Christmas decoration stuff, but also traditional Portuguese food products, urban design and much more.
Moreover, we don’t have snow, nor glue wine. But that is a good thing, because glue wine s***s. There, I said it 😛
On the other hand, we have a very welcoming weather. More importantly, our City Hall organises 5 weeks Christmas programme with plenty of activities such as choirs, street animation, concerts and workshops.
You can read my Complete guide to Christmas in Porto, as it congregates the best events.
And, as usual, if you want to make the most of the holidays season in Porto, make sure to book one of our private tours – we are already sold out for a lot of the dates around Christmas!
Given this introduction, let me introduce you to…
…the best Christmas markets in Porto! 🙂
Christmas market in Serralves’ Foundation
I have written countless times about the Serralves Foundation, that consists of a fantastic contemporary museum surround by romantic gardens. And this Christmas Serralves gardens will open its doors to the Christmas Market, together with national producers and brands.
On the 3rd and 4th of December 2022, you can buy gourmet products, organic and seasonal foods, creative Christmas gifts and products that inspire a more sustainable lifestyle, discover the latest design news and participate in workshops and activities for the whole family.
The entrance to the Christmas market will be free, but if I were you I would also take the opportunity to visit the gardens as well as the contemporary museum, because they are sensacional.
Address: Rua Dom João de Castro, 210.
Schedule: 3rd and 4th of December of 2022, from 11h to 18h.
How to get there: the buses 203 and 207 stop right in front of Serralves.
Urban Market – Christmas Edition
In December 2022 our famous Urban Market Porto will bring a Christmas edition, and in a double dose.
Both editions of this Christmas market in Porto will be at Hard Club, entirely focused on the design of Portuguese designers.
There will be projects linked to areas such as jewelry, illustration, painting, fashion and well-being coloring the main floor of the Ferreira Borges Market, where the Hard Club is housed. It’s a good opportunity to meet the creators behind each of the brands, from December 1st to the 4th, 2022.
A few days later, from the 8th to the 11th of December, the second Urban Market Christmas edition will take place.
The only downside of this Christmas market, for me, is that it usually doesn’t have food vendors (I am Portuguese, there must always be food options nearby).
Address: Hard Club.
Schedule: on both occasions (December 1st to 4th and then 8th to 11th), from 11h to 19h.
How to get there: São Bento’s train AND subway stations are a 10 minutes walking distance.
Christmas Palace at the Crystal Palace gardens
At Avenida das Tílias, a Christmas Market will bring together dozens of local exhibitors, with a special focus on handicrafts and traditional Portuguese food products, which will be located right next to Santa Claus’ home, where the old man with white beards will take note of the children’s wishes.
Music will be present everywhere. A capella voices or with musical instruments, popular or classical music, to enjoy in introspection or with your hands in the air, there’s a lot to hear (and feel) during this particular Christmas market in Porto.
Address: Crystal Palace gardens.
Schedule: 1st to 23rd of December 2022. The schedule is a bit confusing this year:
– Mondays to Thursdays: 14h00 to 19h00.
– Fridays: 14h00 to 21h00.
– Saturdays: 10h30 to 21h00.
– Sundays and holidays: 10h30 to 19h00.
How to get there: the nearest subway station, Aliados, is 20 minutes walking distance. It is better to get a bus (there are plenty of them stopping there!) or to call an Uber.
Flea Market
The Flea Market is regarded as one of the coolest markets in the city, where you can find pretty much everything, from vintage vinyls to clothing, furniture, accessories, etc. There is also a section selling Christmas sweets and harm drinks, to help you fight the cold.
The Christmas edition of 2022 will take place in Praça da República, a square near the city centre. Because this Christmas market in Porto takes place at an open space, make sure to bring warm clothes and good shoes.
Address: Praça da República.
Schedule: 17th of December 2022, from 13h to 18h.
How to get there: the subway station Lapa is a 10 minutes walking distance.
Mercado da Alegria
Among lights, decorated trees, entertainment, music and workshops, there is a Christmas Market in Porto that gets together 40 exhibitors with varied suggestions, from handcraft, jewellery, handmade toys, clothing, packed regional food products, among others.
This is a very special Christmas market in Porto because over all the weekends until Christmas there will be some sort of “street animation” taking place, from DJs to workshops and professional clowns, so it is a nice market to take the kids.
Address: Praça da Batalha.
Schedule: December 1st to December 30th, 2022. Sundays to Thursdays, from 10h to 20h. Fridays and Saturdays, from 10h to 22h.
How to get there: the subway station São Bento is a 5 minutes walking distance.
Christmas markets in Porto’s suburbs
Christmas market at the WOW (World of Wine)
The World of Wine (WoW) is the newest venture of the Fladgate Partnership, the owner of some of the best Port wine lodges. It basically consists of five museums and some (pricey) restaurants with outdoor seating with a fantastic view of Ribeira neighborhood.
At the WOW Christmas market there is a Kids Zone equipped with some entertainment for children such as Children’s workshops (5€), which consist of some traditional Christmas activities such as Santa Claus’ mail, a toy factory and face painting. Furthermore, the ticket for the children’s workshops includes a trip on the Christmas train, which delights the youngest.
The Christmas market itself will take place from the 1st of December 2022 to the 8th of January 2022.
Address: Rua do Choupelo 39, in Vila Nova de Gaia.
Schedule: 1st of December 2022 to the 8th of January of 2023. I checked the schedule and it literally changes everyday, but if you head there in the middle of the afternoon, you will be safe.
How to get there: the subway station General Torres is a 15 minutes walking distance.
Matosinhos’ Christmas market
The traditional craft fair in Matosinhos, a nearby city where you can find incredible seafood restaurants, will become a Christmas market in 2022. There will be around 87 artisans from all around the country, who will sell Portuguese cheeses and sausages, chocolates, design products, books, clothing and jewelry, among other things to wear, to decorate the house and to eat.
The market can be visited every day, with free entry, at Parque Basílio Teles, in front of the Town Hall of Matosinhos. Take my advice and after / before going to this Christmas market, have a sweet or savoury pastry at Padaria Ribeiro. Everything there is to die for, trust me on this!
Address: Parque Basílio Teles, in Matosinhos.
Schedule: 25th of November to the 23rd of December 2022. From Sunday to Thursday, it opens from 11h to 19h30. On Fridays, Saturdays and on the eve of public holidays, it will be open from 12h to 23h.
How to get there: the subway station Câmara de Matosinhos is a 5 minutes walking distance.
Usual Christmas markets in Porto that have not been confirmed yet for 2022
Artesanatus
To be updated (no information has been release yet about this market is 2022).
Artesanatus gathers traditional handcraft from all around the country on a giant plastic bubble, which makes it one of the most traditional Christmas markets in Porto.
This year it takes place in Jardim de São Lázaro, the garden dedicated to the women of Porto.
After / before visiting the market, drink a single origin coffee at Combi, in Bonfim neighborhood, to fight the cold.
How to get there: the subway station 24 de Agosto is a 5 minutes walking distance.
Porto Belo and Mini Porto Belo
Praça Carlos Alberto and Praça General Humberto Delgado
To be updated (no information has been release yet about this market in 2022)
Mercado Porto Belo is one of the most popular markets in Porto, due to the variety of products being sold (from used vinyls to organic onions) and to its intimate atmosphere. It takes place in Praça Carlos Alberto between December 21st and 23rd.
This year there will be also the Mini Porto Belo: meaning that it will be mostly children selling their things to other children for a symbolic price. To add some magic, it takes place at Praça Humberto Delgado, near the giant Christmas tree in Porto. A very special Christmas market in Porto that will take place on the 7th and 8th of December.
How to get there: the subway station Aliados Aliados is a 10 minutes walking distance.
Veggie Christmas market
To be updated (no information has been release yet about this market in 2022)
If there is one Christmas market in Porto that I will not miss this year it is this one. After all, it combines several things that I am passionate about: sparkling wine, sustainable gifts and vegan & vegetarian products (if you have been reading my most recent articles, you probably noticed that I don’t eat meat).
It is indeed a different concept for the holiday season in Porto, that introduces you to a more sustainable and ethical lifestyle. I will certainly be there!
How to get there: you can get there walking from Luiz I bridge, it is a short distance and it is flat.
Rua Miguel Bombarda
To be updated (no information has been release yet about this market in 2022)
I wasn’t entirely sure if I should include this on my list of the best Christmas markets in Porto because technically it is not one but it includes one 😛
On the three Saturdays before Christmas, entertainment is back to the most artistic block of the city, Rua de Miguel Bombarda (intersection with Rua da Boa Nova).
Music, dancing, workshops, an urban art market (here we go!), video mapping and other surprises on a programme developed in partnership with local independent projects and small businesses.
How to get there: the subway station Lapa is a 15 minutes walking distance.
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