Visiting Lisbon in December? We think you’ve made a wonderful choice! Lisbon will greet you with mild winter temperatures, usually between 8 °C and 15 °C, although sometimes they can reach 20 °C or more! Therefore, it’s comfortable enough to explore the city during the day, yet cool enough at night for cozy layers and hot drinks, which are a must during the holiday season, right?
In addition to the relatively mild temperatures for European winter, the city is also filled to the brim with Christmas lights, there are plenty of Christmas markets to enjoy, and you can also book your tickets for some incredible shows in historic locations! So, are you ready to discover Lisbon and maybe even spend the last minutes of the year in its largest square?
Here are 11 events to attend in Lisbon in December 2025!
1. Wonderland Lisboa
When: November 28, 2025 – January 4, 2026
Where: Parque Eduardo VII
How much: Free entry, pay-per-ride/ice rink
If you’ve ever dreamed of walking into a Christmas postcard set in the middle of a European capital, Wonderland Lisboa can make your dreams come true!
Spreading across Parque Eduardo VII, it turns one of Lisbon’s best viewpoints into a full‑on festive village, with an ice rink, Ferris wheel, Santa’s house, and rows of wooden stalls selling hot chocolate, ginjinha, churros, and local crafts.
Families come for the rides and Santa photos, couples come for the city views from the Ferris wheel, and everyone stays longer than planned because there’s always just one more thing to try.
Since it’s mostly outdoors and on a hill, it can get breezy in the evenings, so bring a warm layer and comfortable shoes. You’ll be walking up and down quite a bit! If you’re staying near Marquês de Pombal or Avenida da Liberdade, you can get there in under 10 minutes on foot, which makes it easy to pop back to your hotel after a hot chocolate (or two).
2. Salão Piolho – Cineconcerts
When: December 10-13, 2025
Where: Various venues across Lisbon
How much: Free
If you like movies but are bored of standard cinema fare, don’t miss out on Salão Piolho, which combines movies with live music! Depending on the program, you might find silent film classics, cult favorites, or special themed evenings, each with a carefully chosen musical accompaniment that completely changes how you experience the story.
Because the festival spreads across several venues, it’s also a great excuse to explore different neighborhoods in Lisbon. You can pick a screening in a part of the town you haven’t seen yet, arrive early for a drink or dinner nearby, and then enjoy the show.
For example, O diabo do entrudo will be screened at The Money Museum, Uma mulher do cinema can be seen at Cinemateca Portuguesa, while A quadratura do humor will be screened right there at the Cais de Sodré train station!
3. Rossio Christmas Market
When: November 14 – December 21, 2025
Where: Praça Dom Pedro IV
How much: Free
Think of every Christmas cliché you secretly love…wooden chalets, steaming cups of mulled wine, roasted chestnuts, and fairy lights (for example). Now, place all of that in one of Lisbon’s most iconic squares! That’s the Rossio Christmas Market, right in the heart of Baixa, where the traditional Portuguese cobblestone patterns and the grand façades become the backdrop to a small winter village.
One of the market’s cutest touches is the little Christmas train that loops through Baixa, delighting children and anyone still a kid at heart.
Evenings are usually livelier, with music, parades, and appearances by Santa. However, that also means more people, so if you prefer a slower browse, go in the early afternoon. Because it’s in the very center, you can easily pair a visit with a walk up to Chiado or Alfama.
4. Silence 4 – Reunion Concert
When: December 12-13, 2025
Where: MEO Arena, Rossio dos Olivais
How much: 25-80 EUR
A Silence 4 reunion is a big deal and a very nostalgic one for Portuguese pop‑rock fans! The band returns to one of the country’s largest stages, MEO Arena, with songs that defined a generation of local listeners in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
Even if you don’t know every track by heart, the atmosphere of thousands of people singing along in Portuguese and English is an experience in itself. It’s also a fun way to feel part of Lisbon’s contemporary culture.
MEO Arena sits right by the Tagus in Parque das Nações, so plan to arrive a bit early to soak up the riverfront atmosphere (it’s absolutely stunning at sunset!) and grab a pre‑show bite in the Vasco da Gama Shopping Center.
If you do want to see Silence 4 on stage, hurry up and book your tickets because both events are almost sold out. We weren’t kidding when we said they’re incredibly popular in Portugal!
5. Natal Ao Vivo
When: December 14, 2025
Where: Sagres Campo Pequeno, Centro de Lazer do, Campo Pequeno
How much: 18-40 EUR
Natal Ao Vivo is one of Lisbon’s most anticipated family-friendly Christmas spectacles. It certainly brings a burst of holiday magic, music, and beloved cartoon characters to the heart of the city.
For 2025, this lively event lands at Sagres Campo Pequeno on December 14th, with two sessions scheduled at 11:30 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., perfect for parents planning a festive day out with their kids!
Imagine the atmosphere: the iconic Campo Pequeno arena transformed into a wonderland where Santa Claus teams up with his mischievous elves and a dream cast of children’s favorites: Pocoyo, Peppa Pig, My Little Pony, Masha and the Bear, Diva from LOL Surprise, and Bluey!
The show is carefully designed for families: children under 24 months enter for free if seated on a parent’s lap, and there are also special family ticket packages for select seating sections.
6. Tito Paris
When: December 12, 2025
Where: Coliseu dos Recreios, R. das Portas de Santo Antão 96
How much: 20-40 EUR
Tito Paris brings the warmth of Cabo Verde to Lisbon with music that blends morna, coladeira, and gentle guitar tunes. Hearing him live at Coliseu dos Recreios (a historic theater with balconies, ornate interiors, and great acoustics, which is a must-see in itself) makes the experience even more atmospheric!
The theater’s central location is another bonus: it sits just off Avenida da Liberdade and near Restauradores, so you can easily fit the concert into a day of shopping or sightseeing. After the show, stroll down the avenue toward Baixa or stop at a nearby café for a late‑night drink to soak in the pleasant Lisbon atmosphere!
7. Cirque du Soleil “OVO”
When: December 25-28, 2025 (multiple shows per day)
Where: MEO Arena, Rossio dos Olivais, 1990-231 Lisboa
How much: 45-104 EUR
If you’re spending Christmas in Lisbon and looking for something big, colorful, and memorable, book your tickets for Cirque du Soleil’s “OVO.” This production brings acrobats, dancers, and clowns to the stage in a show inspired by the world of insects, with bright costumes, intriguing characters, and jaw‑dropping stunts.
Live music, storytelling, and acrobatics that will take your breath away – what else can you wish for?! This is even better if you’re in Lisbon with your kids!
Because it runs over several days with afternoon and evening performances, you can choose the time that best fits your holiday plans.
8. Festas de Natal
When: December 5-19, 2025
Where: Various churches, theaters, and public spaces across Lisbon
How much: Many events are free or low‑cost
Beyond markets and big concerts, Lisbon runs an official Festas de Natal program that fills the city with smaller cultural events: choral performances, classical music concerts in churches, and children’s shows!
For example, between December 5 and 14, you can attend the Música nas Igrejas events, concerts held in churches – Igreja de São Vicente da Fora, Igreja de Santa Isabel, Igreja de Nossa Senhora dos Navegantes, and Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Conceição da Luz.
Then, you can also listen to orchestral music at Cinema São Jorge on December 8 or delight in some Christmas songs at Panteão Nacional on December 19. You can find the entire schedule here.
In short, there are plenty of events to choose from.
9. New Year’s Eve at Praça do Comércio
When: Night of December 31, 2025 (concerts from late evening, fireworks at midnight)
Where: Praça do Comércio
How much: Free
If you like the idea of ringing in the New Year surrounded by thousands of people and music by the river, head towards Praça do Comércio on December 31. Live performances usually start late in the evening, building up to midnight fireworks over the Tagus and a big collective countdown that makes for an incredible atmosphere!
The square fills with thousands of people. Many of them are dressed up, carrying bottles of sparkling wine, and ready to hug strangers when the clock hits twelve.
Make sure to go early if you want a decent spot with a clear view of the stage or the water. Public transport runs late, but the stations around Baixa can get very busy, so factor in some extra time to get back to your accommodation. It might be difficult to find a taxi as well.
10. New Year’s Eve Boat Parties
When: Night of December 31, 2025
Where: Departures from docks along the Tagus (often Cais do Sodré, Alcântara, or Belém)
How much: Typically from 60-70 EUR upwards, depending on package
For a more curated New Year’s Eve, go for a river cruise! Most boats include a DJ, bar, some kind of snack or buffet, and, of course, a front‑row view of the fireworks along the Lisbon waterfront at midnight.
Being on the water gives you a spectacular panoramic view of the city lights and celebrations onshore! In addition, you can avoid the crush of the biggest crowds in the main square.
Because places are limited and many cruises sell out well in advance, it’s worth booking as soon as your dates are confirmed. Plan your transport to and from the dock carefully, especially after 2:00 a.m.-3:00 a.m. Furthermore, don’t forget to bring a warm jacket: it may be lively onboard, but December nights on the river can still feel surprisingly cold.
11. Fado in Chiado
When: Throughout the month
Where: Cine Theatro Gymnasio, R. da Misericórdia 14
How much: 21 EUR
Are you looking for a more intimate evening that still feels very Portuguese? Book your ticket for a Fado in Chiado performance. During December, the atmosphere feels even cozier: the city outside glows with Christmas lights, and you’re listening to the most beautiful, melancholic songs in the melodic Portuguese language.
Since Cine Theatro Gymnasio is located in the city center, you can go for a walk through Chiado or Bairro Alto after the concert. You can also shop or sightsee in the afternoon, enjoy an early dinner nearby, and then head to the performance on foot.
