CHRISTMAS IN PORTUGAL
A festive trip always has one evening too few. These 15 new year's eve celebrations in Portugal earn the slot, priced and timed so you can decide quickly and get back to the mulled wine.
Join VMT Madeira Catamaran at Funchal Marina for a short New Year’s Eve cruise timed around the island’s famous fireworks. You’ll watch the display from offshore while Funchal glows below, with champagne, wine, beer, and soft drinks included. English and Portuguese guidance is available.
“It was a magnificent experience, very well organised, but most of all the fireworks were amazing :)”
Join Catamaran Seaborn at Funchal Marina at 11:00 PM for a 90-minute New Year cruise. You’ll pass Madeira’s Christmas lights, return to the bay for the midnight fireworks, and toast with champagne and Madeira wine. The boat is not wheelchair accessible, and warm clothing is essential.
“Absolutely brilliant, great crew. Lovely atmosphere everyone was out to have a good time.”
Spend three hours aboard the Pacific cruise ship, leaving from Doca da Marinha for a New Year’s Eve party on the Tagus. A live DJ, open bar, cheese and charcuterie board, city views, and midnight champagne accompany the cruise past Alfama, the 25 de Abril Bridge, and Praça do Comércio. Hosts speak Portuguese, English, and French.
Meet Palmayachts at Belém at 10:30 pm for a three-hour New Year’s Eve sail on the Tagus. Your crew shares Lisbon’s history as you pass the Discoveries Monument, Belém Tower, Christ the King, Praça do Comércio, São Jorge Castle, and the 25 de Abril Bridge. Wine, beer, soft drinks, snacks, and a midnight toast are included.
“A perfect ride for a moment of relaxation. Skipers are very attentive and tell historical facts throughout the tour. To repeat, that's for sure!”
Board Marlin Boat Tours at Doca de Alcântara at 11 pm for a two-hour New Year’s Eve cruise on the Tagus. You’ll see Praça do Comércio, the 25 April Bridge, and Lisbon’s lit skyline, then toast midnight with sparkling wine and raisins. Beer, wine, and sangria are included, but dinner is not.
“I would definitely recommend this. We all thought we'd like it but seeing the fireworks from the water with the city in the background was spectacular. The crew on the boat were attentive such as handing out blankets and always checking on us. The boat was very nice and was a great experience all around.”
Join Bloo Boat Charter for a three-hour New Year’s Eve sail from Doca do Bom Sucesso. You’ll pass Belém landmarks, the 25 de Abril Bridge, Commerce Square, Alfama, and Christ the King before watching fireworks from the Tagus. Wine, sparkling wine, raisins, and bolo rei are included. Warm clothing is essential.
“Było super, niezapomniane wspomnienia, poza mnóstwem widoków i opowiadaniem przez załogę co widzimy dostaliśmy również rodzynki, ciasto królewskie i 1 butelkę wina musującego na rezerwację. Sam pokaz niezapomniany, polecam serdecznie.”
Set sail from Alcântara aboard a two-hour New Year’s Eve cruise with Marlin Tours. You’ll pass illuminated Lisbon landmarks, enjoy beer, wine, and sangria, then toast midnight with sparkling wine and raisins near Commerce Square. The boat has indoor and outdoor areas, but bring warm clothing for the windy river.
“Highlight of our trip. They took us to the perfect up close viewing of the fireworks which lasted a solid 10 minutes. The staff was very welcoming, ensuring we had a good time - plenty of beer and wine plus snacks. The catamaran had inside and outside areas, which we tried to huddle where it was warm due to unusually cold night. Meet up location was easy to find and well organized. Champagne and raisins distributed at midnight. Checked in at 10, boarded 10:30, disembarked at 11, and returned at 1am.”
Meet your English, Spanish, or Portuguese-speaking guide at Camões Square at 9:30 PM. Visit two bars, enjoy welcome shots and one hour of unlimited beer and sangria, watch fireworks from Santa Catarina, open champagne at midnight, then enter a Lisbon club with VIP access.
“I didn't thought it will be amazing. But it was. It is great for individuals who want to learn other cultures, to interact with strangers:-) , to build connections, confidence or friendships and to collect memories which will last for a lifetime. Thank you all .”
Join a 40-person New Year’s Eve cruise from Doca de Santo Amaro for three hours of music, food, unlimited drinks, and Lisbon’s midnight fireworks. The glass-enclosed boat keeps you comfortable in rain, while the DJ and crew create a lively party setting. English and Portuguese are spoken.
Board a comfortable sailboat in Lisbon at 11 PM for a two-hour Tagus River cruise. With up to 10 people, you pass the 25 de Abril Bridge, Christ the King, Ribeira Market, and other landmarks before stopping near Commerce Square for midnight fireworks and sparkling wine. English and Portuguese hosts lead the evening.
“Tolle crew. Wasser. Wein. Champagner. Sightseeingtour zunächst. Danach mittendrin. Drohnenshow und grosses Feuerwerk. Anders als in der Beschreibung gab es auch reichlich zu essen. Wir hatten leider zuvor bereits ein grosses Dinner gehabt. WC an Bord und Decken. Trotzdem warm anziehen. Wir hatten einen fantastischen Jahreswechsel. Herzlichen Dank!”
Spend New Year’s Eve aboard a small River Sailing sailboat on Lisbon’s Tagus River. You’ll share drinks, snacks, blankets, music, and Portuguese treats with up to 10 people, then toast midnight with sparkling wine, 12 raisins, and views of the fireworks near Praça do Comércio. Staff members João and Mike were praised for their warm service.
“Klasse Bootstrip mit super Feuerwerk ! Sehr freundliches Team. Unbedingt empfehlenswert !”
Join Madeira Divepoint at Funchal Marina at 10:45 pm for about two hours on the water. A small group of up to 12 people watches the fireworks from Funchal Bay, with sparkling wine for the midnight toast and light snacks. The activity runs in English and returns to the marina.
“The fireworks were at risk of cancellation due to the weather and I am so glad the rains didn’t play spoilsport at the last minute. The agency assured us that the winds were fine and the only risk was us getting wet due to the rain forecast, and we were extremely lucky to have had good weather for the entire 2hrs or so we were onboard the boat. The guide was fun and informative and I highly recommend this to anyone looking to watch the fireworks this year.”
Spend two hours on the Tagus River aboard a sailboat limited to 10 people. Saildreams provides wine, sangria, beer, juices, snacks, cheese, charcuterie, King Cake, and sparkling wine with raisins at midnight. A live guide speaks English, Spanish, Portuguese, or French.
Sail from Calheta to Funchal Bay on New Year’s Eve aboard a comfortable catamaran. You’ll have sparkling wine, wine, beer, juices, water, snacks, music, Wi-Fi, and a front-row view of the midnight fireworks. English, Portuguese, and Spanish support is available, with return to Calheta around 1:45 a.m.
“Was a once in a lifetime experience to see such a display from the sea! Your guides were very kind and even offered to arrange transportation if needed. Only thing I would recommend is a little warning that some guests may get wet when sitting towards the back of the boat. Thank you for this wonderful adventure!”
Join a skipper at Alcântara at 11pm for a two-hour New Year’s Eve sail along the Tagus. See Lisbon’s night monuments, the suspension bridge, Belém, Praça do Comércio, and Oriente station before watching fireworks from a safe distance. Champagne, wine, beer, water, 12 raisins, tapas, and snacks are included for up to 12 people.
“Great trip amazing views great customer service the crew make sure all was perfect . The fireworks amazing”
Pick a market, a light show or a sleigh.
