It may be cold outside, but Porto always provides the best activities and events so you can make the most out of your winter travel. Check out these Porto events you cannot miss, during December.
December… Month for Christmas, family, reflection, hot cocoa and tea, blankets, films at home. But there isn’t anything quite as special as the Portuguese winter sun and if you’re travelling to Porto in December, we leave a few suggestions you can’t miss. Even in rainy days, because you need somewhere to find shelter, right? Take note of these Porto events.
Christmas markets
During the month of December the city will receive a few markets dedicated to the season. Every Saturday you have the Portobello Market at Praça Carlos Alberto, that acquires a Christmas tone for the season. Also, for the first time ever, Hard Club (a music venue that occupies a former market, the usual kind) will host the Xmas Experience market from the 19th until the 23rd of December.
Ice skating rings
Photo by: Raphael Alvim
Not a Porto event, but a great activity for the colder days. Christmas time also means skating. It may not snow, but you can spend a nice time at D. João I Square (Sunday-Thursday from 9:30am-11pm / Friday-Sunday from 10-1am) or Rotunda da Boavista (Monday-Friday from 10am-10pm / Saturday-Sunday from 10am-11pm). You can find more information about the Holidays hours on City Hall’s website.
The skates are provided pending an admission fee of 3,5€ for 20 minutes or 6€ for one hour. The rings will close on January 7th.
Steve McCurry exhibition
Photo courtesy of: The World of Steve McCurry
The american photographer Steve McCurry, famous for his work for National Geographic is exhibiting over 200 of his photographs at Alfândega do Porto. His most iconic pictures, like for example, Afghan Girl (1984), are present in the show, but you can also discover new, never published before, photographs. All wrapped up in the iconic building of Alfândega, also a Porto must see.
The World of Steve McCurry is open until the 31st of December, Mondays to Fridays from 10am to 6pm. Saturdays, Sundays and festive days from 10am to 7pm. You can buy tickets at the exhibition ticket office, online, at FNAC stores, at the Porto Tourism Offices or Sightseeing Yellow Bus points of sale.
New Year’s Eve celebrations
Say goodbye to 2017 with the live concerts that will mark the end of the year, at Avenida dos Aliados. On the 30th the celebrations begin with the band HMB. The day after, on New Year’s Eve, you can welcome 2018 with fireworks, the Portuguese pop singer Aurea and the band Amor Eletro. There are also a couple of DJ sets at Praça dos Poveiros and Cordoaria. Free entrance, the shows begin at 10:30pm.
