In Lisbon, the City Council announced an investment in Christmas lights amounting to 749,500 euros, the same figure as the previous year, featuring a ‘videomapping’ display. This visual technique uses projectors to create optical illusions and animations on real surfaces like building facades.

Musical performances and various other initiatives, including events at Praça do Comércio and the surrounding hills, are among the many Christmas activities planned in the nation’s capital.

In Porto, the Traders Association, in collaboration with the City Council, is also investing the same 700,000 euros from the previous years, highlighting shows, numerous illuminated streets, and a large Christmas tree on Avenida dos Aliados.

Braga ranks third in Christmas investment for 2025, with 450,000 euros allocated. Two hundred thousand euros are dedicated to lighting, with the rest funding over 80 events including circus acts, concerts, films, and the traditional Christmas Parade with around 800 participants.

Castelo Branco follows with 300,000 euros, Leiria with 240,000 euros, Guarda with 213,000 euros, Viana do Castelo with 185,000 euros, and Faro with 184,000 euros. The investments span traditional Christmas lights, shows, and other attractions for local residents and visitors.

Leiria is focusing on large light structures and central attractions, Guarda designates itself as “Christmas City” until January, emphasizing cultural and historical traditions, while Viana do Castelo promotes local commerce with markets, contests, and street events. Faro enhances city illumination and supports traditional commerce with a reinforced investment and initiatives.

Castelo Branco’s Christmas includes a Christmas Market, exhibitions, children’s theater, concerts, guided tours in the historical area, tastings of local products, a shop window contest, and a Christmas circus at Cineteatro Avenida.

In Aveiro, the ‘Boas Festas’ program involves over 150 artists and features performances, street arts, concerts, theater, dance, and ‘videomapping.’ This year’s edition also introduces an ice rink, an electric train at Rossio, a Santa parade on moliceiros, a multimedia show, and one of the largest Christmas trees in Europe. It includes a Christmas Market, the São Silvestre race, and New Year’s and Epiphany concerts.

Coimbra and Setúbal are investing around 150,000 euros, with the transformation of Portugal dos Pequenitos into a true Christmas Village in Coimbra, and in Setúbal, the traditional Christmas market and Santa’s House, accompanied by musical performances and vibrant street entertainment.

Viseu features 370,000 low-consumption bulbs for its Christmas display, which cost 124,000 euros, along with an ice rink at the May 02 market, a new Santa Claus at Rossio, illuminated staircases, and a Christmas forest. It also includes the traditional Christmas market, a Christmas concert, and numerous family activities.

In the Azores, Ponta Delgada invested over 200,000 euros in LED Christmas lighting, covering gardens and main streets to reduce consumption, attract visitors, and tackle tourism seasonality. On Madeira Island, Funchal allocated 310,000 euros for Christmas and New Year’s celebrations, with lighting from December 1 to January 7 and the traditional fireworks, complementing the regional investment of 4.6 million euros.

In Santarém, the City Council invested 110,000 euros in Christmas lights for 2025, featuring approximately 400 decorative elements spread throughout the municipality, particularly in the historic center. There is also an eight-meter tunnel of light and a natural pine tree in Largo de Nossa Senhora da Piedade.

Up north, Bragança invested around 130,000 euros in Christmas, highlighting the “Terra Natal e de Sonhos” event, notably higher than the municipalities of Vila Real (100,000 euros), Beja (60,000 euros), and Évora (45,000 euros).

Despite lower investments, these municipalities offer numerous Christmas attractions, with a focus on artistic features including 21 nativity scenes in Vila Real’s historic center, street initiatives in Beja, and Évora’s “Christmas Garden,” which includes a craft and local product market.

The Portalegre Council invested just 15,000 euros in this year’s Christmas lighting, less than the 20,000 euros of previous years. Besides Christmas lights in commercial areas and gardens, Portalegre will also have a Christmas tree in Praça da República, a small market, a shop window contest, and various musical activities throughout December.