I've lived in Lisbon, Portugal for the past two years. Even before we moved here from Dublin, Ireland, I visited Portugal on a number of occasions for the Christmas holidays. I thought it would be fun to give you my take on the 12 Days of Christmas...in Portugal!
I hope you'll be inspired by this post with some fun places to visit and things to do around the country to add to your Portuguese travel itinerary.
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… a private Douro day tour!
The Douro Valley is where port wine was born in the 18th century and winemaking in the region dates back over 2,000 years.
I can personally recommend a private guided tour with Tourvent which includes door-to-door transport in a Mercedes, three wine tastings, a three-course gourmet lunch, and a river cruise.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… two pumpkin sweets [from the convent in Guimarães]!
Guimarães is a historic city with a medieval atmosphere located 45 minutes from Porto. Guimarães is an ideal day trip destination from either Porto or Braga.
In addition to a spectacular castle, Guimarães is known for doces conventuais sweets from the local convents. Tortas de Guimarães with crispy, flaky pastry are a must-try.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… three small shots [of ginjinha]!
Ginjinha is a popular (and delicious!) Portuguese cherry brandy. You'll find shops and vendors on the streets selling this bracing tipple around Lisbon. Baixa and Alfama neighborhoods are a good place to seek it out.
For about a euro, you get a shot of ginjinha complete with a sour cherry garnish, the perfect winter warm-up.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… four gourmet plates [at Hotel Inspira]!
The traditional Christmas dinner in Portugal takes place on Christmas Eve, but select restaurants are open. Hotel Inspira offers a four-course Christmas Eve dinner with typical Portuguese sweets for dessert and a complimentary glass of port.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… five WOW museums [in Vila Nova de Gaia]!
WOW (World of Wine Experience) is a tourist attraction with museums, shops, restaurants, and outdoor plazas located in Vila Nova de Gaia, across the river from Porto.
There are seven museums to choose from, including The Wine Experience, Planet Cork, The Chocolate Story, Porto Region Across the Ages, The Bridge Collection, and The Pink Palace. Visit your favorites with a 5 museum pack ticket!
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… six talha wine pots!
The Alentejo region of Portugal is a fun destination for a Christmas road trip. The region is known for a historic method of making wine using giant clay pots.
This technique dates back to the Roman-era. These wines, known as talha wines are a unique sip worth savoring.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… seven Batalha kings!
Batalha is a village in Portugal that is home to the 14th-century Mosteiro da Batalha, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The monastery dominates the "skyline" of this small town and makes for some spectacular photo ops.
The monastery took over 100 yeras to build and spanned the reign of seven kings. Mosteiro da Batalha is known for As Capelas Imperfeitas or "The Unfinished Chapels" which remind visitors that the monastery was never actually completed.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… eight Tavira doors!
Door photography is "my weird hobby" and the doors of Portugal are some of the most spectacular anywhere in Europe. Tavira, a charming town in the Algarve, is my favorite place to go door-hunting.
Keep an eye out for colorful doors decorated with spectacular azulejos (Portuguese tiles) as you stroll through the narrow streets, perhaps on Christmas Day.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… nine Matosinhos [things to do]!
Matosinhos is a small city on the beach, located just outside of Porto.
Reasons to visit Matosinhos include walks on the beach, beachside cafes, Castelo do Queijo, a walk from Matosinhos to Foz, seaside sunsets, craft beer, amazing seafood, and affordable accommodations.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… ten latte art scenes [at The Yeatman Hotel]!
The Yeatman Hotel in Vila Nova de Gaia offers a lavish breakfast buffet that includes a sparkling wine station for mimosas and a cappuccino station with latte art.
I learned from the staff that there are 10 different latte art scenes, each depicting different iconic things that Porto is known for. Make sure you stay long enough to collect them all 🙃
In addition to an unparalleled coffee game, The Yeatman is home to a Michelin 2-Star restaurant. You'll also find spectacular views over the Douro and Porto.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… eleven uni buildings [at Coimbra University]!
Coimbra University is a historic university located in Central Portugal. Visit the school and admire at least 11 different buildings. Coimbra University is a UNESCO World Heritage site where, for 8 EUR per person, you can tour three different buildings and the historic Biblioteca Joanina.
Biblioteca Joanina is the highlight of a visit to Coimbra University and is located above the former academic prison. The library has two levels of floor-to-ceiling centuries-old books. A visit to the historic chemistry lab and science museum is another option for those interested in science.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me… twelve bottles of wine!
Want to know the best reason to visit Portugal for Christmas? The wine! Portuguese wine is high quality and the price can't be beat. Portugal is home to a variety of wine regions, including the world-famous Douro Valley, Bairrada, Alentejo, and Setúbal.
Stop by one of the locations of Garrafeira Nacional, a historic wine outlet with fantastic selection which can be found in Lisbon and Porto. Pack an extra suitcase. You're going to want to take a taste of Portugal home with you after this Christmas adventure.
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