Posts by

Larissa Miranda

Writer & editor

Larissa Miranda is a writer and editor at Unlock Portugal.

Rua Garrett in Chiado, Lisbon, with star-shaped Christmas lights over open shops and the lit-up Armazéns do Chiado at the end of the street

What's Open on Christmas Day in Portugal (2026)

What's open on Christmas Day in Portugal? Check 24, 25 and 26 December hours for 7 supermarket chains, pharmacies, trains and museums before you plan.

New Year's Eve fireworks filling the sky over Funchal's rooftops and Christmas lights, seen from the hillside above the city centre

Madeira New Year's Eve Fireworks 2026: Where to Watch

Madeira New Year fireworks 2026: 59 launch points, 27 in the amphitheatre. Compare Funchal viewpoints, ships and road closures before you book.

People watching New Year's Eve fireworks burst over Funchal, Madeira, from the Barreiros area just after midnight

New Year's Eve in Portugal 2026: Lisbon, Porto, Madeira

New Year's Eve in Portugal: compare free midnight shows in Lisbon, Porto and Funchal (59 launch points), last trains home and what shuts on 1 January.

The walled town of Óbidos and its castle on the hill, seen across white houses and tiled roofs in December

Óbidos Vila Natal 2026: Dates, Tickets, Is It Worth It?

Óbidos Vila Natal runs 27 Nov to 3 Jan with €12 adult tickets. Check hours, pre-sale vouchers and costs to decide if the Pinocchio theme suits your family.

Shoppers with bags walking toward the main entrance of Centro Colombo, Lisbon's largest shopping centre, in November

Black Friday in Portugal 2026: What's Real, What's Not

Black Friday in Portugal is 27 Nov 2026. How the 30-day lowest-price rule works, what DECO found in 2025, where to shop, and how to complain.

Clock tower building and arcaded shopfronts at Freeport Lisboa Fashion Outlet in Alcochete

Portugal Outlet Shopping: Freeport, Vila do Conde, Algarve

Three big designer outlet centres in Portugal compared: how to get there, hours (24 Dec closes 18:00), tax-free rules and what 'up to 70% off' means.

Travellers with luggage crossing the departures hall of Lisbon Portela Airport Terminal 1

Tax-Free Shopping in Portugal: VAT Refund Step by Step

Non-EU residents can reclaim VAT on Portuguese purchases over €50 before VAT. Who qualifies, the e-Taxfree kiosk steps, and where €61.50 comes from.

Lit-up red entrance gate of Wonderland Lisboa at night with a crowd walking into the Christmas fair in Parque Eduardo VII

Christmas in Lisbon 2026: Wonderland, Rossio and Lights

Wonderland Lisboa is free to enter, rides cost extra. 2026 dates marked confirmed or not announced, plus Rossio, lights, Metro and 24 to 25 Dec hours.

Looking up inside the lit Christmas tree on Avenida dos Aliados in Porto, with white globes and blue and green lights, December 2024

Christmas in Porto 2026: Lights, Markets and What's Open

Porto has not announced its 2026 Christmas dates. See what the Câmara confirmed, the 2025 pattern, rain plans, 24-25 Dec hours and day trips north.

Strings of warm white Christmas lights hung across a street in Braga, northern Portugal, at night

Christmas Markets in Portugal 2026: Dates, Cities, Prices

Christmas markets in Portugal 2026: Óbidos, Perlim, Madeira and Guimarães have dates; Lisbon and Porto have none yet. Checked 3 Nov with official links.

Crowd in a Vigo street under arches of Christmas lights with a large glowing chandelier ornament, December 2024

Vigo Christmas Lights From Porto: A Day-Trip Guide

Vigo Christmas lights from Porto by car, bus or train: times, tolls on both sides, the 1-hour time change, crowds, and the 2026 switch-on status.

Run-down early 20th-century house with a red VENDE (for sale) sign in its tiled window arch, on Rua Pinto Bessa in Porto's Campanhã district

IMT in Portugal 2026: Rates, Examples and the 7.5% Non-Resident Rule

IMT in Portugal runs 0-8% on a home, or a flat 7.5% for non-residents since May 2026. See 2026 rates, worked examples and how buyers get a refund.

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