Christmas Magic: Portugal's Wonderland Road Trip

The Portugal Getaways Christmas Road Trip includes round-trip flights, 7 nights of hotel accommodation (2 nights Évora, 2 nights Sintra, 3 nights Lisbon), a rental car for the full duration of the trip, and all taxes and fees related to the booking. Airport transfers, guided tours, and city taxes are not included. This package is available for December departures only.

You pick up the rental car at Lisbon Airport on arrival and drive directly to Évora (approximately 1.5 hours, 134 km). After 2 nights in Évora, you drive to Sintra (approximately 2 hours, 180 km). After 2 nights in Sintra, you drive to Lisbon (approximately 40 minutes, 30 km) for the final 3 nights. You return the rental car at Lisbon Airport on departure day.

The itinerary includes Évora, and Évora's Christmas market opens in mid-December (Dec 13). Departing significantly earlier in December would mean arriving in Évora before the market opens. If you want to travel earlier in December, contact the Portugal Getaways team, and we can adjust the itinerary.

A rental car is included for all 7 nights. The standard vehicle is a compact manual car. Automatic transmission is available on request at an additional cost. You will need a valid Canadian or US passport and driver's license at pickup. The car is collected at Lisbon Airport on arrival and returned there on departure day.

The rental includes basic third-party liability insurance, and depending on the car rental company, a collision damage waiver (CDW) may already be included. Even with CDW, most rentals have a mandatory excess. We always recommend upgrading to the highest insurance level available. This can be arranged through the Portugal Getaways team. 

Yes, round-trip flights are included. The package price varies depending on your departure airport. Other departure cities are available on the package page and additional options are available on request. Contact the Portugal Getaways team before booking to discuss departure options. Seat selection, extra baggage, and cabin class upgrades can be arranged as paid add-ons, subject to availability.

Checked luggage is not always included and depends on the airline and fare type in your package. You can confirm what is included and add luggage during the booking process.

The package includes 4-star hotels as standard. The package price varies depending on the hotel selected.

• In Évora, all properties are boutique and design hotels in or close to the historic center.
• In Sintra, properties are set in the hills outside the village center, a short drive or taxi from the main palaces and the Christmas market.
• In Lisbon, properties are centrally located with good access to the main Christmas markets and sights on foot or by public transport.

Exact options are shown when you click a date in the booking calendar and proceed to the next step. Contact the Portugal Getaways team to discuss preferences before booking.

Breakfast is not included by default but can be added during the booking process.

No. City taxes are not included and are paid directly at each hotel on arrival or checkout.

The Christmas markets in all three destinations are typically free to enter. Purchases, food, drinks, ice skating, and any paid activities at the markets are at your own expense. 

Yes. Pena Palace, Quinta da Regaleira, and the Moorish Castle all require timed entry tickets that sell out weeks in advance in December. We strongly recommend booking before you travel. The Portugal Getaways team can arrange tickets for all Sintra attractions as part of your package. 

Évora is inland and can feel cool at night, around 8°C to 13°C (46°F to 55°F). Pack layers. Sintra sits in the hills and can be misty and cool, around 10°C to 14°C (50°F to 57°F) in December. A waterproof jacket is worth having. Lisbon is the mildest stop, averaging 13°C to 17°C (55°F to 63°F), with sunshine common even in December. All three destinations look their best with Christmas lights after dark, so plan at least one evening stroll in each city.

Yes to all three. The Portugal Getaways team can add nights at any stop, adjust the order of cities, include Porto or the Algarve, or add guided tours and day trips. Additional costs apply. If you are travelling solo, the package price is based on two travelers sharing a room and a single supplement applies. Contact the team directly and we will make it easy. You can also check solo pricing by changing the number of guests from 2 to 1 in the booking calendar before clicking See Dates and Prices.

Portugal is consistently ranked as one of the safest countries in Europe for travelers, with no active conflicts and not affected by the current conflicts in Europe or elsewhere. 

Canadian and US passport holders do not currently need a visa for stays of up to 90 days within a 180-day period. Your passport should be valid for at least six months beyond your return date. ETIAS, a pre-travel authorization for Schengen Area travel, is not yet mandatory. When it launches, we will contact you in advance. 

The land portion of your package is refundable if cancelled at least 14 days before your travel date. Airfare is non-refundable from the moment it is issued, but the Portugal Getaways team will always check with the airline to explore options. Travel insurance with cancellation cover is strongly recommended, particularly for holiday season travel. This summary does not replace the full terms and conditions of your booking.

 For general support, contact the Portugal Getaways team at our regular number, available every day from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM Azores Time. Outside office hours, an emergency number is provided in your trip documents. For local emergencies in Portugal, dial 112.

Parking is available at most properties in this package but is not always free and is not included in the package price. In Évora, most hotels have on-site parking available given the city's layout. In Sintra, both properties are set outside the village center and have parking available on-site. In Lisbon, parking at city center hotels is more limited and may carry an additional charge. We recommend parking at the hotel and exploring Lisbon on foot or by public transport. Contact the Portugal Getaways team if you want us to prioritize hotels with free on-site parking when booking.