North of Portugal: Off-Trail Christmas Markets

The Portugal Getaways Christmas in Northern Portugal package includes round-trip flights, 7 nights of hotel accommodation (3 Porto, 2 Bragança, 2 Douro Valley), a rental car for the full duration, daily breakfast, 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 arrive in Porto, pick up the rental car, and drive east to Bragança (approximately 2 hours 30 minutes, 215 km). After 2 nights in Bragança, you drive southwest to the Douro Valley (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, 110 km). After 2 nights in the Douro, you drive back to Porto (approximately 1 hour 30 minutes, 100 km) for the final 3 nights. You return the car at Porto Airport on departure day.

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 Porto 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 when booking with an agent, or directly with the rental company at pickup.

Yes, tolls apply. Most rental cars include a toll device that charges automatically. Toll costs are not included in the package price. Before your trip, the Portugal Getaways team will send you a travel checklist that includes a tolls calculator from Via Verde so you can estimate costs in advance.

Porto's main Christmas market fills Avenida dos Aliados with wooden stalls, a towering Christmas tree, festive lights, and music performances. Across the Douro River, the WOW Christmas Market in Vila Nova de Gaia offers gourmet food, wine tastings, and crafts. The ice rink at Praça D. João I is a local favorite. Markets typically open in late November and run through early January. The river and the lights reflecting off the Douro at night is one of the best things December in Porto has to offer.

Bragança hosts Bragança, Terra Natal e de Sonhos, one of the most authentic Christmas festivals in northern Portugal. The historic center transforms from late November through January 6th, with markets in Praça da Sé, Praça Camões, and the Municipal Market. Expect stalls selling Transmontano handicrafts, traditional sweets, an ice rink, artificial snow, winter entertainment, and live music. This is not a tourist market. It is a local celebration in a medieval city that most visitors to Portugal never reach.

December in the Douro is quiet, golden, and completely different from what most visitors experience in summer. The harvest is over, the terraced vineyards are stripped back, and the valley is at its most peaceful. Wine lodges are open for tastings, the river is still, and the views from the miradouros along the valley are unobstructed. Several of the hotels in this package are wine estates with their own cellars and tasting rooms. This is the Douro that locals and winemakers know.

The package includes 4-star hotels as standard, with an upgrade to 5-star available on request in Porto and the Douro Valley. The package price varies depending on the hotel selected. 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. 

Parking is available at most properties in this package but is not always free and is not included in the package price. In Bragança and the Douro Valley, properties generally have free on-site parking. You can check parking details for your specific property during the booking process, or contact the Portugal Getaways team and we will confirm the details for you.

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. 

The Bragança Christmas festival and the Douro Valley winter events open in early December. Departing before 6 December would mean arriving before the markets and festivities are fully running. Our team in Portugal planned this package around those exact opening dates so you arrive when each destination is at its best. This is the kind of local detail that makes the difference between a good trip and the right trip. The first available departure is 6 December. If you want to travel earlier, contact the Portugal Getaways team and we will check what can be arranged.

Yes to all three. The Portugal Getaways team can add nights at any stop, include Lisbon, or adjust the itinerary to your preferences. 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.

December in northern Portugal is mild by North American standards but noticeably cooler and wetter than the south. Porto averages around 12°C to 15°C (54°F to 59°F), with some rain and overcast days but rarely cold enough to disrupt plans. Bragança is the coolest stop on the route, sitting at higher elevation in the Trás-os-Montes interior, with temperatures that can drop to 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) and occasional frost or light snow, which adds to the Christmas atmosphere rather than detracting from it. The Douro Valley sits between the two, averaging around 8°C to 13°C (46°F to 55°F) in December, crisp and clear on good days with dramatic low light over the terraced vineyards. Pack layers for Bragança. A waterproof jacket is worth having throughout.

Yes. The main motorways between Porto, Bragança, and the Douro Valley are well maintained and clearly signposted. The road from Bragança to the Douro Valley passes through mountainous terrain with some winding sections, which are perfectly manageable at a relaxed pace. The Douro Valley roads along the river can be narrow in places but are part of what makes the drive scenic. GPS navigation works reliably throughout the route. You drive on the right in Portugal, the same as the rest of continental Europe.

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.