10 destinations for New Year's Eve in Portugal

At the Invicta, the night begins at Avenida dos Aliados, with concerts, fireworks and a good ambiance with a northern accent! You can also go to the riverside area, where the pyrotechnic spectacle, with the Douro river as a scenery, has a unique charm. For an even more special evening, you can book a mini dinner cruise on the “rabelos” boats and be part of the landscape.

Gerês has always been one of the most popular destinations for a homely New Year’s Eve, whether with a group of friends or family. If your perfect idea for that night is to be in front of a fireplace surrounded by friends, without the hustle and bustle of the big cities, Gerês is the way to go. Here, you will find a wide range of houses to rent or, if you prefer an easy solution, you will find hotels with all-inclusive packages for the big night, all in a pleasant family environment.

The New Year's Eve in Figueira da Foz is well-known, not only for its location, at the beach, but also because the party starts days before, with concerts performed in the previous nights. If you feel lucky, pay a visit to the casino, where a gala party is taking place. On the streets, the twelve chimes take place at Praça do Forte, with concerts and also fireworks, that are launched from the other shore and create a spectacle of light reflected in the water. A true feast for the eyes!

Serra da Estrela is inevitably one of the most popular destinations for New Year’s Eve, especially for snow lovers. Whether for a few days at the ski resorts or simply for a quiet New Year's Eve in front of a fireplace, you'll find everything from spa hotels and elegant parties to simple self-catering accommodations. Enter the New Year surrounded by the serenity that snow has to offer.

In Coimbra, the longest night of the year takes place in Largo da Portagem, with concerts and a monumental firework display over the Mondego River. The animation continues during the night, with concerts in several stages spread throughout the city streets, such as in Praça do Comércio, Praça 8 de Maio and Terreiro da Erva.

Spending the last few minutes of the year on the beach is always special and that's why the New Year's Eve in Nazaré is one of the best known in the Central region. The festivities last for three days, with stages scattered along the side walk, and on the beach itself. At midnight, the countdown is made by the clock projected on the wall of the promontory. Watching the sky getting filled with colours will be a vision you will certainly not forget.

In Lisbon, there are plenty of options to choose from, whether being theatres or hotels, but the parlour par excellence is the Praça do Comércio. There, you will witness the best concerts, as well as an incredible pyrotechnic show by the river, made of sequences of light, movement and special effects. And, since one day is not enough to celebrate New Year’s Eve, there are more concerts in the following days.

The Alentejo is by no means excluded from this list and, despite the fantastic hotels with new year's packages, we advise you to enter the new year in the streets, in the heart of the historical centre, classified as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Évora welcomes the new year with open arms in Praça do Giraldo, with concerts and lots of entertainment, which last until the beginning of next year's first day.

And because excitement in Algarve is not limited only to the summer, Albufeira is another destination you should really pay attention to. The Praça dos Pescadores, right next to the beach, hosts concerts and, at midnight, the traditional firework display, which is also launched from the Oura and Olhos de Água beaches.

We could not end this list without referring to Madeira's world-famous New Year's Eve. The tradition of its spectacular fireworks, which dates back to the 18th century, is surpassed every year and has even won a Guinness Award for "The Greatest Pyrotechnic Show in the World". You can watch it from the Bay of Funchal or party aboard one of the many anchored boats. Delight yourself with the thousands of lights, colours and effects that light up Funchal's natural amphitheatre.