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Late winter and early spring are among the best times to visit Portugal, as the country comes alive with vibrant song and dance during the annual carnival season. The highlight is Carnival Tuesday, a public holiday on March 4, 2025, when towns and cities across Portugal come to a halt for colorful parades and lively floats. Many of the celebrations actually begin the weekend before.
Carnival is celebrated throughout Portugal, with the most spectacular Mardi Gras parades taking place in Ovar, Sesimbra, Torres Vedras, Funchal, and Loulé. These events attract large crowds of revelers, many in elaborate costumes.
Hotels across Portugal offer special Carnival deals starting a few days before the festivities, often including parties and Brazilian-style entertainment as part of the package.
Photo by Robert-Razvan Branza
What is Carnival?
Carnival has its origins in Italy, where Catholics initiated a lively costume festival on the eve of Lent. Since Catholics traditionally abstain from eating meat during Lent, the festival was named "carnevale," which means "to put away the meat."
Over time, carnivals in Italy gained popularity and spread to France, Spain, and other Catholic countries across Europe. As the French, Spanish, and Portuguese explored and colonized the Americas and other regions, they carried their carnival traditions with them.
Carnival 2025 Dates
The date of Carnival varies each year and is traditionally observed 40 days before Easter. Easter's date is set based on a combination of astronomical events and calendar calculations established by the First Council of Nicaea in 325 AD. It is celebrated on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the spring equinox in the northern hemisphere. Consequently, Shrove Tuesday, which marks the start of Carnival, occurs 40 days before Palm Sunday.
Carnival 2025 will be celebrated on March 4 to Sunday, March 9 Also known as Entrudo, it is a pagan festival that always takes place on a Tuesday.
In Portugal, Carnival is a discretionary holiday. This means its observance is determined by municipalities (for public sector workers) and by companies (for private sector employees). The period from Carnival to Easter spans approximately 40 days, which the Church remembers as the time Jesus spent in the desert and was tempted by the devil. This is the season of Lent, beginning on Ash Wednesday, the day after Carnival.
Where should you go during the Lisbon Carnival?
The vibrant parades and festivities occur across various streets and neighborhoods in the city, with major celebrations concentrated in two main areas. The Praça do Comércio in the city center buzzes with activity, while the Bairro Alto, known for its “Plaza del Carnaval,” is teeming with thousands of partygoers.
The Parque das Nações (Park of the Nations) is the site for the main parades and costume contests, while the Entrudo, the principal procession, meanders through the city’s streets.
In order to join he other cities Carnivals from Lisbon you need to sign up to get assigned to buses that take you to other cities. The buses depart from Rossio and Praça dos Restauradores.
Lisbon Parades
Parade of Chapitô: Celebrating its 11th year, the Chapitô Circus School hosts a vibrant carnival parade.
Bloco de Carnaval Baque Virado: Experience Maracatu rhythms in Lisbon's Príncipe Real garden, moving towards Cais do Sodré. The Baque do Tejo group's procession, inspired by Pernambuco.
Pre-Carnival: Arroz Estúdios leads a parade through the streets from Largo Rosa to Largo Independente, with a post-parade celebration at Casa Independente.
Lisbloco: This carnival group, consisting of musicians and dancers living in Lisbon, follows Brazilian carnival traditions with a focus on environmental awareness. Their music includes a variety of Brazilian rhythms such as Samba, Marchinhas, Samba-reggae, Xote, and Frevo. They also offer music workshops throughout the year.
Portugal Carnival Traditions
There are several Carnival traditions in Portugal. Many people dress up in Carnival costumes that represent a specific professional category, film or cartoon characters or even a media personality. Children also celebrate Carnival with colorful costumes, which they wear on Carnival Sunday and Tuesday in parades organized by schools and leisure associations.
Carnival parades are one of the highlights of this festive season. Several parades take place in various cities in Portugal, such as Torres Vedras, Loulé, Famalicão, Ovar, Estarreja and Funchal. As a rule, social criticism is made at different levels during parades - from football, to television, to politics, always using a sense of humor to satirize the state of the country.
Where to Celebrate
The top spots to celebrate Carnival in Portugal include Torres Vedras, Ovar, Funchal, Loulé, Famalicão, Mealhada, Porto, Macedo de Cavaleiros, Sesimbra, and Lisbon.
While Sesimbra might not always be listed among the must-see Carnival destinations in Portugal, it’s a noteworthy event if you're in the area.
The carnival route often runs along the shore, offering a unique experience with the added bonus of watching the sunset afterward.
All the mentioned locations host Carnival celebrations, but larger cities like Lisbon and Porto may feature multiple events simultaneously. Lisbon celebrations will be observable in the city center from Rossio square, Praça dos Restauradores and Marques de Pombal.
During Carnival in Lisbon, you can enjoy a variety of activities, including:
Guided Food Tours: Explore Lisbon’s culinary scene with guided tours that highlight local specialties and hidden gems.
Pastry Sampling: Indulge in Lisbon’s famous pastries, such as pastéis de nata, from renowned bakeries throughout the city.
Walking Tours of Historic Neighborhoods: Discover the rich history of Lisbon’s neighborhoods like Alfama, Bairro Alto, and Chiado through informative walking tours.
Tuk Tuk Tours: Experience Lisbon’s panoramic viewpoints and landmarks from a fun and convenient tuk tuk ride.
Here are some recommended day trips from Lisbon, along with their distances:
Sintra: Just about 30 kilometers (19 miles) from Lisbon, Sintra is known for its stunning palaces and lush landscapes. Key sites include the Pena Palace and the Moorish Castle.
Sesimbra: Located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Lisbon, Sesimbra offers beautiful beaches and a charming fishing village atmosphere. It’s perfect for seaside relaxation and fresh seafood.
Ericeira: About 50 kilometers (31 miles) from Lisbon, Ericeira is renowned for its surf spots and picturesque coastal scenery. It’s a great destination for beach lovers and surfers.
Mafra: Around 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Lisbon, Mafra is famous for its grand Mafra National Palace, a baroque masterpiece with a rich history.
Each of these locations provides unique experiences and is easily reachable for a day trip from Lisbon.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Lisbon and its surroundings offer a rich array of experiences, particularly during Carnival. The city itself brims with vibrant festivities, including guided food tours, indulgent pastry sampling, historical walking tours, and scenic tuk tuk rides. Beyond Lisbon, day trips to destinations like Sintra, Sesimbra, Ericeira, and Mafra provide additional layers of exploration, each with its own unique charm and attractions. Whether you're savoring local flavors, immersing yourself in historic neighborhoods, or venturing out to discover nearby gems, Lisbon and its environs promise a memorable and diverse adventure during Carnival.