In the summer months, party rockets, bands with drums and colorful flags announce the arrival of popular festivities in the most diverse towns and cities in Portugal.

Combining music, entertainment and gastronomy, these are unique events that genuinely celebrate the culture, religion and traditions of the Portuguese people and that attract both locals and tourists. Ready to discover them with Xtracars?

Portugal is a country of festivities for everyone. And while you travel to reach them, you still have the opportunity to uncover the fantastic landscapes that each region has to offer.

With Xtracars, you can discover all this with a simple and flexible car rental subscription and with the pick-up and delivery of the vehicle at the station most convenient for you.

Imagine a town with the streets of the historic center covered in paper flowers of all colors, quilts hanging on the balconies and representatives of the municipality's parishes carrying trays with paper flowers, ears of wheat and bread. All this topped by a crown with the Cross of Christ or the Dove of the Holy Spirit.

This is what happens in the traditional and colorful Festa dos Tabuleiros, the most important celebration in the city of Tomar and one of the largest and oldest in the country, which has become a cultural and tourist icon in Portugal, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors. Its next edition will be in July 2027. 

 

What is probably the largest of Portuguese pilgrimages has its origins in the 18th century, when devotion to Nossa Senhora da Agonia emerged in the chapel of Bom Jesus.

Held in August, this festivity attracts thousands of visitors every year thanks to its rich and varied program, including the Historical-Ethnographic Procession with more than 3000 extras, the Stewardship Parade where more than 400 women wear typical costumes and various pieces of gold and also the monumental fireworks.

At the end of August, this quiet village in the south transforms into the most beautiful garden in Portugal. And all thanks to the Flower Festival, one of the most interesting popular celebrations in the country.

With talent and a lot of determination, the residents of Rio Maior whitewash their houses and work for months to decorate their streets with paper flowers. The result is a spectacle of joy and color that attracts thousands of visitors every year. And you can be the next.

 

The origins of Feira de Mateus date back to medieval times, when the Feira Franca was held here. Since then, much has changed and today this great event hosts, in addition to hundreds of exhibitors, lots of music, folklore, handicraft and gastronomy.

During the month of August and the beginning of September, don't miss the concerts, the jumping and obstacle courses, the parachuting and aerial acrobatics demonstrations, the cycle tourism tours, the fishing competitions, the athletics events and much more.

 

In September, the Feiras Novas festivities bring thousands of visitors from many nationalities to the oldest town in Portugal to take part in this pilgrimage in honor of Nossa Senhora das Dores.

For several days, the beautiful historic center of Ponte de Lima is the privileged stage for you to watch or participate in the most diverse activities: university choirs, improvised singing, popular music concerts and even the spectacular fireworks that end with perfection each night of these lively festivities.

Considered one of the biggest pilgrimages in Portugal, the festivities in honor of Nossa Senhora dos Remédios take place during September in the sanctuary with the same name, but also throughout the town of Lamego.

And the beautiful Procissão do Triunfo, various cultural and sporting events, concerts and the grand fireworks display are just some of the attractions that await you.

And since you're in the Alto Douro Wine Region, classified by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, why don't you take the opportunity to admire the fantastic landscapes that frame the Douro River?

Book a car with Xtracars, the best Portuguese festivities are just a step away. And going on a trip couldn't be simpler: 100% digital booking, flexible usage periods, fixed monthly fee and a diverse fleet so you can choose your favorite car.

To avoid wasting time looking for the best routes or having unexpected surprises, complement your reservation with the GPS product. And if your trip includes small passengers, add child seats to your order so that the whole family travels in comfort and safety. Let's go?