What? December 24th is only a few days away and you’ ve yet to buy any Christmas presents?
For lack of time or because you have no idea what that aunt you haven’t seen in ages needs, or your grandfather, to whom you always give a pair of slippers for the winter, the truth is that the closer the day of exchanging Christmas gifts gets, the more anxious you get about how to solve this “little” problem.
Because we know this is going to happen to you – it’s almost inevitable – we went in search of ideas that you can use as gifts for some of your family, friends or work colleagues.
There are many options for Christmas presents, and the right one depends on the recipient and the relationship you have with them.
But hurry up because Christmas Eve is just around the corner!
Table Of Contents
Concert and music festival tickets
Our first suggestion is that this year your Christmas presents should be tickets to attend a live music concert next year, or to attend one of the many music shows that will take place in 2025, which already have some confirmations, such as:
- Carolina Deslandes + Diogo Clemente, on January 24 and 25, at the Coliseu dos Recreios
- Resistência, on February 1, at the Coliseu dos Recreios
- Mão Morta, on February 26, at Culturgest
- Skunk Anansie, on March 1, at Sagres Campo Pequeno
- Lenny Kravitz, on April 8, at MEO Arena
- Pedro Sampaio, on April 12, at Sagres Campo Pequeno
- Pixies, on May 10, at Sagres Campo Pequeno
- Imagine Dragons, on June 26, at Estádio da Luz
- NOS Alive, at Passeio Marítimo de Algés, on July 10, 11 and 12
- Kylie Minogue, on July 15, at the MEO Arena
Christmas hampers
Christmas hampers have long been one of the best and most complete solutions for those who never know what to give as Christmas presents.
This year, there are suggestions for all tastes and wallets in practically every department store.
One of our suggestions, not least because it has prices for all wallets, are the Apolónia baskets, which offer 34 different baskets, with options starting at €19.95 and going up to the most complete basket for €499.95, with selected products in line with the Christmas tradition.
Drinks and… “toys” to “take away”
The name is resonant and doesn’t go unnoticed. Que se Foda emerged in 2020, the year of the pandemic and the time when the world was locked up at home, and is now a brand with five wines available, including Tinto Reserva, Branco, Rosé, Cadela and Cadelão – and there is also the option of ordering the Mystic Box with the complete offer. Orders can be placed directly on the website.
Either wines or this old CR&F brandy, which this year launched a very special limited edition that even includes the gift of a crystal balloon goblet.
The new limited edition pays homage to the former workers of the house, Dona Beatriz and Senhor Henrique, workers who, in the 1950s, were behind two of the brand’s most iconic elements: the rope and the red seal, which are still present today on every bottle of this old brandy.
Still in this category, if you like drinking beer, you won’t believe this piece of equipment: a home beer tap, the Beertender Compact by Krups (€200), which in partnership with Heineken will make you very happy when you invite all your friends over to watch the ball at home.
Beer and coffee. Two of the drinks most loved by the Portuguese. And if you’re always looking for new batches or if you have a favorite coffee brand, then this Wacaco Minipresso GR2 (54.90€) is your portable coffee machine of choice. We’ll leave you with the video, which explains what we’re talking about.
Christmas sweets
There’s no turning back, the Bolo-Rei is a regular on any Christmas table.
So if you know any friends or family members who haven’t had their own Bolo-Rei yet, here’s your chance to show them the best Bolo-Reis in town. Here are our top suggestions.
If you opt for a panettone instead, there’s a very special chocolate one that we loved.
It’s made in the doBeco bakery and has incredible flavors, with a slight hint of orange, as well as other highly selected ingredients… not to mention the chocolate used, from Glad, which is top notch.
To make sure you get your panettone in time for Christmas dinner, you need to fill in the order form; choose the store to collect it from (Estefânia or Santos), or if you want it delivered to your home; pay; and wait for delivery or takeaway on the agreed day.
You can also use this form to place other Christmas orders, all of which are very tasty.
We would also like to highlight Doces Teresa Pyrrait, a well-known name on the market, especially in the world of desserts and sweets, and at Christmas it is no exception to the rule.
She has two stores open, one in Campo de Ourique and the other in Oeiras Parques, with an offer for the festive season that brings classics and novelties to the menu to enrich the Christmas table: Christmas Cup (€56); Christmas Red Velvet and Cheese Cream (€48.50); Chocolate Log (€42.50); White Lime Log with Raspberry Filling (€42.50); and Christmas Pavlova with Pistachio and Raspberries (€47.50).
Handicrafts at one of the Christmas markets
As well as helping traditional commerce, at one of these Christmas Markets you can buy some of the most original gifts you could ever imagine, from unique handicrafts to clothes.
The best gift is books
This year we received some suggestions for books you can give this Christmas. The first was “The grown-ups don’t get any of this!”, the latest book by Maria Ana Machado with illustrations by Mafalda Macdonald, which is a real “punch in the gut” for those who think they know everything about the world of children, bluntly exposing how adults ignore the power of children’s imagination.
Pingo Doce has also launched a series of new children’s books to give away this Christmas. There are 12 in total, dedicated to the little ones, adding to the more than 500 titles already launched by this brand, which is reinforcing its commitment to promoting children’s literacy.
Now for the older ones, we suggest the Wine Bible (€26.91), a practical guide that takes a simple approach to the world of wine, providing professional knowledge with tips that help you identify the characteristics of wines like a true sommelier, and choose the most suitable “nectar of the gods” for each meal.
Games and toys
This year we received several suggestions for games and toys in our email inbox, from various brands and for children from 8 to 80.
We start with the new version of the UNO card game launched by Mattel , UNO Show’em No Mercy (€14.99), which will drive everyone crazy. If you thought the old rules (many of them “invented” by the players) were terrible, get ready for a completely crazy game, with new cards and rules that will keep you entertained for many, many hours.
With 56 new cards, loaded with personality and unpredictable challenges, including Joker Bisca 10, Troca 7, Joga Todas, Joker Roulette de Colores, Todos Passam a Veza, the game table promises to become a real arena, so no family relationship or friendship will be safe.
The family game Rock ‘Em Sock ‘Em Robots Fight Cards (€30.99) was another suggestion we liked.
Based on teams, one player from each team wears a boxing glove and, whenever matching cards are played, the gloved players race to hit the cards with their gloves. The fastest hit wins the cards!
Also for family play, The Happy Gang brand has launched a series of cards that are revolutionizing the world of children’s imagination, always with the aim of bringing families even closer together, leaving the screens in the background.
Here are two of these games from a vast collection for different everyday situations: the Flashcards (€16.90), ideal for unlocking conversations and developing social skills and critical thinking; and the 51 Challenges without Screens (€14.90), which are small games that foster communication between parents and children, involving the whole family in educational dynamics in a very fun way.
Now for the grown-ups, Mattel has also launched a new board game, Pictionary Adults Only (€22.99), which differs from its better-known version because it promises to spice up evenings with friends.
In this adult version of the famous drawing and doodling game, participants can choose from various levels of daring in each turn, which are worth points of 1, 2 or 3.
Then it’s up to the imagination to draw the best possible picture so that their teams can guess the theme. The more daring and comical the drawing, the better, which is the real secret to the game’s success and fun.
Gift cards or vouchers
Almost to the end, we leave you with what we think is one of the best options for those who never know what to give at Christmas: a gift card, more commonly called a voucher.
Nowadays, almost every business has one of these cards as a way of boosting sales of their products or services.
Escala 25 is also making gift vouchers available to all climbing fans.
All you have to do is stop by the store or the website and choose a gift for yourself or for your loved ones, with vouchers that can then be exchanged for climbing experiences.
If you’re more into indoor activities, especially escape rooms, then take advantage of Escape Hunt’s gift cards, which incidentally also offer out-of-doors experiences.
For these, the value of each voucher is €38.50 (groups of up to 4 people), while for in-room games, at Escape Hunt venues in Lisbon, each gift card costs €49.50 (groups of up to 4 people).
Quake has also made available a voucher worth an experience at the museum. It costs between 17 and 25€.
As it’s the time of year when you share the best with those you love the most, this is the ideal gift to give to really important family and friends.
But if you’re looking for a unique gift, Heritage Hotels Lisbon has gift vouchers available, starting at €50, which offer the chance to enjoy stays or other experiences at the five Heritage units. They are available on the official website.
Fever is also offering Gift Cards for experiences, whether for Candlelight concerts , cinema sessions or colorful experiences.
Clothes and accessories
No, we’re not going to give you a guide to the main clothing stores. Instead, we’re going to give you some ideas from other brands that you might be a fan of.
For example, did you know that the Mama Shelter hotel-restaurant has a store that sells everything plus a pair of boots?
I mean, we don’t know if it sells shoes, but look at this Mama Kids Sweatshirt (€25)!
You can also find lots of other exclusive products, such as clothes and accessories (for adults and children), mugs, bottles and scented candles to create a cozy atmosphere, and you can also buy the restaurant’s crockery and even stuffed animals signed by the Mama Design Studio.
You’re bound to receive one or two pairs of socks as Christmas presents. But if you’re given the choice, take the opportunity to order some socks from Taberna Londrina. What’s more, part of the price goes to Casa da Criança (€1).
You can choose between the pack that includes a pair of Christmas socks (€5) with a design inspired by the spirit of Taberna Londrina; the Christmas edition craft beer (€4), perfect for toasting this festive season; or a set of both (for €14), plus a glass and capsule opener in a beautiful exclusive package.
As for accessories, BlueBird is our suggestion for this Christmas. The Portuguese retail chain specializing in watches and jewellery, which already has 11 stores in the country, has a wide range of products for all tastes and ages.
There are more than 4,000 pieces of jewelry and watches to choose from, where you’re sure to find Christmas gifts for your parents, children, nephews, uncles, friends or co-workers.
NFTs, the future of digital gifts
This year, you can even get an NFT as a Christmas present for that uncle who is always on the lookout for gadgets and thinks he knows everything about new technologies.
The UNICRE NFT is original, economical and supportive. Like any NFT, it is collectible and is on sale on the OpenSea platform for just €2, which will go towards the Christmas campaign to support the Gil Foundation.