Held during the last few days before Lent, Carnaval livens up the country with outlandish costumes, parades and fun fairs. The biggest celebrations are in Lisbon, Loule, Nazare, Ovar and Viana do Castelo. The highpoint of the carnival, though, is entrudo, the final day. If you only have a day to spare, reserve it for entrudo and head to Lisbon’s Parque Nações (Metro Station Oriente) where there is street theatre, parades and other entertainment. The events are all free, start around 3pm and continue well into the evening. There are other parties along the coast in Estoril and Cascais.

Easter Sunday is celebrated with great fervour in São Bras de Alportel with the exuberant Easter Festival. The men of this inland town carry decorated torches while running through the streets shouting Hallelujah. When they reach the parish Church, the flowers are carefully laid out on the floor so the priest may walk over them.

Fátima is Roman Catholic Portugal's most powerful symbol of religious devotion. On 13 May 1917 the Virgin Mary reportedly made her first visit to three shepherd children in the fields near to near to the town. Today more than four million people make the pilgrimage here. A candlelight procession takes place through the town to the Sanctuary on 12 May, culminating in the Adeus ("farewell") procession the following day. As the Virgin Mary is carried from the high altar to the Chapel of the Apparitions, the crowd becomes emotional, waving farewell with white handkerchiefs. It is an extraordinary sight.