Easter in the Algarve is a time of rich traditions, delicious food and lively celebrations. From festive markets and special restaurant menus to unique religious processions and colourful parades, the region offers something for everyone. Here’s a look at some of the highlights happening this Easter season.
Comeres D’aqui – Easter flavours
Many restaurants and bakeries in the Loulé municipality will be offering special menus featuring Easter dishes. The event is to be held between April 11 and April 27 and is called Comeres D’aqui – Sabores de Pásco (Eat here – Easter flavours).
Visitors will have the opportunity to savour traditional and innovative dishes, prepared with quality ingredients that have a strong link to the region’s gastronomic identity.
More information about the participating establishments and menus can be found on loulelocal.pt, the municipality’s website and social media.
Spring market
Over the Easter weekend, Quarteira is holding a market with live music, handicrafts and plenty of activities for children. Open from 10am until 6pm.
On Saturday afternoon, at 3.30pm, a traditional folar 135 metres in length will be shared with visitors.
Folar is Portugal’s traditional Easter bread or cake, read more about this treat and perhaps try your hand at making it from the simple recipe.
Festivals in Loulé
Loulé leads with one of the largest religious celebrations in Portugal, after Fátima, known as the Festas da Mãe Soberana (Feasts of the Sovereign Mother), the patron saint of Loulé.
The smaller of the two festivals takes place on Easter Sunday. Men carry a statue of the Virgin Mary on their shoulders from the hermitage at Cerro da Piedade to the parish church, accompanied by music and of course a crowd.
Two weeks later, this year on May 4, the statue is returned to its home, accompanied by music written especially for the event. Being the larger of the two festivals there will be different celebrations throughout the city.
Flower Torch Festival
On Easter Sunday in São Brás de Alportel, the Flower Torch Festival (Festa das Tochas Floridas) takes place.
The village streets are covered with flowers and the procession follows this carpet of flowers to the church. Many in the procession will carry torches made of flowers and they will sing.
Local producers have stalls to sell their wares, there is plenty of music throughout the day and food to enjoy also.
Check out a video that gives you a taste of the festival itself.
Portimão
Until April 20 Portimão has a programme running with entertainment for all ages, especially for children.
The idea is to bring together religious and local traditions. These include Easter egg hunts over three days (April 18-20) taking place throughout the town between 3pm and 6pm, a Parisien carousel in Largo da Mó (from 3pm to 8pm every day), concerts (click here for information and tickets) and of course vigils and Eucharists in local churches.
Visit these squares and gardens where Easter is being celebrated every day until April 20:
Largo da Mó, Praça da República (Alameda), Jardim 1° de Dezembro, Largo 1° de Maio, Praça Manuel Teixeira Gomes and Jardim Visconde Bívar.
The various Easter-inspired attractions will be spread throughout the city of Portimão between 5 and 20 April, with the aim of reconciling religious tradition with the joy of celebrating this season with the family.
“Viva a Páscoa em Portimão 2025” (Live Easter in Portimão 2025) is the programme prepared by the Municipality to provide two weeks full of different experiences in various emblematic locations in the city, featuring the already popular Egg Hunt and the Easter Bunny, but also the Selfie Hunt, with various spots that promise to serve as original backdrops for the images captured by residents and tourists.