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The best independent guide to Lisbon
LisbonLisboaPortugal.com
The best independent guide to Lisbon
Portugal Public and National Holidays
Portugal has 13 public and national holidays throughout the year. The majority of these national holidays are tied to important religious feast days, reflecting Portugal's deep-rooted Catholic traditions.
Unlike in many other countries where public holidays are shifted to create long weekends, Portugal observes its 13 national holidays on their specific dates. This means that a holiday can fall on any day of the week, leading to mid-week closures that can catch unprepared visitors by surprise.
During a national holiday, you should expect widespread closures. Government offices, banks, and many smaller, independent shops will not be open. While larger supermarkets may operate on reduced hours, public transport services will be significantly limited, typically running on a Sunday schedule. It is essential to check timetables in advance for any specific routes you plan to use.
This guide provides a complete list of Portugal's public holidays to help you plan your trip and avoid disruptions.
List of National Holidays in Portugal
Below is a list of the national holidays in Portugal. The dates for Carnival, Good Friday, and Corpus Christi are for 2026 and change each year based on the date of Easter.
Note: Carnival (Carnaval) is an optional holiday. While it is widely observed and most towns and businesses close, it is not a mandatory national holiday by law.
New Year's Day (Ano Novo)
Celebrates the first day of the year.
Carnival (Carnaval)
The culmination of the festive period before the start of the Catholic season of Lent.
Good Friday (Sexta-feira Santa)
A Christian holiday commemorating the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Freedom Day (Dia da Liberdade)
Marks the Carnation Revolution in 1974, which ended the Estado Novo dictatorship.
Labour Day (Dia do Trabalhador)
International Workers' Day, celebrating the achievements of workers.
Corpus Christi (Corpo de Deus)
A Catholic feast day celebrating the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist.
Portugal Day (Dia de Portugal)
Commemorates the death of national literary icon Luís Vaz de Camões in 1580.
Assumption of Mary (Assunção de Nossa Senhora)
A Catholic feast marking the day the Virgin Mary was assumed into heaven.
Republic Day (Implantação da República)
Celebrates the anniversary of the founding of the Portuguese Republic in 1910.
All Saints' Day (Dia de Todos os Santos)
A religious holiday to honour all Christian saints and martyrs.
Restoration of Independence (Restauração da Independência)
Celebrates the restoration of Portuguese independence from Spanish rule in 1640.
Immaculate Conception (Imaculada Conceição)
A Catholic feast day celebrating the sinless conception of the Virgin Mary.
Christmas Day (Natal)
A Christian holiday celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ.
Beyond the national calendar, it is essential to be aware of major municipal holidays, especially during the "Popular Saints" (Santos Populares) celebrations in June. These are not national holidays, but they lead to significant closures in their respective cities.
In Lisbon, the 13th of June is a public holiday for Saint Anthony (Santo António). While Saint Vincent is the city's official patron saint, it is Saint Anthony's day that is celebrated with the massive Festas de Lisboa street parties on the night of the 12th.
In Porto, the 24th of June is a public holiday to honour the city's patron saint, Saint John the Baptist (São João). This is Porto's most important festival, with festivities and fireworks filling the city on the night of the 23rd.
The feast of Saint Peter (São Pedro) on June 29th is also a holiday in many other towns, such as Sintra and Évora, so it's always wise to check locally if you are travelling at the end of June.
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If you've found our content valuable, we'd welcome your support.
The digital publishing landscape has evolved significantly. As a small independent publisher, we face growing challenges. Search engines increasingly favour paid content over organic results, while AI-generated content often reproduces original work without attribution.
To support our work, please consider bookmarking this page (press Ctrl + D) for quick access. If you find an article helpful, we'd be grateful if you'd share it with friends on social media.
For specific questions, please see our Reddit community at r/LisbonPortugalTravel.
Should you notice any outdated or incorrect information, please contact us at [email protected]
Thank you for helping us continue to provide valuable content in an increasingly challenging digital environment.