Abril 25

Arguably though, Portugal’s most important holiday is April 25th, Dia da Liberdade (Freedom Day) that celebrates the Carnation Revolution of 1974, which ended an almost 5 decade long dictarship under Salazar. It deserves a deeper focus than this so I will do a dedicated page for it when April draws nearer. In the meantime I highly recommend the double episode of the Rest Is History podcast I mention here and if you’re already in Lisbon, you an visit Aljube Museum which is dedicated to the resistance. Amazingly, you can also read The Gaurdian’s real-time articles of the revolution from their archives here.

Note: This is also why some roads and our famous bridge have the name Abril 25, as it was swapped over from anything with the name of Salazar.

August Break

One thing that you may not be aware of - much of local life in Lisbon (and Portugal and Italy, Spain, Greece & France) take a month long shut down over August. It’s their summer break of shared vacation time. So smaller independant businesses will be closed as well as contractors and labourers, with goverment services and departments on barest of minimum if at all. Touristy areas and vaction hot-spots will be in full swing and often crowded.

The Dates

Below are Lisbon’s public holidays through to the end of 2026. These dates can mean busier airport/road times and higher flight prices, so knowing these dates can help you with any travel plans. Obviously government, utility and many general services are closed on these days.   

Note: Unlike some countries, if a public holiday falls on a weekend there is no compensation day off on the Monday. Also, the only day off over Christmas is the day itself.

Here are the public holidays until the end of 2026.