Thursday, September 19, 2024

Portugal public holidays 2024-2025

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We’re in the throws of the wonderful summer season, but before we know it, another academic year will begin and we’ll be in the autumnal work-craze. So we believe it’s time to prepare for the 2024-2025 holiday calendar in Portugal, to start planning your long weekends and getaways. Get your diary out, as we have all the details.

Types of public holidays in Portugal

Much like the folks in it’s neigbour Spain, Portugal has two types of holidays: compulsory public holidays, and optional/regional holidays. What does this mean? Some dates are unspecified and it is nationally recognised that the day off is taken on that day (for the majority of workers, as many services continue to operate), take Christmas for instance. On the other hand, optional and regional holidays are dependent on the areas of the country and what local councils decide to do. Take note of the days that are confirmed public holidays across Portugal and those that may become public holidays in 2024-2025:

Compulsory public holidays in 2024-2025 Portugal

2024

  • 1st JanuaryMon – New Year’s Day (Ano Novo)
  • 29th MarchFri – Good Friday (Sexta Feira Santa)
  • 31st March – Sun – Easter Sunday Feast (Domingo de Páscoa)
  • 25th AprilThurs – Libertation Day (Dia da Liberdade)
  • 1st May Wed – Labor Day (Dia do Trabalhador)
  • 30th May – Thurs – Corpus Christi (Corpo de Deus)
  • 10th June Mon – National Portugal Day, Camões and Portuguese Communities (Dia de Portugal)

Check out our comprehensive list of best places to visit in Portugal in summer.

  • 15th August – Thurs – Assumption Day (Assunção de Nossa Senhora)
  • 5th OctoberSat – Republic Day (Implantação da República)
  • 1st November – Fri – All Saints’ Day (Todos os Santos)
  • 1st December – Sun – Independence Restoration Day (Restauração da Independência)
  • 8th December – Sun – Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Imaculada Conceição)
  • 25th DecemberWed Christmas Day (Natal) Check out our top five recommended locations this year.

2025

Check especially for differing days of the week!

  • 1st JanuaryWed – New Year’s Day (Ano Novo)
  • 18th April – Fri – Good Friday (Sexta Feira Santa)
  • 20th April – Sun Easter Sunday (Domingo de Páscoa)
  • 25th AprilFri – Libertation Day (Dia da Liberdade)
  • 1st May Thurs – Labor Day (Dia do Trabalhador)
  • 19th June – Thurs – Corpus Christi (Corpo de Deus)
  • 10th June Tues – National Portugal Day, Camões and Portuguese Communities (Dia de Portugal)
  • 15th August – Fri – Assumption Day (Assunção de Nossa Senhora)
  • 5th OctoberSun – Republic Day (Implantação da República)
  • 1st November – Sat – All Saints’ Day (Todos os Santos)
  • 1st December – Mon – Independence Restoration Day (Restauração da Independência)
  • 8th December – Mon – Feast of the Immaculate Conception (Imaculada Conceição)
  • 25th DecemberThus – Christmas Day Feast (Natal)

Optional/municipal public holidays in 2024-2025 Portugal

In addition to optional holidays, such as Carnival, there are also municipal holidays, which vary according to the municipality. For example, in Evora, it’s a public holiday on Saturday June 29th when Saint Peter’s Day is celebrated. The inhabitants of Lisbon are expected to attend work as normal. On the other hand, the public holiday of July Festival ao Largo, is celebrated only in Lisbon, when dancing and theatre takes over the streets.

With this in mind, there are additional dates you should note down in your diary. You can choose to mark municipal holidays in a different colour so that you can distinguish them from national holidays:

2024

  • 15th JanuaryWed – Epiphany (Dia des Reis), Vale de Salgueiro
  • 15th JanuaryMon – Santa Cruz Day
  • 22nd JanuaryMon – Sao Vicente Day
  • 13th Feb Tues – Carnival + Shrove Tuesday

Check out our recommendations for where to go for a holiday in February, March and April in Portugal.

  • March (tbd) – Madeira Wine Festival
  • March 1st to March 10th – Fantasporto International Film Festival, Porto
  • March 1st to March 17th – Óbidos International Chocolate Festival
  • 19th March – Tues – Father’s Day
  • 19th March – Tues – Saint Joseph’s Day, Santarem
  • 24th March to March 31st Holy Week, especially in Braga, Óbidos
  • 31st March – Sun – start of Daylight Saving Time
  • 11th April – Thurs – Lagoa Day
  • 23rd April – Tues – Saint George’s Day, Velas
  • 24th April – Wed– Our Lady of Mercoles, Castelo Branco
  • May to September – Sun – Somersby Out Jazz, Lisbon
  • 5th May – Sun – Mother’s Day
  • 9th May Thurs – Ascension Day, Beja
  • 11th May Sun – St Joana’s Day, Aveiro
  • May to October(every day 13th) – Pilgrimage to Fátima (Peregrinação de Fátima)
  • 23rd May to June 2nd – Lisbon International Independent Film Festival
  • 24th May to May 30th – Queima das Fitas, Coimbra
  • 26th May Sun – Leira Day
  • 27th May Mon – Portalegre Day
  • 28th May Tues – Azores Day
  • June – Festas de Lisboa
  • 1st June to June 9th – National Agriculture Festival, Santarém
  • 6th June to June 8th – Primavera Sound Music Festival, Porto
  • 13th June Thurs – Saint Anthony’s Day, Lisbon
  • 13th June to June 23th – Festival de Sintra
  • 14th June to 22nd June – Arraial Gay Pride, Lisbon
  • 16th to 23rd June – Rock in Rio, Lisbon
  • 24th June – Mon – Saint John’s Day, Almanda, Braga, Figueira da Foz, Porto
  • 29th June Sat – Saint Peter’s Day, Evora
  • 1st July Mon– Saint Elisabeth’s Day, Coimbra
  • 6th JulySat – AgitÁgueda, Águeda
  • 15th July Mon – Nordeste Day
  • 21st July Sun – Madalena Day + Porto Moniz Day
  • 8th August – Thus – Prai da Vitoria Day
  • 15th August – Thurs – Our Lady of Sorrows, Viana do Castelo
  • 17th August – Sat – Funchal City Day
  • 18th August – Sun – Our Lady of Graces, Braganca
  • 25th August to September 15th – Madeira Wine Festival
  • 1st September – Sun – Povoacao Day
  • 4th SeptemberWed – Faro Day
  • 11th SeptemberWed – Birth of Bocage, Setubal
  • 18th SeptemberWed – Saint Mathew’s Day, Elvas, Viceu
  • 1st October Tues – Camara de Lobos Day
  • 6th October Sun – Machico Day
  • 27th October – Sun – end of Daylight Saving Time
  • 24th November Sun – Foral of Sancho I, Guarda
  • 25th November Mon – Saint Catherine’s Day, Calheta

2025

It may be the case that some dates are still be up in the air.

  • 15th JanuaryWed – Epiphany (Dia des Reis), Vale de Salgueiro
  • 15th JanuaryWed – Santa Cruz Day
  • 22nd JanuaryWed – Sao Vicente Day
  • 28th February to March 9th – Fantasporto International Film Festival, Porto
  • 4th March Tues – Carnival + Shrove Tuesday, optional holiday 

Check out our comprehensive list of best places to celebrate Carnaval in Portugal.

  • March 9th to March 25th – Óbidos International Chocolate Festival
  • 19th March – Wed – Father’s Day
  • 19th March – Wed – Saint Joseph’s Day, Santarem
  • 30th March – Sun – start of Daylight Saving Time
  • 11th April – Fri – Lagoa Day
  • 13th April to April 20th – Holy Week, Braga, Óbidos
  • 23rd April – Wed – Saint George’s Day, Velas + Our Lady of Mercoles, Castelo Branco
  • 30th April to May 4th – National Agriculture Festival, Santarém
  • May to September – Sun – Somersby Out Jazz, Lisbon
  • 4th May – Sun – Mother’s Day
  • 11th May Sun – St Joana’s Day, Aveiro
  • May to October(every day 13th) – Pilgrimage to Fátima (Peregrinação de Fátima)
  • 22nd May to June 1st – Lisbon International Independent Film Festival
  • 23rd May to May 30th – Queima das Fitas, Coimbra
  • 25th May Sun – Leira Day
  • 26th May Mon – Portalegre Day
  • 27th May Tues – Azores Day
  • 29th May Thurs – Saint Anthony’s Day, Lisbon
  • June – Festas de Lisboa
  • 12th June to June 14th – Primavera Sound Music Festival, Porto
  • 13th June to June 23th (tbd) – Festival de Sintra
  • 16th to 23rd June (tbd) – Rock in Rio, Lisbon
  • 22nd June – Arraial Gay Pride, Lisbon
  • 24th June – Tues – Saint John’s Day, Almanda, Braga, Figueira da Foz, Porto
  • 29th June Sun – Saint Peter’s Day, Evora, Sintra
  • 1st July Tues – Saint Elisabeth’s Day, Coimbra
  • 5th JulySat – AgitÁgueda, Águeda
  • 14th July Mon – Nordeste Day
  • 20th July Sun – Madalena Day + Porto Moniz Day
  • 7th August – Thus – Prai da Vitoria Day
  • 15th August – Fri – Our Lady of Sorrows, Viana do Castelo
  • 17th August – Sun – Funchal City Day + Our Lady of Graces, Braganca
  • 25th August to September 15th (tbd) – Madeira Wine Festival
  • 31st August – Sun – Povoacao Day
  • 3rd SeptemberWed – Faro Day
  • 10th SeptemberWed – Birth of Bocage, Setubal
  • 17th SeptemberWed – Saint Mathew’s Day, Elvas, Viceu
  • 1st October Wed – Camara de Lobos Day
  • 5th October Sun – Machico Day
  • 26th October – Sun – end of Daylight Saving Time
  • 23rd November Sun – Foral of Sancho I, Guarda
  • 24th November Mon – Saint Catherine’s Day, Calheta

How many public holidays in 2024-2025 in Portugal fall on working days?

Of the 13 national public holidays in Portugal, there are 10 compulsory public holidays on working days. This means that you’ll be able to take several holidays where you don’t have to use up your annual leave, and that you can also organise some three-day getaways to rest or even head out for a weekend.

2024 Day 2025 Day
1st January Monday 1st January Wednesday
29th March Friday 18th April Friday
25th April Thursday 25th April Friday
1st May Wednesday 1st May Thursday
30th May Thursday 19th June Thursday
10th June Monday 10th June Tuesday
15th August Thursday 15th August Friday
1st November Friday 1st December Monday
25th December Wednesday 8th December Monday
    25th December Thursday

 

If you’re thinking of staying in the country, check out our Holiday Rentals in Portugal. If you end up loving the mountains, villages or beaches like most of us do, if you decide to stay, here’s where you can search for your permanent residence.

If you want to organise a holiday with someone in school, take a look also at our 2024-2025 School Portugal Calendar.

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