Public holidays and Lisbon's Santo António festivities

Newcomers commonly notice that:

• Public services close on 13 June in Lisbon. It is the city's municipal holiday (Saint Anthony, Santo António), and Citizen Shops in Lisbon close on national holidays and on 13 June.
• The Festas de Lisboa. The city's festivities around Saint Anthony, Lisbon's most popular saint, peak with the marchas populares: neighbourhood marching groups perform over three nights in an arena and then parade down Avenida da Liberdade on the night of Santo António (2026 programme of Lisboa Cultura/EGEAC). The Misericórdia parish council describes its own area as a popular quarter of festivals, open-air parties (arraiais) and marches.
• Several holidays fall close together in spring and early summer, such as 25 April, 1 May, Corpus Christi and 10 June.

National public holidays

According to EURES, the statutory public holidays in Portugal are 1 January, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, 25 April (Freedom Day), 1 May, Corpus Christi, 10 June (Portugal Day), 15 August, 5 October, 1 November, 1 December, 8 December and 25 December.

Optional holidays

Carnival Tuesday and the municipal holiday — 13 June in Lisbon — can be granted to employees by collective agreement or employment contract. Check your contract or ask your employer.

• Other municipalities have their own municipal holiday on a different date; if you live outside Lisbon, check your town hall.
• Work. Whether you get Carnival Tuesday or the municipal holiday off depends on your employer and sector.