As a religious country with many dates of cultural significance, Portugal has many national public holidays that are legally recognized in the state’s labor code. On these days, many shops and businesses are closed as workers take time off.
The public national holidays in Portugal are a mixture of celebrations of days of historical or cultural significance, as well as Roman Catholic religious days.
Although there are many Portuguese public holidays, known as feriados, there’s a catch! If a holiday falls on a Sunday, for example, it is not taken on the next Monday, unlike in other countries.
In Portugal, you have both mandatory and optional Portuguese holidays. Some holidays are nationwide and others are regional.
Let’s take a look at the list of national public holidays for 2022 and 2023.
Nationwide Portuguese Public Holidays in 2022 – 2023
2022
Saturday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Friday, April 15: Good Friday
Sunday, April 17: Easter Sunday
Monday, April 25: Freedom Day to celebrate the Carnation Revolution
Sunday, May 1: Labor Day
Friday, June 10: Portugal National Day
Thursday, June 16: Corpus Christi
Monday, August 15: Assumption of Mary
Wednesday, October 5: Republic Day
Tuesday, November 1: All Saints’ Day
Thursday, December 1: Restoration of Independence Day
Thursday, December 8: Immaculate Conception
Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day
2023
Sunday, January 1: New Year’s Day
Friday, April 7: Good Friday
Sunday, April 9: Easter Sunday
Tuesday, April 25: Freedom Day
Monday, May 1: Labor Day
Thursday, June 8: Corpus Christi
Saturday, June 10: Portugal National Day
Tuesday, August 15: Assumption of Mary
Thursday, October 5: Republic Day
Wednesday, November 1: All Saints’ Day
Friday, December 1: Restoration of Independence Day
Friday, December 8: Immaculate Conception
Sunday, December 25: Christmas Day
Local Holidays in Portugal in 2022 – 2023
Here are some of the local holidays in Portugal for 2022 and 2023. However, bear in mind, that there are a lot more local holidays in Portugal. These are some of the most commonly known but do check with your local municipality.
2022
Saturday, January 15: Municipal holiday in Santa Cruz
Saturday, January 22: Municipal holiday in Sao Vicente
Saturday, March 19: Saint Joseph’s Day in Santarem
Wednesday, April 20: Our Lady of Mercoles in Castelo Branco
Saturday, April 23: Saint George’s Day in Velas
Thursday, May 12: St Joana’s Day in Aveiro
Monday, May 23: Portalegre Day in Portalegre
Tuesday, May 24: Azores Day in the Azores
Monday, June 13: Saint Anthony’s Day in Lisbon
Friday, June 24: Saint John’s Day in Porto, Braga, Figueira da Foz, and Almada
Monday, July 4: Saint Elizabeth’s Day in Coimbra
Monday, July 18: Municipal holiday in Nordeste
Saturday, August 20: Our Lady of Sorrows in Viana do Castelo
Monday, August 22: Our Lady of Graces in Braganca
Friday, September 2: Municipal holiday in Povoacao
Wednesday, September 7: Faro Day in Faro
Sunday, October 9: Municipal holiday in Machico
Friday, November 25: Saint Catherine’s Day in Calheta
2023
Sunday, January 15: Municipal holiday in Santa Cruz
Sunday, January 22: Municipal holiday in Sao Vicente
Sunday, March 19: Saint Joseph’s Day in Santarem
Sunday, April 23: Saint George’s Day in Velas
Tuesday, May 23: Portalegre Day in Portalegre
Wednesday, May 24: Azores Day in the Azores
Tuesday, June 13: Saint Anthony’s Day in Lisbon
Saturday, June 24: Saint John’s Day in Porto, Braga, Figueira da Foz, and Almada
Tuesday, July 4: Saint Elizabeth’s Day in Coimbra
Tuesday, July 18: Municipal holiday in Nordeste
Sunday, August 20: Our Lady of Sorrows in Viana do Castelo
Thursday, September 7: Faro Day in Faro
Monday, October 9: Municipal holiday in Machico
Saturday, November 25: Saint Catherine’s Day in Calheta
