The 1st of December is a national public holiday in Portugal, officially called Restoration of Independence Day. It’s a fixed date every year and sits on the standard Portuguese public holidays calendar.
1st December bank holiday in Portugal: explained
Dia da Restauração da Independência marks 1640, when Portugal ended sixty years of Iberian Union and restored its sovereignty, acclaiming Dom João IV and ushering in the Braganza dynasty. It’s a civic holiday, distinct from the many religious dates in the Portuguese year.
What happens on 1 December public holiday in Portugal
Across the country, you’ll find civic ceremonies, flag‑raisings and wreath‑laying to mark the Restoration of Independence. Many town halls host cultural programmes too, and the early‑December mood folds into Christmas lights and markets in central squares.
Banks, government offices and post offices close for the day. Big supermarkets and shopping centres usually open on shorter hours, while smaller, independent shops tend to shut. Museums and monuments publish special holiday timetables and some operate reduced hours. Pharmacies run an emergency rota, and public transport follows a Sunday or holiday schedule with fewer services later in the evening.
For workers, a national feriado is typically a paid day off, and schools are closed. This year, in 2025, the holiday falls on a Monday, so you naturally get a three‑day weekend. Some employers and families also take a ponte (bridge day) on the preceding Friday, turning it into a four‑day break. It's a great chance to check out some top destinations in Portugal for December trips, or book in a few days for a winter city break.
Public holidays in Portugal: national and municipal dates, and how to confirm them
Portugal has national public holidays that apply across the country and municipal holidays that only affect a given city or municipality. That’s why you might find something closed in Lisboa but open in a neighbouring council on the same day. Municipal feriados affect schools, council services and some local businesses, and they can stack with national dates to create deeper closures.
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