Long weekends 2028 in Portugal

Public holidays 2028 in Portugal and what each one gives you

Here is each day off in date order, what it marks, and the quickest way to turn it into a longer break.

• Saturday, 1 January: Ano Novo. New Year's Day follows the fireworks at midnight and is a quiet day of rest across the country. It falls on a Saturday, and Portugal's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2028.
• Friday, 14 April: Sexta-feira Santa. Good Friday is a quiet day of church services. With Easter Monday it creates a long Easter weekend, a popular time for a spring trip. You get 3 free days in a row, 14 to 16 April, with no leave needed.
• Sunday, 16 April: Domingo de Páscoa. Easter Sunday celebrates the resurrection with church services, family meals and, in many places, egg hunts. Most shops close for the day. It falls on a Sunday, and Portugal's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2028.
• Tuesday, 25 April: Dia da Liberdade. Freedom Day on 25 April remembers the Carnation Revolution of 1974, with red carnations, marches and concerts across Portugal. Take Monday, 24 April off and you have 4 days in a row, 22 to 25 April.
• Monday, 1 May: Dia do Trabalhador. Labour Day on 1 May honours workers with marches and gatherings, and it is often a first spring long weekend for short trips. You get 3 free days in a row, 29 April to 1 May, with no leave needed.
• Saturday, 10 June: Dia de Portugal, de Camões e das Comunidades Portuguesas. Portugal Day on 10 June honours the poet Luís de Camões and Portuguese communities around the world. Lisbon's Santo António festivities run at the same time. It falls on a Saturday, and Portugal's list has no weekday in lieu for it in 2028.
• Thursday, 15 June: Corpo de Deus. Corpus Christi always falls on a Thursday, with processions through flower strewn streets. Many people bridge the Friday for a four day weekend. Take Friday, 16 June off and you have 4 days in a row, 15 to 18 June.
• Tuesday, 15 August: Assunção de Nossa Senhora. Assumption Day on 15 August falls at the height of summer, when many families are on holiday and beaches are at their busiest. Take Monday, 14 August off and you have 4 days in a row, 12 to 15 August.
• Thursday, 5 October: Implantação da República. Republic Day on 5 October marks the proclamation of the Portuguese Republic in 1910, with ceremonies in Lisbon. Take Friday, 6 October off and you have 4 days in a row, 5 to 8 October.
• Wednesday, 1 November: Dia de Todos-os-Santos. All Saints' Day is a day to remember the dead, with candles and flowers on family graves. It often creates an autumn long weekend. Take Monday, 30 October and Tuesday, 31 October off and you have 5 days in a row, 28 October to 1 November.
• Friday, 1 December: Restauração da Independência. Restoration of Independence Day on 1 December marks the end of Spanish rule in 1640. It opens the Christmas season in Portugal. You get 3 free days in a row, 1 to 3 December, with no leave needed.
• Friday, 8 December: Imaculada Conceição. The Immaculate Conception on 8 December honours the patron saint of Portugal and opens the Christmas markets and lights. You get 3 free days in a row, 8 to 10 December, with no leave needed.
• Monday, 25 December: Natal. Christmas Day is a day for family meals and church, with nearly everything closed. Leave in the week after it gives a long winter break. You get 3 free days in a row, 23 to 25 December, with no leave needed.

How Portugal stacks up

South Korea has the most with 19 public holidays in 2028, Mexico the fewest with 6. Portugal sits in between with 13.

Mexico

South KoreaiPhoto: Basile Morin · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Its best break, 22 to 25 April, returns 4,0 days off per day of leave. 3 countries get a better ratio this year, mostly thanks to an extra public holiday next to a weekend.