Reopening plan 
[updated 18 May]

For the protection of the entire population, in order to take all the necessary public health measures during the outbreak of pneumonia by the new Coronavirus – COVID-19, on 2 May the Portuguese government decreed the situation of calamity until a date to be defined. Continuing general restraint and containment behaviour, the resumption of economic and social activity will take place in stages, allowing the analysis of the development of the outbreak and the implementation of new measures where necessary.

The civic duty of home confinement and social distance (2 meters) is maintained, and the use of face masks are mandatory in public transport and services, shops and supermarkets, in enclosed spaces or outdoor gatherings. The enclosed spaces will have a maximum capacity limit of 5 people/100 m².

In order to prevent the spread of the virus and the possibility of contagion, all services should take hygiene and sanitisation measures according to the indications of the Directorate-General for Health, with specific measures for various sectors of activity, which will open doors to the public at different times.

The measures apply to the entire Portuguese territory, with specific measures in the archipelagos of Madeira and the Azores decreed by the regional governments.

  • Access to commercial premises and catering and beverage establishments
    Commercial premises should not be occupied by more than 4 people per 100 m² (excluding employees). In supermarkets, pharmacies and stores of essential goods, customers are expected to wait for their turn outside while respecting the safety distance. The use of face masks is mandatory.

    4 May – Street shops up to 200 m² can open, from 10am. Hairdressers, barber shops, manicurists and similar can open to the public by previous appointment only. Bookstores and car shops can open to the public.

    18 May – Street shops up to 400 m² can open. Restaurants, cafes, bakeries and outdoor terraces can open with a 50% maximum capacity, until 11pm and according to specific conditions to be defined. Until that date, they may maintain the take-away option and home deliveries. Outdoor cafés and open air terraces can be used.

    1 June – Shops with an area of more than 400 m² or located in shopping centres can open. 

  • Museums, cultural spaces and leisure spaces
    4 May – Libraries and archives, zoos, aquariums and similar can open to the public.
    18 May – Opening of museums, monuments and palaces, art galleries and other cultural spaces.
    1 June – Opening of cinemas, theatres, auditoriums and showrooms with marked seats, reduced capacity and social distance.
  • Events
    Events or gatherings with more than 10 people are not allowed.
  • Religious Ceremonies
    They may occur from 30 or 31 May, according to rules to be defined between the Directorate-General of Health and religious denominations.
  • Sports
    4 May – Individual outdoor exercise is permitted (without use of changing rooms and swimming pools).
    30-31 May – Official football competitions of the 1st Football League and Cup of Portugal may take place.
  • Golf
    The golf courses are already in operation. Each golf course follows the recommended health guidelines as well as specific measures established by the Portuguese Golf Federation available at www.fpg.pt.
    • Beaches
      May 4 – All leisure activities that involve the gathering of people on the beaches of mainland Portugal, the Azores and Madeira are still banned, but access to the sea is allowed for swimming or water sports.

      June 6 – Beginning of the bathing season. Access to the beach is conditioned by rules of circulation and use. There may be circulation corridors. The practice of sports activities with 2 or more people is not allowed (eg. ball games, rackets, etc.), except for nautical activities, surf lessons and similar sports.

    • An occupancy status system will be implemented through signage:
      Green: low occupancy (1/3)
      Yellow: high occupancy (2/3)
      Red: full occupancy (3/3)
      The information will be updated in real time on the “InfoPraia” app and on the website of the Portuguese Environment Association – www.apambiente.pt. (in Portuguese)
      Rules available at https://covid19estamoson.gov.pt/plano-desconfinamento-medidas-gerais/desconfinamento-praias/ (in Portuguese)

Recreational fishing is now permitted.

  • Campings
    The campsites, as well as the service areas for motorhomes, can reopen with the maximum capacity limited to 2/3 of the area.
  • Travel within Portuguese territory
    Travel within Portuguese territory was reduced to the minimum possible and the car rides are not allowed.

    There is a general advice to stay at home and travel is only allowed for limited purposes related to:
    – shopping for basic necessities, for example food and medicine;
    – professional reasons;
    – provide care or help a vulnerable person;
    – short walks or for a short exercise;
    – pet walking;
    – access to services and spaces that are being reopened during the various phases of the Deconfinement Plan;
    – other duly justified or authorized reasons.
    See in detail the decree law with all the measures and restrictions concerning the State of Emergency at https://dre.pt/application/conteudo/131068124 (in Portuguese)

    The temporary car rental follows the same circulation restrictions.

    Regular international bus travel remains suspended except for an exclusive service for citizens resident or working in the country of destination. National travel remains limited – www.rede-expressos.pt
    Train journeys have been reduced – www.cp.pt

  • Border restriction
    Since March 16, tourist circulation and leisure trips between Spain and Portugal have been suspended. The movement of goods and merchandise is permitted only by land.

    On the land border, document control of people was restored. National citizens and holders of residence permits may still enter the country. Returning tourists may still cross the border so as to allow them to return to their country of origin.
    Authorized Crossing Points at the Land Border – www.sef.pt

Clean & Safe stamp – Turismo de Portugal has launched a voluntary Clean & Safe stamp that businesses display upon declaring adherence to cleaning and hygiene requirements set out by the Portuguese authorities for the prevention of coronavirus, giving customers confidence that there are health and safety measures in place for their protection.

We are very hapy to declare that we meet all the defined requirements, in accordance with the guidelines of the Directorate-General for Health, which allow us to be considered a CLEAN & SAFE Company! ✨