My husband and I will be going to Porto, Sintra, Braga and Lisbon next month. This is our first pandemic-era travel and I was wondering if anyone who has been to Portugal recently would share their experiences with current covid precautions there. Are people masked on public transport? Is there a lot of outdoor dining open? Do you have to show proof of vaccination to enter anywhere? We are curious about the “state” of precautions (as we are quite cautious medical providers). Thank you in advance for sharing your experiences!
Posted by
Midwest
2768 posts
We were in Lisbon with some day trips 3-4 weeks ago. Everything changes so quickly but I can share our experience. Masks were much, much more common than at home. Pretty much universal in transit, museums, churches, and stores. Also inside restaurants but obviously not while sitting at tables. Plenty of people also wore masks outside, but we didn’t feel strange not doing so (we always wore masks indoors but not outdoors). One time I was eating outdoors and forgot to put my mask on to go indoor to the restroom and was stopped politely by the waiter to request I wear a mask. It was a total accident on my part, I just wasn’t thinking at that moment, and I felt good that they enforce the precautions.
The worst part was the passport line in the airport. For some reason every other person had their mask off or on their chin. No one was enforcing it there.
Outdoor dining was open most places. It was maybe 50-60 F and many people were eating indoors and thought it was too cold to eat outside, but outdoor was open. Often indoor would be full and there’d be only 2-3 parties eating outside. The viewpoint kiosks that sell snacks and drinks were all open and busy, with most of the tables full. It was just restaurants that seemed to not have a ton of people taking advantage of outdoor dining. More room for me!
Proof of vaccination was not required anywhere we went. I had mine in my hotel room, I didn’t carry it around because it wasn’t required or needed.
Posted by
Pacific Northwest
2689 posts
I’m in Lisbon right now. Masks are required in stores and walking around in restaurants but not at the tables. You do not have to show proof of vaccination anywhere (hospitals and medical clinics still require but that won’t impact you). Masks are used on public transport, based on my views of the trams going by…not sure if it’s full compliance or not.
There is a TON of outdoor dining open.
Posted by
Cascais, Portugal
1826 posts
The current requirements have recently been extended. So, for the time being wearing masks indoors and on public transport and if in crowded outside spaces is required. As with the last two years, locals are very compliant with this - tourists not so much.
From the point of view of someone who lives here, we get very annoyed to see the lack of compliance from tourists!
Safe Communities Portugal is a good site in English for up to date requirements.
But, all that said, rarely will anyone confront those people who are not compliant with mask requirements.
And, lastly, seating outside is open pretty much all year and by next month, it will be hard to find a seat outside while inside will be empty at a lot of restaurants.
Posted by
OP
5 posts
This is all extremely helpful information, and a relief to hear. I’m sorry to hear tourists aren’t as compliant, but we will be! We feel our itinerary enables us to have a fantastic trip, while remaining mostly outside, and always masked inside. I’m excited to outdoor dine! Where we live in the states doesn’t have too much in the way of outdoor dining. Portugal’s covid response has been impressive.
Posted by
Atlanta, GA
19 posts
We came back from Lisbon on Saturday and our experience was similar to the previous posters. Almost everyone was wearing masks indoors, museums, public transport etc. Polar opposite to what we experienced in the UK. Except for a few people like us, no one was wearing a mask in the UK.
Posted by
Spokane
34 posts
I'm in northern PT for 3 weeks. I was in Porto last week and I'm in Braga this week.
Mask compliance is 100% here: anyone on a train or bus is wearing a mask. Anyone inside a store is wearing a mask. Some people outside, 25% maybe, are wearing masks.
Outdoor cafes are everywhere and people are out and using them. I have not personally eaten indoors (I'm an al fresco junkie) but I've walked into restaurants, groceries, small stores and large stores to shop or just use the WC and everyone is masked, and no one has asked me for proof of vaccination in any place I have entered. Not once.
Also PT has just dropped use of the Passenger Locator Form and also no longer will ask for Covid EU digital passport: https://www.theportugalnews.com/news/2022-04-21/passenger-locator-form-scrapped/66542