if you're already dreaming about your 2026 getaways, you're not alone — and here's a travel hack that will blow your planner-loving mind 🧠💥
portugal's calendar in 2026 is basically gifting us long weekends, and if you’re smart with your pto, you can unlock:
🗓 44 days of vacation
🏖️ using just 13 holiday days
let’s break it down — here’s how to stretch those precious days off to the max:
🔓 the magic formula: 2026 public holidays + weekends + strategic days off
dates | total days off | vacation days used |
|---|---|---|
1–4 jan (thu–sun) | 4 days | 1 day |
14–17 feb (sat–tue, carnaval) | 4 days | 1 day |
3–7 apr (fri–tue, easter) | 5 days | 2 days |
1–3 may (fri–sun, labour day) | 3 days | 0 days! |
4–10 jun (thu–wed, portugal day) | 7 days | 3 days |
3–5 oct (sat–mon, republic day) | 3 days | 0 days! |
28 nov–1 dec (sat–tue) | 4 days | 1 day |
5–8 dec (sat–tue) | 4 days | 1 day |
25 dec–3 jan 2027 | 10 days | 4 days |
🧳 so, where should you go?
here are my short trip suggestions from porto:
a cozy february island break (hello, madeira 🏝️)
april cherry blossom in galicia (train to santiago!) 🌸
a june road trip through alentejo or across the border into andalusia 🚗
december markets in central europe — or warm winter sun in morocco 🎄☀️
safe travels,
sara
join our weekly list of events and meet-ups in porto 👇