What's Changed in Portugal for 2026: Closures, Prices and New Rules

Portugal changed a lot for travellers in 2026. New border checks started, several of Lisbon’s famous lifts are still closed, airport taxis now have fixed fares, prices went up at many big sights and some well-known places reopened. This is the full list, checked and kept up to date, with links to our detailed guides.

Quick answer: the changes that affect most visitors are the EU’s new Entry/Exit System at the border (ETIAS has not started), the closed Santa Justa lift and Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars in Lisbon, fixed taxi fares from Lisbon airport from 15 October 2026, timed tickets at Belém Tower and Pena Palace, no trains to Óbidos since January, and Madeira’s renumbered buses and reopened Pico Ruivo trail.

For journalists and bloggers: you’re welcome to quote or summarise this list. Please link to this page as the source. Every item was checked against official sources and Portuguese press in October 2026, and we update the page when things change.

The biggest changes at a glance

Change	Since	What it means for you
EU Entry/Exit System (EES)	10 April 2026	Non-EU visitors give fingerprints and a photo at the border. It’s free.
ETIAS travel permit	Not started	No start date yet, and not expected before 2027. Don’t pay any website for it.
Lisbon lifts and funiculars	September 2025	Santa Justa, Glória, Bica and Lavra still closed. Graça reopened on 30 April 2026.
Lisbon airport fixed taxi fares	15 October 2026	€16 to €23 into the city, luggage included.
Taxis on Uber and Bolt	1 September 2026	Licensed taxis can take app jobs, and app surge pricing is no longer capped.
Belém Tower reopened	27 May 2026	€15, timed half-hour slots that sell out.
Oeste railway line	28 January 2026	No trains to Óbidos or Caldas da Rainha. Take the express bus.
Algarve railway	19 July 2026	Fully electric, and many trains now run straight through from Lagos to Vila Real de Santo António.
Madeira buses	9 March 2026	All routes renumbered with three digits. Ignore old route numbers online.
Pico Ruivo trail (PR1), Madeira	27 April 2026	Reopened after the 2024 fires. Book a slot online first.

Borders and entry

• EES is now fully running: since 10 April 2026 the EU’s Entry/Exit System has replaced passport stamps at every Schengen external border. If you’re not an EU citizen, expect a fingerprint and photo check the first time you enter, and allow extra time at the airport. It’s free.
• ETIAS has not started: the EU removed its “late 2026” target in mid-2026, and no start date has been set. It isn’t expected before 2027, so ignore any website offering to sell you one now.

Full details by passport: Portugal entry requirements.

Flights and airports

• Lisbon airport taxis: from 15 October 2026, taxis from the airport charge fixed fares into Lisbon: €16 or €19 depending on the district on weekdays from 7am to 10pm, and €20 or €23 at night, at weekends and on public holidays, for up to four people with luggage. Trips to the airport still use the meter. See Lisbon airport to the city centre.
• Lisbon Terminal 2 is departures only: Ryanair, Wizz Air, Vueling, Transavia and a few other low-cost airlines fly from it, but every flight arrives at Terminal 1. easyJet uses Terminal 1. See our Terminal 2 guide.
• EU passenger rights reform: Regulation (EU) 2026/2202 was published on 2 October 2026 and applies from 23 October 2027. Until then the current rules stand: up to €600 when a flight arrives three or more hours late. See flight delays and compensation.
• Strikes: easyJet cabin crew in Portugal have called a strike for 19 to 23 December 2026. Check your flight before you travel.

Taxis, Uber and Bolt

• New ride-hailing law: since 1 September 2026, licensed taxis can take jobs through Uber and Bolt, and the old cap on app surge pricing has gone, so fares can jump at busy times.
• New taxi tariff: published in June 2026 and due to apply from 1 October 2026, it sets a €2 flag fall plus charges by distance and time, and scraps the old luggage and pet supplements. Madeira keeps its own island tariff.

More in Uber vs Bolt vs taxi in Portugal.

Lisbon

• Lifts and funiculars: after the Glória funicular accident on 3 September 2025, the Santa Justa lift and the Glória, Bica and Lavra funiculars are still closed, with no confirmed reopening dates. Glória is not expected back before about 2029. The Graça funicular reopened on 30 April 2026. See Lisbon trams and lifts.
• Belém Tower: reopened on 27 May 2026 after restoration, with timed half-hour slots at €15. Book ahead. See visiting Belém Tower.
• Museums: the Gulbenkian’s main museum reopened on 18 July 2026 (free for everyone on Sundays from 2pm). The National Tile Museum has been closed since November 2025 and the Museum of Ancient Art since 29 September 2025, with no confirmed reopening dates. MAAT now costs €16 for visitors from abroad. See Lisbon museums.
• Late-night alcohol: since 14 February 2026, shops can’t sell alcohol to take away after 11pm from Sunday to Thursday, or after midnight on Fridays, Saturdays and the night before a public holiday. Bars and seated terraces aren’t affected. See Lisbon nightlife.
• Tuk-tuks: they’ve been barred from 337 historic streets since April 2025, can only operate from 9am to 7pm and can’t drive into the castle quarter. Petrol tuk-tuks are banned from 31 December 2026. See Lisbon tuk-tuk tours.
• Getting around: a single metro ticket costs €1.90 (€1.72 with a zapping card) and a 24-hour pass €7.25. Evening trains on the Cascais line between Caxias and Cascais are replaced by buses during works that started in April 2026. See the Lisbon transport guide.

Sintra and Cascais

• Timed tickets: Pena Palace tickets (€20) are for a set date and time, and Quinta da Regaleira (€20) uses 30-minute slots. Private cars can’t drive up to Pena. Every price is in our Sintra palace tickets guide.
• Summer traffic rules: from 8 July 2026, tour coaches were kept out of the historic centre and Uber and Bolt got 12 official pick-up points. Check whether the rules still apply when you visit.
• Cabo da Roca lighthouse: open to visitors since 23 July 2026, from about €5 (€10 with the climb). The clifftop itself is still free. See the Cabo da Roca guide.

Porto and the north

• Funicular and tram: the Guindais funicular has been suspended since July 2026, but heritage tram 22 returned on 1 August 2026 (€6). The Porto Card tourist pass was reported suspended in July 2026, so plan on Andante tickets. See Porto public transport.
• Prices: Clérigos Tower is about €10, the Gaia cable car €7 one way, and Porto’s tourist tax €3 a night (a rise to €4 is under review).
• Douro: the railway between Marco de Canaveses and Régua reopened on 2 April 2026 after five months of works. See the Douro itinerary.
• Paiva Walkways: since a July 2025 wildfire only the Areinho to Vau section is open while the rest is rebuilt. See the Paiva Walkways guide.
• Trains to Spain: between Valença and Vigo, the Celta train is replaced by a bus until April 2027.

Trains and central Portugal

• No trains to Óbidos: storm Kristin closed the Oeste line between Meleças and Caldas da Rainha on 28 January 2026. Use the Rápida Verde express bus from Lisbon’s Campo Grande. See Óbidos.
• Coimbra: fast trains stop at Coimbra-B, and since 10 September 2026 the new Metrobus links it with the centre. See Coimbra.
• Beira Baixa line: fully reopened on 20 September 2026 after storm repairs.
• Évora: it becomes European Capital of Culture on 6 February 2027.

Every route in our Portugal train guide.

The Algarve

• Electric trains: the whole Algarve line has been electric since 19 July 2026, with more trains and many running straight through. From Lisbon you still change at Tunes for Lagos. See getting around the Algarve.
• Albufeira rules: from summer 2026, bars close at 3am, clubs at 5am and minimarkets stop selling alcohol at 11pm. Walking around town in swimwear can bring a €300 to €1,500 fine. See things to do in Albufeira.
• Beaches: the wooden stairs down to Praia do Camilo in Lagos have been closed since the winter 2025–26 storms. The Benagil cave rules (licensed boats or guided kayaks only, no swimming in) still apply.

Madeira

• Buses: the island’s SIGA network renumbered every route on 9 March 2026. The Aerobus from the airport costs €6.70 one way, cash on board. See Madeira airport to Funchal.
• Hiking: the Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo trail (PR1) reopened on 27 April 2026 and has been open daily since 26 June. Official trails need a slot booked online, €4.50 or €10.50 for PR1. See Pico do Arieiro to Pico Ruivo.
• Monte: the cable car reopened in April 2026 (about €16 one way, €22 return), and the toboggan now costs €30, €40 or €60 per sled, cash only.
• Coming in 2027: Funchal plans to raise its tourist tax from €2 to €4 a night from January 2027, subject to final approval.

The Azores

• Flights: Ryanair stopped flying to the Azores on 29 March 2026, so check SATA, TAP and other airlines for cheap fares.
• Reopened: the Algar do Carvão lava tube on Terceira reopened on 21 March 2026.
• Fees: Terra Nostra in Furnas costs €17 with dated tickets bought online, and non-residents pay about €3 at the Furnas lake area.

More in the Azores travel guide.

FAQ

Do I need ETIAS to visit Portugal in 2026?

No. ETIAS hasn’t started and no start date has been set, so you don’t need it. Non-EU visitors do go through the new EES fingerprint and photo check at the border, which is free.

Is the Santa Justa lift open?

No. It has been closed since September 2025 and Carris has not confirmed a reopening date. Minibus 51E and the free escalators in Baixa-Chiado metro station are the easiest ways up to Chiado and Carmo.

How much is a taxi from Lisbon airport now?

From 15 October 2026, taxis from the airport charge fixed fares: €16 or €19 into Lisbon on weekdays from 7am to 10pm, and €20 or €23 at night, at weekends and on public holidays, including luggage.

Can I still get the train to Óbidos?

Not at the moment. The line has been closed since storm Kristin in January 2026, with reopening planned in phases from late 2026. The Rápida Verde express bus from Campo Grande takes about an hour.

More: things to know before visiting Portugal and public holidays in Portugal.

See also: first time in Portugal, Portugal tolls explained and is Portugal safe?

Prices and details change, so please double-check before you travel. Spotted something out of date? Tell us in the groups.