The School Holiday System in Portugal
In Portugal, the school holiday system is uniform at the national level, without division into regional zones. The school holiday dates are set by the Ministry of Education for the entire country, with common holiday periods for all students, regardless of their place of residence. The main holidays include summer holidays, Christmas holidays, Easter holidays, as well as intermediate holidays in spring and autumn.
- Summer Holidays: Generally from mid-June to mid-September.
- Christmas Holidays: Around December 20 to January 2.
- Easter Holidays: One to two weeks around Easter Sunday, often in March or April.
- Intermediate Holidays:
- Autumn Holidays: Usually one week around All Saints' Day, in early November.
- Carnival Holidays: A break of a few days in February, around Mardi Gras.
The exact dates of the school holidays may vary slightly each year, but they are harmonized across the country to ensure consistency in the organization of school and family activities. Specific information is published each year by the Ministry of Education.
Here is an overview of the main regions of Portugal, their share of the total population, and their main cities:
- Lisbon (Lisboa) - 27% of the total population. Main cities: Lisbon, Sintra, Amadora.
- Norte - 35% of the total population. Main cities: Porto, Braga, Vila Nova de Gaia.
- Centro - 19% of the total population. Main cities: Coimbra, Aveiro, Leiria.
- Alentejo - 7% of the total population. Main cities: Évora, Beja, Portalegre.
- Algarve - 4% of the total population. Main cities: Faro, Albufeira, Portimão.
- Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira - 8% of the total population. Main cities: Funchal (Madeira), Ponta Delgada (Azores).
