The Portuguese government has announced a staged plan to lift restrictions, with all current limits being removed by this October. This comes as Portugal’s vaccination rate has surpassed that of the United States, with 55% of the Portuguese population currently vaccinated, and a goal of reaching 80% by October. Recent polling found that more than 90% of Portuguese want to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Almost 70% of all Portuguese have gotten at least one vaccine injection.

This weekend, restrictions on restaurants and bars will be eased, and sporting events will be able to have fans present. A digital vaccination certificate or a negative coronavirus test will be needed to enter hotels, dine indoors on weekends, and visit spas, casinos and large events.

Portugal’s travel industry worked with the government to put safety measures in place. Rated one of the top 15 healthcare systems in the world, Portugal’s  planning, infrastructure and logistics helped it get through 2020.

One Portuguese region is poised to be the destination of choice to those who want to get away to a worry free vacation. The Alentejo is a mystical place of gliding plains, rising mountains, and the largest cork forests in the world. The Alentejo’s Cork Country is a sparsely populated region with open horizons where the rhythm of life follows the rhythm of regional songs. And this fertile land produces more than half of the world's total cork supply. Today, the Alentejo remains rural and natural with thousands of miles of cork forest and a variety of wildlife. Its large towns are living museums, still in their ancient walls, with a sense of timelessness that is increasingly difficult to find elsewhere. From the monumental charm of the regional capital of Évora, to the impossibly high castle tower at Beja in the south, history, tradition, and grandeur are everywhere.