Portugal: no nationwide truck driving ban. Local and route restrictions may still apply, see below.
Portugal has no general weekend or public holiday driving ban for heavy goods vehicles. Restrictions apply only to heavy vehicles carrying dangerous goods (ADR). Tankers with dangerous goods may not circulate from 00:00 to 24:00 on Sundays and national holidays across mainland Portugal, and dangerous-goods vehicles also face evening, Monday-morning city-access and Ponte 25 de Abril limits set by Portaria n.º 281/2019. Ordinary cargo trucks may drive on Sundays and holidays.
Next 30 days
Portugal: no scheduled nationwide driving bans. Local and city restrictions are described below.
Rules & exemptions
| Ban | When | Time | Where | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dangerous-goods tanker ban (Sundays and holidays) | Every Sunday and national holiday | 00:00–24:00 | All public roads in mainland Portugal | Heavy vehicles carrying dangerous goods in tankers. Does not apply when a national holiday falls on a Saturday or Monday. |
| Evening ban on listed roads | Fridays, Sundays, national holidays and holiday eves | 18:00–21:00 | Listed sections of EN 6, EN 10, EN 14, IC 1, EN 209, EN 1, EN 101, IC 4 (EN 125) and EN 125 | Orange-plate heavy vehicles carrying dangerous goods; tankers are also covered on Fridays and holiday eves |
| Monday morning city-access ban | Mondays, except in July and August | 07:00–10:00 | Access roads into Lisbon and Porto, entry direction only | All dangerous-goods vehicles covered by the Portaria |
| Ponte 25 de Abril crossing window | Every day | 02:00–05:00 | Ponte 25 de Abril and the north viaduct, Lisbon | Dangerous-goods vehicles covered by the Portaria. Crossing is permitted only in this window and prohibited at all other times. |
Public holidays with truck bans — Portugal 2026
| Date | Holiday | Ban time | Scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Year's Day | 00:00–24:00 | Dangerous-goods tankers only (nationwide). No general truck ban. | |
| Good Friday | 00:00–24:00 | Dangerous-goods tankers only (nationwide). No general truck ban. | |
| Easter Sunday | 00:00–24:00 | Dangerous-goods tankers only (Sunday ban). No general truck ban. | |
| Freedom Day | No ban (holiday on Saturday, tanker ban lifted). No general truck ban. | ||
| Labour Day | 00:00–24:00 | Dangerous-goods tankers only (nationwide). No general truck ban. | |
| Corpus Christi | 00:00–24:00 | Dangerous-goods tankers only (nationwide). No general truck ban. | |
| Portugal Day | 00:00–24:00 | Dangerous-goods tankers only (nationwide). No general truck ban. | |
| Assumption of Mary | No ban (holiday on Saturday, tanker ban lifted). No general truck ban. | ||
| Republic Day | No ban (holiday on Monday, tanker ban lifted). No general truck ban. | ||
| All Saints' Day | 00:00–24:00 | Dangerous-goods tankers only (Sunday ban). No general truck ban. | |
| Restoration of Independence | 00:00–24:00 | Dangerous-goods tankers only (nationwide). No general truck ban. | |
| Immaculate Conception | 00:00–24:00 | Dangerous-goods tankers only (nationwide). No general truck ban. | |
| Christmas Day | 00:00–24:00 | Dangerous-goods tankers only (nationwide). No general truck ban. |
Affected roads
- EN 6 between Lisbon and Cascais
- EN 10 between Infantado and Vila Franca de Xira
- EN 14 between Maia and Braga
- IC 1 between Coimbrões and Miramar
- EN 209 between Porto and Gondomar
- EN 1 between Carvalhos and Vila Nova de Gaia (Santo Ovídio)
- EN 101 between Braga and Vila Verde
- IC 4 (EN 125) between São João da Venda and Faro
- EN 125 between Faro and Olhão
- Ponte 25 de Abril and north viaduct, Lisbon
Exempt from the ban
Vehicles covered
The Portaria covers two groups: heavy vehicles carrying dangerous goods in tankers (Article 1(1)), and other heavy vehicles carrying dangerous goods that must display the orange ADR plates under section 5.3.2 of Decreto-Lei n.º 41-A/2010 (Article 1(2)). The full-day Sunday and holiday ban targets tankers; the evening road ban targets the orange-plate vehicles, and tankers as well on Fridays and holiday eves.
Lisbon and Porto access roads (Monday restriction)
On Mondays from 07:00 to 10:00, outside July and August, dangerous-goods vehicles may not enter Lisbon on the A1 (Alverca to Lisbon), A5 (CREL link to Lisbon), A8 (Loures to Lisbon), IC19 (CREL node to Damaia), EN6 (Cascais to Lisbon), EN10 (Vila Franca de Xira to Alverca) and IC22 (A9 to Odivelas), nor Porto on the A3 (IC24 link to Porto), A4 (A3 node to Matosinhos), A28 (Ponte da Arrábida to A4), EN13 (Moreira to Porto), EN209 (Gondomar to Porto), EN222 (Avintes to Porto) and A20 (Ponte do Freixo to A3). The restriction applies only in the entry direction.
Road tunnels
Dangerous-goods vehicles are restricted in road tunnels according to the tunnel category assigned by the IMT under section 1.9.5 of Decreto-Lei n.º 41-A/2010. The Gardunha tunnel on the IP2 between Alpedrinha and Fundão remains closed to these vehicles pending an IMT decision.
FAQ
Are trucks banned on Sundays in Portugal?
There is no general Sunday ban for ordinary cargo trucks. Only heavy vehicles carrying dangerous goods in tankers are prohibited, from 00:00 to 24:00 on Sundays across mainland Portugal.
Do public holidays stop truck traffic in Portugal?
General cargo trucks may drive on public holidays. Dangerous-goods tankers are banned on national holidays from 00:00 to 24:00, except when the holiday falls on a Saturday or Monday.
Are there restrictions crossing the Ponte 25 de Abril or Vasco da Gama Bridge in Lisbon?
Dangerous-goods vehicles may cross the Ponte 25 de Abril and its north viaduct only between 02:00 and 05:00. Portaria n.º 281/2019 sets no equivalent crossing window for the Vasco da Gama Bridge, and it places no restriction on ordinary trucks.
I transit Portugal towards Spain. Do Spain's bans affect my plan?
Yes. Spain applies weekend and public-holiday driving restrictions to heavy goods vehicles over 7.5 t on parts of its road network, set annually by the Dirección General de Tráfico. Portugal itself restricts only dangerous-goods vehicles, so plan the Spanish leg against Spain's calendar.
Which vehicles do Portugal's restrictions apply to?
Heavy vehicles carrying dangerous goods: tankers, and other heavy vehicles that must display the orange ADR plates. Trucks without dangerous goods are not covered.
Can I get a permit to drive during a restriction period?
Yes. The president of the IMT board can grant special authorizations for loading or unloading on a restricted road, for goods essential to continuous production, or for urgent public-interest transport (Article 8).
Which basic road rules apply to trucks in Portugal?
The blood alcohol limit is 0.2 g/l for professional drivers (0.5 g/l for other drivers). Speed limits for goods vehicles over 3.5 t are 50 km/h in built-up areas, 80 km/h on main roads and 80 to 90 km/h on motorways.
Official source
- Portaria n.º 281/2019 consolidated with Portaria n.º 163/2021 (IMT)
- Portaria n.º 281/2019 (Diário da República)
- Portaria n.º 163/2021 (Diário da República)
- Decreto-Lei n.º 41-A/2010 on ADR transport (Diário da República)
- IMT: Transport of Dangerous Goods, circulation restrictions
- Your Europe (European Commission): driving in Portugal
- Dirección General de Tráfico (DGT), Spain
Rules can change on short notice. Verify with the official sources above before dispatch.