PORTUGAL faces being left off the potential ‘air bridge’ list next week after the country saw a spike in coronavirus cases.
While Portugal has managed to keep coronavirus cases lower than its neighbour Spain, recent spikes in the deadly bug are a cause for concern with No.10.
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Portugal has 40,415 confirmed cases with 1,564 deaths – significantly lower than neighbouring countries and the UK.
Here is everything you need to know about travelling to Portugal this year.
Can I go to Portugal for my summer holiday this year?
Lisbon previously announced it is “open for business” and said it would start accepting international visitors again in early June.
Yet Brits cannot currently travel to Portugal, with the UK government advising against all but essential travel.
This is uncertain at the moment, so booking a holiday during July and August is a risk.
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Will I need to quarantine for 14 days?
Tourists will not have to quarantine when entering the country.
Madeira and the Azores will only allow visitors who have tested negative for coronavirus within the last 72 hours.
Mainland Portugal is not currently enforcing quarantines upon landing.
However, the UK will be introducing a quarantine for Brits returning to the country from June 8.
The discussion of air bridges – an agreement to allow tourists to enter the country by avoiding quarantine restrictions – is being debated between the UK and Portugal.
It would allow British holidaymakers to go abroad and return to the UK without having to quarantine for a fortnight when they return.
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These new measures are hoping to be in place by July 4 but this is yet to be confirmed.
The list is expected to be published on Monday, June 29.
Are there flights from the UK to Portugal?
Ryanair has been running limited flights to Portugal although these are primarily for stranded tourists, while Wizz Air resumed limited flights from the UK in May.
Airlines have announced plans to resume scheduled flights.
EasyJet launched a limited schedule from June 15, while Ryanair hopes to resume 1,000 daily flights from July 1, including to destinations in Portugal.
British Airways, TUI and Jet2 all hope to resume by the summer as well, although this depends on flight restrictions,
Are restaurants and hotels open in Portugal?
More than a third of hotels in the Algarve have opened their doors already, with 75 per cent expected to be open by next month, along with beaches.
Restaurants and cafes are also open, but with strict social distancing guidelines.
Cinemas and theatres are to opened on June 1, but there are currently no dates for the opening of bars and clubs.
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