Portugal to open to most European tourists Portugal to open to most European tourists PORTUGAL: Portugal will open to tourists from nearly all European countries from Monday (May 17), the interior ministry said, following months of restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. TAP aircraft line up at Lisbon airport. Photo: AFP The vacation hotspot hopes to jump-start a tourism comeback after one of the country’s most vital industries was brought to a standstill by the pandemic. Travellers from most EU countries, the 26-nation Schengen Area and the UK can make "all types of visits to Portugal, including even non-essential visits," the ministry said in a statement on Saturday.