Good morning, Lisbon. It's Monday, March 30, and we're looking at 19°C with sunshine. First full working day on summer time. If you're groggy, blame the clocks. If you're still buzzing from the weekend, blame the coffee. Let's get into it.
🌬️ AIR QUALITY: 22 (Good). Clear spring morning.
🗞️ TOP STORY
TWO-HOUR QUEUES ARE BACK AT LISBON AIRPORT. HERE'S WHY.
If you've flown in or out of Lisbon in the last week and wondered why the immigration line felt like 2019 again, you're not imagining it. The PSP quietly reactivated the European Union's Entry/Exit System (EES) at Portuguese airports on Monday, March 23. Since then, queues at passport control have been stretching past two hours.
The EES is the EU's biometric border control system for non-EU nationals, requiring fingerprints and facial scans at entry and exit. Portugal was one of the first countries to trial it but suspended the system at the end of 2025 after it caused major operational problems and passenger backlash. It was supposed to come back when the kinks were worked out. Apparently, the kinks are still there.
The PSP told Publico Brasil that "the measures seek to balance operational efficiency with security, our top priority." The Ministry of Internal Administration hasn't commented on why no public announcement was made before reactivation. Travellers just showed up and found the queues.
This matters right now for two reasons. First, Easter is next weekend. Good Friday (April 3) kicks off a long holiday period and airports will be packed. If you're flying, arrive significantly earlier than usual, especially for international departures. Second, the Association of Travel Agencies warned last week that Portuguese airports could face "operational instability" all summer due to growing passenger volumes. Add EES processing on top of that and Humberto Delgado is going to be grim.
For EU and Portuguese passport holders, the e-gates should still work normally. The delays are hitting non-EU nationals hardest, but knock-on congestion affects everyone. If you're picking someone up from arrivals this week, pad your timeline.
Bottom line: The system that was too broken to run in December is back in March. Plan accordingly.
⚡ QUICK HITS
Fuel prices dropped today. As forecast, petrol fell by about 2.5 cents per litre and diesel by around 1 cent. Petrol is now roughly €1.90 per litre, diesel about €2.06. It's the first drop in weeks. Still high, but the right direction. The government's cumulative ISP tax cuts are saving drivers about 9 cents per litre on diesel compared to early March.
Mexico vs Portugal result. Score: Portugal 1 - 1 Mexico. Key Moment: Diogo Jota scored a clinical header in the 34th minute, but Mexico equalized late off a set piece. The Ronaldo Factor: Without CR7, the attack looked more fluid but lacked that "killer instinct" in the box. A good fitness test before the USA clash in Atlanta.
Hans Zimmer tonight. The composer behind Inception, Interstellar, Gladiator, and roughly half the films you've ever cried at plays MEO Arena tonight. If you've got tickets, you're in for a big one.
Easter is this weekend. Good Friday is April 3, Easter Sunday is April 5. Both are public holidays. Banks, government offices, and most shops will be closed on Friday. If you need anything from AIMA, Financas, or a notary this week, do it by Thursday.
🍽️ SPOT OF THE DAY
You've probably seen Prado on a list. You may have walked past it, seen the queue, and kept moving. That would be a mistake. This is the restaurant that changed what modern Portuguese dining looks like, and the evening tasting menu is still the best way to understand why Lisbon's food scene is taken seriously.
Chef Antonio Galapito trained under Nuno Mendes in London before coming home to open Prado in a former fish canning factory near the Se Cathedral. The space is dramatic: soaring ceilings, lush greenery, disused machinery wrapped in vines, and light pouring in from every direction. It looks like a meadow reclaimed a warehouse. That's intentional. "Prado" means meadow.
The menu changes daily based on what's in season and what Galapito's network of small-scale farmers, fishermen, and winemakers brings him. If it's not seasonal, it's not served. The tasting menu at dinner is the move: expect things like charred broccoli with buckwheat in red pepper coulis, cockles with spinach and fried bread, or Iberico pork loin with chard. The sourdough with whipped pork fat, garlic, and paprika instead of butter sets the tone early.
The wine list is organic, biodynamic, and natural. The Michelin Guide recommends it. The World's 50 Best has it on their discovery list. But it doesn't feel stuffy. It feels like a chef who genuinely cares about Portuguese ingredients cooking at the top of his game in a room that makes you want to stay.
Travessa das Pedras Negras 2, near Se Cathedral. Dinner Tuesday to Saturday 7pm-10:30pm. Lunch Thursday to Saturday 12pm-3pm. Closed Sundays and Mondays. Book ahead. Expect to pay €40-60 per person with wine, more for the tasting menu with pairings.
Insider tip: The attached grocery shop, Mercearia Prado, stocks the same producers the kitchen uses. If a dish blows your mind, you can take the ingredients home. Open during restaurant hours.
📅 WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK
Hans Zimmer Live (Tonight) MEO Arena. One of the biggest shows of the spring.
Portugal vs USA (Tue night US time) Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta. World Cup warm-up. Still no Ronaldo.
Good Friday (Fri April 3) Public holiday. Government offices, banks, most shops closed.
Easter Sunday (Sun April 5) Public holiday.
Tame Impala (Sun April 5) MEO Arena. Easter Sunday show.
📜 ON THIS DAY
March 30, 1867. The United States purchased Alaska from Russia for $7.2 million, roughly two cents per acre. The deal was widely mocked at the time as "Seward's Folly," named after Secretary of State William Seward, who negotiated it. Critics called it a frozen wasteland and a waste of public money. Russia, overextended and fearing it would lose Alaska to Britain in a future conflict, was happy to take the cash. Within decades, the discovery of gold, oil, and natural resources made it one of the greatest bargains in history. The lesson: when a whole country thinks a deal is stupid, it might be worth a second look. Something to think about if you're eyeing property in the Alentejo.
See you tomorrow morning.
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