Price display in hotels and Alojamento Local in Portugal: what is mandatory in 2026

Updated: 10 November 2026

Posting prices looks like a formality, but in a Portuguese hotel a missing price list at reception is a serious economic offence. We read the tourist establishments regime (DL 39/2008, as republished by DL 228/2009), Turismo de Portugal's legislation page, Decree-Law 9/2021 (RJCE, the economic offences regime), DL 128/2014 on Alojamento Local (AL) as republished by DL 76/2024, the consumer information of the Regional Government of Madeira and Directive 2011/83/EU. Links are at the end. Where we could not confirm something, we say so. This is not legal advice: for your own case, ask a lawyer, ASAE or your municipality.

The short answer

In November 2026:

Hotels, resorts, tourist apartments, rural tourism and other tourist establishments: display «the prices of all services offered, clearly visible, at reception» (DL 39/2008, art. 46(a)).
DL 39/2008 has no article called «Prices»: the rule sits in the operator's duties (art. 46).
Breaching it is a serious economic offence (art. 67(3)(j), as worded by DL 9/2021): 650 to 1,500 euros for an individual and 1,700 to 24,000 euros for companies.
Alojamento Local: DL 128/2014 does not contain the word «preço» (price) or any duty to post a price list. The general price indication regime (DL 138/90) applies, but we did not read its text in an official source.
Either way, the price you show guests should be what they pay, VAT and charges included; if the municipal tourist tax is not included, say so next to the price.

Hotels and tourist establishments: art. 46

In the version of DL 39/2008 we read (republished by DL 228/2009):

Point (a): display the prices of all services offered, clearly visible, at reception. That covers the room and the extras: breakfast, parking, spa, extra bed, late check-out.
Art. 51 covers the complaints book; see our guide /portugal-complaints-book-hotels-2026.
Turismo de Portugal lists six amendments to DL 39/2008, the latest by DL 9/2021. We could not open the consolidated text in the Diário da República to confirm whether DL 80/2017 changed the wording of point (a).
In practice: an up-to-date price list at reception, with the same prices as your website and the platforms.

Alojamento Local

DL 128/2014, as republished by DL 76/2024:

It says nothing about prices. Its information duties are different: an information book (art. 12(6)), name or logo and registration number in advertising (art. 17(2)), published house and noise rules (art. 19(5)) and the complaints book (art. 20(1)).
DL 138/90 is the general regime for indicating the prices of goods and services. We did not read its text in an official source (the Diário da República did not load) and did not confirm that it expressly applies to AL.
A prudent approach: put the prices of extras (cleaning, cot, pets, late check-in) in writing in the information book and on your website.
Plaque and registration number: see our guide /portugal-local-accommodation-plaque-registration-number-listings-2026.

DL 138/90: the all-in price

What we could confirm:

DL 9/2021 (art. 22) amended art. 11 of DL 138/90: breaches of arts. 1, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10 are serious economic offences, and negligence is punishable.
The Regional Government of Madeira's consumer information says the price shown is the «price actually payable», with VAT, taxes and other charges, and that service prices go on lists or posters visible where the services are provided (or in a complete catalogue available to customers).
Charging more than the posted price can be the crime of speculation (DL 28/84, art. 35, cited on the same page).
Online, Directive 2011/83/EU (art. 6(1)(e)) requires the total price including taxes or, if it cannot be calculated in advance, how it is calculated. More in our guide /total-price-accommodation-cleaning-fees-taxes-2026.

What about the municipal tourist tax?

We found no official rule on how to label it in the price:

In the Algarve municipalities that charge it, the property collects it and it appears separately on the invoice, without VAT (see /algarve-tourist-tax-2026).
If your advertised price does not include it, say so next to the price, for example: «Municipal tourist tax not included: 2 euros per person per night, paid at the property».
Use the same wording at reception, on your website, Booking, Airbnb and Google.

Fines

Serious economic offence (RJCE, DL 9/2021, annex, art. 18):

Individual: 650 to 1,500 euros.
Micro company: 1,700 to 3,000 euros; small: 4,000 to 8,000; medium: 8,000 to 16,000; large: 12,000 to 24,000.
Before 2021, DL 39/2008 had its own fines (2,500 to 3,740.98 euros for an individual); it now refers to the RJCE.
We did not confirm the reduction for voluntary payment, so we do not give it.

Quick checklist

Hotel: a price list of all services, clearly visible at reception.
Prices with VAT and charges included; no hidden supplements.
Tourist tax: «included» or «not included» next to the price, with the amount.
Same prices at reception, on your website and on the platforms.
AL: extras in writing in the information book and on your website.

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Frequently asked questions

Must a hotel in Portugal display its prices at reception?

Yes. Art. 46(a) of DL 39/2008 requires the operator to display the prices of all services offered, clearly visible, at reception. Breaching it is a serious economic offence (art. 67(3)(j)).

Does an Alojamento Local have to post its prices?

DL 128/2014 does not require a posted price list. The general regime of DL 138/90 applies (price with VAT and charges, visible lists for services), but we did not read its text in an official source; check with ASAE or a lawyer.

What is the fine for not displaying prices?

It is a serious economic offence: 650 to 1,500 euros for an individual and 1,700 to 24,000 euros for companies, depending on size (RJCE, DL 9/2021, annex art. 18). The same applies to the DL 138/90 breaches listed in its art. 11.

Sources

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