Portugal to get 14 ‘quiet zones’ and UK tourists face £1,700 fines for being too noisy
Lisbon, Portugal, is introducing 14 new quiet zones across the city to try and curb noise levels.
A popular European capital is set to get 14 "quiet zones" - and tourists can be fined up to £1,700 for being too noisy. Lisbon, Portugal, is introducing 14 new quiet zones across the city to try and curb noise levels.
'Quiet zones' restrict noise in certain areas of the city and in total, there will be 26 'quiet zones'. The city will be overhauling it's 'noise map' after residents were exposed to noise levels above 65 decibels due to traffic, reports Time Out.
According to DecibelPro, 55 decibels is equivalent to "a quiet home environment, a residential street, or a normal conversation between two people". And 45 decibels is equivalent to the noise of an average home or normal conversation.
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Those who break the rules could receive a significant fine of up to €2,000 (£1,698.96). For individuals, the amounts can range from €200 (£169.90) to €2,000 (£1,698.96) and for companies or groups, fines are higher ranging from €2,000 (£1,698.96) to €18,000 (£15,290.64).
74,118 residents, or 13.6% of Lisbon’s population, are impacted by ambient noise exceeding 65 dB(A). Road traffic remains the primary source of environmental noise in Lisbon.
The city’s entire territory is classified as a mixed-use zone, where ambient noise must not exceed legal limits set at 65 dB(A) (Lden) and 55 dB(A) (Ln), according to the Lisbon Municipal Master Plan.
Councillor Rui Cordeiro, responsible for noise-related issues, confirmed that the city is actively collaborating with the Port of Lisbon and the APA to address maritime and nightlife noise. He emphasised the importance of updating the map to reflect Lisbon’s evolving urban dynamics and to adopt noise mitigation strategies where needed.
In response to growing concerns, the Lisbon Municipal Assembly also approved a recommendation to ensure that the next update process will be transparent, with public access to noise data and the involvement of citizens and local associations in shaping future noise policies.