The pandemic dramatically altered the lives of people in their cities of residence and caused profound effects on both. The urgency to mitigate the pandemic has generated severe effects on society in general, such as economic paralysis, the annulment of social conviviality, the threat to employment and the non-existence of various accessibilities. However, cities should not disappear and have seen a huge adaptation to technologies and an unprecedented digital transformation coupled with good governance practices in order to minimise the effects of these disruptive blockages. Thus, the objective of this study is the measurement of smart performance in cities in pandemic times. To respond to this objective, the composite index of Rodrigues & Franco (2019) for city intelligence based on the subdimensions governance and ICT was adopted, thus following the quantitative methodology and resorting to secondary data. Moreover, this index measures the adjective smartness distinct from smart, whose adoption by cities provides a smart way to solve their daily problems. The sample covered the 308 Portuguese cities and towns, commonly known as municipalities. The results obtained still show some weaknesses to be overcome by municipalities in the future, if they opt for a continued commitment to governance models based on ICT, although the future path is challenging, so that the returns of these strategies are converted into effective offers of hard and soft amenities to citizens, in which urban networks play a key role, with exponential effects on the new demands of citizens regarding their quality of life, given that the pandemic has manifestly changed their behaviours and lifestyles. Finally, the final considerations, implications for theory and practice, limitations and future research agenda are presented. •In this study is measured smart performance in cities in pandemic times.•Smallness continues to contribute to the performance and growth of cities.•Urban networks play a key role, with exponential effects on the new demands of citizens regarding their quality of life.•cities should not disappear and have seen a huge adaptation to technologies and an unprecedented digital transformation