Lisbon Airport

Just 7 kilometres north of the city, Lisbon-Portela Airport boasts an excellent location that enables quick and efficient connections with the city centre.

It is currently the largest airport in the country and handles over 25 million passengers annually: the constantly increasing passenger flow has led to the expansion and modernisation of the facility in recent years to cope with growing air traffic.
Major international and European airlines operate from here to the most important destinations.

Getting to Lisbon city centre from the airport

From Lisbon Airport it’s very easy to reach the city centre, thanks to its strategic location and fast connections via both public and private transport, which will get you to your accommodation in no time.

Metro

The metro is the most convenient and economical way to reach the city centre from the airport. The metro station is directly connected to Terminal 1, and from here you take the Red Line (Linha Vermelha) towards the centre. To reach the most touristy areas such as Baixa or Alfama, you’ll need to change at Alameda (Green Line) or São Sebastião (Blue Line): the signage is clear and the route is straightforward.

The total journey time to the centre is approximately 25 to 35 minutes, depending on your destination. The metro runs every day from 06:30 to 01:00, with trains every 5–10 minutes. Those arriving at Terminal 2 will need to take the free shuttle to Terminal 1 first to access the metro station.

Public buses

If you prefer to use public buses, several lines connect the airport with Lisbon city centre.

• No. 783: Amoreiras – Airport – Portela / Prior Velho (weekdays only)
• No. 705: Oriente Station – Airport – Roma/Areeiro Station (weekdays only)
• No. 744: Marquês de Pombal – Airport – Moscavide (daily)
• No. 722: Pç. Londres – Airport – Portela

Taxi, Uber and Bolt

Taxis are available 24/7 at designated pick-up areas in front of the terminals. Journey time to the city centre is approximately 20 minutes, depending on your specific destination and traffic conditions. The average cost to the centre is €10–15.

As an alternative to taxis, the Uber and Bolt apps are very popular in Lisbon and generally offer lower fares, with prices visible before booking. The pick-up area is located in the P2 car park, north of the arrivals building. During peak hours (17:00–22:00) waiting times may be longer: in these cases, a taxi remains the quickest option.

Private transfer

An alternative to TAXIs is to book in advance a private transfer to or from Lisbon Airport airport. A driver will pick you up at the airport arrivals (thus avoiding taxi queues), at your hotel or wherever you prefer, to take you to the desired address.

It is the best solution if you do not want to waste time, do not want to use public transport, have a lot of luggage or are travelling in a group. To book a private transfer to or from Lisbon Airport airport visit this site.

With a rental car

If you rent a car at the airport, simply take the Segunda Circular (the ring road), which is essentially Lisbon’s outer circle and connects the city to the international airport.
When returning, we recommend avoiding peak hours, when you could get stuck in the city’s congested traffic, and arrive at the airport with plenty of time to spare to avoid annoying delays.

To rent a car in Lisbon we always recommend comparing the rates of all companies with DiscoverCars because in our opinion it offers the best prices, allows cancellation up to 48 hours before rental and offers a very cheap comprehensive insurance policy.

Detailed information for getting to the airport

• Arriving from the north: take the M1 towards Lisbon until the segunda circular.
• Arriving from the south: after crossing the Vasco da Gama bridge, take the segunda circular or cross the 25 April Bridge and continue on the 2 circular.
• Arriving from Cascais or Estoril: take the A5 motorway to the IC 17, then take the segunda circular.
• Arriving from Sintra: follow the IC 19 to the segunda circular (if coming from the south) or the IC 19 then IC 17 to the segunda circular (if coming from the north).

By train

We advise against using the train, as it is by far the most inconvenient and slowest option for reaching the city centre.

Arrivals and Departures

Recommended hotels

Below is a list of recommended hotels near Lisbon Airport.