Lisbon Airport Transfers

Lisbon's airport is Portela Airport, also known as Humberto Delgado. It's located seven kilometres from the city centre and it's very easy to get to the city centre from there. Here's how.

Lisbon airport is quite well connected; you have several public transport options and you can book a door-to-door transfer service in advance:

This is the fastest service and is also personalised; it works just like the shared transfer, but the driver will only pick up you and those travelling with you and go directly to your hotel without making any other stops. Private transfers from the airport to the hotel are usually more expensive in most European cities, but here you can find them for as little as 41

How it works

With this option you can be at your hotel in Lisbon in about 30 minutes. Regardless of the day and time your flight arrives, you can count on this pick-up service. All you have to do is book online, provide your flight details so that the driver can meet you on arrival, the address of your hotel and a contact telephone number so that, if you have any queries or problems, you can get in touch with the driver and the transport company providing the service.

The vehicles are air-conditioned, adapted for wheelchairs and pushchairs and have enough space for luggage (normally one suitcase and one handbag per passenger, but if you have additional luggage, just let us know when you make your booking by email). You will be able to communicate with your driver in English or French as well as Portuguese.

If your flight arrives at night, consider booking a private or shared transfer in advance; it is available 24 hours a day.

Private transfer back to the airport

If you want a private transfer from your hotel to the airport, you can also request this before or during your trip. Just arrange a time with your driver to pick you up from your hotel and drop you off at the airport in plenty of time to avoid missing your flight and rushing to board the plane.

Other options

This option is also valid for the cities of Cascais or Estoril.

If you want to get to your hotel from the airport without having to wander the streets or look for bus and metro connections, a shared transfer from Lisbon airport is an option that can be very economical and is available 24 hours a day, every day of the week.

How it works

A professional driver will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle (something you'll appreciate when you disembark in Lisbon and feel the humidity of the city, especially if you're travelling in summer). The service is simple: you can book online in advance when you know your flight details and the driver will be waiting for you at the airport, pick up several travellers and drop you off at your hotel.

Advantages of this service

The main advantage of this service is the comfort of the journey, as well as the space available for your luggage (if you have special luggage, you only have to indicate it when you make your reservation via email). The shared transfer is available from , so it will be much cheaper than other options such as taxis, Cabify or Uber.

Shared transfer back to the airport

You can also book a pick-up service from your hotel and a shared transfer to the airport when you have to catch your return flight. All you need to do is be ready in plenty of time for the driver to pick you up from your hotel and take you to the airport in plenty of time before your flight departs.

Other options

This option is also available if your destination is not Lisbon but other cities such as Estoril, Cascais, Carcavelos, Costa Caparica or Sintra.

This is the cheapest option to get to the centre of Lisbon and from there to your hotel on your own. It is a special bus, Aerobús , which goes directly from Portela airport to the centre of Lisbon making several stops (locate your hotel on the map before travelling to choose which stop is most convenient for you or ask the Aerobús driver directly).

The bus can carry a maximum of 15 people, has air conditioning, WIFI connection and a compartment for special or bulky luggage. It is also adapted for wheelchair users.

Depending on your destination, there are three different lines you can take, each with a different route.

Line 1 stops

Line 2 stops

Line 3

There is also a third line available between Lisbon Airport and the Sete Rios bus terminal. If you have any questions or queries, you can contact us by email when you make your booking.

If you have not booked your airport transfer in advance, you can also use public transport during the corresponding time slots. There are two options: metro and bus.

Metro

For a few years now, Lisbon has had a metro station that goes all the way to the airport on the red line. It ends at the Cais do Sodré train station and has several stops in the centre (you can also transfer to other lines). The metro runs every 6 to 9 minutes from 6:30 am to 1:00 am.

A metro ticket to the centre will cost you less than two euros, but you should bear in mind that if you extend the metro journey to your hotel from there you may have to pay a little more. In any case, to travel by metro in Lisbon you will need to buy a card from the machines and information booths at the stations (it costs less than one euro) which you can top up during your journey. A 24-hour Lisbon metro pass is also available for about six euros.

City bus

Alternatively, there is the option of the bus line which works with the same rechargeable card, but in this case you also have the option of buying the ticket directly from the bus driver. The lines that pass through the airport are: 722, 744, 705 and 783. At night you can use the 208. Buses run every 20 to 25 minutes.

The bus timetable in Lisbon may vary from line to line, but generally runs from 6am to midnight; the rest of the timetable is covered by the night bus lines. If you choose to take a regular bus from the airport to the city centre, be aware that you may not have as much or as much luggage space as you will have on the Aerobus.

Taxi or VTC

As with all airports, taxis are always an option. There is a taxi rank outside the airport, although on certain days and times you may have to wait a little while for a taxi. The taxi will drop you off at your hotel in about 30 minutes, but the price is the most expensive you can find: around 17 euros.

If you want to save a few euros, the VTC apps Uber and Cabify are available in Lisbon: you can order them on arrival using the airport's WIFI connection or your data tariff and the app will calculate the waiting time, meeting point and fare before you accept the booking.

You already know how to get to the centre of Lisbon or to your hotel, but what is Portela airport like? Don't worry; despite the large influx of passengers, you won't find a labyrinthine airport that you won't know how to get out of. The arrivals area is well signposted and is the same for all flights, so all you have to do is follow the signs to get out.

Once you've collected your luggage you'll arrive in a large lobby with several restaurants, souvenir shops and newsagents. Portugal's currency is the Euro, so if you're from the European Union, forget about exchanging currency. Whichever means of transport you use to get to your hotel, you'll find several signposts and if in doubt you'll be able to understand the airport staff in English. Although the network is a little slow, there is free WIFI throughout Portela Airport.

When to travel to Lisbon

As with many European cities, spring and autumn are the best seasons to travel to Lisbon, both for the weather and to avoid the crowds of tourists that can be found in summer (bear in mind that there are many beach areas near Lisbon). The climate is warm in Portugal's capital, but in summer it can be sweltering. In winter, however, although you'll find more rain, you won't get too cold, so if you like this time of year, you'll find cheaper flights.

Getting around the city

Lisbon is a walking city, but be warned that you will encounter more than one hill... The areas of Belem and Alfama are a little further away from the centre, so you can afford to take a taxi if you want to save the walk or some of the trams you'll find around the city, which are also a tourist attraction in themselves. Here you can read a practical guide to this which may be of interest to you: Lisbon Hop on Hop off Bus Tours.

Where to stay

More important than the area, the most important thing in Lisbon is to book accommodation in advance as it is a very touristy city with a high demand. The best options for accommodation are the Baixa, Chiado, Avenida de la Libertad and Barrio Alto neighbourhoods, but the city is quite safe so you can consider other areas as long as you have references for the accommodation.

What to eat

The food in Lisbon is quite famous. Being a large capital city, you'll find excellent restaurants for slightly lower prices than you'll find in other European countries. Must-try dishes include francesinha (a sandwich with béchamel sauce that you have to be hungry to finish), the famous Belem cakes (you can buy them in a local pastry shop which is the most famous in Portugal) and fish which you can eat in the bars in the centre.

What to pack

Above all, wear comfortable shoes to cope with the city's steep slopes and cool clothes if you're visiting in the summer months. You can also pack a swimming costume in case you want to take a trip to the beach from Lisbon. Of course, don't forget your camera.