From the Airport to the City Centre

Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is only around seven kilometres from the centre, right within the city area. That's a genuine advantage, few European capitals get you from the gate to your hotel as quickly. Four options are available, metro, city bus, taxi and app-based ride services. Which one is worth it mainly depends on your luggage, the time of day and your destination.

By metro, the cheapest option, and unaffected by traffic

The red line (Linha Vermelha) starts right at Terminal 1, with Aeroporto as its terminus. The station is on the south side of the terminal on the arrivals level, from the arrivals hall, turn right; the walk is short and well signposted. According to the airport operator, the journey into the centre takes around 20 minutes.

A direct ride without changing trains is rare, though. The main interchange stations from Aeroporto are:

• Alameda, change to the green line, about four stops or around 8 minutes from the airport.
• Saldanha, change to the yellow line, around 15 minutes.
• São Sebastião, change to the blue line, around 25 minutes.

To reach Baixa-Chiado, take the red line to Alameda and change there onto the green line towards Cais do Sodré; altogether you're looking at around 20 to 25 minutes. The metro's big advantage, it stays unaffected by traffic. At peak times a taxi on the same route can take over 45 minutes, but the train won't. Operating hours are typically around 6:30 to 1:00.

Buying tickets at the airport

You buy tickets from the machines right at the metro station, available in several languages, including Portuguese, English and Spanish. You have three options:

• Navegante card (Occasional), the reloadable transport card has been called this since 2021, no longer Viva Viagem. The empty card costs a one-off €0.50 and is reusable; you can top it up with cash or a card.
• Zapping credit on the Navegante card, with this, a single fare costs only €1.72.
• Contactless bank card directly at the gate, no card purchase needed, but a fare then costs €1.92.

A simple single fare (Bilhete simples) is €1.90 in 2026 and is valid for one hour on the metro and Carris buses. If you're getting around a lot on arrival day, the 24-hour day ticket for €7.25 is usually the better deal; it's also available combined with the ferry to Cacilhas (€10.35) or with the CP train (€11.40). There isn't an official 7-day tourist pass, by the way - Metro Lisboa only lists single fare, Zapping and the 24-hour ticket; longer passes are personalised. More on the various passes is in our guide to Getting around Lisbon.

By city bus

There's no longer a dedicated airport express, the Aerobus shuttle was discontinued around 2022/2023. What's left are regular Carris city buses, with many stops and no luggage compartment. In 2026 two routes are particularly useful:

• Route 744 towards Restauradores, via Saldanha and Avenida da República.
• Route 783 towards Amoreiras, via Campo Grande and Campo Pequeno.

Both take roughly 35 to 55 minutes depending on traffic, noticeably longer than the metro, and less comfortable with a suitcase. In the early hours, when the metro isn't running, night bus 208 is the cheapest way to reach the airport. For most arrivals, though, the bus remains a backup behind the metro or a taxi.

Taxi and app-based ride services

Taxis wait right outside the terminal. There's no official fixed fare, the meter runs. During the day you'll usually pay around €10 to €15 depending on traffic and luggage, and a ride takes 15 to 30 minutes. Make sure the meter is switched on and ask for a receipt (fatura). Between 21:00 and 6:00, and at weekends and on public holidays, a night surcharge of around 20 percent applies, plus a €1.60 luggage surcharge for luggage in the boot.

Uber and Bolt are also available at the airport and typically cost around €8 to €15 into the centre - Bolt is often €2 to €3 cheaper than Uber. The dedicated pick-up zone for app rides is in car park P2 on level 2 (arrivals level), about a 4 to 5 minute walk from arrivals. It's worth installing both apps before you fly and only requesting a ride once you're in the pick-up zone, as it can sometimes take a little while for a driver to arrive.

Which option suits you?

• Travelling alone or as a couple with hand luggage, the metro is unbeatably cheap, fast and unaffected by traffic. A clear recommendation.
• Family or a lot of luggage, a taxi, Uber or Bolt gets you straight to the door with no changes or stairs; the extra cost is modest.
• Arriving late, after 1:00, once the metro has stopped for the night, a taxi, app ride or night bus 208 are your options.
• With the Lisboa Card, the card covers all public transport, including the metro to and from the airport; it does cost money itself (from €31 for 24 hours), though, and only pays off if you're also using it for admissions. Details in our guide to the Lisboa Card.

Lisbon is considered safe in 2026, including for solo travellers. The main thing to watch for is pickpocketing at busy stations and on crowded trains, keep an eye on your belongings at Rossio or Santa Apolónia and on Tram 28. The central neighbourhoods around Baixa and Chiado are well populated and lit in the evening. For how to get around the city once you've arrived, see our guide to Getting around Lisbon; everything on onward travel and departure is covered in Getting to Lisbon.