Getting to Lisbon & Getting Around

Lisbon sits at the far western edge of the Iberian Peninsula, and that shapes how you get there, a direct flight is by far the fastest option, taking around three hours from most European hubs, while the train and driving are journeys for travellers with time to spare. Once you're in the city, you won't need a car at all. The metro, trams, buses and the historic ascensores cover the hilly city cheaply and reliably. This overview maps out the routes; the airport transfer is covered in detail by the guide From the Airport to the City Centre, and getting around the city by the guide Public Transport in Lisbon.

Routes to Lisbon compared

For most travellers, the clear recommendation is a direct flight to Lisbon and then the red metro line into the centre. The fare is €1.90 (€1.72 with a Zapping balance) and takes around 20 to 25 minutes to Baixa-Chiado, unaffected by traffic and cheaper than any taxi.

Flying, direct connections in 2026

Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) lies only around seven kilometres north-east of the centre - unusually close for a European capital. Flight time from Germany is roughly 3 to 3.25 hours, and the direct-flight network is dense:

• Frankfurt and Munich are served year-round by Lufthansa and TAP Air Portugal.
• Berlin is served by TAP, Ryanair (around five times a week) and Eurowings - Eurowings only two to three times weekly, on Mondays and Fridays, adding Wednesdays during the summer holidays.
• Düsseldorf is served by TAP, and Cologne/Bonn by Eurowings with up to seven flights a week.

A planning note - Ryanair cut numerous Germany routes in 2026; Berlin-Lisbon was still bookable as of June 2026 (one-way from around €52), though this can change with the winter schedule. The most expensive period is peak season in July and August; January to March and November are usually the cheapest, and Frankfurt-Lisbon fares can be found from around €100 to €150 return in a sale, typically at their lowest about two months before departure and mid-week.

Via Porto, the Alfa Pendular option

Flexible travellers can also keep an eye on Porto (OPO). From there, the Alfa Pendular express train continues on to Lisbon in around 2:40 to 3:10 hours. Worth knowing for the budget, the regular 2026 fare is €35.70 (Turística class) or €49.90 (Conforto). The often-quoted tickets from around €12.50 are only available at the promo fare, booked at least eight days ahead. The combination only pays off, then, if the Porto flight is noticeably cheaper than a direct flight to Lisbon and you secure the promo train ticket early, in return, you get a second city along the way.

By train, daytime only, via Madrid

There is no direct connection from Central Europe; the route runs through France and Spain with several changes and overnight stops. Patience is needed even on the final leg, the Trenhotel Lusitania night train between Madrid and Lisbon was discontinued in March 2020, and the Spanish government confirmed in December 2025 that it will not return. Madrid-Lisbon now runs daytime only, changing in Badajoz and Entroncamento:

• Usually two connections a day (departing Madrid around 8:30 and 10:55), in practice a three-train combination booked as separate tickets.
• Total travel time around 10 to 11 hours.
• Fares from around €50 - Madrid-Badajoz from about €22.50, Badajoz-Entroncamento a fixed €13.50, Entroncamento-Lisbon €14.35 in 2nd class (CP promo from €5.50).

Renfe often only opens sales for Madrid-Badajoz a few weeks ahead, while Portuguese tickets typically go on sale around 60 days in advance. It's worth booking each leg separately through the relevant railway.

By car, distance, tolls and parking

Lisbon is a long way by road, around 2,860 kilometres from Berlin, and about 2,450 to 2,515 kilometres one way from Munich, a multi-day road trip through France and Spain. France, Spain and Portugal all operate distance-based toll systems; in Portugal, some motorways add electronic tolls that are billed differently depending on the vehicle.

Within the city itself, a car is more hassle than help, narrow lanes, steep hills, one-way systems and scarce parking. Anyone driving in anyway should budget for parking:

• Central car parks cost around €1.50 to €3.00 per hour, with daily maximums of roughly €15 to €45 depending on location - SABA Chiado around €25, Parque Saldanha around €18 a day.
• On-street parking (EMEL) is regulated across five tariff zones, from €0.80 per hour in the green zone (four-hour maximum) up to around €3.00 per hour in the black zone.

From the airport into the centre

The red metro line (Linha Vermelha) starts right at the terminal, at the Aeroporto terminus. It runs daily from around 6:30 to 1:00, every 3 to 6 minutes at peak times. It takes around 13 to 14 minutes to the interchange at Alameda, about 16 minutes to Saldanha, and around 20 to 25 minutes in total, changing trains, to Baixa-Chiado or Rossio. A single fare costs €1.90 (€1.72 with a Zapping balance), plus a one-off €0.50 for the rechargeable navegante card.

There's no Aerobus express service any more; alternatives are Carris routes 744 and 783, the night bus 208, a taxi (metered, roughly €10 to €15 during the day plus a €1.60 luggage surcharge, around 20 percent more at night), or Uber and Bolt for about €8 to €15 from the pick-up zone at car park P2. The full comparison, including how to buy a ticket at the machine, is in the guide From the Airport to the City Centre.

Getting around the city

Once you're there, four systems work together, the metro with four lines, the Carris network of buses and trams (including the historic Tram 28 and the 15E tram to Belém), the ascensores along with the Santa Justa Lift for the hills, and ferries across the Tagus. The fare system is straightforward, single fare €1.90, €1.72 with Zapping, and the 24-hour ticket for €7.25 also covers the funiculars and lifts (€10.35 including the ferry, €11.40 including CP trains to Sintra and Cascais). Only buying a ticket on board the bus is pricier, at €2.20. Baixa, Chiado and Alfama sit within easy walking distance of each other anyway, walking remains the only free way to get around, and often the fastest in the lower town. Every line, card and money-saving tip is covered in the guide Public Transport in Lisbon.