Lisbon airport transfer: how to get to the city centre

Lisbon airport is only about 7 km from the centre, so every option is quick. Travelling light during the day, take the metro. Arriving late, with children, with lots of luggage or staying in Alfama's lanes, book a private transfer or take a taxi to the door.

Option	Usual length	Best for
Pre-booked private transfer	20 to 30 minutes	Late arrivals, families and heavy luggage	Check prices on GetYourGuide
Private transfer, other operators	20 to 30 minutes	Comparing prices for your date	Check prices on Viator
Shared shuttle	30 to 60 minutes	Solo travellers who want door-to-door for less	Check prices on GetYourGuide

Metro: cheapest, and usually fine

The metro station is right outside Terminal 1 arrivals. It is the first stop on the red line. Trains run from about 6:30 in the morning until 1:00 at night.

The red line does not go to the old centre, so you will change once:

For Baixa, Chiado and Rossio: change at Alameda to the green line.
For Avenida da Liberdade and Marquês de Pombal: change at São Sebastião to the blue line.

Allow 25 to 35 minutes to the centre. Buy a reloadable navegante occasional card from the machines in the station and load it with credit. One card per person.

The metro stops being a good idea if you have large suitcases. Several central stations have long stairways and lifts that are out of service more often than they should be, and the streets from the station to your hotel may be steep and cobbled.

Taxi

Taxis queue outside arrivals and run on the meter. There is a supplement for luggage and a higher tariff at night and on weekends. Lisbon taxis are generally honest, but the airport rank has a long-standing reputation for the occasional driver who takes the scenic route. Follow along on your phone’s map and ask for a receipt.

Uber and Bolt

Both work well in Lisbon and usually cost less than a taxi. Pick-up is from a signed area a short walk from arrivals. The app shows you where to go. At peak times expect a wait and higher prices.

Pre-booked private transfer

A driver meets you in the arrivals hall with your name on a sign, at a price fixed in advance. You pay a bit more than a taxi for three things: no queue, no meter, and a driver who already knows where your rental apartment is.

It is the best option when:

you land late at night or very early
you are travelling with children and need car seats (request them when booking)
you are a group of five or more and need a van
you are staying in Alfama, Mouraria or Bairro Alto, where cars cannot reach every door and a local driver knows the closest drop-off point

Give your flight number when you book, so the driver can track delays.

Terminal 2 on the way home

Most low-cost airlines depart from Terminal 2, which has no metro station. A free shuttle bus links it to Terminal 1 every few minutes. Allow an extra 15 to 20 minutes, or have your taxi drop you at Terminal 2 directly. All arrivals come into Terminal 1.

Next steps

Once you have dropped your bags, start with the best things to do in Lisbon, or follow our 3-day itinerary.