There are many options for getting into central Lisbon from the airport and main train stations. We run through your subway, bus and taxi options to and from the airport here. And don't worry train fanatics! We also provide transportation information for Lisbon's four main train stations.
Getting Into Lisbon
Getting in from the airport
All international flights to Lisbon arrive at Aeroporto de Lisboa, on the perimeter of the north side of the city.
The Lisbon Airport now has a subway that connects directly to the city center. The ride is about 20 minutes and costs €1.45. You can find more details on the Airport's website about public transit.
The AeroBus runs from outside the arrivals hall to Praça dos Restauradores, Rossio, Praça do Comércio and Cais do Sodré, the train station for Cascais. This is the best option during rush hour.
The AeroBus has 2 different lines. Line 1 leaves from 7:30am - 7:00pm (every 20min) and 7:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. (every 25 min). Line 2 leaves from 7:40 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. (every 20 min) | 7:00 p.m. – 10:45 p.m. (every 25min). The ride takes about 20 minutes. Current prices start at €6 for a round-trip adult ticket and €3 for children (ages 4 to 10). Visit the Aerobus website for more information and how to get a 10% discount on adult tickets.
Local buses #44 and #22 run from the road outside the airport to Cais do Sodré and Marquês do Pombal. The trip costs €1.50 and the ride takes 15-20 minutes. Buses leave every 12-15 minutes from 5:45 a.m. until 8:40 p.m.
Budget about €10 (plus a €1.60 baggage fee) for a taxi ride into central Lisbon. Keep in mind that taxis in Portugal are billed by time, not distance. During heavy traffic hours, taxis can end up being considerably more expensive.
Ask the folks at the tourist office inside the airport about the voucher program. This program allows tourists to buy pre-paid voucher cards for taxi rides around the city and thus avoid being fleeced by wayward cabbies. (For the record, when we were last in Lisbon, we took taxis day and night. We found each and every taxi driver to be both forthright and friendly.)
Arriving by Train
Lisbon is the home of three train stations in the city proper and one across the river in Barreiro. Contact Caminhos de Ferro Portugueses (CP) for further information about the rail system. CP staff can be reached via telephone at 800 20 09 04. You can also surf for train information on the CP site.
Estaco Santa Apolónia is home to long-distance train travel. All trains stop at Estácio Oriente by the Parque das Nacoes. The metro trains at the Oriente metro stop take passengers farther into town. The station is also connected to downtown by several bus lines.
Estácio Rossio is the hub for trains from the west. This station is located between northwest Baixa and northeast Bairro Alto. The Restauradores metro station is right outside Rossio station's gorgeous horseshoe-shaped front doors.
Estácio do Cais do Sodré sends trains to nearby destinations. This station is just beyond the end of the Rua do Alecrim, a five-minute walk from Baixa. The metro stop Cais do Sodré is here. There are also a handful of bus lines that stop here.
Estácio do Barreiro is across the Rio Tejo from the city and serves southern Portugal. The station is accessible by ferries going to and from the Terreiro do Paco dock, off Praça do Comercio, on the southern edge of Baixa. Ferries leave every 30 minutes and take about the same time to cross the rio. The ferry connection costs €1.95 per ride.
Flying into Lisbon
Visit our Lisbon budget flights section for more information on low-cost airlines flying into and out of Lisbon.
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