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Ashley Metcalfe
January 24, 2025
Wondering how to get from Lisbon Airport to the city center?
You’re in the right spot!
Matthew and I spent a month living in Lisbon as digital nomads. As it’s one of the most popular digital nomad cities, we had to check the city out for our blog. This beautiful city exceeded all our expectations and we can see it growing in popularity amongst tourists from all over the world.
But before you can enjoy the city, you have to figure out how to get there first!
It’s not as complicated to get from Lisbon Airport to city center as you think. There are 5 transport options available to you! It all depends on how much you want to spend, how important convenience is to you and how quickly you want to get to the city already.
Here’s the complete Lisbon Airport to city center guide with all the information you need (prices, transport options, distance and time).
QUICK ANSWER: How To Get From Lisbon Airport To The City Center?
It’s easy to get from Lisbon Airport to the city center. The cheapest option is taking the metro because it only costs 1.40 euros per way, the trains are very frequent (every 6-10 minutes) and it takes 30 minutes to reach the city center. The best option is booking a car via ride-share apps like Uber and Bolt! The journey takes about 20 minutes and costs around 7-11 euros. This is super convenient, comfortable and surprisingly affordable!
You can also book a private transfer ahead of time, take a taxi, hire a car rental or take the bus. It all depends on your Lisbon travel itinerary, what’s convenient for you and how much you’re willing to spend on transport from Lisbon airport to city center.
How Far Is Lisbon Airport From The City Center?
Not far at all!
Lisbon Airport (is only 10 km (6 mi) from the city center. This makes it only about 20-30 minutes away by car and 30 minutes away by Lisbon metro, all depending on the traffic. It’s a quick and easy ride – no matter what mode of transportation you take.
You won’t need to spend much time in the car or train getting to the city and you’ll have much more time exploring the city (especially if it’s a short trip for you where every minute counts).
How To Get From Lisbon Airport To City Center
Trying to figure out the best way to get from Lisbon Airport to city center?
The good news is…
…You have several modes of transportation to choose from based on things like convenience and price. The important thing to keep in mind is also how much luggage you have!
When Matthew and I arrive at Lisbon International Airport, I must admit that I barely researched what to do. We had heard of ride-share apps like Uber and Bolt being available (both of which we had used before in other cities).
The official name of the airport in Lisbon is actually called Humberto Delgado Airport which can be used interchangeably. Don’t worry, there’s only 1 major airport in the area!
I’ve compiled the 4 ways to get from Lisbon Airport to the city center, hopefully making it easier for you to understand and assess your transport options.
Each option is fairly straightforward and you simply have to choose the one that is best for you at the time. Here are the 4 best ways to get from Humberto Delgado Airport to city center.
1. Lisbon Airport to City Center by Metro (Cheap Option)
Looking for the cheapest way to get from Lisbon Airport to the city center?
The answer is going to be the Lisbon Metro. A metro ticket only costs 1.50 euros each way and the price is the same even from the airport. It’s not like taking the metro from Athens to the city center where it’s a whole 6+ euros more each way.
With the Lisbon metro, the price stays the same.
Where To Buy Lisbon Metro Tickets?
It’s easy to buy metro tickets! Once you exit the arrival hall, make your way to the Lisbon Airport Metro Station which is located in Terminal 1. If you arrive in Terminal 2, you’ll need to take the free shuttle bus to Terminal 1 to get to the metro station.
The building has the metro logo on it which has an M and it’s in this red color if that helps.
The ticket machines are inside the station! They accept cash or credit card payments. Once you’ve paid, you can enter the metro and make your way to the city of Lisbon!
How Much Are The Lisbon Metro Tickets?
The Lisbon Metro fares are very affordable, these are the costs:
- single ticket: 1.65 euros
- 24-hour pass: 6.60
You have to pay extra for the 7 Colinas / Viva Viagem electronic card (if you don’t have it yet) which costs 0.50 cents. Make sure you keep the Viva Viagem card because you can continue to use it throughout your stay!
A one-way ticket on the Lisbon Metro costs 1.65 euros which is very affordable. If you are exploring Lisbon for 2-3 days, you can also buy a 24-hour pass for only 6.60 euros., This is a great option because you get unlimited access to public transport (metro) around the city!
Which Line For The Lisbon Metro Line?
The Aeroporto – Saldanha line is the one you will take – it’s also known as the red line. This is the only line that runs straight from the Humberto Delgado Airport to the city center.
Unfortunately, this line does NOT take you to popular stops like Baixa, Chiado or Alfama. You will have to make a transfer to another line in order to get to the city center. For example, if you want to get to the Baixa-Chiado station, you will take the red line and stop at the São Sebastião station. From there, you will need to transfer to the blue line which goes directly to Baixa-Chiado.
How Long Does The Lisbon Metro Take?
The Lisbon Metro takes approximately 20 minutes to get from the Lisbon Airport to city center. As you will need to transfer from the red line, it will actually take longer.
It all depends on where you are going! For example, the Lisbon Metro takes around 32-36 minutes from the airport to the Baixa-Chiado station (with a transfer in between) which is one of the more popular stops for tourists.
The only reason we wouldn’t advise taking the metro is if you have tons of pieces of luggage with you. You will have to transfer which means you’ll have to cart your suitcase up and down stairs (or escalators) which can be more hassle and not worth the extra savings.
Overall, taking the Lisbon Metro is a great option for those looking to save some money. It’s easy to find at Terminal 1, you don’t have to prepare in advance and it’s only 1.65 euros for a one-way ticket from Lisbon Airport to the city center.
2. Lisbon Airport To City Center By Ride Share App (Best Option)
Taking a ride-share car was the best option to get from Lisbon Airport to city center in our personal experience. It’s very cost-effective, there’s no negotiating and it’s just more comfortable.
The 2 rideshare apps you can use in Portugal are Bolt and Uber. Both offer affordable rides from the Humberto Delgado Airport to the city center and all around the city too!
If you’ve got tons of pieces of luggage, this is going to be your favorite way to get to the city center and back! We have quite a bit of luggage as digital nomads and it’s always great when you can easily order a car via an app when you land in a new country.
Especially when it doesn’t cost an excruciating amount of money!
How Much Does An Uber (Or Bolt) Ride Cost?
If you want to get from the Lisbon Airport to the city center, a ride from Uber or Bolt will cost no more than 11 euros.
That’s it!
For a 20-minute ride from the airport, it’s amazing how affordable a ride is to get all the way to the city center (Baixa-Chiado area).
When Matthew and I booked ours, it actually only cost us 7 euros. I guess it depends on the time of day that you book a car, the early morning or late night rides will cost more like 11 euros. Otherwise, we have personally done the journey from Lisbon Airport to the city center for only 7 euros at around 3 pm.
Where To Get Picked Up At Lisbon Airport?
You will have to go to certain pickup points if you book a car via a ride-share app. Here are the pick-up points you will need to meet your driver at:
- Terminal 1, Departures Area (Kiss & Fly Parking)
- Terminal 2
- Parking P8
We decided to use Terminal 1, the Departures pick-up area. If you want to do the same, you simply turn right after customs, take the escalator up a level (located next to My Bistro), exit on the left and use the crosswalk and right to the Kiss & Fly.
Uber or Bolt?
You can use both ride-share apps in Lisbon, Portugal. We found ourselves using Bolt more because it seemed like there were more drivers on the app than Uber. They usually arrived within a few minutes after ordering!
Bolt and Uber seemed to have similar prices but Bolt was always just that little bit cheaper. After a while, we stopped comparing and just used Bolt from then on. It’s up to you, there isn’t too much difference!
3. Lisbon Airport to City Center by Private Transfer (Convenient Option)
Want the peace of mind of having someone waiting for you when you arrive?
Whenever we aren’t too comfortable about figuring out our way through a new city and its transport options, we like to book a private transfer.
Best Private Transfer Company For Lisbon
Need a recommended private transfer company?
We use Welcome Pickups! They are available in over 100 destinations worldwide with a Trustpilot rating of 4.9 stars. You can easily book your private transfer in advance, pay by card online and they will handle the rest.
A driver may reach out to you to confirm your pickup details (eg. flight number) and all you need to do is walk out of the airport! They will have a sign with your name on it and the car takes you straight to your hotel.
You can also use other companies like Get Your Guide or Viator to book a private transfer. It’s a good idea to check out all the websites to see which one gives you the best price.
No need to hassle about luggage or making a transfer, a private transfer with Welcome Pickups is the easiest way to get from Lisbon Airport to the city center.
How Much Is A Private Transfer?
This depends on the transfer company you choose to go with.
For Welcome Pickups, it costs around 31 euros to get from Lisbon Airport to Baixa-Chiado. The prices are very straightforward and the cars are comfortable! We have had very friendly drivers too whenever we book with Welcome Pickups.
If you choose other airport transfer sites like Viator, it could cost more at around $50 USD. It may seem cheaper at first (around $28 USD) but go through all the steps to fill in the details and you will get the final price!
Want a convenient way to get from Lisbon Airport to city center? A private transfer is easy to book ahead of time, someone will be waiting for you and all you need to do is hop in. They also take you straight to your hotel or Airbnb!
4. Lisbon Airport to City Center by Car Rental (Independent Option)
Want to explore Lisbon and beyond?
There are a lot of cool towns to explore beyond the city of Lisbon. You have cool castles located in Sintra and beautiful beaches along the coast of the Algarve.
A popular thing to do is rent cars directly from Lisbon Airport to get around the country. This is great for travelers that want a little more independence to decide what they want to do and when they want to do it!
Where To Rent Cars In Lisbon?
If you want a car from the moment you arrive at Lisbon Airport, it’s best to book your vehicle ahead of time. You can do that through various websites but the top site to use is called Discover Cars.
Discover Cars is a car rental website with a 4.5 Trustpilot score. They are available in over 140 countries which means you can use them in most countries you visit in the future – not just Lisbon!
Don’t want to book online for whatever reason? You can also book a car once you arrive at the airport. You will pay much more for a car but you don’t need to plan ahead of time (unless you do this in peak season then you should always book in advance online).
How Much Are Rental Cars In Lisbon?
The price of a rental car all depends on the kind of car you want to drive, how long you want to keep the car and which websites (or companies) you book from.
If you book a couple of months in advance, you are more likely to get a cheaper price. If you book close to the pick-up date, you can sometimes pay more. The price also depends greatly on when you book a car – it’s way more expensive during the summer which is peak season. During low season, it can be as low as 30 euros per day.
I checked the price for an ‘economy car’ for 1 day in April which came out to $52 USD from Discover Cars. They offer cars at competitive prices! If you rent a car after you’ve landed at the airport, you will definitely pay a premium price.
5. Lisbon Airport to City Center by Bus (Easy Option)
An Aerobus shuttle service used to be available at Lisbon Airport.
Here’s the thing: We are unsure if it still operates to this day.
When we traveled through Lisbon, the signs for the Aerobus are still around (as you can see from our photos) but it does say closed on the screen. This could also be because we were traveling at around 6am!
Unfortunately, I can’t give you a straight answer on the Aerobus. If you find out, let us know and we can update this blog to help others too!
How To Get From The City Center To Lisbon Airport?
You can get to Lisbon Airport from the city center by the metro, rental car or ride share apps (just like how you arrived). The best option in our personal experience is ordering a car through a ride-share app like Bolt. The car will pick you up directly from your Airbnb or hotel and take you straight to the airport for a reasonable price!
You can also take the metro which is the cheapest option. However, you may need to walk to the station and make a transfer (or two) depending on where you are. This isn’t the best option if you’ve got a lot of luggage with you!
Is There A Train From Lisbon Airport To City?
Yes, the Lisbon metro runs through the Humberto Delgado Airport to the city center. It’s the cheapest transport option at only 1.50 euros per way (yes, even from the airport) and it takes about 30 minutes to get to the city center. The Lisbon metro takes you to popular stations like Alfama, Chiado and Baixa.
It’s a popular option to get from Lisbon International Airport to the city center.
Is Uber Available In Lisbon, Portugal?
Yes, Uber is available in Lisbon! However, they have another ride-share app that’s much more popular and it’s called Bolt. A lot of other European cities like Budapest also have Bolt available.
The rides in Lisbon are very affordable! We paid around 3-4 euros for a 10-minute ride across the city. You can use both apps to find the cheapest price, they are relatively priced the same!
The drivers were very quick to arrive, friendly and it’s such a convenient way to get around the city if you don’t want to figure out the public transportation options.
Conclusion: How To Get From Lisbon Airport To City Center?
Getting from Lisbon Airport to city center isn’t as difficult as you think. There are about 5 great ways to get from Lisbon Airport to the city center.
If you want to get to the city in the cheapest way possible, the Lisbon metro is the best option for you! You may have to make a transfer in order to get to popular stations like Baixa or Chiado.
Got a few more euros to spend? Taking a car via a ride-share app like Bolt is still cost-effective (no more than 11 euros) and it’s convenient if you’ve got a lot of luggage. This was our favorite option because there was no negotiating the price and it’s very comfortable. We took Bolt to get from the city center to Lisbon Airport and it was just as easy!
It’s all fairly simple and affordable to get from Lisbon Airport to the city center. It all depends on how much you want to spend, how comfortable you want to be and how much luggage you are traveling with!
We hope you enjoy the beautiful city as we did and you discovered the best way for you to get to the city center from Lisbon Airport!
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