Lisbon Airport (Humberto Delgado, code LIS) sits unusually close to the city — barely 7km from the centre. That’s good news: however you choose to travel, you’re rarely more than 30 minutes from your front door. After a decade of welcoming guests off every kind of flight, here’s our honest breakdown of each option, so you arrive relaxed rather than haggling at the kerb.
Quick Answer
- Cheapest: Metro (€1.80 + card) — best if you’re travelling light and staying near a metro line.
- Easiest door-to-door: Uber / Bolt (€10–18) — best for luggage, families, or late arrivals.
- Best value for groups: A pre-booked private transfer or a regular taxi.
Now the detail.
The Metro (Red Line)
The metro station is right inside the airport terminal, on the red line (Linha Vermelha). It’s the cheapest way into town and completely avoids traffic.
- Cost: €1.80 per journey, plus €0.50 for a reusable Navegante card.
- Time: 20–30 minutes to most central neighbourhoods.
- Watch for: You’ll usually change once (at Alameda or Saldanha) to reach the historic centre. There are no step-free escalators at every station, so it’s less ideal with heavy suitcases or small children.
The metro is brilliant if your accommodation is near a station. Our own apartments are a short walk from Entrecampos and Marquês de Pombal — both on direct metro lines — which is exactly why we recommend basing yourself there: you can be home from the airport for under €3.
Uber & Bolt
Ride-hailing is legal, cheap, and the option most of our guests choose. Both Uber and Bolt operate freely from a dedicated pick-up point (follow the signs from arrivals).
- Cost: Typically €10–18 to the centre, depending on time and demand.
- Time: 15–25 minutes outside rush hour.
- Why we recommend it: Door to door, fixed price shown upfront, no language barrier, and ideal with luggage or after a long flight. For families it’s almost always the least stressful choice.
A tip: if there’s a queue or surge pricing, walk a minute to the departures level and order from there — pick-ups are often quicker.
Taxis
Lisbon’s cream-coloured taxis wait outside arrivals.
- Cost: Usually €12–20 to the centre, with a small luggage surcharge and higher night/weekend tariffs.
- Watch for: Make sure the meter is running. The fare to the centre should be modest — if a driver quotes a high flat rate, it’s fine to decline and use the next taxi or order an Uber instead.
Aerobus & Local Buses
The dedicated Aerobus shuttle runs to the centre and main hotels, but honestly, with the metro so cheap and Uber so convenient, we rarely recommend it unless it stops right outside your door. Regular city buses (lines 744, 783) are cheapest of all but slow and awkward with luggage.
Private Transfers
For groups, early-morning arrivals, or if you simply want zero hassle, a pre-booked private transfer meets you at arrivals with a name sign and a fixed price. It costs more than an Uber but removes every variable — worth it after a red-eye or with a large family.
Our Honest Recommendation
- Travelling light and staying near a metro line? Take the metro. It’s quick, cheap, and traffic-proof.
- Luggage, kids, or a late flight? Order an Uber or Bolt — the small extra cost buys a lot of calm.
Either way, where you stay shapes how easy the journey is. The closer your apartment is to a metro station, the cheaper and faster every airport run becomes — for arrival, and for day trips to Sintra and Cascais later in your trip.
When you’ve landed and settled in, our 3-day Lisbon itinerary is the perfect place to start planning your first morning.
Still choosing where to stay? Browse our metro-connected apartments — book direct, skip Airbnb’s 15% guest fee, and message us on WhatsApp if you’d like arrival tips for your exact dates.