From Lisbon Airport to the city center and the surrounding area
Transfer by metro (subway), bus, taxi, Uber…
Lisbon’s Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is well connected to the city center and surrounding areas.
It is worth finding out about the different transfer options before you leave home. This will save you time, stress and money in Lisbon.
This website provides an overview of the different transfer options, including travel times and current prices (2024).
#1 Metro – fast & affordable
The metro is one of the fastest and cheapest options for getting from Lisbon Airport to the city centre. The red line (Linha Vermelha) of the underground system has a station directly at the airport.
- Travel time: About 25 to 35 minutes to the city centre, depending on the destination station.
- Price: A single ticket costs €1.80 (as of 2024).
- Operating times: The metro runs daily from about 6:30 am to 1:00 am.
Lisbon Airport has its own metro station (Aeroporto). The metro will take you quickly and cheaply to the city centre.
Map: Lisbon metro lines
Here you will find a map of the metro lines in Lisbon. The red line ends at the airport ‘Aeroporto’.
→ Download: Map – Lisbon metro lines
Tip: Save time and money with the Lisboa Card
The Lisboa Card is the official sightseeing pass of the city of Lisbon. It allows you to use public transport free of charge, including the metro to and from the airport. It also gives you free or discounted entry to many sights.
If you want to visit some sights and use public transport during your stay in Lisbon, you can save time and money with the Lisboa Card.
⇾ More information: Save money with the Lisboa Card? Our test with current prices 2024
⇾ You can buy the Lisbon Card online at no extra charge – click here to go to the booking portal
This saves time and stress in Lisbon. You no longer have to deal with the ticket machines. There are better things to do after the flight …
In addition to the usual means of transport such as buses, trams and the metro, trips with the funicular, the historic ‘Elevador de Santa Justa’ lift or a day trip to the coastal town of Cascais are also free of charge. This not only saves money, but also time and stress: no annoying queuing when buying tickets, no hassle with machines – with the Lisboa Card, everything is already taken care of.
Lisboa Card – at a glance
✅ Local transport: bus, metro, tram free of charge
✅ Metro: airport ↔ city centre free
✅ Free admission to 51 museums, attractions, landmarks
✅ Discounts, reductions (e.g. fado concert, city tour…)
✅ Free train journey to the Atlantic coast & beach (Cascais, Estoril) and Sintra
✅ Valid for 24, 48 or 72 hours
✅ Buy online at no extra charge – click here
Risk of confusion: the names of the metro lines
The metro lines in Lisbon used to have names (e.g. Linha da Gaivota – seagull line). Today, the lines are named according to their color (e.g. Linha Azul – blue line).
The logos of the metro lines still contain an image of the old name.
The colors have not yet fully established themselves as line names. So don’t be surprised if the same line is sometimes called the “Blue Line” and then again the “Seagull Line”.
#2 Taxi
Taxis stehen rund um die Uhr vor dem Flughafen zur Verfügung und bieten eine schnelle und bequeme Möglichkeit, ins Stadtzentrum oder in die Umgebung zu gelangen. Alle Taxis sind mit Taxametern ausgestattet.
- Travel time: Depending on traffic, about 15 to 25 minutes to the city centre.
- Price: The journey to the city centre costs about €12 to €20. There may be a surcharge of 20% for night trips and on weekends. A surcharge is also payable for larger items of luggage.
- Tip: Make sure that the taxi driver uses the taximeter. Tourists are often offered expensive fixed prices for trips.
- Journey time: Very dependent on the traffic situation. More difficult to plan than the underground
Taxis are available outside the arrivals hall at the airport 24 hours a day.
#3 Ride-hailing services – Uber, Bolt and more
In addition to regular taxis, there are also private ride-hailing services such as Uber, Bolt, etc., which can be booked via their apps. These services often offer a cheaper and equally comfortable alternative to taxis.
- Travel time: Similar to taxis, depending on traffic, about 15 to 40 minutes.
- Price: Depending on the service and traffic, between €9 and €18 for a trip to the city centre.
- Meeting/pick-up point: The meeting point is not in the taxi zone in front of the arrivals hall, but in a car park near the terminal.
#4 Bus – Carris
There are several regular bus routes that run from the airport to the city. Lines 744 and 783 are the main lines of the municipal bus company Carris, which run from the airport through the city centre.
The buses are not special airport express buses. They have many stops and a longer journey time. Furthermore, no large items of luggage can be taken.
Therefore, the metro has a clear advantage.
- Travel time: approximately 35 to 55 minutes, depending on traffic.
- Price: a single ticket costs €1.80 (2024).
- Timetable: buses run regularly from around 6:00 am to 11:00 pm.
- Luggage: only relatively small items of luggage (55 x 40 x 20 cm) may be transported on the buses.
→ Download: Timetable and stops for bus 744
→ Download: Timetable and stops for bus 783
Aerobus / Airport Express Bus
The Aerobus was a special airport express bus with few stops. In addition, luggage could be taken without any problems. The Aerobus is no longer in operation, but is still mentioned in older travel guides.
In Lisbon, there is no longer a special airport bus. The new metro line is faster and more efficient. The operation of the Aerobus was discontinued a few years ago.
There are some Carris scheduled bus services that run from the airport to the city centre. Due to the many stops, the journey time is relatively long. In addition, you cannot take large items of luggage with you.
More about the Lisboa Card: tips, information, tests and our experiences
Frequently asked questions – FAQ 2024
What is the best way to get from Lisbon airport to the city centre?
From Lisbon airport you can easily get to the city centre by metro (red line) in about 20 to 30 minutes. You can also take the city bus. The journey time by bus is longer and luggage transport is limited. Taxis and transport services such as Uber also offer a quick connection to the city centre.
More information, current prices 2024 and tips on our website.
How much is the metro from Lisbon Airport to the city centre?
From Lisbon Airport, you can easily reach the city centre by metro.
Take the red line (Linha Vermelha) from the airport station and change at São Sebastião or Saldanha station to get to the centre. The journey takes about 20 to 30 minutes, and a ticket costs €1.80 in 2024.
Further information, maps and savings tips can be found on our website.
Aerobus Lisbon: a good choice for airport transfers?
There is no longer a special airport bus in Lisbon. The Aerobus was discontinued a few years ago. The new metro line is faster and more efficient.
Overview of transfer options, current prices 2024 and tips on our website.
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