7 km, four options, one clear winner for each situation.
Lisbon Airport is only 7 km from the city center — one of the closest airport-to-city distances in Europe. Getting downtown is easy, but choosing the wrong option can cost you 3x more or add 30 minutes to your trip. Here's each option, timed and priced for 2026.
Budget travelers, solo, light luggage, hotels near metro
Heavy luggage, late arrivals (after 1 AM), Alfama/Belém hotels
Best value. €2 to the city center.
2+ travelers, heavy luggage, Alfama/Belém hotels, late night
Peak hour surge pricing, very tight budgets
Best comfort-to-value ratio. Split between 2 = €5 each.
Late night, travelers who don't want apps, instant availability
Budget-conscious travelers (30–50% more than Uber)
Reliable backup. Always available at the rank.
The Aerobus airport shuttle was discontinued in 2022. Metro or Uber/Bolt are the recommended alternatives.
Buy a Navegante card at the airport metro station vending machines. Load it with Zapping credit (minimum €3) and you'll pay €1.72 per metro ride instead of €1.90. The card itself costs €0.50 and works on all Lisbon public transport — metro, buses, trams, and ferries.
The airport metro station has escalators but no elevators on some levels. If you're traveling with heavy luggage or a wheelchair, be prepared for stairs or consider Uber/Bolt instead. Escalators are also frequently out of service.
Bolt is typically €2–3 cheaper than Uber for the airport run. Download both apps before you land, compare prices, and go with the cheaper one. Both pick up at the same spot: Parking P2, Level 2.
Ignore anyone inside the terminal offering you a 'taxi' or 'transfer.' Licensed taxis are cream/black and wait at the official rank. Uber/Bolt pickups are at P2 Level 2 only. Unlicensed drivers charge 2–3x more and aren't insured.
Always ensure the taxi meter is running. There is no fixed fare from Lisbon Airport — it's metered. If a driver quotes a flat price, decline and take the next taxi in the rank. The meter should start at approximately €3.25 (daytime) or €3.98 (nights/weekends).
| 🚇Metro | 🚗Uber/Bolt | 🚕Taxi | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | €1.90–2.42 | €8–15 | €15–20 |
| Time | 20–30 min | 15–25 min | 15–25 min |
| Luggage | Difficult | Easy | Easy |
| Hours | 6:30 AM–1 AM | 24/7 | 24/7 |
| Our pick | ⭐ Best value | ⭐ Best overall | Backup |
Take the Metro. €1.72–1.90 and 25 minutes. You can't beat it.
Uber or Bolt. Split €10–12 between two or more and it's cheaper per person than the Aerobus — with door-to-door service.
Uber/Bolt or pre-booked transfer. Wrangling luggage + strollers on the metro is stressful. A pre-booked transfer with a car seat costs €20–30 and saves your sanity.
Taxi or Uber/Bolt. The metro is closed. Taxis are always at the rank; Uber/Bolt may have a 5–10 minute wait and slight surge pricing late at night.
Uber or Bolt. Neither neighborhood has a convenient metro station. Alfama is steep cobblestones; Belém is on the opposite side of the city from the metro Red Line. Door-to-door is the way.
| Neighborhood | Best Option | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baixa / Chiado | Metro (Red → Green) | 25 min | Change at Alameda. Exit at Baixa-Chiado. |
| Alfama | Uber / Bolt | 15–20 min | Steep hills + cobblestones make luggage on metro impractical. |
| Bairro Alto | Uber / Bolt | 15–20 min | Or Metro to Baixa-Chiado + short uphill walk. |
| Belém | Uber / Bolt | 20–30 min | No direct metro. Uber is the only practical option. |
| Príncipe Real | Uber / Bolt | 15–20 min | Or Metro to Rato (Green Line) + 5-min walk. |
| Graça | Uber / Bolt | 15 min | Very steep. Metro to Martim Moniz + Tram 28 is scenic but slow. |
| Parque das Nações | Metro (Red Line direct) | 10 min | Oriente station — the easiest airport transfer in Lisbon. |
Change at Alameda. Exit at Baixa-Chiado.
Steep hills + cobblestones make luggage on metro impractical.
Or Metro to Baixa-Chiado + short uphill walk.
No direct metro. Uber is the only practical option.
Or Metro to Rato (Green Line) + 5-min walk.
Very steep. Metro to Martim Moniz + Tram 28 is scenic but slow.
Oriente station — the easiest airport transfer in Lisbon.
Set your arrival time and it calculates the best route to your hotel.
Plan My Arrival →Yes. Uber and Bolt both operate at Lisbon Airport. The designated pickup point is at Parking P2, Level 2. Follow the signs after you exit arrivals — it's a 3-minute walk. Request your ride once you're near the pickup zone to avoid cancellation fees.
The Lisbon metro runs from approximately 6:30 AM until 1:00 AM, seven days a week. After 1 AM, your options are taxi, Uber/Bolt, or the night bus network (which doesn't serve the airport directly).
Only if you plan heavy sightseeing. The Lisboa Card includes unlimited public transport and free entry to 39+ museums and monuments. If you're visiting Jerónimos, Belém Tower, and riding trams, it can save you €30–50 over 3 days. Read our full breakdown in our <a href="/guides/lisboa-card-review" class="text-[#C2703E] underline underline-offset-2 hover:text-[#A85C30]">Lisboa Card review</a>.
Yes. Since 2023, you can tap your contactless credit/debit card or phone at metro gates. The fare is €1.92 per ride — slightly more than the €1.72 Zapping rate but you skip the queue for a Navegante card.
A metered taxi from Lisbon Airport to central Lisbon (Baixa, Chiado, Bairro Alto) typically costs €15–20. There's a €1.60 luggage supplement for bags placed in the trunk. Make sure the meter is running — there is no fixed airport fare.