Lisbon Airport (LIS) to the City Center

Three ways from Lisbon Airport into the city

Lisbon Airport (LIS) is close to the center, so the ride into town is short. According to our Lisbon guide, there are three ways in: the Metro Red Line from Aeroporto station right at the airport, Carris city buses from near arrivals, and a taxi or ride-hailing app.

Which one suits you depends on where you are staying, how much luggage you have and when you land. Below we cover each option's time and fare, what to know about each area, the transit card and payment, and a first-day checklist. Fares are the approximate figures in our guide and can change, so check official information too.

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Metro Red Line: board right at the airport

The Metro Red Line starts at Aeroporto station, right at the airport. It runs to Saldanha without a change in about 20 minutes.

For Baixa and Chiado, change at Alameda (Green Line) or São Sebastião (Blue Line). Including the transfer, Baixa is about 30 minutes away.

For tickets, buy a reusable Navegante card at the station machines and load a single ticket or top it up with credit (zapping). The card costs about EUR 0.5 and a trip about EUR 1.9, a little less with zapping. Check official information for exact fares.

Carris city buses and taxis or ride-hailing apps

Carris city buses to the center stop near arrivals and take the same Navegante card as the metro. The fare is the standard city fare, and the journey time depends on traffic. They can be awkward with big luggage.

Much of the online information on airport-only buses is outdated. Always check official information for current routes and service.

For a taxi, use the official taxi rank at arrivals and make sure the meter is on when you set off. It takes about 15-30 minutes to the center and is metered, so the fare varies with distance, luggage and time. Luggage and night supplements apply. You can also book a ride through a ride-hailing app.

At a glance

Here are the three options side by side by time, fare and what to know.

• Metro Red Line: from Aeroporto station / about 20 min to Saldanha, about 30 min to Baixa incl. transfer / card about EUR 0.5 + about EUR 1.9 per trip (a little less with zapping, check official)
• Carris city bus: board near arrivals / time depends on traffic / standard city fare (check official); awkward with big luggage
• Taxi or ride-hailing app: official taxi rank at arrivals / about 15-30 min to the center / metered (varies with distance, luggage and time); luggage and night supplements
• Both the metro and city buses take the Navegante card

Staying in Baixa or Chiado

Our guide marks Baixa and Chiado as the area for first-timers and the transport hub. Baixa is the flat, grid-planned center, close to the metro, trams and Rossio station, and the grand Praça do Comércio with its triumphal arch opens onto the river here. Chiado is an elegant hillside quarter of cafes, bookshops and theaters.

From the airport, take the Metro Red Line and change at Alameda (Green Line) or São Sebastião (Blue Line); Baixa is about 30 minutes including the transfer. Pickpockets are common in Baixa, so even while wheeling your luggage, wear your bag in front and keep your phone deep in a pocket.

Alfama, Bairro Alto, Belém and other areas

Alfama, Lisbon's oldest quarter, has maze-like lanes and lookouts, but steep slopes and stairs make rolling luggage hard. Bairro Alto is quiet by day, but its narrow streets fill with people and bars at night, so expect late-night noise if you stay there.

For a quieter stay, there is Príncipe Real with its gardens and boutiques, or Avenida da Liberdade, a tree-lined boulevard of hotels and shops. Belém, the riverside district of Belém Tower and Jerónimos Monastery, is reached by tram or train and is better for a half or full day of sightseeing than for staying.

Since the Glória funicular accident in September 2025, several historic lifts and funiculars, including the Santa Justa Lift, have been out of service. Check Carris official information for any reopening, and walk or use the metro and buses for the hills.

Navegante card, payment and a first-day checklist

One Navegante card covers your transport. Load credit onto it (zapping) to ride the metro, Carris buses and trams, suburban trains and ferries with one card. A 24-hour Carris/Metro ticket costs about EUR 7.25, and the metro also accepts contactless bank cards (check official).

Cards are widely accepted, but carry a little cash for small places.

• Check entry procedures such as EES and ETIAS on the official EU website before you travel
• Buy a Navegante card at the Aeroporto station machines and load a single ticket or top it up (zapping)
• If you plan to take the bus, check official information for current routes and service
• Take taxis from the rank at arrivals and check the meter is on (luggage and night supplements apply)
• Wear your bag in front and keep your phone deep in a pocket
• Wear comfortable shoes with good grip for the steep hills and polished stone pavements (calçada)

• Full Lisbon travel guide →
• How Many Days in Lisbon? A 4-Day Route and How to Get Around →

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