Lisbon Airport is only 7 km from the city centre, which keeps prices low across all transport options. Here is what you will actually pay.
Metro: EUR 1.65
The cheapest option by a wide margin. The Red Line (Linha Vermelha) departs from Aeroporto station inside the terminal. You need a Viva Viagem card, which costs EUR 0.50 as a refundable deposit. Load EUR 1.65 for a single trip. The journey to Alameda (where you can change for other lines) takes about 15 minutes. To Baixa-Chiado it is around 25 minutes with one change.
Metro operates from around 6:30 AM to 1 AM.
Aerobus: EUR 4
Two routes serve main city areas. Route 1 stops at Marquês de Pombal, Avenida da Liberdade, Restauradores, Rossio, and Cais do Sodré. Route 2 serves Saldanha and Oriente. Luggage goes in a hold compartment. Buses run every 20 minutes. Useful if your hotel is on the route and you have heavy bags.
Taxi: EUR 10-20
Taxis use the meter. The airport is close enough that fares to most central locations are EUR 10-16. Traffic during rush hours (8-10 AM, 5-8 PM) can push the fare toward EUR 20. A EUR 1.50 luggage supplement may apply for baggage placed in the boot. Night fares (after 9 PM) are approximately 20% higher.
Taxis queue at the official rank outside arrivals. Do not accept unsolicited rides from people approaching you inside the terminal.
Rideshare (Uber, Bolt, Cabify): EUR 10-18
All three operate at Lisbon Airport. Pick-up is in the designated rideshare zone at the front of the terminal. Apps show upfront pricing. During surge pricing (weekend evenings, bad weather), fares can reach EUR 20-25.
Pre-booked transfer: EUR 20-35
Fixed price booked in advance. A sedan to central Lisbon typically costs EUR 20-35. The driver meets you in arrivals. No surge pricing. The price does not change if your flight is delayed. Minivans for larger groups run EUR 35-55.
Costs to specific destinations
| Destination | Taxi | Transfer | |------------|------|----------| | Baixa / Rossio | EUR 10-16 | EUR 20-30 | | Alfama | EUR 12-18 | EUR 22-32 | | Belém | EUR 15-22 | EUR 25-38 | | Oriente / Parque das Nações | EUR 8-12 | EUR 18-28 | | Cascais | EUR 40-55 | EUR 50-70 | | Sintra | EUR 40-55 | EUR 45-65 | | Estoril | EUR 38-50 | EUR 45-60 | | Setúbal | EUR 50-65 | EUR 60-80 |
What makes prices vary
Traffic is the biggest factor for taxis and rideshares. The N2 and Avenida Almirante Reis routes into central Lisbon can back up badly during rush hours. The A1/A8 motorway access is fast to Oriente but less useful for the old city.
Time of day: Taxis switch to night rate after 9 PM (not midnight like some countries). Night fares are typically 20% higher. Transfer prices remain fixed regardless of time.
Destination: Anything east of the centre (Oriente, Parque das Nações) is actually closer to the airport than Baixa or Belém.
The value calculation
For solo travellers, the metro at EUR 1.65 is virtually impossible to beat. For a couple, a taxi at EUR 12-15 is reasonable at EUR 7 each. For a family of four, the transfer at EUR 25-30 is comparable to the taxi (EUR 15 + luggage) but more comfortable and with a guaranteed meet.