Lisbon Airport to the City Centre: Metro, Taxi, Bus or Train?

Humberto Delgado Airport sits barely 7 km from the Baixa, so the real question is which of four realistic options suits your luggage, arrival time and hotel street.

Metro: the cheapest way into the Baixa and Chiado

The red line station Aeroporto is inside Terminal 1, reached by lift or escalator from arrivals. Trains run roughly every 6 to 9 minutes from about 06:30 to 01:00. You ride seven stops to Alameda, change to the green line, and continue to Baixa-Chiado or Cais do Sodré. Total journey is around 25 to 30 minutes. A single ticket loaded onto a Viva Viagem card costs a few euros, and the card itself has a small refundable deposit. Validate at the gate; inspectors do check. If you land at Terminal 2, take the free shuttle to Terminal 1 first — there is no metro station at T2.

The metro suits you if you pack light and your hotel is within walking distance of Baixa-Chiado, Rossio, Restaurador or Cais do Sodré. It does not suit anyone hauling a large case up the steep streets of Alfama or Bairro Alto, where the final stretch may be cobbles and stairs. Evening arrivals are fine; after 01:00 you will need a different plan. Buy the card at the vending machines near the station entrance and keep it for buses and trams during your stay.

Aerobus and city buses: simple if your hotel sits on the route

The Aerobus runs two lines. Line 1 heads to Praça do Comércio via Entrecampos, Saldanha, Marquês de Pombal, Avenida da Liberdade and Restauradores. Line 2 goes to Av. José Malhoa via Entrecampos and Sete Rios. Buses leave roughly every 20 to 30 minutes, journey time is 30 to 45 minutes depending on traffic, and a single ticket bought on board costs a little more than the metro. Carris municipal buses 744 and 783 also serve the airport, but are slower and stop more often — useful only if your hotel is directly on their streets, such as around Marquês de Pombal.

The Aerobus works well for hotels along Avenida da Liberdade and around Restauradores, where the stop is a short walk from many mid-range and upscale properties. It is not ideal for Alfama or Graça, where you would still need a taxi from Praça do Comércio. Traffic on the Segunda Circular and Avenida da Liberdade can be heavy between 08:00 and 10:00 and again from 17:30 to 19:30, so allow extra time for a morning meeting or a timed train from Rossio.

Taxi and ride-hailing: fastest door-to-door, with caveats

A metered taxi from the official rank outside arrivals to the Baixa, Chiado or Avenida da Liberdade typically takes 15 to 25 minutes outside peak hours and costs roughly 12 to 20 euros, plus a small luggage charge. To Belém, Alcântara or Parque das Nações, expect 20 to 35 minutes and a higher fare. Ride-hailing apps pick up from designated zones in the arrivals area; prices are quoted upfront and are often similar to taxis, sometimes a little lower off-peak. Both are the sensible choice if you arrive after the metro stops, carry heavy bags, or your hotel is in a hilly district like Bairro Alto or Graça.

Two things to know. First, only use clearly marked taxis at the official rank; ignore anyone approaching you inside the terminal. Second, traffic on the Avenida da Liberdade and the 25 de Abril bridge approach can double your time between 17:30 and 19:30. If your hotel is on a street closed to cars, like parts of Alfama, ask to be dropped at the nearest accessible square and walk the last two or three minutes. Ask for the meter or a fixed quote before setting off.

Train and car: rarely the right answer from the airport

There is no direct train from the airport. The nearest rail hub is Oriente station in Parque das Nações, about 10 minutes and a short taxi or bus ride away, or Entrecampos, reachable by metro. From there you can take a suburban train to Sintra, Cascais or Setúbal, or a long-distance service to Porto and the Algarve — but for a city-centre hotel, adding this leg makes little sense unless you are heading straight out of Lisbon. If you are, book a hotel near Oriente instead of doubling back into the Baixa.

Driving yourself is the option I would skip. Central Lisbon has restricted access zones, limited parking, and garage rates by the day that quickly exceed the cost of taxis. Rental desks are in the arrivals area, but you do not need a car for a city break; trams, the metro and walking cover the centre, and trains reach Sintra and Cascais faster than driving. Best months for a first visit are April to June and September to October, when temperatures sit in the low twenties and the streets are busy but manageable.

Questions, answered

How much does the metro from Lisbon Airport to the centre cost?

A single metro journey costs a few euros, loaded onto a Viva Viagem card that carries a small refundable deposit. It is the cheapest option and takes about 25 to 30 minutes to Baixa-Chiado with one change at Alameda.

What is the best way to reach a hotel in Alfama or Bairro Alto?

Take a taxi or ride-hailing car. Both districts are hilly, with narrow cobbled streets and stairs, making luggage difficult on the metro. Expect 15 to 25 minutes and roughly 12 to 20 euros from the airport rank outside peak traffic.

Can I get from Lisbon Airport to Sintra directly?

Not directly. Take the metro or a short taxi to Oriente or Entrecampos, then a suburban train toward Sintra. Allow about an hour in total. If Sintra is your first stop, staying near Oriente saves a cross-city transfer.

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