Transfers & transports
How to move around town & airport transfer options
There are different ways to get from Portela international aiport to the center of Lisbon:
The cheapest way with Public Transport: Metro
The metro goes from the airport all the way to Baixa-Chiado station in the city center in 40 minutes. A single ticket costs € 1.40. If you're planning to use the public transport more than twice, it would be cheaper to buy a Viva Viagem card, which costs €0.50 and you can charge it with money. You can also charge it with a daily bond of €6 if you're planning to make more than 5 single trips.
The comfortable and cheapest door-to-door option: Shared Transfer
This service is a door-to-door shuttle in shared vans. The cost depends on where you're going, but calculate € 4.90 per person, and the time depends on whether the van is full of passengers or not, and if you're the first ones to be dropped off or the last ones.
The comfortable and faster door-to-door option: Private Transfer
With this service your driver will be waiting for you at the arrival hall and you'll avoid long queues for a taxi. The price is approximately €20 per car, depending on the location of your hotel, and it takes approx. 45 min. to get to destination.
The cheapest way with private transport: AeroBus
This bus runs every day from 7:30 am to 11:00 pm, leaving every 20/25 minutes. A single ticket costs € 3.60 per person and it has 2 lines, both of them with many different stops on the way.
The best way to move around the city is walking, so you take in all the beautiful details of houses and shops, although keep in mind you'll probably encounter some hills on your way. To avoid hills or for longer distances you have these options:
The cheapest way: Public Transport
The Public Transport system is very good in Lisbon, it includes metro, buses, trams and trains. With the metro you can go to almost any part of the city. A single ticket costs € 1.40. If you're planning to use the public transport more than twice, it would be cheaper to buy a Viva Viagem card, which costs €0.50 and you can charge it with money. You can also charge it with a daily bond of €6 if you're planning to make more than 5 single trips.
Public Transport is included in the Lisbon Card:
The private way: Taxis, Uber or Cabify
Taxis are either beige colour or green and red. They have a taximeter that starts from € 3.25 during the day and from € 3.90 at night. Uber and Cabify services can be asked for through their apps and they're usually cheaper than taxis.
The fun way around: tuk-tuks
This may be the fun way around, but it's often more expensive than taxis and Uber. They cost € 45-50 for an hour with the driver generally making as a guide on the way. You can either get from one spot to another directly or book a tour:
The most comfortable and Panoramic way: Hop-On-Hop Off buses
With these buses you'll get to go around the city and get off and on at your desired stop.There are 4 companies:
- Lisbon Sightseeing Gray Line: it offers a 24 or 48-hour ticket and it has 4 different lines with 54 stops throughout Lisbon and its surroundings. The price goes from € 15.
- Sightseeing Portugal: this service is valid for 24 hours and it has 2 different routes with over 40 stops along the way. The price goes from € 25.
- Yellow Bus: this company offers 48 hour tickets valid for a 3 different bus tours with different stops around the city and one boat tour. The price goes from € 31.50.
- Tram Sightseeing: this isn't a bus tour, but a tram tour. It's valid for 24 hours and it has 9 stops throughout the most famous neighbourhoods of the city. The price goes from € 18.
Have you just started to plan your trip? Too many things to decide? Too long do it all by yourself? Special needs or wishes? Then, you should plan your trip with a local to get tailored travel plans & advices.