Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS): visitor guide

Lisbon Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) sits about 7 km north-east of the city centre, inside the city rather than out in the countryside. That is why transfers are short and cheap compared with most European capitals.

Terminal 1 is the main building: check-in, most arrivals and departures, the metro station and the taxi rank. Terminal 2 is used by some low-cost carriers and is reached by a free shuttle bus from Terminal 1, so allow extra time if your airline uses it.

Both terminals have cafés, ATMs, luggage storage and car-hire desks. The metro entrance is a short covered walk from Terminal 1 arrivals.

The metro is the default for most visitors. The red line runs from Aeroporto station straight into the network, with easy changes at Alameda or Saldanha for the green and yellow lines toward Baixa, Chiado and Rossio. Journey time to the centre is roughly 20 minutes, and a single ride costs about €1.85 on a rechargeable Navegante card (2026 estimate). Buy the card at the machine, top it up, and tap in and out.

City buses also serve the airport, including services toward Cais do Sodré and Rossio. They are slower in traffic but useful if you are staying south of the metro line. Fares are around €2–4 (2026 estimate), paid to the driver or with a card.

Taxis and ride-hailing apps pick up outside arrivals. A metered taxi to Baixa or Chiado is roughly €12–20 (2026 estimate) and takes 20–30 minutes depending on traffic. Insist on the meter or agree a price before you get in. Ride-hailing is usually a little cheaper and is booked in the app, so no cash is needed.

For a fixed price and a driver waiting in arrivals, pre-book a private transfer. It costs more than the metro but removes the guesswork after a long flight.

The metro does not run all night. Services start around 06:30 and the last trains leave the centre around 01:00, so a landing after that leaves you with taxis, ride-hailing or a pre-booked transfer.

Taxis wait outside arrivals through the night, and ride-hailing apps work at the airport at all hours, though you may wait longer for a car after midnight. If you land in the small hours, a pre-booked transfer is the least stressful option, especially with children or heavy luggage.

If your flight lands very late and you are only connecting onward the next morning, an airport-area hotel is a reasonable choice rather than a 30-minute ride into town and back.

Terminal 1 has pay-per-use and airline lounges in the departures area, after security. Access rules vary: some are open to any traveller who pays at the door, others only to eligible airline or card holders. Check the current operator and price before you rely on it.

Free Wi-Fi is available in the terminals. There are cafés and a food court on both sides of security, ATMs in arrivals, and luggage storage if you want to leave bags while you go into the city. Seating at peak times is limited, so arrive with time to spare in July and August.

Car-hire desks for the main international brands are in the arrivals area, with pick-up in the adjacent car park. Booking ahead is cheaper than walking up, and rates in summer rise sharply.

Driving out of the airport is straightforward, but driving in central Lisbon is not: narrow streets, tram tracks and restricted zones make the metro or a taxi a better choice for a city stay. Pick up the car on the day you leave the city instead.

Portugal uses electronic tolls on many motorways. Ask the rental company for a transponder or a toll device with the car, and confirm how tolls are charged to your card. Parking in central Lisbon is expensive and limited.