The Lisbon Connection

There’s two ways of getting to the center of Lisbon from the Portela airport. A taxi is not necessarily more expensive then the bus connections. It depends on the number of persons you’re travelling with. Portela airport is located at about 7 kilometers from the city center, a ride to the city in normal traffic shouldn’t take longer then 15 minutes.

It is possible taxidrivers will try and charge more for the ride than the normal prize. Make sure they switch on the meter. It is illegal for taxidrivers to charge more then the official rates in Portugal and there are penalties. So if you encounter a problem, make sure that you let them know that you might contact the police.

Hint about taking a taxi at the airport: if the queue is too long at the arrivals you just have to go upstairs to the departures area and take a taxi there.

Airport Portela Lisbon, Tourism information center - Arrival Hall. Here you can buy a voucher for pre-paid taxi transfers to the city center with fixed prices. Each taxi carries up to 4 people, including all the luggage that can fit in the trunk.

If you travel by car: Long term parking information

A taxi to the center shouldn’t cost more then 10 euros, luggage included (2008). The taxidriver will charge you with 1,80 for the luggage (if you have luggage that needs to be placed in the trunk of the car). The starting fare of the taxi should be 2,35 euros during daytime and 2,50 curing nighttime. The rates are 20% higher during nighttime, in the weekend and during holidays.

Buses

There’s a special bus (Carris Aerobus 91) that brings you to the city for 3,10 euro in about 20 minutes. You can buy the ticket inside the bus, free use of the metro’s and other buses in the city during the same day is included. You can also take normal buslines, whoch are a bit cheaper. The buses 5, 22, 44, 45 and 83 will take you to areas in or around central Lisbon.

Share on Facebook