Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is 7km from Lisbon city center. Here are all your transport options ranked by value, speed, and convenience — with real prices and honest pros/cons.
Quick Summary
Fastest: Taxi (15-25 min, $15-20)
Cheapest: Metro (Red Line) (20-25 min, $1.80)
Best overall: Metro (Red Line) (20-25 min, $1.80) — best balance of speed, cost, and convenience.
All Transport Options
Metro (Red Line) — 20-25 min, ~$1.80
Pros: Cheapest and fastest to center, every 6-9min
Cons: Transfer needed at Alameda for most areas, crowded at peak
Aerobus — 25-35 min, ~$4.50
Pros: Direct to Marquês de Pombal, Rossio, Cais do Sodré
Cons: Stuck in traffic, less frequent than metro
Taxi — 15-25 min, ~$15-20
Pros: Quick, metered, available 24/7 outside arrivals
Cons: Traffic, occasional overcharging, supplements for luggage
Uber/Bolt — 15-25 min, ~$10-15
Pros: Cheaper than taxi, fixed price, no meter games
Cons: Pickup area can be far from terminal, surge at peak
Tips for Arriving at Humberto Delgado Airport
SIM card: Buy one at the airport arrivals hall before heading to the city. You’ll need data for maps and ride-hailing apps.
Currency: Withdraw cash from an ATM inside the terminal (better rates than exchange booths). You’ll need local currency for public transport.
Late night arrivals: Public transport stops around midnight in most cities. If arriving late, pre-book a transfer or use ride-hailing apps.
FAQ
How far is Humberto Delgado Airport from Lisbon center?
Humberto Delgado Airport (LIS) is approximately 7km from Lisbon city center. Travel time ranges from 15-25 to 15-25 minutes depending on transport and traffic.
What’s the cheapest way to get from LIS to Lisbon?
The cheapest option is Metro (Red Line) at $1.80, taking approximately 20-25 minutes.
Should I pre-book a transfer from Humberto Delgado Airport?
Pre-booking is worth it if you’re arriving late at night, have heavy luggage, or want zero stress after a long flight. Otherwise, public transport or ride-hailing apps work perfectly well.
✈️ Planning your Portugal trip? Portugal Budget Guide
What Each Option Actually Costs (And How Long It Really Takes)
Here is the honest breakdown for the roughly 7 km ride from Humberto Delgado (LIS) to downtown, with current fares and door-to-door times rather than optimistic averages.
- Metro (Red Line): A single ride is about €1.85-€1.92 on the reusable Navegante card (the card itself is a one-time €0.50). The Aeroporto station sits directly under Terminal 1. Plan on 25-35 minutes to the center because you must change lines. Runs roughly 06:30 to 01:00.
- Taxi: Metered fare to the center is typically €10-€15 in daytime traffic, 15-25 minutes. Add a flat €1.60 luggage charge per trip (not per bag) and a night/weekend rate (“Tarifa 2”) that runs about 20% higher.
- Uber / Bolt (TVDE): Usually €8-€20 depending on surge, 20-30 minutes. Bolt often undercuts Uber by 10-20% on the same route.
- City buses (Carris 208, 705, 744): Same ~€1.85 fare, but slow, with strict luggage limits (about 50x40x20 cm) – realistic only with a single carry-on.
Note: The old Aerobus shuttle (line 91) no longer exists – it was discontinued, so ignore any blog telling you to look for it.
Which One to Take, Depending on Who You Are
There is no single “best” way – it depends on your luggage, your group size, and what time you land.
- Solo traveler or couple with light bags: Take the metro. It is by far the cheapest and immune to the traffic that clogs the airport access roads at peak hours (roughly 10:00-14:00 and 16:00-19:00). Just budget for one line change.
- Two-plus people, or any group with heavy/multiple suitcases: A taxi, Uber, or Bolt wins on both convenience and, split between people, often on price too. Door-to-door beats dragging bags through metro turnstiles and up station stairs.
- Arriving late at night (after ~01:00) or very early: The metro is closed, so a ride-hail or taxi is your only practical choice. Expect the higher night taxi rate.
- Staying near a Red Line station (e.g. Saldanha, Oriente, Alameda): The metro is unbeatable – you may not even need to change lines.
My default: Light bags, take the metro and save €15. Heavy bags or a group, open Bolt before you reach baggage claim so a car is waiting.
Booking Specifics, Pickup Points, and the Scams to Dodge
The single most useful thing to know: Uber and Bolt do NOT pick up at the arrivals curb. Their designated zone is P2 (the parking garage), Level 2 / arrivals level – a short signposted walk from Terminal 1 arrivals (turn left out of baggage claim and follow the Uber/Bolt/TVDE signs above the Starbucks). Order the car only when you are near P2, or it will cancel while you wander.
- Buying a metro card: Use the machines at the Aeroporto station – buy the Navegante occasional card (€0.50), then load “zapping” credit, which charges a discounted per-ride rate (around €1.72) and works on metro, bus, tram, and ferry. A 24-hour all-transport pass is about €7.25 if you will move around a lot day one.
- Taxis: Use only the official rank outside arrivals – cream/beige cars with a blue stripe and a lit rooftop sign. Confirm the meter is running the moment you pull away (it is legally required).
Scams to refuse outright: drivers who quote a “fixed price” instead of using the meter; anyone who approaches you inside the terminal offering a ride (always a markup); and the classic claim that the €1.60 luggage fee is “per bag” – it is one flat charge per trip. Ask for a receipt and the scam pressure usually evaporates.
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Written by
John Morrison is the founder and lead travel writer at Packzup. Over the past decade he has explored destinations across Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and Oceania — always self-funded, never on a press trip.