Getting from Lisbon Airport: every option compared
Updated · by GetVoolo, Lisbon
Short answer: into central Lisbon, take the metro red line (≈€1.90, ≈20–25 min). For Sintra, Cascais and the Algarve the train is the cheapest option but needs at least one change. A taxi, Uber/Bolt or a pre-booked driver takes you door to door, and makes the most sense late at night, with heavy luggage, or with children.
Prices and journey times by destination
| From Lisbon Airport to | Public transport | Taxi / Uber / Bolt | Private transfer (GetVoolo estimate) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cascais ~36 km | ≈€4.70 Train (metro + Cascais line via Cais do Sodré) · ≈90 min, two changes | ≈€45–70 ≈35–40 min | €42–€49 ~35 min, door to door |
| Sintra ~28 km | ≈€4.30 Train (metro to Oriente + CP Sintra line) · ≈80 min, one change | ≈€50–70 ≈35–50 min | €38–€45 ~40 min, door to door |
| Lisbon City Center ~6 km | ≈€1.90 Metro (red line, direct) · ≈20–25 min | ≈€12–20 ≈20 min | €21–€25 ~20 min, door to door |
| Lisbon Cruise Port ~10 km | ≈€1.90 Metro (red line, change to blue at São Sebastião, to Santa Apolónia) · ≈30–40 min + 5–10 min walk, one change | ≈€10–15 plus luggage ≈15–20 min | €21–€25 ~22 min, door to door |
| Algarve ~277 km | ≈€24–34 Train (Oriente → Faro/Albufeira, 5 departures a day) · ≈3–3.5 h to Faro | Rarely used this far | €232–€314 ~165 min, door to door |
| Ericeira ~46 km | ≈€6.50 + metro Metro + Carris Metropolitana bus via Campo Grande · ≈1.5–2 h in total, two changes | Rarely used this far | €50–€59 ~40 min, door to door |
| Fátima ~120 km | ≈€8–20 Metro + Rede Expressos coach via Sete Rios · ≈1 h 30 by coach + metro, one change | Rarely used this far | €104–€142 ~85 min, door to door |
| Comporta ~117 km | ferry + two car legs Car to Setúbal, ferry to Tróia, then 13 km by road · ≈2 h or more | Rarely used this far | €102–€138 ~80 min, door to door |
| Porto ~305 km | ≈€10–36 Train (metro to Oriente + Alfa Pendular to Porto Campanhã) · ≈2 h 50 min on the train, plus the metro; cheapest booked ahead | Rarely used this far | €254–€345 ~180 min, door to door |
| Coimbra ~197 km | €20–24.10 Train (metro to Oriente + Alfa Pendular or Intercidades to Coimbra-B) · ≈1 h 45 min–2 h on the train, plus the metro | Rarely used this far | €167–€226 ~120 min, door to door |
Public transport and taxi fares are approximate and change with the time of day and operator. GetVoolo instant prices are fixed when you book, tolls included; if you ask drivers for offers instead, they set the price.
Taking a taxi? See Lisbon Airport taxi prices, night rates and Uber/Bolt pickup. Landing late? See arriving at Lisbon Airport late at night. Joining or leaving a cruise? See the cruise terminal guide. Heading to Sintra with suitcases? See Lisbon Airport to Sintra with luggage.
Which option should you choose?
To Cascais
The train is by far the cheapest way to Cascais. A driver costs more but skips the change at Cais do Sodré and takes you and your luggage door to door.
To Sintra
Public transport is the budget route to Sintra. A driver is worth it if you are arriving with luggage or heading up into the hills rather than the train station.
To Lisbon City Center
The metro is the fastest and cheapest way into town during the day. A driver matters most late at night, early morning, or with more luggage than fits on an escalator.
To Lisbon Cruise Port
The metro works if you are travelling light. Most cruise passengers have more luggage than the escalators are built for, which is where a driver earns its keep.
To Algarve
The train is cheaper but runs only five times a day and still needs a taxi at the other end. A driver takes you door to door in under three hours, whenever your flight actually lands.
To Ericeira
The bus is cheap and board bags usually ride in the hold. A driver saves the metro change and the bus-station leg, and matters most with boards, a group or a late landing.
To Fátima
The coach from Sete Rios is the practical public-transport option — Fátima’s railway station is about 25 km from the Sanctuary. A driver makes sense for groups, where the per-car price splits, and on pilgrimage dates when coaches fill up.
To Comporta
There is no practical public transport to Comporta, and many visitors rent a car for their stay. A driver makes sense if you won’t need a car there, or for a family or group arriving tired after a long flight.
To Porto
The train is cheaper for one or two people and fast between stations, but you still need the metro to Oriente and a taxi from Campanhã, with your luggage. A driver goes door to door in about three hours, and the price is per car, so it splits across a family or group.
To Coimbra
The direct FlixBus from the airport is by far the cheapest, but runs only five times a day, and the train needs the metro and a change at Coimbra-B. A driver leaves when your flight lands and stops at your door, and the price is per car, so it splits across a group.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way from Lisbon Airport to the city center?
The metro. The red line runs directly from the airport into the city for ≈€1.90 and takes ≈20–25 min. It does not run through the night, so a late arrival needs a taxi or a driver.
How much is a taxi from Lisbon Airport to the city center?
≈€12–20, taking ≈20 min. A pre-booked driver on GetVoolo is estimated at €21–€25, with the price agreed before you land and no meter running.
Which terminal will I arrive at in Lisbon?
Every arriving flight comes in at Terminal 1, whichever airline you fly. A pre-booked driver meets you in the Terminal 1 arrivals hall.
Is it worth booking a transfer to Sintra or Cascais?
If you travel light and arrive during the day, the train is far cheaper. A driver is worth it with luggage, children, a late flight, or an address in the hills rather than next to a station.
How does GetVoolo work?
GetVoolo is a marketplace for Lisbon airport transfers. You can book an instant fixed price, or post your trip and let vetted local drivers bid for it, then compare price, rating and vehicle before you choose. Cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup, and drivers wait up to 60 minutes at the airport, counted from when you actually land.